Common Injuries from Bicycle Accidents in Long Island

As a bicyclist, you are at far greater risk of suffering a serious injury in a traffic collision compared to anyone inside a motor vehicle, especially in collisions that happen at high rates of speed. While you can reduce that risk a lot by wearing appropriate safety gear while riding and making sure you pay attention to your surroundings as well as the rules of the road, you may still wind up seriously hurt solely because of someone else’s negligence.

Fortunately, you have help available in that kind of situation from knowledgeable bicycle accident lawyers with a long track record of helping people like you through cases a lot like yours. Here are some of the most common injuries from bicycle accidents on Long Island that a seasoned bike accident attorney could potentially help construct a strong civil claim around.

Road Rash and Lacerations

Even if someone is fortunate enough to be able to walk away from a bicycle accident in Long Island under their own power, they may still have suffered surface-level injuries, which make walking—and potentially working and participating in daily life—far from comfortable for a lengthy period of time. With that in mind, injuries like deep bruises, cuts that require stitches, and widespread abrasions in the form of road rash can often be factored into bicycle crash claims, and they can sometimes even serve as the basis for such claims all on their own.

Soft-Tissue Injuries

From sprained ankles to strained wrist ligaments to tears in muscles and muscle groups, so-called soft-tissue injuries are often anything but soft in terms of how they feel and how long they can take to heal. Bicycle accidents tend to cause damage like this, mainly in the lower limbs, but an awkward fall onto hard pavement can easily lead to injuries like shoulder dislocations and elbow ligament tears in the upper body, not to mention conditions like whiplash in the upper back and neck.

Bone Fractures

Of course, a broken bone is a particularly common injury from Long Island bicycle wrecks in Long Island, particularly those involving motor vehicles. Once again, the lower body is most often in harm’s way when it comes to this type of trauma but impacts that lead to a bicyclist rolling over the hood of a car can cause fractures in the arms, ribs, and even various parts of the skull.

Traumatic Brain Damage

On that last note, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are one of the most severe injuries a Long Island bicycle crash can have and, unfortunately, also often one of the more preventable injuries that a wreck like this can cause. Even if it is not strictly required by local or state law, wearing a bicycle helmet can dramatically reduce a rider’s risk of sustaining debilitating and potentially permanent damage to their brain.

A Long Island Attorney Could Help Sue Over Common Injuries from Bicycle Accidents

No matter what kind of trauma you sustained from a bicycle accident which was not your fault, your first priority in the immediate aftermath of that wreck should be making sure you get all the medical treatment you need to minimize long-term harm. Once your condition is stable, though, your next priority should be determining how to ensure that the person truly to blame for your accident is also the one who pays financially for your accident-related losses.

A tenacious bicycle accident lawyer can be a vital ally to have on your side when seeking recovery for all kinds of common injuries from bicycle accidents in Long Island. Call today to discuss your legal options.