No worries, Matt. It's been a crazy time in our lives for sure. Give me a ring sometime or let me know when you're back in town for a visit. I'm on my feet nearly full time again. Its a struggle for balance and I get tired fairly easily, but at least I am mobile without the walker and wheelchair for the most part. I was in a wedding a little over a week ago and was able to surprise my buddy by being able to walk down the aisle for the ceremony. That was a big stride forward in my recovery to say the least. I went to the drags this past weekend for an MSRA event and some camping. I still used the chair to get around though due to the long distances and time on my feet but it was great to get out of the house. Still working on PT. Started out being able to bend my knee 30 degrees a week ago and just hit 50 degrees yesterday. Long way to go for full mobility, but I'm chipping away at it every day. I still have lots of joint pain and stiffness in my wrist as well, but the doc gave me some exercises for that too. Small aches and pains are present elsewhere from the accident, but those will be dealt with if they're still an issue once the knee is healed. Small victories every day. With any kind of luck I'll be able to lose the leg brace and be driving in a couple weeks. The next challenge will be going back to work (or finding a new job due to a lack of business with my current employer). I'm hoping the rest of the legal battles will sort themselves out in time.
This is the 1st time I have seen this post. So, now that you have had time to think about it....what safety things would you have dome different on your car? If anything? How did the insurance deal work out? I was planning on getting the A coupe appraised as soon as it is finished and taking a lot of detailed pictures.
I'm still working (fighting) with the guy's insurance company to get compensated fairly. The car will hopefully be moving to a shop to start repairs soon. It sounds like they're willing to fix the car and will get the shop started with an initial payment. As the work progresses supplemental estimates will have to be submitted -- or so I've been told. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it goes smoothly, but my lawyer is on board to make sure of that as well. As for safety related items, the car will certainly have some changes made in the name of safety on the rebuild. First of all it will get 3-(or more) point seat belts. I was incredibly lucky that I didn't sustain any head, neck or spine injuries in this type of crash with only lap belts. It will also get a reinforced steel floor. The car had a wood floor that held up well, but I feel a reinforced steel floor would be a bit safer (opinions?). I am also going to reconsider the seating position to get my knees further away from the steering column and dash. I think the seating position could be a bit lower and maybe a couple inches back to gain a bit more clearance. The seat mounts were very stout made of 1/2 inch square tubing with gussets, but they still deformed from my body pulling against the seat belts. I'll have to re-engineer them a bit as well, but am unsure just how since it may the deformation that saved me from internal injuries I suppose. I was running a plastic Jegs or Summit style battery box in the cabin in the p***enger side rear. The box exploded on impact even though the battery was strapped down and seemed solidly mounted. On the rebuild I'll go with a smaller battery mounted in an ammo can or other similar metal box. At the time of the accident I didn't have any interior door panels. My left knee required s***ches and I have a fair bit of scarring due to the impact with the inner door structure. I had originally planned to run some nice bead rolled panels with louvers. I cringe at the thought of what the louvers would have done to my leg/knee! It'll be getting some nice tuck & roll or similar now. Though I didn't need it in this case, I did have a fire extinguisher -- a small one. I plan to run 1 larger extinguisher or 2 small ones. I did also have a power cut off switch. Right after the impact the first responder found my switch and cut the power. I was running a mechanical fuel pump so the fuel stopped pumping when I shut the car off, but the firefighters later cut the battery cables due to fuel leaking from the tank vent line. I've considered a rollbar, but I'm not sure if it would be more of a melon squasher on the street without a helmet. I had a good working e-brake but it didn't help me in this case. My car stopped fine, I just had no time to react. I will go with a dual master this time around though.
Sounds like a good plan, something we should all think about because you just never know what will happen. Thank god you had the lap belt or you might not have survived the crash or ended up with a bad head injury. I like the steel floor for the extra strength and being more fire proof. Good idea on the seating position too, the steering columns in these cars will always be knee knockers unless they were padded (ugly) so the further you can get away from it the better. Yea, the louvered soor panels could have been pretty nasty to your knee-kind of like a big cheese grater!! Yikes!!! Keep healing and doing the therapy, it sounds like you're doing great.
