Had another accident

[WHC-125 4]

I must be accident prone lately. I took out my old quad(2000 Polaris Trailboss 325) today and fired it up because it has been sitting since I bought my 400ex. Then I drove it around my backyard and went out into the road and went to turn around in the sand and my quad caught asphalt and flipped over. It through me about 5 feet and I hit my face and knees on the ground. I gashed my chin open to the point where I needed 6 stitches. And my knees are swollen to the point where they are bigger than my thighs. When the quad rolled over it nearly rolled over on top of me so I had to put my feet up to stop it while I was on the ground. One of my neighbors came out and seen me laying on the ground in the middle of the rode and then my mom heard it and ran to me. She was very scared and still is. My neighbor called 911 the ambulance and police came and I was taken to Saint Marys Hospital in Waterbury. It was a very rough day today and by the way I wasnt wearing a helmet for the first time in a while. The quad has bent handlebars, a broken strut on the right hand side, broken master brake cylinder, and maybe more but I havent been able to look it over yet. It was sitting upside down for like a minute so I might have to do some work it but we will see what happens when I try to start it soon. Lastly, to top it all of I got a $75 fine for driving an unregistered motor vehicle without a liscense. I know the cops in my town dont have anything better to do then worry about getting money instead of my health. The one good thing that happened when I went to the hospital is that my mom finally met my girlfriend even though she was crying alot I was trying to tell her everything is going to be ok.

[Roger from southern Iowa 1]

WOW!! Overall, I'd say you came out pretty well.

It could have been MUCH worse.

Sorry it happened and glad you're as good as you are.

What a way for your mom and girlfriend to meet!

[Save Old Iron 1,571]

Chris,

I guarantee the "COPS" do have your best interest in mind.

One of my daughters is in law enforcement and believe me she cares and would rush into a dangerous situation to save your butt even tho she never met you before.

However many folks respond to this and give you sympathy, or a thumbs up, remember,

YOU SCREWED UP,

ignored a basic safety consideration on not wearing a helmet and the snake bit you.

Your alive - that's great

You hurt - that's a reminder to be smarter.

$75 fine stinks - ever figure out how much money was spent to send out and equip the ambulance and patrol car to come to your rescue. Ever figure out why your mom complains about property taxes going up? Taking a minute to put that helmet on might start sounding a little sweeter right now.

Don't blame the driveway, the bike or the COPS. None of them kept you from putting the helmet on.

Take this for what its worth from the father of three responsible, safe, unhurt daughters (and probably the only member here who would tell their daughter if they wanted sympathy, they could look it up in the dictionary between Shi# and Syphil!$)

Now go fix your bike and tell your mother your sorry for scaring the beejezers out of her.

[Coadster32 793]

Everything comes with a price, but I'm glad to hear that your ok. It definatly could have been worse.

[Kelly 1,033]

Glad your all right but I agree with Chuck, THINK that is what I tell my kids. you will get older and smarter.

[rmaynard 16,292]

Chris,

I am glad that you are okay, but this proves a point. Guys your age think that they are invincible. You take risks, never thinking that you will get hurt. You are not accident prone, you are a typical teenager with dangerous toys. Accidents are always the result of someone not using good judgment, or being careless.

Like Chuck said, you ignored some basic rules of safety because you thought that you would never get hurt.

Maybe this will be lesson for you. You were very lucky this time.

Speedy recovery.

Bob

[Sparky-(Admin) 23,139]

Hey pal, I think it was Stephen(Rollerman) who said "Chicks dig scars", but theres a limit to how many they'll dig .

Get yourself all fixed up and use the helmet ALL the time. You dont want to go to the Wheel Horse show in June in a wheelchair do ya?

I hope you have a speedy recovery!

Mike........

[VinsRJ 723]

Tears from the girlfriend!?! If you play your cards right, its going to be a good weekend my friend.

Be safe.

[fireman 1,022]

Chuck I'm right there with you! No sympathy here either. I sold my quad for that exact reason. There is no place to legally and safely ride in CT unless you own or have access to a large tract of land. Even then you have to where all your safety gear. In the summer when it's really hot and I ride my motorcycle I still have on my helmet, gloves, riding jacket, heavy pants and boots.

Chris,

Sell the quads and put the money in the bank or into your truck. There will be time for the toys later on!!!

