Bicycle mishaps are more frequent than one can think in which a person can be wounded from merely tumbling off the bike or getting smashed against a concrete surface. You must know that if you ride a bicycle, you are more prone to risk of injury if an accident occurs. The most crucial factor here is negligence. Most bicyclists fail to adhere to the traffic rules. Except for certain serious cases, bicycle collisions usually cause injuries that are often minor, such as lesions, mutilations, strains or even fractures.
In case of a collision, debris removal may be required from the skin. The following symptoms might be apparent in case the victim suffers a fracture- inflammation, aches, immobility, or impairment.
Traumatic Injuries
Not all bike accident injuries are traumatic, but the ones that are account for the worst injuries. A person may suffer from overuse injuries, but these are often not serious and do not occur due to accidents.
The usual injuries in this category are- skull fracture, cranial hemorrhage, concussions and contusions. You may even experience facial or dental fractures, rib fractures, ruptured spleen, pancreatic trauma, bowel contusions, or renal bruises. Some riders are also at the risk of being impaled by their handlebars, which often leads to life-threatening trauma. Pelvic fractures and rectal damage are also serious causes for concern. You may even suffer damage to or fracture any bone, from your hip to your ankles or femur.
Skull Injuries
Most head injuries occur when the rider is not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. Wounded bicyclists are the most prone to the danger of a head injury and these are often a grave concern. The maximum of lifelong impairment from bicycle mishaps are associated with head injuries.
The neck isn’t as common of an injury area as many people would think. While neck injuries can and do occur, they’re far less common than head injuries and other injuries. In fact, neck injuries are quite rare in the whole spectrum of bike accidents.
Eye injuries may not be that frequent, but they can still be grave. A rider without any eye protection is more prone to an eye injury while cycling.
Even if you experience an insignificant bicycle collision, you might suffer from some critical issues which you won't be able to realize right away. These issues often become evident days or weeks after the mishap. However, you must check for following after an accident if you feel everything is alright:
Get yourself examined
In case you get your head slammed, it’s better to have it checked out. Head injuries can be very grave hence should not be ignored. There might be internal bleeding of which you won't even be aware. Watch out for these signs of a head injury- losing consciousness, ignorance or indecision, or changes in vision. If there is a crack in your helmet, it can be an indicator of a rather critical accident.
Check your breathing
During a mishap, you might end up breaking your ribs or having your lung damaged. Often, victims think nothing can be done in these cases, hence they avoid medical treatment. However, what you need to do is contact medical emergency services if you experience trouble breathing. The rule of thumb is to take a deep breath. If you experience discomfort or pain while breathing in deeply, then you must visit an emergency room.
Get your abdomen scanned
During a collision, if your abdomen smacks the handlebars, that is a matter of concern. In case of a hard blow, the organs and soft tissue in the stomach might get injured. To check whether an injury happened, use your hands and examine the abdomen. If your stomach feels stiff in one area or swollen, this might indicate internal bleeding. In case there is internal bleeding, you must seek medical assistance instantly.
Spine
Spine injuries can be really critical. If you feel there is some issue with your spine or neck, do not move and let a medic check on you. There might be symptoms of a possible injury to the spine or neck like numbness, sting, not being able to move fingers or toes. If you experience any discomfort while moving your neck, seek immediate medical assistance. Do not move your neck or else you might put your spinal cord at risk of a permanent injury.
Check for bleeding
Bleeding is easy to detect when it’s on the outside but it can also be internal. You must check for swollen or stiff parts areas to see if there is any chance of internal bleeding. In case of external bleeding, you must go for basic first aid and put pressure on the area. Get medical treatment if you believe that you’ll need stitches or some form of advanced medical treatment. To make sure what kind of injury you have, you must get a medical professional to do an imaging on the area.
Bicycle mishap injuries can be life-altering, and if you’ve been wounded in a bike accident, a competent attorney will assist you. Your injuries, if caused by the neglect of another person, deserve remuneration.
