Traumatic brain injury is also known as TBI. It is caused by a forceful bum to the head from an object that pierces the skull and enters the brain.
TBIs can cause temporary issues with normal brain stuff, like thinking, moving, talking, and behaving. The serious injuries can even cause long-term disability or death.
Bicycle crashes, just like any other sports accident, can cause brain injuries. Wearing a helmet is important for cyclists because it can reduce the risk of head and brain injury by 63% to 88% for all ages of bicyclists.
What is a bicycle accident?
A bicycle accident is when something goes wrong while riding a bike, like crashing into something or falling off the bike. Some of the most common causes include unsafe lane changes, turning without looking for cyclists, driving too close to bicycle lanes and using cell phones behind the wheel.
Read about the most common causes of bicycle accidents in detail.
Common injury from a cycling accident
Bicycle accidents can cause anything from small cuts to serious injuries that might change someone’s life forever. Here are some common injuries:
Head injuries: These can be anything from cuts on the scalp to serious damage to the brain. They are a big cause of disability and even death in adults.
Spinal cord injuries: If the spine gets hit, it can cause broken bones, nerve damage, or problems with the disks in the spine. These kinds of injuries can permanently affect someone’s strength or daily activity.
Broken bones: When cyclists crash, body parts like the collarbone, hands, wrists, fingers, arms, and feet can get broken. Sometimes, broken bones can even puncture organs inside the body, which can be serious.
Till now, you have learned about common injuries from a cycling accident. Here, we provide some preventive measures for bicyclists:
- Wearing helmet
- Use of reflective gear and lights
- Check your bicycle before cycling
- Choose the safest lanes…check out our complete blog post on How can bicyclists prevent bicycle accidents?
Understanding head injuries sustained as a result of bicycle accident
When someone has a head injury due to a bicycle accident, it can be complicated. The impact during a bike accident can cause various types of head injuries. One common type is a concussion, which is considered a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). A concussion happens when the brain gets jolted inside the skull. It can lead to symptoms like headache, confusion, dizziness, and sometimes even temporary loss of consciousness.
The severity of these injuries varies. Mild concussions might not have long-term effects, but more serious injuries can lead to lasting issues with thinking, memory, movement, and even emotional changes. In some cases, these injuries can be life-threatening or cause long-term disabilities. It’s crucial to seek medical attention immediately after a head injury in a bike accident, even if the person doesn’t lose consciousness because symptoms might appear later. Wearing a helmet reduces the risk of these injuries by absorbing and distributing the impact force, protecting the head and brain.
How common are bike accidents and head injuries in California?
Bike accidents are, unfortunately, quite common in California. In terms of head injuries they’re among the most serious outcomes of bike accidents. California sees a significant number of bike-related injuries each year, with head injuries being a major concern.
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, head injuries are one of the leading causes of severe injuries and fatalities in bicycle collisions. In California, cyclist deaths make up 4 percent of all auto accidents. This is twice the national average, making California the first in the nation in cyclist deaths.
According to the Department of Motor Vehicle California, each year, over 100 bicyclists are killed, and over 10,000 are injured in bicycle accidents. This emphasizes the importance of safety measures like wearing helmets and following traffic laws to reduce the risk of accidents and their severe consequences, especially head injuries.
Recoverable damages after a bicycle crashes resulted in TBI
Many wonder if it’s worth going through a lawsuit after a bicycle accident and what compensation they might receive. The amount you could get from a settlement varies for each accident.
Compensation depends on what you lost because of the accident. This covers financial costs like medical bills and things like pain, suffering, and changes in your life.
Here’s what damages you could get after a bicycle accident:
Economic damages: These are straightforward financial losses. They include bills from the accident, medical expenses, repairs, and future losses, like if you can’t work anymore.
To prove income loss, showing receipts and pay stubs can help.
In California, victims can get compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Inability to earn
- Property damage costs
Non economic damages: These are harder to calculate because they’re about the impacts on your life that aren’t purely financial. For example, if you’re dealing with post-traumatic stress, you can not do things you used to, or have emotional distress, your claim might change.
Each person’s experience is different, so there’s no set price for losses like:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment in Life
- Emotional distress
- Changes in relationships
A bicycle crash can affect you in many ways, and you deserve compensation for all the financial and personal losses you have experienced.
Pursue compensation for your brain injury resulting from a bicycle accident in Sacramento, CA
Bicycle accidents can lead to emotional distress, severe injuries, and financial loss and burden. Contacting an experienced bicycle attorney in Sacramento can help you get the compensation you deserve.
Our lawyer at JG Winter Law has over 16 years of experience, and we have been advocating for bicycle accident victims across California, including Sacramento. We provide Free Consultation, Contact us now and get your compensation estimate.
