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Common Bicycle Accident Injuries
Head Injuries in Bicycle Accidents
Chicago bicycle head injuries can have a devastating impact on victims’ lives. Chicago has a vast transportation network, and while biking can be an economical and healthy mode of transportation in the Windy City, it can also be dangerous in some cases.
When bicycle riders must share roads and sidewalks with vehicles or pedestrians, the potential for collisions increases. If you’ve been involved in an accident, consult our Chicago bike accident attorney team for legal assistance.
Types of Head Injuries
In Chicago, some streets are more dangerous for bikers than others. Between 2020 and 2022, Halsted Street had 43 bike and vehicle accidents, Damen Avenue had 29, Clark Street had 24, and Wells Street had 18.
Some head trauma may be minor and result in short-term headaches, while other serious head injuries could have lifelong consequences or even turn fatal. Let’s take a look at some common head injuries that could be the result of a bicycle accident.
Concussions
Concussions are a type of mild traumatic brain injury. It is the result of a blow or jolt to the head. Often, you can prevent these types of common head injuries by wearing a helmet that softens the blow. Concussion symptoms may include a headache, dizziness, nausea, sensitivity to light, blurred vision, and disorientation.
Skull Fractures
Skull fractures occur when the bone surrounding your brain breaks, typically caused by blunt force trauma. This can threaten the safety of the brain inside the skull, so it must be evaluated and treated quickly.
Contusions
A contusion is another word for a bruise. It is caused by damaged blood vessels that result in bleeding right under the skin. Contusions are typically not serious on their own, but they could indicate more invasive damage to the head.
Hematomas
A hematoma forms when blood pools outside of the blood vessels in the body. It can occur under the skin, within a muscle, or between the skull and brain. A medical professional should evaluate and monitor hematomas caused by head trauma.
Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
Some areas in Chicago have been more prone to dangerous bicycle collisions, including Pulaski Road and Western Avenue. Bikers have the same rights to the road as drivers, according to municipal code 9-52-010. A more severe head injury may be classified as a traumatic brain injury.
Among the leading causes of bicycle-related deaths, severe traumatic brain injuries can require in-depth treatment and even surgery to repair. In some severe cases, these traumatic brain injuries may be life-threatening. Let’s look at some of the most common types of traumatic brain injuries.
Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI)
Diffuse axonal injuries are caused by a forceful movement or impact on the brain. Head trauma damages axons, which are nerve-like fibers in the brain. When axons are damaged, they can disrupt the flow of electrical signals in the brain. Common symptoms of this type of head injury include loss of consciousness, nausea, comas, vomiting, and motor issues.
Contusions and Intracranial Hemorrhages
As mentioned previously, contusions are similar to bruises, but severe head trauma can result in dangerous contusions. A bruise directly on the brain could cause long-term cognitive defects in serious cases. An intracranial hemorrhage is the result of bleeding in the skull. This bleeding puts pressure on the brain, making it a life-threatening head injury.
Penetrating Brain Injuries
While many skull fractures, brain injuries, and other types of head trauma are caused by blunt force trauma, you could also be hurt by a penetrating object. Colliding with a motor vehicle could cause debris to penetrate the skin and skull, causing significant physical damage to the brain. A penetrating head injury requires immediate medical attention.
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents Leading to Head Injuries in Chicago
Numerous circumstances can cause bicycle-related accidents. As a bicyclist in Chicago, you should know the most common causes of these bike collisions so you can avoid them and protect yourself and others. Let’s discuss the primary reasons for bicycle crashes.
Collisions with Motor Vehicles
One of the most dangerous causes of bicycle accidents is a collision with a car or truck. Some areas of Chicago are particularly dangerous for bikers, such as Michigan Avenue on the Downtown Loop, where eleven bikers have collided with vehicles since 2016. Milwaukee Avenue is another problematic location, with six collisions since 2018.
Anytime bikers must share the road with motor vehicles, or when bicycle paths intersect main streets, there is a potential for a bicycle accident that leads to serious injuries. Make sure you understand proper signaling techniques for bikers, laid out in municipal code 9-52-045.
Dooring Accidents
Dooring is a type of accident that occurs when a vehicle that is parked opens a door into the path of a bicyclist. This can also occur when vehicles are next to a bike lane. Depending on the speed of the biker or vehicle, a dooring bike crash could cause significant damage.
The best way to avoid dooring accidents is to allow four feet of space between your bike and other vehicles when passing them.
