Motorcycle accident interactions

[LucasMcCain]

So I thought I would share my experience of a week ago now that I can use a keyboard again. I was in an accident when a SUV pulled out in front of me while I was on my motorcycle. I couldn't stop in time and impacted the rear side of their vehicle, laying the bike down and hitting their car with my shoulder. My bike is repairable, on my insurance, since the SUV driver didn't have any. I suffered a dislocated shoulder and a couple minor scrapes and bruises. I always wear a helmet, and I had on a leather jacket as well.

I figured y'all might be interested, as I had my Glock 19 in a paddle holster at the time, covered only by the jacket, which I removed when I realized my shoulder was messed up. I reassured the other driver that I was not angry and everything was going to be okay before removing my jacket, just so he wouldn't freak out. He didn't freak out, that I noticed. Next the fire department showed up. They just checked me out and asked if I had someone who could come take the gun for me, because the ambulance wasn't going to let me get in it with the gun. I called a friend who headed right over. Then the police showed up. I gave them DL and LTC. They took my statement. The ambulance arrived and they took my shirt off and started checking me out. The police asked if I would mind if they held onto my gun until my friend arrived; I said that would be fine, so they did so. They put me in the ambulance, said I had a dislocated shoulder but no other signs of serious injury, so I opted to get a ride to the hospital 15 minutes away with my friend, thus saving a grand or two in exchange for being in considerable pain for 15 extra minutes. The hospital did a lot of tests, put my arm back where it's supposed to be, and let me go home. Got cleared to work and use the arm a little yesterday.

Just thought I would share, as I was a little worried about being in this situation with my gun, especially for the period of time that I was surrounded by people while shirtless with a Glock on my hip. It was really a non-issue, though. Nobody freaked out or stressed. It really wasn't a big deal at all. My friend took the gun and put it under some stuff in his trunk. When my wife met us at the hospital, she got it from him and put it in her car. When I got it back at home I found that the officer had unloaded it and locked the slide back. It was missing the round that was in the chamber, but I'm not bothered by that at all. I haven't gotten the hospital bill yet, though, and I expect to be bothered by that quite a bit.

[GeekwithaGun]

glad your OK

[bblhd672]

After moving to DFW and driving in DFW traffic the past 6 months I have to say people who ride motorcycles here are very brave!

Glad you're okay.

[carlson1]

Glad you were not hurt any worse although I can imagine the shoulder has to be very painful. A very good job by the police! I have had to go to the hospital by ambulance several times (heart patient with 10 stents and a by-pass) and one time I forget I was armed until I got the ER. The hospital police were fantastic. The last ambulance ride I had was last year in November and I was not at home. Our fire department kept my firearm for me and a week later I took them BBQ, picked up my pistol, and had about a 45 minutes of great fellowship.

It was very smart to tell the driver before you removed your jacket. I don't know if I would have thought about that.

[LucasMcCain]

After moving to DFW and driving in DFW traffic the past 6 months I have to say people who ride motorcycles here are very brave!

Glad you're okay.

Yeah, I stay off the freeways; just stick to city streets. If I just want to ride for pleasure, I get out in the country and ride the back highways. Riding on the interstates or 360 and such is just not fun. People drive stupid everywhere, but they do it a lot faster on the freeways.

[RoyGBiv]

As a fellow motorcycle rider... I'm very glad your injuries were relatively minor and wish you a speedy and complete recovery.

I'm very surprised that the ambulance didn't have a provision for transporting the weapon. What if the police were not around to hold the weapon and a patients condition is critical?

[LucasMcCain]

As a fellow motorcycle rider... I'm very glad your injuries were relatively minor and wish you a speedy and complete recovery.

I'm very surprised that the ambulance didn't have a provision for transporting the weapon. What if the police were not around to hold the weapon and a patients condition is critical?

I'm assuming they would hold on to it under those circumstances, or they would let the police do so if they were present. I'm not sure, though. If I were in a car, it could have been locked up. That just wasn't an option since I was on the bike.

[SewTexas]

uh, that 15 min ride would have cost more than a grand or two....trust me....we're still working through the bills from my husband's motorcycle accident from last Oct.

I'm so glad your accident was relatively minor, hitting an SUV could have been so much worse.

[allisji]

did the ambulance have proper signage?

Glad that you are OK! Sounds like you did well not to cause alarm with the driver and first responders.

Ambulance fees really are ridiculous. I'm surprised that you don't get charged full price just because they had to respond to the scene. Sounds like you made a smart move by riding with your friend. Hopefully your medical insurance doesn't try to take you for another ride. It always seems to me like they try to make it as hard as possible just to get them to pay their share. Medical Bills are the worst, but dealing with the insurance agency can be almost as bad.

[Abraham]

Wow!

What a story.

I'm so glad you're ok, if having a dislocated shoulder (OUCH!) and all the trauma is defined as being ok...

Did your helmet get banged up at all?

If so, please, get a new one.

[RPBrown]

Glad you weren't hurt any worse than you were. Your interaction with the first responders seems to have been a good one.

[LucasMcCain]

Glad you weren't hurt any worse than you were. Your interaction with the first responders seems to have been a good one.

The first responders were all great. I got to thank most of them at the time or after the fact.

Wow!

What a story.

I'm so glad you're ok, if having a dislocated shoulder (OUCH!) and all the trauma is defined as being ok...

Did your helmet get banged up at all?

If so, please, get a new one.

My helmet didn't really get banged up, but my insurance said it's policy for them to pay to replace any helmet that's in an accident, so they'll be paying for a replacement for me. Incidentally, I have nothing but good things to say about Progressive. I've had to use them several times for my car and this time for the bike, and they always take incredibly good care of everything.

[The Marshal]

As one that commutes to work at least 60+ miles every day down 635 & 30 on my Ultra Glide, I am sorry to hear that you impacted a car!
I have been very fortunate, but then I don't ride like the Squids on the DonorCycles weaving in and out of traffic either.

I am happy to hear that you only dislocated your shoulder. Wow that could have been really bad.
Absolutely get the helmet replaced, they are 'One and Done' when it comes to drops/collisions/accidents.

PM me what happened to you if you are bored. :^D

~Bill

[C-dub]

Here's to hoping for a swift recovery.

That's an interesting point about the ambulance and your firearm. What would they have done if no one could have come to take possession of it, wait for the police before examining or treating you? That sounds like a law suit waiting to happen due to delay of treatment.

And allisji brings up an interesting point, possibly in jest, but still a valid concern given their stated "policy." A private ambulance contractor could post and refuse to accept the firearm, but a city or county ambulance service can not, can they?

[LimaCharlie3]

Glad you are going to be OK. I recently had the same thing happen to me, although I was driving the minivan at the time and hit by an uninsured driver. I still am unable to ride my Honda due to injuries and that part stinks. However, I also had great interaction with DPS with my firearms. Trooper took my SigPro 2340 from the wreckage and maintained possession of it, then returned it to my sister a couple weeks later, making the drive into another town where I actually live. I was still banged up in the hospital at the time. Same trooper also took an incident report for the Taurus 85CH that I noticed was not recovered, upon getting back home a few weeks later. No telling if someone swiped it or if it was flung into a ditch, but wanted to cover myself in case it turned up later in a bad way. Sadly, my favorite gun. Good presence of mind to let that driver know before you removed your shirt. The way some people freak out, well... ya never know.