Claim

Now my lawyer has received my medical report and photos my hubbie has taken of my scar, the claim is now being sent to the insurer's of the driver which pulled out in front of us.

They have been given 5 days - yes, 5 days. I was a bit surprised by that! - to make an offer. If none is forthcoming, court proceedings may be raised. I hope it doesn't come to that. I just want to get this behind me and move on. Until the claim is settled I won't feel I can move on properly.

Annoyed

Today my hubbie phoned the procurator fiscal office to which the police had referred the charges levelled against the driver who pulled out in front of us. The procurator fiscal makes decisions on whether or not to pursue the criminal case and take it to court.

In the case of our crash, the procurator fiscal has decided not to pursue the criminal case! Apparently they believe it can be dealt with through the appropriate civil channels. I.e. us pursuing the insurers of the driver.

So, the driver caused us to be injured to an extent where we required surgery. Both her car and our motorbike were written off and she could have killed us. What does she get? Nothing. There will be no points on her licence nor a fine. My hubbie and I will have a piece of metal and substantial scar for the rest of our lives.

It's not that I think points and a fine would change things nor necessarily amend her behaviour, but at least the authorities would have acknowledged the dangerous nature of her driving. Personally I would have preferred her to have to re-sit her test. That would have modified her driving.

What I find particularly annoying is if someone's done for speeding, they automatically get at least 3 points on their licence and a £60 fine. Now I'm not condoning speeding, but they haven't put anyone in direct danger. Yet, a driver pulls out in front of a motorcyclist, injures both the rider and the pillion and causes thousands of pound worth of damage and nothing happens.

In praise of...the NHS

At the moment there's a lot in the press about the NHS, as President Obama is trying to reform health care in the USA. All I can say is good luck to him. I think what he's trying to do is amazing, but he really has a fight on his hands.

Now I'm proud of the NHS. Yes, it's flawed. It's not prefect, but what system is? My recent experience has been an exemplary example of the treatment the NHS provides. My hubbie and I were attended by 2 ambulances with 4 paramedics arriving within 2 minutes of the crash. One of the ambulances took us to hospital where we were X-rayed, examined and given strong pain killers. All free.

We were operated on and had to stay in hospital for 2 nights. We were well fed, watered and cared for by all staff. From cleaners to consultants. All free.

On discharge from hospital we were given a large selection of pain killers to take home with us. All free.

We had follow-up consultants' appointments and X-rays. All free.

We had physiotherapy sessions. All free.

All of this treatment would have cost us thousands, if not tens of thousands of pounds. We are comfortably off, but there's no way we could have afforded all the treatment.

We may not have been covered by health insurance or the whole cost may not have been covered.

The NHS rocks. Also, like many people in the UK, I have friends and relatives who good quality lives as a result of the treatment the NHS provides. Some may be dead or seriously disabled if not for NHS treatment.

And to any American reading this - The NHS to us Brits is a bit like a close relative that drives you to distraction. They are flawed, but you love them, are proud of them and NO-ONE berates them but you. Brits can moan about the NHS, but leave it alone. Oh, and check your facts. Stephen Hawking would not have been left to die by the NHS. In fact, it is because of the NHS he's alive. And he's British.

The report

My hubbie and I have now received a copy of the second opinion consultant's report. There's no major surprises, though they do read rather similarly. Same injury, near identical prognosis, same hobbies/activities. Yes, we are the same person.

On the back of the report, my hubbie's to see another independent consultant to report to our lawyer about his groin injury. Also, I am to get professional photos of my scar taken, as I stated when I met with the second opinion consultant I mentioned I am self-conscious of my scar.

I don't really want anyone else looking at my scar, especially some random bloke (sorry, hate to sound sexist, but there aren't many female photographers). So, as long as the lawyer is happy with it, I'm going to get my hubbie to take them. After all, he is a trained photographer.

Whether it seems obvious or not to others is irrelevant - I am aware of it and will have to live with it for the rest of my life.

Well, that's all for now.

Second opinion

As part of the legal proceedings resulting from the crash, my hubbie and I saw an independent orthopedic consultant today.

