James

Im very interested in your story of the competent medical care you  received.I  get frustrated seeing the insurance companies cut back caring doctors abilities to help. Its also very fortunate you had coverage thru SDSU.

Just a quick tip, you probably have auto insurance.I suggest you upgrade your Auto  Medical Payment and Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage to  the maximum,then get an umbrella policy if you can afford it..Its usually very little extra.The premium increase is a deal and worth it if hit on the road.,especially if the other guy that caused an accident had little or no coverage.Your policy will kick in and cover you even on your bicycle.Thats right , your Auto policy will cover you on a bicycle if another caused an accident.It might even cover you in a race situation.

I have a few  Free articles on my web site for those who want to know more,  the one related to this post is called "Don't Skimp On Insurance".

Hope you recover soon.

Best to you all.

Richard Duquette
Bicycle Injury Trial Lawyer since 1983.
Carlsbad
www.911law.com


  At 07:08 PM 8/4/2007, you wrote:

Quick Update:
I'll be back as soon as my pulled back muscles loosen up.
My road rash is almost all healed.
I got on the trainer yesterday and should be riding on the road
early this week!!!

The Crash:

Got caught behind a big crash Sunday, went over the bars and landed
directly on a curb with my back!!! ouch!!!
Bruised back ribs etc…(maybe small crack that they can't see) hurts
to take deep breath.
Pulled muscles in my lower back, now any movement of these muscles
sends sharp pains everywhere.
Road Rash: right thigh, left calf, lower back
Chainring to the arm, like a tattoo

The Details:

Although I don't have medical insurance (I am too old to be on my
dad's plan, and I forgot to renew my State Univ. insurance), luckily
I am enrolled in summer school @ SDSU, so for $50 I essentially have
amazing socialized medical care!!!

Tuesday I prove to SDSU that I am enrolled at Cal Poly in the Fall,
so they take me in. They send me to Urgent Care, and a wait for a
little while. The Doc checks my back and takes an X-ray. She said
that the X-ray is not needed, because the treatment for a bruised,
cracked, or broken rib is all the same, but it will tell how long I
should wait before racing again. The Doc could not see any
fractures, so she said I can ride as soon as my bruised ribs heal.

I only went in because I was worried about my back/ribs, but just as
I was getting ready to leave they realize I have road rash under my
jeans. So they get me in my boxers, clean me up, give me a tetanus
shot (supposedly expensive Tdap vaccine), and use some fancy burn
victim treatment (zeraform) on the road rash. I overhear the
doctors talking about this treatment and saying that most hospitals
can't use it because insurance companies & HMOs won't pay for it.
Then as I give my many thanks, they say I need to come back every
day this week so they can re-dress my wounds. They then gave me a
huge goodie bag for the coming weekend so I will be able to treat
myself. I am really impressed with the medical center @ SDSU. The
Nurses/Doctors have been taking amazing care of my road rash and I
have learned my previous care methods may need to be updated.

-James

Richard L. Duquette
Criminal Defense &
Bicycle Injury Lawyer since 1983
Carlsbad, CA
760-730-0500
www.911law.com