So it's been a long while since I gave an update. I'm still working my way toward a full recovery from my injuries. No, I'm not running any marathons, but I did manage to ride the stationary bike and use the elliptical machine for 15 minutes each the other day. I've been going to PT 2-3 times a week and going to the gym 3 times a week. I continue to work on strength, balance and range of motion. I started out with about 30 degrees range of motion in my knee. I currently have 118 degrees range of motion and am working towards 135 degrees. I am increasing the range of motion at a much slower rate now than when I started. I am seeing about a 2-4 degree increase each week now. With any kind of luck I'll have a full range by the New Year. The doctor gave me the ok to start driving again about a month ago. He gave me the green light to go back to work then too. As luck would have it, the same week I got orders from the doc to return to work, my boss called to lay me off. So I'm on the job hunt now too. The car is finally out of impound and at the shop awaiting the start of the rebuild. We're still battling the insurance company but we're making baby steps with them. Right now we're awaiting approval of the supplement to their original joke of an estimate. With some good luck the insurance adjuster will see the light and we'll be able to get started on the rebuild soon. Unfortunately with the loss of my job and the extra expenses related to my injuries there isn't any money to start the project without the insurance company's cooperation. It's still a painful journey at times (in many ways) but I still feel lucky to be alive. Hard to believe that it's been 4 months since the accident. Some days it seems like longer, other days it seems it was just yesterday. I still managed to get to quite a few car events this summer -- some in the wheelchair -- and some on foot (thankfully) -- for some hot rod therapy. I actually took my dad's 50 Ford out for a cruise and a show a couple weekends ago as well. It felt great to get behind the wheel of a rod again -- certainly not the same as driving my Model A, but the****utic nonetheless.
Glad to hear things are getting better...glad to hear ya got behind the wheel of a rod again...ah yes hot rod therapy...good luck in the future and hope the insurance ponies up the money so you can get the A back on the road again...good luck
Dang... Your at***ude with everything seems awesome, doesn't seem like you are letting anything stop you from getting back to where you were. Pretty soon winter will be here in full force, plenty of time to work on your car once the snow flies.
Glad you are getting better. Insurance is a *****. Most people are under-covered & on the wrong policy. Many think because they spent 10 grand building a car, that's what it's worth. WRONG!!!! All my cars have had Agreed coverage w/ Grundy Worldwide. No h***les, no fights. Got in a wreck- not as bad as yours but pretty significant. Called Grundy & they told me to take it to any shop I desired. Since So-Cal Speed Shop built some of the car- I dropped it there. They sent an appraiser out to look at it (over 25k) & cut me a check payable to me in less than 2 weeks. They were wonderful! They also said since it wasn't my fault- wouldn't affect my rate or points. Got my renewal last week & it went down!! Make sure you are insured up the *** & for market value- not what you think it's worth. The appraisal is for a professional shop to make repairs so the appraisal will be high & if you are under-insured, could be a total! You also have the option to make the repairs yourseld since the check is made out to you. Use a collector car policy (agreed, not stated)- and not a standard auto policy or you will get screwed.
It's unreal how insurance company's love to collect premiums,but resist payouts even when it's obvious you have every right to be compensated in a fair and timely manner.My daughter's back was broken when the vehicle she was a p***enger in was hit by a drunk driver,three years ago this december and still no settlement. I hope you heal well and repairs are made to your car soon.Keep your chin up,Good Luck! Tim
Thats great that you can get out and about now.There is nothing like Hot Rod therapy.Keep up on th PT and you will be back in action sooner than you think.Keep your head up and get well soon.
Good to hear your getting better hang in there, things will work out, it takes awhile with insurance company's their quick to take your money, not quick to make things right!!!!
