Many of us love riding bicycles for exercise and pleasure, as well as environmental reasons. However, no matter how careful we are as cyclists, there are sometimes accidents. Even worse, sometimes these accidents lead to serious injuries requiring surgery and even death. If you are injured in a bicycle accident, the first thing that you should do is get any emergency medical treatment that you need and make sure that you do not exacerbate your injuries. Once the immediate emergency has passed, contact a knowledgeable Palo Alto bicycle accident attorney at Ziff & Cohn as soon as you are able. There are certain common injuries in bicycle accidents that we see frequently in our practice, and we know how to help you assert your right to compensation for them.
Head injuries are the most common kind of serious injury in bicycle accidents. They are also responsible for the most fatalities and permanent disabilities after a bicycle accident. Unfortunately, over 800 people each year die while riding bicycles, many of them from head injuries. Head injuries can also cause permanent brain damage. Cyclists involved in accidents may also suffer concussions or other kinds of head trauma. It is important to get checked out by a physician if you have suffered any kind of head injury, even if it seems minor. There could be brain bleeding or swelling that you may not notice at first.
Another common bicycle accident injury is eye trauma from hitting a vehicle or the ground. If you are thrown off your bike, you may also have lacerations and scarring on your face.
People involved in bicycle accidents will also sometimes end up with missing or broken teeth, a broken jaw, or other dental issues. If you are concerned that you have suffered mouth, tooth, or jaw trauma after a bicycle accident, you should contact a dentist to help assess and treat your injuries.
Bicycle accidents may also result in broken bones and/or fractures, particularly clavicle fractures, rib fractures, pelvic fractures, and leg fractures. Wrist and arm injuries are especially common, due to the way that handlebars are positioned. However, almost any part of the musculoskeletal system can be injured in a bicycle accident. If you are suffering from any kind of bone injury, you should get emergency treatment to determine whether it is a fracture.
If you have been struck by a careless driver while you were going to work or school, or simply enjoying a ride, you should not hesitate to explore the possibility of taking legal action. Our attorneys can advise you on whether you may be able to bring a personal injury claim against a driver. This would usually involve proving that the driver failed to act safely behind the wheel. Perhaps they failed to yield at an intersection when required, perhaps they merged improperly into a bike lane, or perhaps they were busy texting and failed to notice a bike in their vicinity. If you were hurt because of a traffic violation or another type of negligence, liability likely can be established.
Damages available in these cases can cover any of the common injuries in bicycle accidents, as well as other forms of harm. You can receive compensation for the costs of your medical treatment, any lost income and earning capacity, any scarring and disfigurement, and your pain and suffering, among other damages. However, California imposes a strict statute of limitations on personal injury cases, which bars claims that are filed too long after an accident. This makes it important to seek legal counsel promptly.
If you have been in an accident, you should contact a knowledgeable bicycle accident lawyer as soon as possible. We have helped professionals, college students, families of injured children, and many other victims pursue the compensation that they are owed. Ziff & Cohn represents bicycle accident victims throughout the Bay Area, including in Palo Alto, Los Altos, Mountain View, Stanford, Portola Valley, Woodside, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, San Jose, Milpitas, Morgan Hill, Redwood City, Burlingame, San Mateo, San Bruno, Daly City, San Francisco, Alameda, Berkeley, Castro Valley, Fremont, Hayward, Oakland, Pleasanton, San Leandro, and Union City. Call (650) 329-0851 or use the contact form on this website to schedule your free consultation today.