A Tauranga woman is pleading with motorists to keep in mind that it only takes seconds to change a life completely.

For the last 16 months Ellyse Larson Macrae has been battling to recover from a broken leg she sustained after being knocked off her 500cc scooter in September 2014.

Ellyse remembers she'd been driving down Cameron Rd in the lane beside the grass median strip when the accident occurred.

'A van coming off Third Ave turned onto Cameron Rd and smashed into my side off my scooter.

'I'm not sure why they didn't see me; I think I was either in the driver's blind spot or they were looking at traffic coming from the opposite direction.”

From the accident Ellyse sustained a compound fracture to her left leg and since the crash she's undergone three surgeries to try and get the bone to mend – but it's been to no avail.

Though she can walk unaided, it is only for small periods of time and Ellyse is still reliant on crutches when she's out and about.

The possibility of her going under the knife again is becoming more likely.

It's been a rough road to recovery for Ellyse and she hopes to eventually gain full mobility again – but she knows it's going to take a lot more time.

'For the last year-and-a-half I've struggled with a broken leg due through no fault of my own and I would like people to be more aware of push bike and scooter users on the road.

'Please just take that second to turn your head to check your blind spots and just be more aware of what's around you,” says Ellyse.