Unfortunately, bike riders are at serious risk of injuries in an accident, particularly a collision with a motor vehicle. Although helmets and other protective equipment can reduce the risk of serious or fatal injuries, many riders end up suffering temporary or permanent disabilities from a bicycle accident. Below are some of the most common injuries suffered by riders in bike accidents in Florida.
Most Common Injuries
Fortunately, the most common injuries suffered in bicycle accidents are more minor injuries that will eventually heal over time. These injuries include:
- Contusions (bruises)
- Abrasions, or skin injuries caused when a rider is thrown from their bike and makes contact with and/or slides along the ground or pavement. The most common form of abrasion injury is commonly called “road rash”.
- Lacerations (cuts)
- Strains and sprains of ligaments, tendons, and muscles
Broken Bones
Bone fractures are another common injury in bicycle accidents, as riders have virtually no protection for their bodies in the event of an accident or collision. Some of the common symptoms you might experience if you suffered a fractured bone in a bicycle accident include:
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Pain
- Warm or tender feeling in the affected area
- Difficulty moving or an inability to move the affected area
Head Injuries
Head injuries also frequently occur in bicycle accidents, particularly for riders that do not wear helmets. Unfortunately, head injuries occur in a majority of bicycle accidents that result in the rider’s death.
Traumatic Brain Injury
One of the most serious types of head injury that can be suffered in a bicycle accident includes a traumatic brain injury. Traumatic brain injuries often may not be visible, so a bicycle rider may not realize that they have suffered a traumatic brain injury until hours or days after a bicycle accident. Common examples of brain injuries include:
- Concussions
- Contusions (brain bruise)
- Cranial hemorrhage (brain bleed)
- Coup-contrecoup
- Diffuse axonal injury
- Skull fractures and penetration injuries
- Acquired brain injury from lack of blood or oxygen flow to the brain.
Checking Yourself Out for Injuries after a Bicycle Accident
If you suffer an accident on your bicycle, you should stop and take the time to check yourself for any symptoms that may indicate you have been injured. Even if you don’t have any cuts or bruises, you may have sustained serious or even potentially life-threatening injuries. Steps to take to check for injuries after a bike crash include:
- Take a few deep breaths. If you feel any pain, seek immediate medical attention as you may have suffered a broken rib or a punctured lung.
- Use your hands to palpate or feel your abdomen, especially if your torso hit your handlebars or another object. If you experience pain while palpating your abdomen or it feels tender, hard, or distended (swollen), you should get checked by a medical professional as soon as possible.
- Move your extremities, including your hands, fingers, feet, and toes. If you feel any pain moving or you are unable to move a part of your body, that is a symptom that you may have suffered a fracture.
- Finally, if you believe you may have suffered a blow to your back or neck, you should stay as still as possible and wait for emergency medical services to arrive. Symptoms such as numbness, tingling, or inability to move hands or feet are signs that you may have suffered a spinal cord injury. Continuing to move your spine will only result in further permanent damage.
Contact a Lake Worth Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Bicycle Accident Case in Florida
Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to a bicycle accident in Florida? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at Gonzalez & Cartwright, P.A. represent clients injured because of bicycle accidents in Miramar, Coral Springs, Davie, Boca Raton, and throughout Florida. Call (561) 533-0345 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 813 Lucerne Ave., Lake Worth, FL 33460, as well as offices in Pompano Beach.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.