The benefits offered by riding a bicycle as an alternative to motor vehicles are extensive. Riding a bike can save money on gas, do something good for your body, and even do something good for the environment.
While there are more than a few reasons to ditch your car and hop on your bike, there are also risks involved with this mode of transportation.
One of the biggest risks is being involved in an accident. Unfortunately, when you are on a bicycle, you are not as easy to see, and as a result, you may be struck by a vehicle. While bicycle accidents do not occur as much as motor vehicle accidents, they are still prevalent enough to ensure you take the proper steps to protect yourself and avoid accidents, including having an experienced accident lawyer that you can trust..
Even if you are extremely careful, accidents still happen. Knowing some of the most common types of bicycle accident injuries will help you understand the impact this incident can have.
Common Injuries That Occur in Bicycle Accidents
The most common bicycle injuries that occur include the following:
Head Injuries
You have likely heard that it is smart to wear a helmet when you ride a bike. The reason for this is that head injuries are some of the most common issues that arise in bicycle accidents. Unfortunately, head injuries are extremely serious.
Head injuries cause most cases of long-term disabilities arising from bike accidents, and 60% of deaths result from head injuries.
A rider’s neck is also at-risk in a bicycle accident. Even though neck injuries can occur in bicycle accidents, they are not as common as head injuries and other types of injuries. While neck injuries are rare, if they do occur, they can be serious and result in lasting issues.
Traumatic Injuries
Being involved in a bicycle accident that does not result in traumatic injuries is possible. However, traumatic accidents are typically severe.
While a rider may experience overuse injuries from riding, these aren’t usually serious and don’t result from an accident.
Traumatic injuries are the direct result of a bicycle accident. Some of the most common types of bicycle accident injuries that occur include the following:
- Concussions
- Skull fractures
- Contusions
- Cranial hemorrhages
It is possible for your musculoskeletal system to be injured, too. These include basic strains, fractures, and dislocations.
Some of the serious injuries you may experience in a bicycle accident include the following:
- Bowel contusions
- Facial fractures
- Pancreatic trauma
- Hernia
- Dental fractures
- Ruptured spleen
- Rib fractures
- Dental fractures
- Renal contusions
Another risk that bicycle riders have is being impaled. Some riders can become impaled by the handlebars on their bike. Unfortunately, this is an extremely serious injury and can be life-threatening. Rectal trauma and pelvic fractures are also a cause for concern.
Riders can fracture virtually any bone in their body. This includes everything from the neck and arm to the ankles and femur.
Another potential injury is to the eyes. While this is not as common, it can still occur. If you wear eye protection, you can reduce the potential of an eye injury while on your bicycle.
Get a Medical Checkup After Being Involved in a Bicycle Accident
Even if your bicycle accident seems minor, there are some serious potential injuries you may not notice immediately. In some cases, these injuries show up days or longer after the accident occurs.
You need to do several things after a bicycle accident, even if you aren’t positive you were injured. These things include the following:
Get a Full Medical Evaluation
If you even hit your head slightly, you should have it checked out. Many people ignore a seemingly small bump, but it can be extremely serious. Your brain may be bleeding, and you will not know right away.
Some of the signs you may have sustained a head injury include the following:
- Confusion
- Changes in vision
- Loss of consciousness
If you notice damage or a crack in your bike helmet, be sure you get checked out as quickly as possible. This is an indication that you have experienced a serious injury.
Watch for Breathing Issues
When you are involved in a bicycle accident, there is the possibility that you punctured a lung or broke your ribs. Many people believe there is nothing a doctor can do in these situations, so they don’t seek help. . This is a mistake.
You need to contact medical emergency services if you notice any problems breathing. A general rule is to try to take a deep breath. If you feel any inclination of pain, then it means you need to go to the emergency room. Even though a cracked rib may seem minor, it may wind up puncturing your lung, which is a more serious problem.
Check Your Stomach
Think about the accident – did your stomach or torso hit your bike handlebars? If so, this could be a problem. If you hit the handlebars hard enough, soft tissues and organs in your stomach may be bruised or damaged.
A good way to determine if this happened is by placing your hands on your abdomen and palpating it. See if some parts of the stomach feel more tender or sore than others. If you notice a hard area or distended area in your stomach, it may be a sign of internal bleeding. You need to seek medical treatment immediately.
Neck and Spine Issues
Any type of injury to your spine is serious. If you think you have a severe neck or spine injury, stay as still as possible and wait for emergency medical services to arrive at the accident scene.
Some of the signs of an injury to the neck or spine include the inability to move your toes or fingers, tingling sensations, or numbness. If you have any problems moving your neck, you should get to the ER immediately. You should not keep moving your neck and risk the possibility of a permanent spinal cord injury.
Bleeding
It is easy to spot bleeding when it is external. However, after a bicycle accident, you may also experience internal bleeding. Look for any firm or distended areas to see if there is any type of internal damage or bleeding present.
If you are dealing with external bleeding, apply first aid and pressure to the affected area. For internal bleeding, seek medical treatment immediately.
Contact Our Legal Team for Help After a Bicycle Accident
If you are injured in a bicycle accident, you should contact our legal team at The Burkett Law Firm immediately. We will get to work investigating your case and gathering evidence. Our team will work for you to help you recover the compensation you are entitled to. Bicycle accidents can result in significant injuries and losses, so recovering compensation is a must.
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