Hope this all works out for you man. We're ALL pulling you. BTW, Thank you for taking the time to post the paragraph about what you do differently. I have never heard from someone who was in an accident with a hot rod explain what they would change when building the next one. Thanks Again
Thanks for the well wishes, guys. I'm lucky to be a part of such a great community. I'll keep you posted on any new developments with the car or otherwise. Keep your fingers crossed.
So, long time, no update . . . I finally completed physical therapy just before Christmas. I still experience some pain . . . more with physical activity . . . but I'm on my own two feet and that's what matters right now. I'm still looking for a job, but doors have been opening. Hopefully something will happen there sooner rather than later. The best news of all for me was finally working out a settlement on my Model A with the insurance company. It was a long seven month battle, but I finally got the check last week! I ended up buying the car back from the insurance company and will finally be able to begin the rebuild. In the meantime, I am on the hunt for a ride I can drive while the Model A is rebuilt. All things considered, I feel like things are looking up.
Up for the day crew. Sorry guys, I'm just so excited to finally have some resolution on the car after 7 months of battling the insurance company!
Congrats on the recovery, and the 'A' bein' back to wrench on. Just remember to do all the the****** says, you'll hate them, but they got a handle on the stuff.
I am glad to hear that you not only settled, but got the car back. Best of luck to you, things are looking up. -Tyson
HA. After my shoulder rebuild I was calling them "Physical Terrorists", but I thanked them every day for their help. Gave me my shoulder back. Keep doing the exercises, even though you no longer go to therapy. Use it or lose it.
Second that with my shoulder as well. Had mine done when I was only 24. Nine years later it is still a ***** most days, but I can use it! Glad to hear you are recovering.
Ok, I started typing this reply hours ago, but went out for some top-down Model A therapy instead. Huge thanks to Doug (FalconMan) for the use of his A RPU 2 weekends in a row! Hard to believe that 1 year ago today I was in the back of an ambulance at this time on my way to the hospital. It seems like ages ago and yesterday at the same time. Over the past year I've worked my *** off toward a physical recovery and to stay strong and not give in to the the fight with the insurance companies. I still face pain on a daily basis and some physical limitations, but I refuse to let it stop me from doing the things I love. I just have to find new ways to do things or think things through before I do them. My body always seems to let me know when I'm doing it wrong. I'm still out of work mostly due to economic conditions, but the accident didn't help things either -- but still searching and confident I'll find the right spot. In the meantime, we've learned how to live our lives within our means. Amazing how we don't seem to miss the things we've given up. As for the car . . . well, I battled the insurance company for 7 months to arrive at a satisfactory settlement on the car. Since then I've been ordering parts and tearing the car apart at my dad's shop (Wright County Collision in Buffalo, MN -- end plug ). I also managed to embark on a lifelong dream of building my "Survivor" with ***us' help. More here: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=371150 Some pics of the teardown . . . and "Resurrection." Gutting the interior: Mangled 32 shell (wall art?) and radiator: Pile-O-32 grill bars anyone?: Mashed Guides: Wounded bullet out (and I add that this engine only had 1000 miles at the time of the wreck and is now junk due to a broken block):
Body coming off the frame: She's naked and now we see what we're really workin with . . . bent rails and all: On the frame rack at my dad's shop for the rough pull: I don't have any further pics yet, but as of right now the frame is within a 16th of an inch of dead on the nuts square with a new front crossmember ready to be welded in and new ****** crossmember to be bolted in place. All the new suspension goodies are ready to be bolted on once we get the new wishbone mounts fabbed up. Rough bodywork has been started -- the doors open and close again, the hood tops have been straightened and the Guides are dent free. A new 32 shell & insert are ready to go as well as perfect hood sides. All in all, lots left to do, but good progress has been made. I can't wait to drive it again. It will be back . . . better than ever with some changes I've always wanted to make. I won't be satisfied until I'm doing a m***ive burnout in front of the house of the guy who hit me. All in due time!
man i remember when this happened from the other, other site. I didn't realize it was so bad. good to see it getting back in shape, and great work on Survivor so far.
The Jalopy Journal
