Bicycle enthusiasts may enjoy a relaxing trek down a popular road, but reality sets in when a car comes too close. Near misses with pedestrians might also jolt bicyclists to remember the dangers associated with commuting. Many injuries could occur when a bicycle or motorcyclist becomes involved in an accident, including broken bones. Road rash may happen, and the results might be far worse than initially realized.
Road rash and its dangers
Road rash refers to friction injuries that occur when skidding on the road. A bicyclist not only lacks the protection as someone inside a car, but bicyclists don’t usually wear the same protective clothing as a motorcyclist. Without a thick leather jacket, the body becomes vulnerable to road rash.
Road rash injuries might mimic severe burns and require extensive medical care to treat. Such wounds could become infected and life-threatening in some situations.
Legal consequences after accidents
Hitting the ground and skidding off the surface could also result in impact trauma. Skull fractures may occur if a bicyclist skids into the curb or hits the pavement. Traumatic brain injuries could require extensive medical treatments to help the victim recover. The injuries might degrade motor skills, requiring the victim to undergo extensive therapy to recover what they lost. Sometimes, memory problems could become unavoidable, impacting how someone functions daily.
Taking legal action to address these types of injuries after bicycle accidents might be unavoidable. Persons left with medical bills and lost wages may be unable to deal with the financial costs, so they seek compensation from a negligent party.
Bicyclists may not realize that their auto insurance policy may cover them when hit by a vehicle. Since the incident was an auto accident, uninsured/underinsured motorist claims might be valid. Such claims could pay for medical and other expenses related to road rash, head injuries, and more.
