Piperdave says thanks, and asks....

[Piperdave]

Hi all,

Thank you all so much for your thoughts, and comments, this last ten days.

Life is still tricky for me, and i feel it will be weeks before i am out of the woods, following my fall, at midnight, following a dinner party It still hurts, and makes me dizzy, if i move my head too quickly, and somehow, bits of my thought process' don't really work as they did :cry:

I would like to ask two questions here if i may.

1) I suspect it is time for me to get a helmet. I don't want to have a repeat brain injery. I need one for mixed road and off road work. Any suggestions regarding coverage and price?

2) Specifically in W.Sussex/Worthing area, does anyone have any advice re making a claim against the council for the road surfice condition?

Hope you all have a better week than i will have......

Dave

 

[tintin40]

Specifically in W.Sussex/Worthing area, does anyone have any advice re making a claim against the council for the road surfice condition?

Hope you all have a better week than i will have......

Dave

Get legal aid. Have you taken pictures of the road?? Go to your local C.A.B office.
Get well soon

 

[kampos]

Firstly ; and not trying to pry excessively; what happened? A good friend of mine had a pretty nasty accident some years back ( broken hip ) on a road in bad condition -- he got nothing at all from WSCC; as soon as they got wind he was planning a suit they had the road repaired pronto so be aware of that. If you do intend to pursue legal action then you will need a strong case ( pics of the road in question ; police statements etc etc) to get anywhere ; honestly I am not trying to put you off but be aware it WILL be a hard fight. Preparation will be your best friend as all councils employ a very good legal team.
Finally ; did you get yourself checked out? I'm a first aider and if someone told me they still had dizziness ten days after an incident I'd pack them off to casualty -- not scaremongering there I hope ; but concussions need careful care. Good Luck with all of that ;
kampos/Dave

 

[NAILTRAIL96]

Get the best helmet you can afford £80 will get a perfectly good one and the only advice you need is to remember to wear it.
You weren't a little worse for wear were you?.

 

[Piperdave]

You weren't a little worse for wear were you?.

To elaborate a little......

We cycled up to our friends for dinner, a thank you for helping them move. We left around midnight, not feeling too done in at all.

As i cycled south, down hill, i couldn't locate my L foot in the rat traps, so i slowed, dropped to 42t front, located my foot, and continued uphill, east, to the second road junction. When i go there, i could see SWMBO well down the hill. I free wheeled down the incline, but didn't feel the street lights were very good. Didn't worry as my lights are OK. The lights looked better towards the oncoming junction at the Joyful Whippet pub.

Some way down the hill, my back wheel started to try and join my front wheel, rising into the air and i remember my body moving slight to the right in relation to the bike. Front wheel seemed in control. Then......nothing


I am told a resident heard the noise, and called 999, brought me a blanket, and reassured SWMBO until the ambulance arrived. I have little memory of their attentions. They took me to Brighton, as the CT scanner was out of action in Worthing.

I was subjected to some tests, 2 ct scans, and neurological assesments every 2 hours for 4 days. After day two, i was aware that i was sleeping in my clothes.

After ten days now, the dislocation between my observation, and my feeling things is lessening, the GP states that due to concussion, my brain can't recognize and act on facts at the requisit speed. The dizzyness is decreasing slowly when i move my head too quickly, muscularskelital pains come and go. My sight is a little altered, as my specs seem to have changed. I am still on the max pain killers i can take.

It will be some time until my brain sorts itself out, then i can think about driving, and then returning to work.

Dave

 

[NAILTRAIL96]

The reason I ask is I've read of several claims that have been denied as a result of "drunk in charge" being mentioned in the claim.

 

[grahame]

Two pieces of advice:

Get the helmet that you feel most comfortable in. That way you will be most likely to wear it.

If you think you have a £10 head, get a £10 helmet.

 

[hamster]

Use the CTC solicitors, they are cycling specialists, not some general ambulance chasers.

 

[FairfaxPat]

You know, most cycling helmets are made the same way with the same materials. It seems that the more ventilation holes in the top, the higher the price! I have used Giro helmets for years and whenever I get a new one, I buy last year's model on sale, usually for around US $ 30-40.00 For more money than that you don't get more protection, just more vents and style.

 

[godders]

Best thing when buying a new helmet ...
go round loads of shops and try the different makes on
they all tend to be a slightly different head shape ,
when you find the one that fits the best/ looks the way you want ...
go home and find it on the tinter web and save yourself £20 £30
on the shop price
all the best Dave and keep us posted on how your getting on
Mick