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Bicycle Accident Dangers

Walner Law®
Walner Law®

September 21, 2021

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Far too often, individuals suffer severe injuries in crashes. However, bicycle accidents can result in some of the most devastating and catastrophic injuries. And with several people choosing bicycles as their way of transportation, the chances of a severe crash increase – especially when negligence is involved.

Unfortunately, in the aftermath of a bicycle accident, you may endure long-time physical pain. You may also feel financial and emotional hardships that cause you trauma. It helps to work with an attorney who can help you seek the compensation you deserve.

Here are just some of the injuries you can experience as a bicyclist:

  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Spinal cord damage
  • Burn injuries
  • Broken bones

Dangers can arise in many situations. For instance, you can suffer a bicycle accident crossing the intersection when a driver is not paying attention. You can be in the bicycle lane, and a drunk driver may swerve over and clip your bicycle, causing a crash. In the upcoming blogs, we will provide you with valuable information to stay as safe as possible and understand your rights.

Call us today at (312) 313-2888 to discuss your options with a skilled lawyer. We’re ready to help give you a voice against negligence.

Traumatic Brain Injuries from Bicycle Accidents

Even though people wear helmets when riding their bicycles, they don’t always prevent severe head injuries. While they can minimize the impact, there’s still a chance that a person may suffer a concussion as their brain rattles within their skull. Typically, this occurs because of the impact of the crash. In many cases, brain injuries occur when the bicyclist is ejected from his or her bike.

If the bicyclist lands on his or her head, the trauma is enough to result in:

  • Internal bleeding
  • Coma
  • Seizures
  • Memory loss

Over the long term, a brain injury can require ongoing care, surgical procedures, and more. It’s vital to seek compensation for your damages.

How a Bike Accident Leads to Spinal Cord Damage

As we have mentioned, bicycle accidents commonly result in those on the bicycle being ejected from their bike. The impact when they land is enough to cause some of the most severe damages to their back. Any significant damage to the spinal cord can result in paralysis, requiring the need for ongoing care, specialized medical equipment, and more.

Paralysis can occur in many forms, including the following:

  • Complete: Complete paralysis means that the injured party has no control over any of the impacted body parts.
  • Incomplete: The injured party may maintain some control over parts of the body if they suffer incomplete paralysis. The spinal cord is not completely damaged, and there may be some movement left.

Paralysis can vary, including:

  • Monoplegia: This type of paralysis impacts just one limb.
  • Hemiplegia: This type of paralysis will only affect one-half of the body (right or left) but can impact one arm and one leg.
  • Paraplegia: This type of paralysis typically refers to paralysis of the lower half of a person’s body. Paraplegia causes immobility below the location of the injury.
  • Quadriplegia: This type of paralysis impacts all four limbs. Complete quadriplegia would require someone to need lifelong care.

Burn Injuries In a Bike Accident

Bike accidents are just like motorcycle accidents in that there are few protections to rely on to keep them safe. As such, a bicycle accident can lead to road rash when the bicyclist falls from their bike. Most people think that road rash is just a laceration, but it’s a friction burn that takes off a layer or more of a person’s skin, causing significant harm.

One of the more common ways a friction burn occurs in a bike accident is when the rider is clipped, loses control, and slides out from the bicycle. The friction of skin rubbing on the concrete can tear the skin. If the burn is severe enough, it can cause nerve damage and impact lower layers of the skin.

Severe Broken Bones Due to Ejection

Most people who get ejected from their bike or fall after a crash try to brace themselves for impact. They put their hands down and try to stop the momentum to minimize the damage. However, doing this also puts the rider at risk of broken bones.

Bracing the rider’s entire weight can cause bones to fracture significantly. Certain breaks can also cause damage to tendons, nerves, and other essential aspects of the body. When this happens, it’s crucial to receive medical care as soon as possible. If the bones don’t heal correctly, it can result in long-term damages, and you may need to undergo surgery to correct it even further.

At Walner Law®, we care about our clients. We know that bicyclists are at extreme risk of suffering severe harm. When a crash occurs because of negligence, we work to safeguard your rights to pursue compensation. In fact, we go above and beyond to take on insurance companies who think they can bully claimants into accepting much less than they deserve.

Our Chicago bicycle accident attorneys know what it takes to help clients during their times of need. Our goal is to provide the utmost care and respect during one of the most challenging situations. We want to give you a voice against those responsible for causing catastrophic injuries. We know what it takes to win, and you can have confidence knowing we are prepared to go the extra mile for you.

Call our firm today at (312) 313-2888, and speak with our firm about your options. We offer free consultations to answer any questions you may have.

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