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Bicycle accidents can be more severe than car accidents because when someone is in a car accident, they are protected by being inside the vehicle. When a bicyclist is in an accident, there is not that much protection surrounding them. As a result, injuries sustained in bicycle accidents tend to be more severe. There are no airbags on a bicycle like there are in cars. There are many safety features in automobiles that protect the occupants, but bicyclists do not have the benefit of these safety precautions.
There are several common injuries that people sustain when they are in a bicycle accident. It is important to always wear a helmet to protect your head in the event of an accident. If they are thrown off of a bike and strike their unprotected head, it can result in serious head trauma or even death. Second, if the person is thrown off the bike, it is common for that person to receive abrasions and bruises upon falling. Also, if the impact is severe enough, a bicycle accident may result in broken bones.
Following a bike crash, it is best to reach out to a skilled bicycle accident attorney. The lawyer could help you understand how common bicycle accident injuries in Oak Lawn could affect your compensation award. Based on the severity of your injuries, you may be eligible to recover more compensation for your damages.
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are considered a catastrophic injury because the brain is the most important organ in the body. It is protected by a thick layer of bone which constitutes the skull. The brain is also very susceptible to injury. Any trauma can result in a traumatic brain injury. A brain injury can impact the ability to function in many different ways. Different areas of the brain are responsible for different functions, depending on which area of the brain is injured in a traumatic brain injury that can result in differing symptoms.
While there are no definitions of what constitutes a TBI, it is generally accepted that any injuries resulting from trauma can be categorized as a traumatic brain injury. Whenever someone strikes their head in a bicycle accident, there is a chance of suffering a TBI. Their skull is a bone that protects the brain on the inside. However, if they strike their head, the brain can smash up against the skull, resulting in a traumatic brain injury. Brain injuries can differ in severity depending on the amount of force or impact that the head sustains in a bicycle accident.
Even with a helmet, a blow to the head in a bicycle accident can result in a traumatic brain injury. If a bicyclist is injured and is not wearing a helmet, the chances of a traumatic brain injury are much greater. While a helmet provides some protection, it certainly cannot protect against all traumatic brain injuries in bicycle accidents.
After a bicycle accident, it is important to monitor the person who was hit to look for a TBI. They may not realize that they stuck their head. Subtle changes in personality or continued complaints of headaches or ringing in the ears can all be symptoms of a possible traumatic brain injury. Traumatic brain injuries can vary greatly in severity. A mild TBI may only reveal itself to people who know the injured bicyclist well. The changes may be very subtle but will be the result of the traumatic brain injury the person sustained in a bicycle accident.
Broken bones are common bicycle accident injuries in Oak Lawn. Whenever somebody is in a bike crash, there is the possibility of sustaining broken bones because there is no protection between the rider and any object which comes into contact with him or her. The chances of sustaining a broken bone increases. Broken bones can result from an automobile striking the bicyclist.
While broken bones are more common in bicycle accidents, they can also vary in severity. A non-displaced fracture of a bone may result in the bone being cast. However, if the broken bone is more serious, an orthopedic doctor may recommend surgery. In surgical cases, it is common for the broken bone to be put back together with plates and screws. Broken bone injuries can be very serious following a bicycle accident.
When passengers are in a car, they have the protection of the vehicle all around them. When they are riding on a bicycle, there is nothing to protect them from a potential impact. This is why injuries resulting from bicycle accidents tend to be more severe than in car crash cases. The only protections most people have when they ride a bike are their clothes and a helmet. Contrast that with the steel frame of a car, and they can see why bicyclists receive more serious injuries in an accident.
After a bicycle accident resulting in injuries, there is often a long recovery period. The severity of the injuries will depend on how long it takes to return to pre-accident health. Some injuries are severe enough that they will be permanent. Even if a broken bone heals, it is likely to cause additional problems in the future. Another example of a potentially permanent injury in a bicycle accident would be a traumatic brain injury. Any injury sustained in a bike accident may be serious enough to be permanent. A permanent injury will always affect someone following a bike accident.
Since there is little protection when they are riding on a bicycle, injuries tend to be rather severe when there is an accident. Often, injuries with bicyclists are similar to the damages that motorcycle riders sustain in a collision. The common bicycle accident injuries in Oak Lawn can include abrasions, lacerations, broken bones, and severe head trauma. A bike crash attorney could calculate your losses and help you recover compensation for your damages.
Call today to learn about how an attorney could help your case.