Road Hazards
The presence of road hazards may have caused your bicycle accident. Some of the most common road hazards include potholes, uneven pavement, and debris. Hitting these objects could result in a quick loss of control.
In some cases, these bicycle accidents may be the fault of the city for failing to maintain safe road conditions.
Collisions with Pedestrians or Cyclists
Vehicles and road hazards are not the only obstacles bicyclists must contend with. Pedestrians and other bicyclists also use streets, sidewalks, and bike paths to move around the city. While collisions with these parties are less severe, they can still cause serious head injuries. Preventing injuries in these collisions is easier if you wear bright clothing and obey traffic laws.
Left- and Right-Hook Accidents
A left- or right-hook accident can easily cause a severe head injury to a bicycle rider. This type of accident is defined as a vehicle turning left or right into the path of a bicyclist.
These cycling accidents are common at busy intersections throughout Chicago, especially where the Lakefront Trail intersects with city streets. In these areas, bicyclists, pedestrians, and vehicle traffic converge in one spot from several directions, making left- and right-hook bike crashes more likely.
The Long-Term Effects of Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries can have both short and long-term effects. While the short-term symptoms may include headaches, severe pain, blurred vision, and other neurological symptoms, some effects may last.
Cognitive difficulties, such as impaired learning, difficulty reasoning, and memory issues, could begin shortly after your head injury. Some physical symptoms could be ongoing, such as fatigue, headaches, and sleep difficulties.
If the head injury is serious enough, you may experience issues with mobility and fine motor skills. Your risk of neurodegenerative diseases like dementia may increase. A TBI can also have an emotional impact on your life, resulting in anxiety, depression, PTSD, mood swings, or behavioral changes.
Proving Liability in a Bicycle Accident Head Injury Case
Whether you are hit by a vehicle in Old Town or on Cicero Avenue, you may have some legal options. If you are seriously hurt in a bicycle accident in Chicago, you could file a lawsuit against the at-fault party for legal damages. There are several steps involved in providing liability in a bicycle injury case.
Illinois has laws to protect cyclists and ensure trucks and other motor vehicles share the road safely. These laws can help establish liability and support a bicycle accident claim when an accident occurs.
Establishing Negligence
You must establish that the other party behaved negligently, causing the bike crash in which you were injured. There are four main elements required to prove negligence for personal injury. The defendant must have had a duty of care to prevent the accident.
Their actions must have breached this duty. A causal link between their actions and the harm you suffered must exist. Lastly, you must have suffered legal damages because of the harm.
Gathering Evidence
You will need evidence to support the four elements of negligence. An experienced lawyer can help you gather enough data to support your case. Types of evidence in a bike crash may include police reports, eyewitness statements, photos, videos, testimonies from accident reconstructionists, and medical records.
Addressing Potential Defenses
The defendant in your personal injury claim may hire their lawyer to argue their side of things. You must prepare for their potential defense with your lawyer. For example, the defendant may claim contributory negligence, stating that you also helped cause the bicycle accident. You must work with your lawyer to prepare for this defense and collect evidence to undermine it.
Compensation Chicago Bicycle Accident Head Injuries
The purpose of a bicycle accident claim is to hold the at-fault party accountable and seek compensation for legal damages. Legal damages typically fall into two categories: economic and non-economic.
Economic damages include lost wages, medical expenses, future medical costs, and property damage. Non-economic damages may include emotional distress, pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life.
The Importance of Hiring a Specialized Bicycle Accident Attorney
Working with a lawyer specializing in bicycle accidents can make all the difference in your compensation claim. Some attorneys even focus on victims suffering from skull fractures or other head injuries.
A bicycle accident lawyer will understand the complex medical issues associated with a TBI and how that affects your legal damages. They will also know how to work with medical experts to prove the extent of your injuries.
Since damages play a critical role in determining a potential settlement, you need a legal professional who can assess your losses and include future damages. When the time comes to negotiate with an insurance company, an expert attorney will know how to fight for fair compensation on your behalf.
The right law firm will advocate for your rights as an injured bicyclist to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
Secure Expert Legal Counsel!
A head injury from a bicycle crash can be a life-altering event. Although some injuries may seem minor, it is essential to seek medical attention immediately after the accident. You never know what level of internal damage may have occurred.
If you believe you have a bicycle accident case, contact our Illinois bike accident attorney team today for a free consultation about your case.