He looked at our X-rays, asked how we were and checked the movement of our shoulders. We also had forms to fill and give to him. Those asked how the "accident" (I don't like calling it that as it implies no blame) had affected us, in terms of work, hobbies, domestic activities and psychologically. We gave very thorough answers and compared notes to ensure neither of us had missed anything.

I mentioned about the strange numbness I get in my left hand and forearm to the consultant. By checking the difference in the sweat of my left and right hand he confirmed I'd sustained nerve damage. Nice. I'll have to learn to live with these sensations, but it doesn't mean I have to like it.

Now the consultant will submit a report to our solicitor and we wait to see what happens next. Somehow, I think this is going to be a long process.

Will I ride again?

I swung my leg over the Hornet the other day, just at see how it felt. Would I panic? Would I feel okay? Would I like it again?

Sitting on it was fine. I didn't sit on it and think "no way am I riding a motorbike again". So that's positive. So, I tired gently, while stationary and with the engine switched off, turning the bars. Just to see if I could physically steer (pretty critical, I find). Well....I didn't like that. My left arm was toiling to give me the necessary power to move the bars. Now, prior to the crash, I could move the bars while stationary pretty easily, as I had reasonably good upper badly strength. Now, well, there's just no way I could ride the Hornet. It's a real pain give the effort I put in passing my test and I really enjoy riding that bike. Oh well, at least my hubbie can use it and it's not just rusting.

I reckon I may not ride again for several months, if at all. Even then, I think I'd have to go back to a 125, just to re-build my strength and confidence. That will probably be able the same point as the 33bhp restriction on licence exprires. Oh well, could be worse. I'm walking and talking. And, I don't need to ride.

Yesterday I was out for a walk and a red Pan two up passed us. Well, that was it. I really was quiet freaked by that and had a bit of a greit. Now, anyone who knows me will tell you I don't cry. Well, not never, but very rarely and even more rarely in public. It was strange, though. I have seen red Pans since the crash and heard other coloured Pans, but I think it was the whole combination of colour, sound and 2 up that did it for me. Don't you just love the way the brain works. I'd love to know the evolutionary reason for some things that go on up there.

A couple of weeks ago I also had a near miss in the car when a Royal Mail van pulled out in front of me. I managed (according to my hubbie) a really impressive brake, swerve avoid manoeuvre (as he made rude gesticulations at the driver of the van!). When it was safe to pull over I broke down in tears. 5 months ago, I would have ranted, but I think it's all the psychological damage the crash has caused that's coming out. Better out that in, though.

Good news at the moment, though, is as my hubbie is using my bike, he paid the road tax for it. So that's a plus. Always look on the bright side of life.

Good days, bad days

Things are really starting to show improvement, in terms of the shoulders (both mine and my hubbies). This is good, though we know it'll be a long stretch until we're back to normal (what ever that is!).

The thing is, sometimes it's not the physical scars that are worse. Both of us have had our dark days. I know I have analysed the wisdom of us taking the bike that day. My hubbie, in some ways, blames himself. If he didn't ride, I wouldn't have been pillion, I wouldn't have been on the back when the crash happened and been injured.

I know it was neither of our faults. Not mine for not saying "lets take the car" nor his for wanting to ride his bike. It was a silly car driver who didn't look. That said, it can be hard not to blame yourself and over analyse things. All of life is full of "what ifs". What's done is done. No amount of "what ifs" will change what happened. We, and the car driver, have to live with the consequences.

I know my faith has helped me a lot during the last few months. God was with us; holding us and standing with us. I know some people would say "if God is with you, why did he allow the crash to happen?". Well, that doesn't have a straightforward answer, but He gave us (humans) freewill. A freewill that gives us responsibility for our actions. Consciously or not, the car driver chose not to look before pulling out in front of us. It may seem strange, but I truly believe God prevented the crash being worse. If we'd been fraction of a second later the car would have side swiped the bike and we would have been much worse off.

We will heal, the bike will be replaced. Everything else...that's for the courts and lawyers to sort out.