Cow caused LE contact

[ELB]

WOW. I am sorry you had this collision, but glad it was not worse. That was a close one.

In areas where the nearest trauma hospital is some distance away, helicopter rides for car accidents are pretty common. There is more or less a standard set of criteria for deciding who flies, and head trauma with Loss of consciousness would point towards a ride. That said, if you are fully competent (alert and oriented) you can refuse any medical treatment, but the first responders are going to strongly recommend you go to the trauma center ASAP -- the effects of head injuries can take awhile to show up, but then it is a bit late to decide maybe you should have gone for the ride after all.

I hope they found the cow quickly -- I can't imagine it wasn't badly injured at least in the legs, and hate to think of it suffering. I don't mind steak and hamburger, but the process shouldn't be drawn out.


One dark morning I (as a fire department first responder) was called to an accident scene where a guy on a motorcycle hit a full grown cow (also black). I expected to find the guy in bad shape, if not dead. However, it was the cow that was dead, the bike was bent, and the rider, while having a few scrapes, refused treatment and transport and went home under his own power. Go figure.

When I first got to Texas I did some research on fencing laws, and was intrigued by the fence-in/fence out rules. When Texas started converting from open range to fenced farms and ranches (and automobiles), it was eventually worked out that each county had to decide by vote if they were going to be a "fence-in" county. In fence-out counties, live stock could roam and if you didn't want your neighbor's stock wandering onto your property you had to fence them out. If the county voted for "fence-in" then the owner of the livestock had to put up fences to keep stock from wandering. This affected the right-of-ways too -- in fence-out counties, it was generally driver beware. I had thought the only fence-out counties that might still exist would be in the far south and west, but I don't know. Guess you are going to find out.

Happy retirement, btw.

[2farnorth]

Just got off the phone with the officer. He said they never found the cow. Tracked it up the side of the rode to where the tracks just disappeared. They did call the land owner adjacent to the accident and he was supposed to go out and do a head count on his cattle this morning. BUT nothing was ever heard. The officer is going to call him tonight. Did find out from another source that a motorcycle rider hit a cow in the same area last year.
I had hoped that he had gotten the info on the two angels that stopped and helped me but he said they left before he got it. I was quite dis-oriented when they got there. Just wanted to say thank you to them. Never got a chance to last night. Maybe I'll put a small add in the local newspaper.

gotta go take a nap now. These 2 hour naps are getting tiring but I guess it's better than a permanent nap though
Thanks again for all the well wishes and information. Y'all are great.

[johnson0317]

Really glad to hear you got out of that one. Dense meat creates a lot of damage. I think you are right, there were two angels by your side.

RJ

[Ed4032]

Some one really should put up a No Cow Zone sign. That way this will never happen again.

[2farnorth]

Some one really should put up a No Cow Zone sign. That way this will never happen again.

[Keith B]

Some one really should put up a No Cow Zone sign. That way this will never happen again.

What a dumb idea. We all know cows can't read. And, to top that, they can't spell very well either. I know this from seeing how they spell wurdz on the Chick-Fil-A commercials.

[Rex B]

Glad you are OK.
Shame about the Fiero, those are getting to be scarce.

Probably good that it wasn't a full soft-top.

[C-dub]

Some one really should put up a No Cow Zone sign. That way this will never happen again.

What a dumb idea. We all know cows can't read. And, to top that, they can't spell very well either. I know this from seeing how they spell wurdz on the Chick-Fil-A commercials.

Then maybe just a cow silhouette in side a red circle with slash through it.

[2farnorth]

AArrrgh. Got to go back to the Dr today. Getting small slivers of glass out of my left ear last night and a small bit of blood. Left eye is swollen nearly shut and blacker than coal. Left rear part of my head and neck hurt when I try to sleep. Gonna call work today and see if they will convert these last 3 days into vacation time (fat chance since then they would have to pay me for it and my official retirement date is tomorrow )

[Scott in Houston]

AArrrgh. Got to go back to the Dr today. Getting small slivers of glass out of my left ear last night and a small bit of blood. Left eye is swollen nearly shut and blacker than coal. Left rear part of my head and neck hurt when I try to sleep. Gonna call work today and see if they will convert these last 3 days into vacation time (fat chance since then they would have to pay me for it and my official retirement date is tomorrow )

They have to pay out your earned vacation either way. You may want to check on how your company handles vacation and 'sick days' as well as short term disability.
It's possible that you may be able to use disability for your time off, or maybe sick days, and not vacation. That way, when you get your last pay check, you'll get cash for the unused vacation days. Don't use them if you don't have to! They're worth money, so try your other options first.

