Sorry you had to learn the lesson the hard way. It's good that you've healed.
I'm like you. Stoic to a fault. My wife is a nurse. So I'll borrow one of her lines....
"Get yer ass to the doctor. Sheesh."
She also has awesome bedside manner when it comes to me. "Quit bitching and take your damn pills."
So what do you wear now, besides the helmet?
The usual level-up is jacket, gloves and boots of some kind. Most just wear ordinary jeans, which are pretty much useless.
Has your approach to riding and decision making changed as a result of your experience?
If you were to encounter the exact same "let's just go for a quick ride" situation today, what would you do?