Injuries to Cyclists in Accidents | The Cartwright Law Firm

A bicycle doesn’t stand a chance against a larger vehicle, and injuries to cyclists are almost inevitable in crashes.

As experienced San Francisco bicycle accident attorney, we’ve definitely seen our fair share of clients who’ve suffered major bodily impairments as a result of them.

These are undoubtedly some of the most horrific kinds of accidents, being that a person on a bicycle has virtually their entire body exposed to impact.

Either from another vehicle, the road itself, or other objects near the scene of the accident that could potentially cause bodily harm.

If you were injured while riding and you think someone else was to blame, you should not wait to contact a bicycle accident lawyer in the Bay Area right away.

Common Injuries to Cyclists

Most cyclists in San Francisco, California wear helmets or other safety gear, but this is not enough to prevent all injuries in the event of an accident.

The following are some common injuries to cyclists:

Road Rash. This is a type of friction burn, which is when a rough surface rubs the skin to the point that it’s peeled or scraped away.

Suppose a bicyclist or a motorcycle rider is in an accident where they are moving forward at a high speed, for example.

In that case, they will very likely still be in that forward motion if they are ejected from the bike, slide on the concrete surface, and develop road rash on their arms, legs, and other parts of the body.

Thorax Injuries. In a harsh accident involving a bicycle or motorcycle and a larger motor vehicle, it is so much easier for the bike rider to suffer from injuries to their thorax.

This area of the body is what protects our most indispensable organs like our lungs and heart, and when it comes to fatal injuries, these are some leading causes of death in the first three decades of life.

Injuries to the Lower/Upper Extremities. The lower extremities of the body are your legs, feet, ankles, and mainly everything below the waistline.

The upper extremities are your upper limbs (hands, forearms, elbows, shoulders, etc.), which will many times get injured in a bicycle accident when the rider tries to brace for impact with the road or ground.

Bone Fractures. Bone fractures always need medical treatment.

Sometimes, a bone fracture will not even be discovered in a regular x-ray, and additional tests may need to be conducted in order to see the full extent of an injury.

In a case where a car, truck, or SUV driver has been negligent, these medical costs will be the motorist’s responsibility.

This is where your injury attorney will be a huge source of legal assistance and representation.

Spinal Injuries. When it comes to accidents involving cyclists, the thoracic spine is the most commonly injured part of the spine.

Spinal injuries can be life-threatening and can leave victims with lifelong paralysis, permanently and fundamentally altering their lives and resulting in extensive losses.

Internal Bleeding/Injuries. Blunt force trauma occurs when the skin is not broken, but internal injuries and/or bleeding still occur.

One of the ways this injury can happen is by being hit hard by a firm object.

In the case of a bicycle accident, this could possibly be a larger vehicle or a firm-standing object that the rider may be thrown into, such as a telephone pole, a tree, or a fire hydrant.

Head/Brain Injuries. Whenever someone is hit with force to the head and it causes brain malfunction, it’s called a traumatic brain injury.

But, the bad part is that these types of injuries can many times be hard to prove.

Your attorney will thoroughly investigate your medical findings to ensure that the proper diagnosis is given after your accident.

Facial Injuries. These types of injuries after an accident not only hurt physically but also psychologically because the person could suffer from permanent scarring and/or disfigurement.

They may have lost some of their teeth, have a broken nose or cheekbones, or suffered a broken jaw that needed to be wired shut for weeks.

Who is Liable for These Injuries?

Most bicycle accidents happen due to negligent drivers.

Drivers can make many mistakes that cause them to collide with cyclists, including:

Distracted driving, causes a driver not to notice a cyclist in their path
Improper passing of cyclists
Driving in bike lanes
Speeding and being unable to stop for a cyclist
Drunk driving, can cause many impairments that lead a driver to hit a cyclist
Not following right-of-way rules at intersections
Opening doors without checking for passing cyclists

When a driver is negligent and causes injuries, their insurance company should cover all the losses of injured victims.

A cyclist will need to file a claim against the insurance company and prove the driver’s liability and losses to get compensation.

However, other parties might also be liable for bicycle accidents.

If a driver is working when they hit the cyclist, their employer can be vicariously liable for the driver’s conduct and the cyclist’s injuries.

This is helpful if a cyclist has severe injuries, as the company will likely have higher insurance policy limits than an individual driver, allowing for coverage of high losses.

In addition, a cyclist might crash if their bike was defective and malfunctions while they are riding, and a manufacturer can be responsible for the injuries.

If a road defect caused the cyclist to have an accident, the agency responsible for maintaining the road or bike lane can be liable.

Contact The Best San Francisco, CA Bicycle Accident Attorney

Please don’t hesitate to reach out today at The Cartwright Law Firm for a free case evaluation of your rights after a bicycle accident and personal injuries.

Our legal team will conduct a thorough investigation of your accident and make sure that the person responsible for your injuries ultimately issues you the compensation you deserve.

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