Common Injuries from Bicycle Accidents

The common bike accident where a biker falls or is knocked to the ground tends to cause the same injuries such as wrist bone fractures. Often times we see bike accidents involving a bicycle and a car. But there are accidents that can happen between cyclists and other cyclists. A typical such case involves a cyclist riding his bike along the right shoulder of the right-hand side of the road obeying Pennsylvania traffic laws.

If this rider is hit by another cyclist riding in the same shoulder but traveling in the opposite and incorrect direction, the other cyclist would be at fault. Such a collision might cause serious neck injuries and even subsequent neck surgery. These are serious injuries and cause short term damages to a rider such as medical bills and missed work and long term damages such as loss of mobility and pain and suffering.

Typical Injuries from Bicycle Accidents

• Head trauma;
• Neurological damage;
• Spinal cord injury;
• Disc bulge or ruptured disc;
• Bone fractures.

The scaphoid, radius, and ulna bones are three of the most common bones to break as a result of a bicycle accident. When any or all of these three wrist bone break it often causes extreme pain and swelling. Sometimes, when the pain and swelling are not severe, the injury is confused with a sprain.

Bike accidents are a frequent cause of this kind of injury. A cyclist can collide with an object, a hazard on the road, a pedestrian or a vehicle causing the cyclist to fall off the bike and onto the ground….an easy way for a scaphoid, radius or ulna fracture or break to occur.

Treatment

If there is a fracture or break of a wrist bone, a doctor might recommend two courses of action: nonsurgical treatment or surgical treatment.

1. Nonsurgical Treatment: a doctor will place a cast around the injured hand or forearm, extending to include the thumb and above the elbow if the fracture or break is in the middle of the ulna or radius bone. The length of treatment depends on the severity of the injury and then how well it heals and calcifies.
2. Surgical Treatment: a doctor may recommend surgery when the fracture or break is so severe that a metal implant is needed to provide support for the bone to heal correctly. Screws or wires are inserted into whichever bone is injured- the scaphoid, radius or ulna.

After treatment finishes, the doctor (probably an orthopaedic specialist) gives an “ok” for the cast or splint to be removed. Physical therapy might be recommended to promote the use of the muscles, tendons and ligaments surrounding the wrist that have not been in use while the injury is casted. Follow up doctor appointments and even follow up X-rays or CT scans may also be common for wrist injuries.

When a cyclist is injured in an accident, there can be short and long term difficulties resulting from the accident. The monetary damages that can the most overwhelming are usually the hospital bills, lost wages and mental or physical suffering.

Listed below are some safety tips to avoid accidents between cyclists.

Tips for Riding with Other Cyclists:

• Pass on the LEFT and not the RIGHT- the same rules for the road apply to cyclists, slower traffic should ride on the right side and passing should be done only on the left side of traffic.
• Ride single-file whenever possible- although two cyclists riding next to each other is not illegal, it is much safer to ride single-file especially if the roads are winding and/or have blind spots.
• Warn others in your riding group- talking to the other cyclists you are riding with is an easy safety tip to adhere to, calling if there is a car coming from behind or if there is dangerous debris in the roadway.
• Don’t follow too closely- be careful to maintain a safe space between your bicycle and another rider’s bicycle.
• Be aware of other road users- share the road with other cyclists you are not riding with, with runners, and with other non-traditional vehicles.

Contact an Experienced Pennsylvania Personal Injury Attorney About Your Bicycle Accident in Pennsylvania

Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to a bicycle accident in Pennsylvania? 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 Purchase George & Murphy PC represent clients with personal injury matters from Erie, Meadville, North East and throughout PA. Call 814.273.2010 or email us to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have offices conveniently located at 2525 West 26th Street, Erie and in Meadville and North East.

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.