[2farnorth]

AArrrgh. Got to go back to the Dr today. Getting small slivers of glass out of my left ear last night and a small bit of blood. Left eye is swollen nearly shut and blacker than coal. Left rear part of my head and neck hurt when I try to sleep. Gonna call work today and see if they will convert these last 3 days into vacation time (fat chance since then they would have to pay me for it and my official retirement date is tomorrow )

They have to pay out your earned vacation either way. You may want to check on how your company handles vacation and 'sick days' as well as short term disability.
It's possible that you may be able to use disability for your time off, or maybe sick days, and not vacation. That way, when you get your last pay check, you'll get cash for the unused vacation days. Don't use them if you don't have to! They're worth money, so try your other options first.

Appreciate the advice... I wish it worked that way in this company. No sick days, vacation is "not earned" it is "given" to us according to the company. They have informed us that it can not be cashed in under those conditions. It is forfeited upon termination. Disability only kicks in after 2 weeks. Since I have all ready given notice it's not available.
Just talked to my terminal manager and I need to stop by and sign a vacation request. He will send it in as vacation. At least I won't lose those days when I terminate my employment as I would have otherwise. May help pay for some of the resulting expenses that I am incurring.

[Scott in Houston]

Ok. Sorry to hear that. That sucks. It sounds like they don't want the liability of vacation on their books. I'm guessing it's a smaller company based on this information. Hopefully they'll do the right thing to take care of you.

[Iunnrais]

Glad to hear you are okay. In certain counties in Tx highways are subject to open range laws. Even though there are fences along both sides of the road if you hit a cow or horse in the roadway you are subject to pay for the animal and the owner is not liable for any damages to your vehicle. If it has been well documented with the S.O. that animals are repeatedly loose on the road in that area, then you can sue the owner for damages. These laws were enacted when it was open range years ago and are still on the books as such. This covers county, farm to market and state highways. In the county I live in this is true south of US 287 but not north of it.

Sorry about your misfortune but at least you are okay.

*Grin* I know well the area of which you speak having spent the first 20 years of my life in that county and driving many of those back roads on a Friday or Saturday night. My dad (back in the days when he still had a small herd) used to send the worst trouble making cow on a one way trip to Archer City each year. (well...mostly one way. Half would come back and stock the big deep freeze for the year). One made the trip because she had the habit of leaning over on a fence, making it fall over and letting the herd out.

[rescuetech]

WOW. I am sorry you had this collision, but glad it was not worse. That was a close one.

In areas where the nearest trauma hospital is some distance away, helicopter rides for car accidents are pretty common. There is more or less a standard set of criteria for deciding who flies, and head trauma with Loss of consciousness would point towards a ride. That said, if you are fully competent (alert and oriented) you can refuse any medical treatment, but the first responders are going to strongly recommend you go to the trauma center ASAP -- the effects of head injuries can take awhile to show up, but then it is a bit late to decide maybe you should have gone for the ride after all.

Happy retirement, btw.

2far,
ELB said it before I had a chance. Looking at the pics the FF/FR's called the bird because; 1) mechanism of injury. Any time a considerable portion of the vehicle intrudes into the passenger compartment you will be given a priority. 2) head injuries can be, and often are deadly, the brain is an amazing thing. It compensates very well and can do so for awhile.... right up to the moment it is to late and it shuts down. So while you my have been mostly "with it" answering questions, even walking etc... if it were compensating for a serious unseen/unsee-able injury it could shut down at any time and if you are standing on the side of the road or laying in the back of the box, 20 minutes away from the ER. Well.... you'd have been done. So head injuries also get a priority. When you put the two together you get the bird.
The bill will not be good, no disagreement there. Just know that the FF/FR taking care of you thought it was a necessity.

Looking at the pics, all I can say is wow.

Glad you are okay.

[johnson0317]

Excellent analysis.