Any type of traffic-related accident can be dangerous and has the potential to cause serious injuries. However, some people tend to be at greater risk for more severe injuries than others. Specifically, individuals who ride bicycles on or near roadways often suffer devastating injuries in the event of a collision.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2013 alone, approximately 48, 000 cyclists sustained injuries in accidents and an additional 743 cyclists did not survive their injuries.
While varying factors can lead to a bicycle accident, driver error, road hazards, and other forms of negligence are often to blame. If you have suffered injuries in a bicycle accident, call an Appleton personal injury lawyer for help today. We are available to help you identify who caused your accident and obtain your deserved compensation for medical expenses, lost income and benefits, and much more.
Bicycle Injuries Can be Life-Changing
When you ride in a car, you are surrounded by a large steel frame, airbags, seat belts, and several other safety features that are designed to protect you and your passengers from injury if a collision does occur. A bicyclist, on the other hand, has no such safety features to save himself from injury. Instead, a bicyclist generally has little to nothing standing in between himself and a collision with a motor vehicle, the ground, or nearby objects. Often, bicyclists involved in accidents hit different points of impact and suffer many different, life-changing injuries.
The most common injuries that bicyclists sustain include:
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Traumatic Brain Injury: A traumatic brain injury, or TBI, occurs when people have damaged brain tissue from direct trauma or a sudden jolt of the head. These injuries can range from mild concussion to severe damage to the brain, often requiring surgery and significant treatment.
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Spinal Cord Injury: Damage to the spinal cord can cause complete or incomplete paralysis, as well as trouble with sensation and other serious symptoms.
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Broken or Crushed Bones: Though the large majority of broken bones heal on their own, others require surgical operations and may be compound fractures that may not heal without complex procedures.
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Contusions and Lacerations: Bicyclists may receive deep bruising and deep cuts that can cause internal organ damage.
While safety should always be your top priority when you are riding a bicycle, sometimes you can be as safe as possible and can still be involved in an accident and end up in the hospital with severe injuries.
Call an Experienced Bicycle Accident Lawyer for Help Today
Any bicyclist with serious injuries from a collision should be addressed by a medical professional, and should further consult with an attorney for help. At [[title]], our Appleton personal injury attorneys and Green Bay personal injury attorneys work hard to make sure any potentially negligent parties are fully held responsible for your injuries. Call today at 920-739-7366 to meet with one of our team members in Appleton, Oshkosh or Green Bay.