Free Consultation
Injured in a bicycle accident? Our experienced attorneys are ready to fight for your rights.
Common Bicycle Accident Injuries
Common Injuries in Bicycle Accidents
Suffering from common bike accident injuries in Chicago can be a devastating experience. While many ride bikes for pleasure, it is becoming a more popular form of commuting.
However, riding a bicycle on Illinois roads in close proximity to other vehicles can make you more vulnerable to serious accidents involving other motor vehicles. If you get hurt in a collision, our Chicago bicycle accident injury law firm can help you choose the right legal path.
Bicycle Rider’s Risk and Legal Rights
A bicycle is not designed to protect the rider from serious collisions. You are completely vulnerable to the elements if you lose control of the bike or get hit by a car, making you far more likely to suffer severe injuries in a collision. Some of these injuries could be life-altering or even fatal.
Illinois laws protect bikers’ rights on the roads. For example, bicycle riders have the right to use the road in many circumstances, as long as they stick to the right side of the road and use proper signaling techniques. If you follow the rules of the road properly, per municipal code 9-52-010, you have the same right to use the road as a driver in a motor vehicle.
Head Injuries and Brain Injuries
One of the most vulnerable parts of the human body is the head, especially if the rider is not wearing a helmet. Even with this layer of protection, you could still suffer from head injuries and significant facial injuries.
One of the most serious head injuries you may experience is a traumatic brain injury. Traumatic brain injuries can have lifelong consequences and severe neurological symptoms, but wearing a helmet will lower the risk.
Concussions are also common in bicycle crashes if there is physical trauma to the head, as well as numerous facial injuries. Other potential injuries include skull fractures, skin lacerations, broken cheekbones, broken teeth, a broken nose, and road rash on your face.
Neck and Back Injuries
The spinal cord is a vital component of the skeletal and nervous systems. Damage to your neck or back could also cause lifelong conditions in a severe bicycle accident.
Whiplash is a common injury that is caused by the body being thrown in different directions abruptly, causing damage to the muscles or tendons of the neck. Soft tissue injuries, such as sprains and strains, are also possible.
Spinal cord injuries are the worst kind of damage you can suffer in your neck or back. Whether you suffer from herniated discs, bulging discs, or spinal fractures, you must seek medical attention immediately to be diagnosed and treated. Spinal cord injuries can lead to numerous conditions that would affect your mobility and long-term health.
Upper Extremity Injuries
Since bicyclists are not protected by a vehicle’s shell, their upper extremities are vulnerable to significant damage. We often react to falls or collisions by putting our hands out to catch or protect ourselves, which may preserve our most important body parts but could damage our hands, arms, or shoulders.
Shoulder injuries are very common after a bicycle accident, especially if you land hard on your shoulder. You could suffer from a clavicle fracture or a dislocated shoulder. Y
ou also have a significant chance of suffering broken bones in your arms if you are hit by a car, especially in the humerus, radius, and ulna bones. Wrist and hand fractures can require a long healing process. Elbow impact injuries are also common in bicycle accidents.
Lower Extremity Injuries
Your lower extremities are just as vulnerable to damage as other parts of your body, especially if they are directly hit by a vehicle or crushed between objects. Pelvic fractures and broken hips can have serious effects on your mobility and long-term health. Significant damage to these vital joints could require multiple surgeries and years of therapy to heal.
Broken bones in your legs may result from impact on the road or a moving vehicle. The most common bones damaged in bicycle accidents are the femur, tibia, and fibula. Potential knee injuries include torn ligaments or a torn meniscus. Finally, you could experience ankle or foot fractures.
Other Common Bicycle Accident Injuries
Some types of injuries may occur in different areas of the body and don’t always fall into the categories listed above. Road rash injuries are caused by skin being dragged across the surface of the road.
Lacerations are very common and are simply cuts on the skin. Some of the most common injuries during a bicycle accident are internal injuries, such as broken ribs, internal bleeding, organ damage, and other types of bone fractures.
Whether you suffer from a broken leg, internal bleeding, or severe trauma to the head, being involved in a bike accident can cause severe psychological trauma. Some accident victims experience PTSD, anxiety, or depression because of the collision, even if they were physically harmed.
Seeking Medical Attention After a Bicycle Accident
No matter the extent of your injuries from a bicycle collision, you must seek immediate medical attention for several reasons. First, severe bicycle injuries may require immediate medical treatment to save your life or minimize the damage.
Often, you may not experience immediate symptoms from head injuries or spinal cord injuries. You should schedule an evaluation to run some tests for internal damage as soon as possible.
Lastly, you must pursue medical treatment to support your potential injury claim. Medical care will serve as documented proof that you were injured in the accident, which could help you seek compensation from the at-fault party. You should also follow your doctor’s treatment plan.
How a Chicago Bicycle Accident Lawyer Can Help
If you suffer from a broken nose, brain injury, internal organ damage, or other injuries after a bicycle accident, you may have the right to pursue compensation for legal damages. You must be able to prove you suffered economic or non-economic damages because of the collision and that someone else’s negligence caused the accident.
For example, if you failed to signal your intentions per code 9-52-045, you may not be eligible for a settlement. Some potential damages from this type of claim include lost wages, medical expenses, property damage, emotional distress, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Your best chance of winning a bicycle injury case is by hiring an experienced law firm to help you pursue your claim. They will investigate your claim and gather evidence, such as police reports, eyewitness statements, footage of the accident, and expert consultants.
If you are dealing with an insurance company, your lawyer can handle the negotiations. The attorney will assess all your damages and calculate a fair settlement amount for your claim. In some rare cases, your claim could end up in civil court, in which case the lawyer will represent you.
Secure Expert Legal Counsel!
Even if you follow the rules of the road and wear proper protective gear, riding a bicycle on the streets can be dangerous. Whether you have suffered from permanent scarring, dental injuries, or another type of serious injury, our Illinois bicycle accident injury law firm will help you pursue compensation.
We want you to make an informed decision about your legal options for a bicycle injury claim. Therefore, you can contact our team for a free consultation about your case. During this consultation, you can ask questions about the legal process or the details of your accident. Contact us today to learn more about your claim.
