Not only can leg injuries be painful and involve long recovery times, but they may also result in lost income if you can't work because of your condition. One of the biggest concerns bike accident victims have is how they will cover these costs and pay their bills.
The good news is that if your bike accident was caused by a negligent or reckless driver, you may be entitled to monetary damages to cover your accident-related expenses.
Common Leg Injuries From Bicycle Accidents
The physics of bicycles make leg injuries quite common when accidents happen—and some leg injuries can be quite serious. These may include:
- Broken bones. Broken bones are easily the most common type of injury in a bike accident. They can range from hairline fractures and simple breaks to multiple fractures and compound fractures.
- Crushed feet and/or ankles. Your feet contain 26 distinct bones and 30 joints, not to mention dozens of muscles. If your foot or ankle gets pinned under debris in an accident, it may be crushed, resulting in multiple injuries to the bones and connective tissues that could require numerous surgeries to repair.
- Torn knee ligaments. Ligaments are the connective tissues inside your knee, and knees are particularly vulnerable in bike accidents. Torn ligaments are quite painful and usually require surgery.
- Soft tissue injuries. All the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in your legs are subject to possible injury in a bike crash. Some of these injuries can heal on their own, while others may require surgery and extended physical therapy to heal.
- Road rash. Skin contusions resulting from scraping the leg against the pavement may seem like a mild injury compared to others, but road rash often leads to infections which can complicate the recovery process.
Damages Associated With Leg Injuries
Leg injuries from bike accidents often result in extensive costs, reduced income, and a lowered quality of life, all of which you may be able to recover as damages in a personal injury claim. These costs may include:
- Current and future medical expenses. Not only do you have the immediate expenses of treating your injuries (including hospital stays and surgery), but there may be additional surgeries to repair extensive damage, plus the costs involved with physical rehabilitation and even basic home care if you're unable to get around. You can claim damages not just for your current medical bills, but also your estimated future bills.
- Loss of income. If your injuries prevent you from being able to work at all, or if they force you to take a lower-paying job because of months (or even years) spent recovering from your injury, you can claim lost income damages. If you were planning on saving money for retirement and your injuries cut short that career line, you might be entitled to those damages as well.
- Pain and suffering. Physical pain is difficult enough to deal with, but the emotional distress that comes with suffering from a serious injury can be devastating. If your injuries left you in physical or emotional pain, this lowers your quality of life, and you may be entitled to additional compensation as a result.
Why You Need an Experienced Lawyer
If you don't pursue legal action against the driver who caused the accident, you run the risk of having to pay out of pocket for your own recovery. Don't assume you are at fault or that you have to take care of your own bills. A good personal injury attorney may help you recover damages and even arrange to have your medical bills paid in advance of your settlement, so these costs aren't hanging on your shoulders while your case moves forward.
The legal team at Max Meyers Law can help. Contact our offices to schedule a free consultation or call us at 425-399-7000.
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