P.S. Are you going to be riding with me to the show? (and she can't come ) :omg:

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,527]

Chris,

I have been telling you all along that they are dangerous !! When you are 16 you know it all (like all a6 year olds). When I was 15 I almost killed myself and my friend on one of those. After that accident in which I too was driving without a helmut (on the road and on a trike with no brakes) real smart right.. again I was 15 and knew it all and was the best driver in the world so I did not need brakes I ended up with a broken nose, over 40 sitches in my face and head and a second plasic surgery to reduce the scares I still have. I was lucky my friend ended up with just 9 stiches in his elbow.

take Jeff's advise and sell them off and put it in the bank as you will need it for your truck.

I am happy to hear you were not hurt badly. :D

[Sparky-(Admin) 23,139]

P.S. Are you going to be riding with me to the show? (and she can't come )

Dang! Thats funny Jeff!!!

Mike.......

[6wheeler 669]

Are you tired of getting bawled out yet? It seems to me, you could stand in the middle of a bare 10,000 acre field all alone, and bam. You get into trouble. But, What do we learn from this? Your Mom and Girlfriend cried.... Imagine how they would feel if it were your grave.......... I've had 3 wheelers and 4 wheelers, I ride motorcycles even now, WEAR YOUR HELMET!!!!!! I am glad to see that you are gonna be ok... Common Sense is not your enemy......... As far as the cops go, My son just got a speeding ticket. He somehow thought that was the cops fault too. I said" Well did you see him speeding by you"? He said" No, he was just sitting there". So, HOW the hell is this his fault, was my response. If you don't look for trouble, it probably won't find you... Be careful, Be young, Have fun.. Don't be dumb, Thats not cool. :omg:

[SALTYWRIGHT 861]

I AM SORRY TO HEAR OF YOUR FALL. YOU MUST WEAR YOUR HELMET. WHEN I STARTED RIDING THE DID NOT HAVE HELMETS. (1943) PLEASE WEAR YOURS NOW. IF I CAN DO ANY THING L ET ME KNOW.

[WHC-125 4]

Thank you everyone who has replyed so far. I appreciate you all being there for me and your words of advice.

Roger, yeah it was a great way for them to meet. The people at the hospital wouldnt let my girlfriend in so that made her more sad. And I was txting while I was getting the stitches put in.

Chuck, Kelly, 6wheeler, and Russ, yes I know I screwed up and thats why that quad is getting sold and I will not ride my quad without a helmet.

Chris, thats true everything does come with a price. And yeah it could have been worse thank god it wasnt.

Bob, I know I ignored wearing a helmet because I never thought this would have happened. It was stupid of me and its not going to happen again.

Mike, yeah at this rate my whole body is going to be one huge scar in no time. I really hope not. And who needs wheel chairs, I have wheel horses

Vince, I hated seeing her like that, she is a very beautiful girl and I didnt want her crying over me. As soon as they gave me the ok to leave I tryed to run to the waiting room to see her.

Jeff, I plan on selling this quad but I want to at least keep the 400ex I just bought because it is mint and I need to have some fun still. AndI do plan on riding with you to the show. I cant wait for it.

Steve, I am sorry to hear about your accident. I know you have been saying they are dangerous to me for a while :D

[DoctorHfuhruhurr 137]

After reading your post this is what went through my mind from a movie I saw recently (see video below). I'm not making fun; I've had my fair share of miss steps. I'm a walking accident so I can relate. Live and Learn.

View My Video

[Coadster32 793]

View My Video

Pretty gruesome.

Experience is what you get when you didn't get the results that you wanted. We've all had our fair share of "experiences", and just be sure that there will be more to come. It's all in how you take it, bounce back, and re-apply it that counts. Going off of your return reply...I'd say you're doing pretty darn well!

It's easy to say "captain obvious" types of mistakes, but hindsight is always 20-20, and everyone is a monday morning quarterback. Some people are just too proud, or embarassed to share theirs. If you can learn from other peoples experiences, you're doing even better. But, how would you know if nobody else shares? I say, keep your head up, and thanks for posting your experience. :D

[Roger from southern Iowa 1]

Chris, I feel that you've shown a lot of maturity in your response to the previous posts.

Your decision to sell one of the quads is a step in the right direction.

It seems that you've grown up a LOT in the last few hours. I hope so,want to keep you around for a long time.

With you keeping your other one, hopefully you will ride it like what it it...a machine that will "bite" you in a split second.

Please keep your commitment to yourself and all of us, ride smart and safe from now on.

All machines are only as safe as the operator.

Heal quickly and without complications.

