With beautiful weather year-round and notoriously heavy traffic on the highways, there are plenty of reasons that people choose to get about the City of Angels on a bicycle. But even if you wear a helmet and stick to the bike lanes, you still risk colliding with a car or truck. When this happens, you, as the bicycle rider, will likely be injured.
If you have been struck by a car while biking and suffered one of these six common bicycle injuries, a personal injury lawyer can help you file a suit for compensation.
1. Broken Bones and Fractures
The force of the collision between a person and a car can shatter your bones, cause painful hairline fractures, or even result in a compound fracture. Multiple fractures may be common in bike accidents. Many people may require surgery to repair a severely broken bone.
2. Road Rash and Dermal Damage
“Road rash” is a colorful term for severe dermal abrasions caused by your flesh scraping along the rough surface of asphalt or concrete. At best, these painful scrapes remove the top layer of skin. At worst, multiple layers of the dermis are scraped away, exposing the muscles.
Infection is a big risk for these types of injuries, and many people require skin grafts and substantial recovery time.
3. Brain Injuries
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) or a concussion can happen even if you’re wearing a helmet. But without one, your chances of moderate to severe brain damage are much worse.
A concussion may cause personality changes or make it harder to concentrate. Severe TBIs may render the victim unable to care for themselves independently or result in permanent brain damage.
4. Neck, Spine, and Back Injuries
Although whiplash is associated with rear-ending car accidents, the same violent back-and-forth neck motion can also happen when a cyclist is struck by a car. The muscles, tendons, and ligaments in your neck and back can get twisted, overextended, or torn. Partial or total paralysis is also a concern, as the wreck may damage your spine.
While some people may be able to recover from spinal injuries with surgery or treatment, others may be permanently disabled.
5. Facial Damage
Most bicycle helmets have a small protruding piece that can protect your face from directly contacting the pavement, but you can still sustain serious facial injuries. If your eyes are unprotected, flying debris or glass can damage your eyes or cause vision loss.
Many people may have damage to their teeth, either from being chipped or knocked out. Broken noses and ocular sockets are also common. While most facial damage can heal, you may have permanent disfigurement that can diminish your quality of life.
6. Internal Organ Damage
The point of impact between a cyclist and a car is often at the center of the bike rider’s body, and without protection other than your clothes, the chances of internal organ damage are high.
A ruptured spleen or liver, bruised kidneys, or a punctured lung from a broken rib are common internal injuries from a bike crash. Internal bleeding is especially dangerous, as it could lead to life-threatening sepsis if it is left untreated.
Do you need a bicycle accident lawyer in Los Angeles?
Bicycle accident injuries can be serious, and you may face mounting medical bills. The driver who struck you should be held accountable for their recklessness and your injuries — and we may be able to help you seek compensatory damages from them.
Contact Saeedian Law Group today for a free consultation with one of our Los Angeles bike accident attorneys.
