More and more people today are using bicycles as a mode of transportation, especially when traveling to work. This is a great form of exercise in addition to being a more economical way to reach your destination. Plus, since bicycles do not use gasoline like cars, they do not pollute the environment. Some cities across the United States have even taken steps to encourage bicycle use by designating “bike to work” months.
Bicycles are considered the same as other vehicles on Wisconsin roadways from a legal standpoint, so cyclists are required to follow all traffic laws, and other drivers should take care to share the road safely with them. As a bicyclist in Wisconsin, you may run the risk of being hit by a reckless driver or another bicyclist and therefore suffer a personal injury.
Types of Injuries
The majority of bicycle accidents involve being hit by a vehicle. These collisions can be caused by a distracted or intoxicated driver who is not paying attention to his or her surroundings or a motorist who is simply not obeying the rules of the road and fails to yield to a bicycle. Rear-end collisions can also involve multiple vehicles, ultimately causing a domino effect and pushing cars into a bike’s path.
If a car or truck crashes into you while you are on your bike, you can sustain serious injuries from the impact with the vehicle or from a fall off your bicycle that causes you to hit the pavement. The force of these types of impacts can cause fractures, lacerations, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and more. Injuries can even be life-threatening if you suffer internal bleeding or organ failure.
You could also be hurt if another bicyclist or pedestrian runs into you. Again, this could be caused by a distracted person who does not see you or who is traveling the wrong way down the street. Though typically not as severe of an accident, these collisions can still result in a concussion, severe lacerations, broken bones, or dislocated joints.
If you need immediate medical assistance following a bicycle accident, always call 911 first. However, there are many cases in which the full effects of an injury do not become known until hours or even days after an accident. For example, back and neck injuries often present symptoms later after swelling or bruising has gone down. Damage to your spinal cord or vertebrae can be devastating physically. These injuries can require extensive physical therapy or even surgery to repair the damage. If you cannot walk or perform your job duties because of your injuries, you may be entitled to compensation for the income lost while you are unable to work.
Insurance Options
Even though you are injured while riding your bicycle, you will likely be able to use either uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage on your own automobile insurance policy if the person who caused the accident had no insurance or not enough insurance to cover the damages caused by the injuries from the accident. Determining collectible sources of insurance coverage can be confusing and challenging, so it is important that you talk to an experienced personal injury lawyer who can listen to the circumstances of your accident and help determine whether there are various sources of insurance coverage available to you.
Contact an Appleton Personal Injury Attorney
If you are hurt while riding your bike to work in Door County, Wisconsin this summer, you should consult a Green Bay personal injury attorney. Contact the skilled legal team at Herrling Clark Law Firm, Ltd. at 920-739-7366 for a free initial consultation. We can help you recover compensation for lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering.
Sources:
injuryhttps://epd.wisc.edu/news/celebrate-national-bike-to-work-day/