Common Bicycle Injuries from Accidents

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Bicycling is both a healthy and eco-conscious way to travel around Kirkland. Unfortunately, while cycling may seem healthy, it is certainly not without risks. According to a set of traffic accident data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 726 pedal cyclists died, and another 49,000 sustained injuries on the road in 2012.

Additionally, bicycle injuries from accidents can take on a variety of different forms and can affect different parts of the body. The following provides a short list of some of the most common bicycle accident-related injuries. If you suffered any of these injuries due to another’s negligence, you may recover compensation for the damages related to your injuries.

Upper or Lower Extremities

The upper and lower extremities are the site of many bicycle accident-related injuries. The upper and lower extremities generally include the fingers, hands and arms, as well as the toes, feet and legs. Injuries to the upper or lower extremities may take the form of muscle sprains or strains, broken bones, or even lacerations or abrasions due to contact with the road (commonly referred to as “road rash”).

Head Injuries

Injuries to the head are some of the most unfortunate bicycle injuries. And head injuries due to bicycle accidents are sadly common. A 2001 report by researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine published in the journal American Family Physician reports, “Head injuries occur in 22 to 47 percent of injured bicyclists, often as a result of collision with a motor vehicle and are responsible for over 60 percent of all bicycle-related deaths and the majority of long-term disabilities.”

Head injuries due to a bicycle accident can result in traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), which can lead to headaches, nausea, dizziness, memory or concentration problems, depression, slurred speech, and coma, among other side effects, according to information from the Mayo Clinic.

Injuries to the Face

Some bicycle injuries resulting from accidents affect the facial region. The rider’s face may collide with the ground or with another motor vehicle, leading to the possibility of broken bones, lacerations or even traumatic brain injury, depending on the location of the impact.

Additionally, a rider’s eyes are in danger of sustaining injury due to the possibility of dust, debris and other foreign objects propelled at the cyclist’s face in a crash.

Stomach, Sides and Back

Because a cyclist is offered virtually no protection in the event of a collision, he or she is also at a high risk of sustaining injuries to the abdomen and thorax in the event of a crash. Most injuries in this location take the form of road rash, although some cyclists may experience damaged internal organs or even puncture wounds. Some suffer broken ribs as well.

Have You Sustained Bicycle Injuries in an Accident? Call Us for Help

In some cases, an individual, whether another cyclist or a driver, may cause bicycle accidents and directly contribute to the injuries sustained in the crash, either due to negligence or malicious actions. In such cases, the injured bicyclist may seek compensation for bicycle injuries and other related damages.

If you have been hurt in a bicycle wreck as a result of someone else’s actions in Kirkland, call us today at Max Meyers Law, PLLC. The statute of limitations in Washington, provided under RCW 4.16.080, allows you only three years in which to file a claim to recover compensation; after this, you may be barred forever. We can help you adhere to all deadlines and ensure that you file your claim through the appropriate channels. You can reach us today at 425-399-7000.

Max Meyers
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Max is a Kirkland personal injury attorney handling cases in Seattle, King County & surrounding in WA State.