When it comes to getting exercise, enjoying the outdoors, and doing your part to protect the environment, there’s no better way to commute than riding your bicycle. However, biking to school, work, or around town has a major downside: the risk of suffering a serious injury. Even when bike lanes are available, bicyclists still face dangers on Virginia’s roadways, especially when other drivers aren’t paying attention.
In 2018, 857 bicyclists were killed in crashes in the U.S. To reduce the number of crashes involving cyclists, we must raise awareness of the problem and identify how injuries happen.
Bicycles have no built-in safety features, which means riders must take necessary steps to protect themselves, such as wearing helmets and brightly colored clothing. But when accidents do occur, bicyclists are at an extreme risk of suffering serious injuries, such as:
- Head injuries—Bicyclists should never leave home without wearing helmets. Wearing a helmet can be the difference between life and death in bicycle accidents. However, bicycle helmets can only absorb so much energy during crashes, and riders may still be at risk of traumatic brain injuries.
- Road rash—When bicyclists are thrown from their bikes and land on pavement or asphalt, they may suffer serious injuries to their skin, which can result in excessive bleeding and infection.
- Broken bones—Both high-speed and low-speed bicycle accidents can put riders at risk of broken bones. For example, when riders place their hands in front of themselves to catch their falls, they may suffer broken fingers, hands, wrists or arms.
As a bicyclist, you have rights, and that includes pursuing compensation when someone else’s mistakes cause your injuries. If you aren’t sure whether you want to take legal action, simply give us a call to explore your legal options. Contact the Norfolk bicycle accidents lawyers at Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation.