[WHC-125 4]

Anonymous, it sure felt like that happened when it did. Thank god that didnt happen though.

Chris, thanks for the advice.

Roger, I have been told several times I am very mature for my age and thanks for saying that as well. I plan to keep my commitment as well. And thanks again.

[stevasaurus 23,274]

Chris...I feel your pain. I have had a bad stretch also, but it is because I am getting old...pulled muscles and such. If you don't slow down, you won't be around long enough to start pulling muscles and such. I recommend "bubble wrap" . I do not go anywhere anymore without a good layer wrapped around me. :omg:

[wheel horse 1045 2]

chris if you keep this up your gonna have to wear a helmut and ride the little yellow bus from now on :omg:

[mavfreak 11]

chris I have followed this post all day,

Now I'm not going to tell you not to have fun. Just be smarter about your fun.

I have raced dirt bikes for some years and then a small run of road racing. I have broken many bones and disloctaed just about every joint in my body. I can say I never road anything without my head protected. My dirt bike racing ended after I was hit from the side on a start and blew out my knee. My street racing ended when I got married. plus I had a get off at 170mph at mid ohio sports car road coarc I stopped racing after that. put the fear in me. I really wasn't to good at it anyway. I know alot of peolpe who have wrecked and because of the protective gear we are all here to talk about it. And I know of a guy who wrecked on the street without a helmut and he's got some serious head problems now. And believe me I feel it now at 35 years My body hurts, I'm going to just love when I get older.

But having said all that I wouldn't have changed anything I loved it. And I miss it. But I can at least say I've done it.

Just think befor you get on one again cause you now know that anything can happen at any time no matter how good you think you are.

go have fun!

Now the cops did what they are paid to do even if you think it wasn't right. Just like some else said on here. You was in the worng

Hope you heal fast and well

[Butch 194]

No helmet? That drives me nuts when I see someone on a quad or a dirt bike without a helmet. My wife, my 2 boys and me all had dirt bikes. I mandated a helmet, chest protector and boots for all of us. And if you're in my truck ya put on a seatbelt!! I learned at 16 that that "it will never happen to me" attitude can be over in a split second. And at the age of 14 my oldest son learned the same lesson when he cut school and went on a snowboarding trip with his buddies. But yes, I still do some very dumb things! Use a swivel chair as a ladder which I broke my arm doing before! Never do I use eye protection when drilling, sanding and grinding while I lay on my back, under a vehicle, working directly above my face!! There's plenty of other dumb things I do but I always where a motorcycle helmet!!

[Bill 4]

At 16 it's like trying to tell you to say off the road with that quad..And as we spoke today you should be thanking that cop for only giving you that $75.00 fine instead of what he really could have done. Now if you keeping getting hurt whos going to help me putting all the weights on the tractor????????????????????... lol Now get your permit and start driving, forget about the Quad for now :D

[rickv1957 74]

Wow Chris,you need to be careful!!!,Rick

[Ken B 3,189]

Very happy too hear that you are okay and happy that it sounds like you are going too wear your helmet at all times now. Lesson learned

I had my own experience about 22 yrs. ago. I had a Honda Big Red ATC. I was riding in the woods behind my parents house where I had ridden millions of times. I went barreling up a very steep and short hill when the front tire hit a rock. The ATC went shy high, I was thrown threw the air backwards 20 ft. I landed flat on my back with the wind knocked out of me, I couldn't budge. To my horror that friggin big arse Big Red was flying threw the air upside down and coming right for me. I thought I was a dead man, the handle bar stuck in the ground right against my ribs, a foot in the ground, with all of that Big Red landing right on top of me. The atc ran for at least 45 seconds before it finally konked out. It was at least 15 minutes before I had the energy too get that turd off me, with fuel pouring all over me the entire time. I gave it away the next day.

I had a helmet on, it wouldn't have saved me if that handle bar was just a hair closer to me. My decisions that day were all bad ones, I shouldn't have been riding alone, I should have left that hill alone, even though I went up it many times before, I shouldn't have pushed my luck. And, I should have never of bought a 3 wheel ATC. The big guy in the sky must have been watchin over me.

If you enjoy your Quad, you should keep it. I continued ridin, though I stuck to my Honda CR 250 dirt bike. I must admit, at 42 yrs. old I have no desire for a street bike, but, if I had a place too ride a loud 2 stroke dirt bike without being bothered by the authorities it would be game on! Ride safely eh.