Hi Chris. thats my picture above. Do not ever loose hope that you will be ok. Do not dwell on the past. # months after my accident I was looking for a new bike. Found it and worked on it on crutches and from my wheelchair. You have to look forward at all the good things that will happen to you and say thanks to all the good people you will get to know because of your accident. The guy with me at the top of this page is one of them. ANYTIME you want to chat, My email adress is here. Take care and keep your head up.

Hello Chris,

Sounds like you have come a long way. I can only hope you get the same kind of help & support I found with family & friends, & most importantly, this web site.

I'm nearly 2 yrs past the accident that wound up with me finding this site. My healing included buying this lap top, getting on the net, & eventually finding this site.

I also made it back to work again, which does a lot to boost the spirits. I will carry the effects of my injuries for the rest of my life. Some days worse than others but the other option isn't on my list of "a better way".

Keeping the faith and your spirits up are important. I fought with depression & still do on occasion. When people tell me "it's good to see you", I respond "it's good to be here". That's how I feel. I came close to loosing all this, and it only makes me love it that much more.

This site did so much for my stability for the future. I hope it does the same for you. Garry, the man behind this site has not been able to be as available lately due to some changes in his personal life. I assure you, his heart & sole is still here in the meaning of the site, which is any help an accident victim needs to survive.

It is about surviving. It is about helping people cope with the injustice that is dealing with the survivors of far too many accidents.

Feel free to write anytime. Good luck as you continue to heal. For Garry, and so many others here, welcome! May we all fight the dangerous distractions that kill too many every year.

A Rider Taken Down, But Not Silenced

Jeff

Larry & Jeff,

I want to thank you two for replying to my post, it's good to talk with people who have been through a traumatic motorcycle accident. And yes you are both correct if it hadn't been for my friends and family I would never have made it through the first week in the hospital a good support group does much more than I had ever thought about.

I also wanted to let you know the cause of the crash since I didn't include that in my original post; it appears that the rear tire broke the bead on the rim and went flat very fast. The VA State Trooper who interviewed me at Winchester Hospital asked me what I thought had happened and I told him it had to be a flat tire and he said during the course of his investigation that was his conclusion also that the rear tire went flat. He also cited me for reckless driving which I had to hire an attorney to go to court and fight the charges. Thankfully the judge was sympathetic and agreed the crime didn't fit the punishment and he dismissed the reckless but I still was charged with improprer driving (1 point and $45 fine) I can live with that.

Chris

Thanks again for taking time to provide the encouragement and I will try to keep you posted on my progress.

Hey Chris, you want to hear a good one?

My bike, after being totaled, was sold 5 months after I bought it from the insurance company. A friend turned me on to a guy he knew, looking for a "project bike" for the winter.

He did a pretty nice job getting it back on the road. He had not had a bike before & figured it was the cheapest way to get on a Harley Dresser. It was brought by our house to see, which was a little emotional for my wife & I.

I later heard that within weeks of having it on the road, he had the rear axel bolt break while riding down the road.

I had replaced the tire, brakes, & wheel bearing on the rear just a few short rides before being hit. It was only a week or so later that I rode it to work for the first time after, and the last time ever.

It's looking good, but it's kind of creepy looking back at what could have happened to him & I. He had torn it down completely, over the winter, and upon hitting the road tragidy almost struck again.

Anyway, you keep us posted on how your doing, OK ?