Learn from my story! Helmets really do work.

I always considered myself a cautious rider.  Though I love owning and riding powerful bikes, I was always mindful of the fact that the very power that thrills me could downright kill me if I didn’t watch what I was doing. But two weeks ago I learned that no matter how cautious of a rider I am, sometimes bad things happen that are completely out of my control. The story I’m about to tell involves me and my new Suzuki M109R that I had for little over two months.  It was a present for myself for all the hard work I had done so far this year and it was always a dream of mine to have a brand new bike that I could customize to make it uniquely my own.  This was my dream bike.  Unfortunately, my relationship with my dream bike would be very short lived.......

I was riding home from an errand to the auto parts store about 5 miles from the house when I approached what is arguably a very dangerous intersection in my community.  It’s one of those intersections where there isn’t a standard signal light but what was there was a flashing yellow light in my direction and a flashing red light for traffic wanting to turn onto the road I was traveling.  As I approached the intersection I could see there was a car stopped and the driver was waiting for a break in traffic so they could make their turn.  Unfortunately for me, this person darted into traffic presumably thinking they had plenty of time to make their turn.  I was left with no time to stop. Try as I might, I applied the brake as hard as I could without locking it up and losing control but speed and distance weren’t on my side.  I knew I was going to have an accident.  It was merely a question of how hard I would hit.  

I impacted the car and was immediately ejected from the bike and flew over the car.  I’m guessing I flew about 10ft before landing on the ground again.  I never blacked out so I distinctly remembered my head hitting the pavement first with the rest of my body following very soon after.  The car I hit also came to an abrupt stop as well. I guess 700lb bikes will do that. Since I was completely coherent, I immediately knew something was very wrong with my knee and I had pain coming from my chest that I could only describe as feeling like I was punched really hard by someone.

After all was said and done, my injuries were limited to a shattered knee and a really bruised shoulder from striking my handlebars.  All of which I will recover from in time.  The lesson here at least for me was that my helmet saved my life.  Of this I have no doubt whatsoever.  Love them or hate them in my opinion the argument as to their value to a motorcycle rider is over.  My head would have split like a coconut from the impact I experienced.  Although I have always worn a helmet when riding, there has always been a temptation to not wear one for that quick ride up the street.  I would bet that even the most diehard helmet wearers out there have been tempted to go commando from time to time and I was certainly no different.  The difference now is that any temptation I may have had before is gone for good now.

My dream bike maybe damaged beyond repair and that in itself is tragic. But my bike can be replaced and more importantly because I wore my helmet that day at least I was will be able to see my daughter grow up, my wife will still have a husband and I will live to ride another day.  Wear your gear folks even for the short trips.  Fate does not care whether you are just making a quick ride up the road or going on a long distance trip up state.  

PS.  Just FYI for those that are curious, I was wearing blue jeans, steel toe boots, gloves, helmet BUT a short sleeved shirt.  Normally I wear a leather jacket and fortunately for this accident, no significant injuries were done to my arms though I am sure my shoulder would not have been quite so bruised had I wore what I was supposed to.  

fellixx,congratulations on surviving the accident.motorcycles come and go.FAMILY is forever.  

So true!!  Fortunately for me, my family understands the desire to keep riding and in the end, I will be that much more a safe rider because of all this.  Ill never fault someone for not wearing their helmet.  Its a personal choice for everyone but the bottom line is that if people depend upon you being amongst the living, why not wear one if it helps ensure you stay amongst the living?  

Just my two cents.....  

PS Still waiting for word on whats going to happen with my bike.  Im quite sure the bike is DOA since the damage was very severe but Im still wondering how the insurance is going to pay out on this.  Bottom line for me is:  I want my dream bike replaced!  

I learned that lesson my first year of riding....I experienced the outcome of a cage making a left turn on a red light.  I put the bike down to avoid the impact...but in the process went bouncing across a lane of traffic, a curb, and a sidewalk.  The helmet was ruined but I was upright and (incredibly) verbal.  I have worn a helmet ever since despite numerous taunts from my riding buddies.  

Last weekend my buddy and his wife were going 25mph and braked for a hairpin turn and didn't realize there was oil in the center of his lane. The bike low-sided. His wife's forward momentum pushed my buddy into his handlebar knocking the wind out of him. There were torn gloves, jeans and jackets but no abrasions due to their clothing. The most notable observation was that both his and her half-helmets smashed the pavement hard right by their temples and need replacing, but there were no head injuries. Even a beanie type helmet would have worked in this case. We lifted the bike, and except for a broken driver's footpeg and front signal, he rode the bike home. Without helmets they would have been riding to a hospital in an ambulance.  

fellixx
Since you had the flashing yellow, and he had flashing red, the other driver's insurance is going to pay for the bike (less depreciation...etc). If you remember to ask for it, they will also pay you for any protective gear that got damaged, jacket, helmet, gloves. Usually they're quite happy to pay for that, it's less than the cost of just getting you in the door at an ER.  

Many stories like yours out there , some fortunate to have been wearing a helmet that saved their most valuable possession (brains) and lived to tell the tale.

 I learned my lesson the hard way too. A semi  knocked me  off my Suzuki T500 in on the Corinth St. viaduct , Dallas in '72 , crushed the bike. I came away with a case road rash and a busted Bell helmet , but ,, if I had not been wearing it , things would very different.  

I always wear a helmet , gloves , good boots and most of the time a jacket ,, depends on the circumstance.  

Ride safe.

Terry