Reuland Law has years of experience representing injured bicyclists in Chicago and throughout Illinois. Bicycle crashes can result in a variety of injuries, ranging from scrapes and bruises that might go away in a couple of months. Other times, the injuries have long-term consequences. This blog post describes some of the types of injuries that cyclists might experience in a crash.
Bodily injuries include injuries that people can easily see, like a bloody cut or deep bruise. But they can also include injuries that are not immediately apparent just by looking at someone. Some of the common types of injuries that occur in bike crashes include:
Head and Brain Injuries: Head injuries are a common occurrence in bicycle crashes. They can range from mild concussions to more severe traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Mild concussions are a type of brain injury that affects brain function. Those functional deficits are sometimes immediately obvious--like slurring or repeating words. Other times, the full damage caused by concussions and TBIs reveals itself over the course of an injured person's entire life.
Fractures and Broken Bones: Bicycle crashes can cause fractures and broken bones, particularly in the arms, legs, and wrists. Fractured bones inflame the surrounding tissues and trigger our pain sensors. Fractures often permanently diminish the strength and integrity of the bone, making the bones more likely to fracture again and rendering bones more likely to contract painful arthritis in the years ahead.
Road Rash: Road rash is a type of abrasion that occurs when skin scrapes along the pavement or other rough surfaces. Road rash can range from minor scrapes to more serious wounds that require medical attention. Sometimes road rash can develop into permanent scarring.
Spinal Cord Injuries: Spinal cord injuries can occur in more severe bicycle crashes. They can result in paralysis or other types of permanent disabilities.
Soft Tissue Injuries: Sometimes bike injuries do not necessarily involve a broken bone. Instead, sprains, strains, and bruises result in pain, swelling, and limited mobility. This limited mobility and pain often prevents people from going about their normal daily activities as they had before the crash. For example, imagine picking up a laundry basket filled with clothes. Now, imagine picking up that same basket when your back is burning with pain.
Emotional Trauma: Bicycle crashes can also cause emotional trauma, such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Clients often experience a new-found fear or trepidation with being on a bicycle or even crossing the street as a pedestrian.
The severity of bicycle injuries varies depending on a host of factors. The speed of the crash, the position of the cyclist, the weight and type of vehicle that hits the cyclist all contribute to the severity of the injuries. Other times, road defects or poorly designed bike paths can cause people to crash.
If you are involved in a bicycle crash, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible, even if you do not feel immediate pain or symptoms. You should also consult with an attorney immediately to be sure that insurance companies or at-fault drivers don't take advantage of you while you are in pain, not thinking clearly, and doing your best to recover from an injury. If you would like to speak to an attorney now, you can contact Reuland Law for a free and confidential consultation.
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