Common Head Injuries After Bicycle Accidents

An experienced bicycle accident attorney can help you recover compensation

Bicycle accidents are common in Chicago and throughout Illinois. Because they have little protection in a crash, bicyclists can be seriously hurt. Many suffer head injuries, which are especially concerning as there can be damage to brain tissue. As a result, a head injury can have a significant, and sometimes permanent, impact on the lives of victims.

While not legally required, bicycle helmets can provide protection for bicyclists in an accident. Helmets are designed to absorb the impact of a crash and distribute the force over a larger area, which can help reduce the risk of serious injury. But helmets can’t completely prevent all head injuries – and even if you were wearing a helmet, the driver who caused your injury can still be held responsible.

Here are some common head injuries seen in bicycle accidents.

Concussion

This is the most common type of head injury suffered by bicyclists. Concussion is a mild form of traumatic brain injury (TBI). A hit to the head in an accident, or jarring of the head from the force of impact, can result in an injury to the brain. Symptoms can include headaches, dizziness, confusion, and memory loss.

Although concussions are considered mild injuries, they can still have significant impacts on the lives of victims. Potential long-term effects include cognitive and behavioral changes, which can last for months of even longer. Treatment depends on the severity of the injury, but often involves rest, medication, and a gradual return to activities. In addition, the cumulative effects of multiple concussions can cause more significant brain damage over time.

Skull fracture

This injury occurs when a blow to the head is strong enough to break or crack the skull. A skull fracture can occur when a bicyclist is hit directly by a car or other vehicle, or is thrown from the bicycle and onto the road. The symptoms of a skull fracture include severe headaches, seizures, dizziness, and vomiting.

There are several complications associated with skull fractures, including bleeding, brain swelling, and infection. Victims may also experience neurological issues such as seizures or weakness, as well as cognitive symptoms such as memory loss, concentration problems and changes in personality.

Cerebral contusion

During an accident, a bicyclist may suffer a blow to the head, or the head may be shaken with great force during impact. In each case, a bicyclist can be left with a cerebral contusion, which is bruising of brain tissue. Symptoms may include headaches, dizziness, nausea, confusion or disorientation, and slurred speech.

Treatment will depend on the location and severity of the contusion. It may involve rest, medication, surgery, rehabilitation, and monitoring. In severe cases, victims of cerebral contusion can experience long-term effects. These can include cognitive problems, emotional and behavioral changes, and physical disabilities.

Intracranial hemorrhage

Another type of head injury seen in bicycle accidents is intracranial hemorrhage, or bleeding inside the skull or brain. Different types include:

• epidural hematoma (bleeding between the skull and the outermost layer of the brain)
• subdural hematoma (bleeding between the brain and the dura mater)
• intracerebral hemorrhage (bleeding within the brain tissue itself)
• subarachnoid hemorrhage (bleeding in the space between the brain and the surrounding membranes).

Symptoms can include headache, loss of consciousness, seizures, weakness or numbness on one side of the body, balance problems, confusion, and difficulty speaking or moving. Treatment may involve surgery to remove blood and relieve pressure on the brain, as well as medication to manage symptoms.

Diffuse axonal injury

Trauma to the head during a bicycle accident can also cause a diffuse axonal injury (DAI). This involves damage to the axons in the brain. Axons are long, thin fibers that transmit electrical impulses between brain cells. During a crash, the head can rapidly accelerate or decelerate at an angle, and axons can be stretched, torn, or sheared.

Damage to axons can disrupt communication between different parts of the brain. Symptoms can include loss of consciousness, confusion, memory loss, difficulty with movement or coordination, and changes in behavior or mood. Treatment typically involves medication, physical therapy to help with movement and coordination, and cognitive rehabilitation.

Recovering compensation after a head injury can be difficult

Medical expenses for treating a head injury can add up quickly and become overwhelming. These expenses can include the cost of ambulance services, emergency room treatment, diagnostic tests, imaging tests, surgery, hospitalization, medication, therapy, home care, and follow-up appointments with doctors.

If you suffered a head injury in a bicycle accident caused by a negligent driver, you deserve compensation for all current and future medical expenses related to the injury, lost wages if you couldn’t work, and other damages such as compensation for the value of pain and suffering. However, recovering compensation can be a complicated process.

One obstacle is the determination of fault. A negligent driver or their insurance company may argue that you were not following the rules of the road and were partially at fault for what happened. Under the modified comparative negligence system used in Illinois, this could potentially reduce the amount of compensation you can recover.

The at-fault driver’s insurance company will also try to minimize your claim. For example, they may question the seriousness of your head injury. Or they will make you a settlement offer soon after the accident – one that falls far short of covering all of the damages you suffered. As medical expenses start to add up, it can be tempting to accept the offer.

An experienced attorney can make a difference

It’s important to get trusted legal advice before accepting any settlement offer, and as soon as possible following a bicycle accident.

Chicago bicycle accident lawyer Michael S. Keating understands the impact a head injury can have on bicyclists. He knows the legal system in Illinois and is familiar with insurance company tactics used to limit your compensation. He is also a passionate cyclist who knows what it’s like to share the road with motor vehicles, and he is considered a national leader in bicycle accident law.

Keating Law Offices, P.C. is dedicated to helping you get the best possible outcome after you’ve been injured by a negligent driver. We investigate bicycle accidents to get the facts and build strong cases. We’re known for handling bicycle accidents – and we get results.

If you were hurt in a bicycle accident, learn more about we can help. Contact us to schedule a free consultation.

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