Getting back on the horse after getting bucked off (hard!)

[Gryph0n]

My beautiful Sunseeker 2400MBS was totaled a few weeks ago after a head on collision with a car that lost control and veered into my lane.With barely seconds to choose between rolling it down a steep and deep ditch to the right or hitting an oncoming semi to the left; hitting the brakes and taking on a 4000# Chevy sedan seemed like the best of the bad options. Thanks to physics, seatbelts, and blessed air bags we walked away with relatively minor injuries. The driver who hit us was not so lucky. Thank goodness my wife was buckled in her seat instead of wandering back to tinkle - I doubt she’d have survived.
We’re both rattled by the experience and unsure when, or even if to replace the MH and get back on the road. If you’ve been through a similar trauma, how long did it take to recover?

[Dutch Star Don]

Glad you're okay and no one was seriously hurt.

Regarding your question, if you had crashed your daily driver, would you stop driving? The only difference between the two accidents is one is an RV and one is a car. Getting another RV is not as easy as buying a car, but it gives you a chance to buy something that fits your travel needs if they've changed since the purchase of your last RV.

[crb478]

Not a MH, but I was hit and according to medic Killed by someone driving a truck while I was riding my motorcycle. Shattered my shoulder, so endured 2 surgeries to fix as well as possible. How long did it take to want to be back on the road, less than 24 hours.

With help I picked up the bike the next day, trailered, but picked it up. I had it fixed and was riding it again before my are was out of a sling.

Now this was a life altering injury, but the pain would not go away if I never rode again! It is something I enjoy so why give it up? Life is short, live large!

[Psneeld]

Originally Posted by crb478

Not a MH, but I was hit and according to medic Killed by someone driving a truck while I was riding my motorcycle. Shattered my shoulder, so endured 2 surgeries to fix as well as possible. How long did it take to want to be back on the road, less than 24 hours.

With help I picked up the bike the next day, trailered, but picked it up. I had it fixed and was riding it again before my are was out of a sling.

Now this was a life altering injury, but the pain would not go away if I never rode again! It is something I enjoy so why give it up? Life is short, live large!

The age of people coupled with life experiences can have a lot to do with the feeling of mortality.

[crb478]

Ok I am not ancient, but I am on Medicare. I have also been in several situations where people we trying their best to kill me so that may make me appreciate the time I have even more. Soon enough I will be in my no go years, but I hope to not have regrets about quitting to soon. Only the OP can decide what is to soon for them. If I came out unhurt, but just shaken by the experience I would not want to bow out unless I thought there were other interest I would now rather pursue.

[Random01]

I've been in a car accident where I got head injury and was stuck in a burning car unable to open the door or window but was able to crawl out by squeezing through the narrow opening in the window. Had to chose to let it be hit rather than hit a minivan into the side. I had put close to a million of travel miles since that accident. I didn't really feel any lasting mental trauma from that, what was traumatic is horrible healthcare system in this country, that's all. I also had a car lose control and fly accross the median missing me by only few feet as I dealt with flat tire on the side of a highway. Earlier I felt asleep and my car flew off the interstate into the canyon from where I got pulled out by police eventually, I was young and inexperienced.This did not affect my feelings about driving.

As a woman boondocking full time solo in a motorhome I find the RV thing more stressful than I would like to, but collision is sort of the least of my concerns with the RVing. I travel rural routes and avoid interstates or any busy roads or streets now, I find that people are insane and lack driving skills these days, also deliberately violating speed limits and road rage at those who do observe speed limits. Road rage is my biggest concern when it comes to driving. A son of family friend was shot dead by road raging driver.

This is my last year traveling. I'm looking forward to the day I have to do no more driving other than monthly trip to buy groceries, honestly, because with people being on cellphones, collapse of civility, lack of police enforcement, people driving with no licenses and road rage I'd rather not drive at all now even though I had put over million miles throughtout my life. Just follow your heart, but I wouldn't feel good advising anyone hit long distances in RV these days.

[PKI]

Glad you and your wife survived. Sympathy for the loss of your rig.

You never get over the reality of an accident, but usually you do move on with life. Often it is with a different perspective.

Airbags - not all RVs have them ..... a very good safety addition. One very good reason for a Class B or C RV.

Seatbelts - I can't count the number of times I have read about someone wanting a Class A so they could walk around while traveling. A very bad idea. Should be a requirement of purchase to see one of those bloody crash films like the driver's education teacher (when they existed) showed to teen drivers before they could get a license.

Driving - Attentive driving can help improve safety significantly. Following at a safe distance can reduce the potential of a collision. Constantly planning an escape route does the same. Traveling just a bit slower is part of that style as well as looking ahead for potential hazards.

Thanks for posting your experience and asking the question. Gives us all the reminder of what can happen out there on travel days.

You know more now so your next RV will be better for your RV lifestyle if you give it some thought. Good Luck!