Summary:
- Bicycle accidents can expose the bones to severe physical trauma that can lead to a bone fracture
- Direct blows to the head during bicycle accidents can cause traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries from bicycle accidents can lead to paralysis, difficulties with sensation, and bladder and bowel problems
- Bicycle accident victims can suffer back and neck injuries, such as facet joint injuries, cervical spine injuries, and herniated discs
Bicycle accidents can expose cyclists to direct blunt-force trauma that can damage the bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other essential parts of the body. This damage to the body can result in severe bicycle accident injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), broken bones, spinal cord injuries, and upper and lower extremity injuries.
Those who have to live with the impact of bicycle accident injuries can suffer intense pain, reduced body functionality, paralysis, and psychological suffering. Bicycle accident victims can file civil claims with at-fault parties’ insurance companies. A bicycle accident attorney can use their expertise to help pursue compensation for economic and non-economic damages.
Bicycle Accidents Can Cause Broken Bones
During a bicycle accident, a victim can sustain physical trauma from being struck by a motor vehicle or heavy object. They can also fall off their bike and crash onto the hard floor. This physical impact can expose the bones to damage, leading to fractures.
Broken bones can cause severe pain in the affected area, numbness, inability to use the injured body part, swelling, bruising, bleeding, and bone protruding through the skin. Many different types of bone fractures can occur based on whether you suffer a clean break or if the bone breaks into multiple fragments.
Some body parts that can sustain bone fractures during a bicycle accident include fingers, hands, arms, legs, collarbones, hips, knees, ankles, feet, and shoulders. Those who suffer from broken bones should go to the hospital to receive medical treatment to mitigate the long-term impact of their broken bone.
Traumatic Brain Injuries Caused by Bicycle Accidents
A bicycle accident victim can suffer a direct blow to the head that causes damage to the brain and leads to a traumatic brain injury (TBI). This type of injury can affect how the brain works and lead to adverse physical symptoms. Those living with TBIs can experience recurring headaches, vision loss, seizures, nausea, and problems with sleeping.
They can also experience cognitive difficulties that affect them long-term, such as memory loss, trouble focusing, difficulty retaining new information, and worsened decision-making. Some TBIs bicycle accident victims can suffer include concussions, contusions, diffuse axonal injuries, and coup-contrecoup brain injuries.
The Impact of a Spinal Cord Injury from a Bicycle Accident
Blunt-force trauma during a bicycle accident can damage the vertebrae and spinal nerves, leading to a spinal cord injury. This can cause significant physical symptoms, such as intense pain in the back, reduced mobility, muscle spasms, trouble breathing, and coughing.
However, spinal cord injuries can also have more severe effects on how the body works. The brain sends signals throughout the body with the help of the spinal cord. With a spinal cord injury, the body can struggle to send signals. Someone may not be able to move their legs and arms. They can experience difficulties with sensation without the ability to feel through touch.
Back and Neck Injuries Caused by Bicycle Accidents
Bicycle accidents can also expose the back and neck to injury risk. A motor vehicle can strike a bicyclist from behind and cause a back and neck injury. They can also suffer damage from falling off their bike and their back slamming onto the ground.
The force and pressure applied to the back and neck can cause damage that can result in a range of injuries, including facet joint injuries, herniated discs, and pinched nerves. These types of injuries can lead to sharp pain, stiffness along the spine, leg numbness, loss of bladder control, headaches, and paralysis.
Contact The Russo Firm for Help With Your Bicycle Accident Claim
The bicycle accident lawyers at The Russo Firm can help you recover compensation for damage caused by severe injuries, such as medical bills, lost wages, and loss of enjoyment of life. We understand the pain and suffering caused by serious bicycle accident injuries and wish to use our vast experience, expertise, and resources to help you.
Our experienced bicycle accident attorneys can assist you in calculating your damages, collecting evidence, and negotiating a fair settlement. Contact us for a free bicycle accident case evaluation today at (561) 270-0913 or leave a message on our online contact page.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bicycle Accidents
What are the Long-Term Health Consequences of a Bicycle Accident Injury?
The severe injuries caused by a bicycle accident can result in long-term health consequences that the victim will have to live with and overcome. If they suffer a lower extremity or spinal cord injury, the bicycle accident victim may not be able to walk and can experience paralysis. This health consequence can affect their ability to hold a job, leading to lost wages.
Head trauma during a bicycle accident can cause a TBI that results in cognitive impairment. A person who suffers from this will suffer from problems with memory, concentration, and learning. Bicycle accident injuries can also cause adverse effects on a person’s quality of life and mental health, causing depression, anxiety, fear, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Can a Bicycle Accident Cause Internal Injuries?
Victims of bicycle accidents can also sustain internal injuries from blunt force and penetrating trauma. They can sustain damage to their vital organs, including the liver, lungs, kidneys, spleen, pancreas, and heart. This can affect how the body operates, possibly limiting essential bodily functions.
Blood vessels can also sustain damage and begin bleeding profusely. This can cause internal bleeding, leading to immense pressure on the body. Those who suffer internal bleeding can experience weakness, numbness, vision and hearing problems, balance issues, and loss of consciousness.
Why Should You Hire a Bicycle Accident Lawyer?
Hiring a lawyer to help with a bicycle accident claim is essential for those looking for the best chance of success. They can apply their experience and expertise to your claim process, helping to handle the many steps in securing fair compensation for economic and non-economic damages.
Some ways a bicycle accident attorney can help is by calculating damages, determining what parties can share liability, explaining bicycle accident laws in your state, collecting evidence, and negotiating a fair settlement with the liable party’s insurance company.
