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The Butler Kahn is proud to be a member of the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition.
Closed-head injuries are common in bicycle accidents. Even if a bicyclist is wearing a good modern helmet, a bicycle accident can cause a concussion or other traumatic brain injury. Concussions or traumatic brain injuries can happen – and in fact, usually happen – without any visible mark on the skull. One reason is that if the bicyclist goes airborne and lands on his or her head, the bicyclist’s helmet and skull stop suddenly. But the brain, which is suspended inside the skull, doesn’t. The brain keeps moving until it is pressed up against the inside of the skull. If the pressure is great enough, the pressure can cause lesions, bleeding, swelling, or hemorrhaging.
In severe cases, doctors may have to perform emergency surgery to lessen the pressure on a bicyclist’s brain created by swelling. Symptoms of concussions or traumatic brain injuries include persistent headaches, amnesia or memory loss, vertigo, difficulty concentrating, insomnia, anger, or in severe cases, personality changes. Sometimes these injuries are permanent. Even if the brain injury symptoms aren’t perfect, it can take up to two years for the brain to recover or reach what doctors call “maximum medical improvement.”
Injuries to the spine, including the neck or back, are common in bicycle accidents. If you think about it, that makes sense – if a bicyclist is ejected and lands on his or her head, a helmet may lessen the force of impact to the skull, but it does nothing to protect the neck, back or spine. When the head hits the ground, the head stops moving, but the rest of the bicyclist’s body doesn’t. Depending on the angle of impact, the bicyclist’s neck and spine may have to absorb tremendous force. That can be bad. The spine is made up of bony blocks called “vertebrae” that are stacked on top of each other and are separated by softer pads called “discs.” In a particularly severe bicycle accident, if the spine is asked to absorb too much force, one or more of the vertebrae in the neck or back may burst or fracture. This is called a “burst fracture.”
A burst fracture is always painful, and it can be catastrophic – if the burst fracture cuts the nerves that run up and down the spinal column, the bicyclist can be paralyzed. More often, bicycle accident injuries occur to the softer discs that separate the vertebrae. If a disc has to absorb too much pressure, it can rupture, spilling its internal fluid into the spinal column or elsewhere. Doctors call this type of injury an “annular tear.” Or a bicycle accident may cause a part of the disc to poke out in what is commonly called a “herniated disc,” “disc herniation,” or “slipped disc.” If the protruding part of the disc presses against the nerves that travel up and down the spine, that hurts. A bicyclist may feel the pain in the part of the back where the herniated disc is, or the pain can feel like it is coming from somewhere else. Since the nerves that run through our neck, back, and spine come from all different parts of the body, pressure on that nerve can make a bicyclist feel like the pain is coming from anywhere that the nerve goes – feet, legs, arms, hands, etc. When pain seems to move like that, doctors say that the pain “radiates” and may diagnose “radiculopathy” as a result of the bicycle accident.
Orthopedic injuries are common in bicycle accidents. Like head, neck, or back injuries, they are most common following ejection, when the bicyclist strikes the ground after being launched into the air. We have seen everything from broken legs to fractured shoulders. In more severe bicycle accidents, emergency surgery may be required. Emergency surgeries usually stabilize the injured area, often through the installation of plates and screws. Unfortunately, emergency surgeries usually aren’t “final” – often, they’re a stopgap measure to keep things from getting any worse. Recovering from bicycle accident injuries after an emergency surgery usually involves lots of physical therapy, and may involve additional surgeries to provide a longer-term fix and longer-term comfort for the injured bicyclist.
Road rash is a serious injury. When a bicycle accident throws the bicyclist off the bicycle and causes him or her to skid across pavement or concrete, the skidding can remove a layer of skin – or sometimes all of the skin in an area. It hurts. Road rash from a bicycle accident can also be serious in the long term, both because of the likelihood of infection and because it can leave scars. Protective clothing helps, but it’s hard to cover everything. Bicycling is a physical activity, so it’s usually not comfortable to ride a bicycle while every inch of your body is covered. In a serious bicycle accident, the clothing may not matter anyway because skidding across asphalt can tear through the clothing and reach the skin.
Someone with a quirky sense of humor created this statue of a bicyclist getting doored. We don’t know why.
Butler Kahn secured a $150 million jury verdict against Chrysler for the family of a 4-year-old boy who was killed in a devastating crash in Georgia. Our firm held the giant automaker accountable for Remington Walden’s death and for failing to warn the public about dangers associated with its Jeep Grand Cherokee. Learn More
Bicycling holds promise. Done correctly, bicycling can ease traffic congestion, improve air quality, and provide exercise for the American public. But it needs to be safe cycling. Drivers must respect bicyclists, bicyclists must respect drivers, and government should provide the infrastructure that will allow drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians to travel in harmony. Cities and counties, across Georgia.
Those who journey out onto the road to ride a bicycle either for leisure or sport may find that their biggest threat to safety is the vehicle driver. Car drivers can easily be distracted by their radio, cell phone, passengers, or due to daydreaming. A rider may eventually come to realize that he or she must take the lead on safety and be alert at all times for careless drivers. It is unfortunate that car drivers cannot always be trusted to act with consideration around folks who travel on these two non-motorized wheels. Here in this article, a Georgia bicycle accident lawyer explores more into bicyclist safety and what a rider can do if he or she is ever hit by a car driver. Remember, if you or a loved one is struck by a vehicle while riding a bike, immediate medical attention should be sought.
While it is difficult to eliminate all possibility of being hit by a car, there are safety tips a rider can follow to help at least greatly minimize the chances. Here are just a few guidelines when venturing out on the road for a bike ride:
The injuries resulting from being hit by a car while riding a bike can not only be agonizing, but costly too. After such an incident, it is normal for a bicyclist to wonder about his or her legal options. Depending on how the crash happened, the rider may be able to file a lawsuit against the driver for financial compensation. This can be particularly true for those who suffered very serious conditions that required long-term and intensive care.
The average vehicle can weigh anywhere from 3,000 to 5,000 pounds. When a car of this size going a relatively decent speed crashes into the body of a human with no protective shield, the injuries can be severe and even life-threatening. The human body simply cannot withstand the impact of such a heavy force.
The more details you have for your bicycle accident lawyer, the better he or she can advise you about what steps to take next. You may want to gather documents and proof of the accident such as the official police report, pictures of the scene, medical care expenses, and doctor’s exams. Bring along as much information as you can for your bicycle accident lawyer Georgia clients recommend going through it during the consultation. Contact our Georgia bicycle accident lawyer today!
Butler Kahn secured a $150 million jury verdict against Chrysler for the family of a 4-year-old boy who was killed in a devastating crash in Georgia. Our firm held the giant automaker accountable for Remington Walden’s death and for failing to warn the public about dangers associated with its Jeep Grand Cherokee. Learn More
