What Are the Most Common Injuries to Cyclists Who Are Hit by Cars?

When a car strikes a bicycle rider, the consequences are often deadly. The size and weight of a car, even a compact car, is simply no match for a bicycle rider. The rider is usually crushed or thrown from the bicycle onto the hard asphalt or onto another traffic object. Riders who are lucky enough to survive usually suffer catastrophic injuries that require a lifetime of care and dramatically alter the rider’s life. Riders who survive a car crash may also suffer permanent injuries or injuries that require months of medical care.

The statistics are overwhelming. According to injuryfacts.com, in 2019:

• 846 bicycle riders died due to a motor-vehicle collision – based on data from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
• The rate of bicycle accidents is higher in the summer months – June through September.
• “The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports 417,485 emergency department-treated injuries associated with bicycles and bicycle accessories in 2019.”

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), In 2019, 78% of bicycle rider deaths occurred in urban settings. About 2/3 of bicycle deaths in 2019 occurred on major roads (not counting interstates and freeways). About 1/3 occurred on minor roads.

Why are bicycles struck by cars?

Drivers may be liable for striking a bicycle rider due to:

• Driver intoxication
• Distracted driving
• Fatigued drivers
• Speeding and other traffic violations such as going through a stop sign or a red light
• Failing to respect the right of a bicycle rider to be on a minor road
• Not giving a bicycle rider who is riding on the should of a road enough room
• Limited visibility

Who else can be liable?

In some cases, the very construction of the vehicle may be to blame. Large SUVs, CUVs, and pick-up trucks can limit visibility. In some cases, the very design of the road may be to blame. This is why you should always seek counsel from an experienced injury attorney; you never know how many parties may share liability for a crash.

Bicycle riders and fatal accidents

If a loved one (a spouse, a domestic partner, a child or stepchild, a parent, and/or a sibling) dies due to the negligence of a driver, we file wrongful death claims on behalf of the family members. In wrongful death cases in Washington, we understand no award can make up for the loss of your loved one. We demand justice though. Justice requires that the responsible parties pay for all the damages the law permits including:

• Funeral and burial expenses
• The decedent’s medical bills
• The money the decedent would have reasonably earned – but for the early death
• Any pain and suffering the bicycle rider suffered
• The loss of companionship, guidance, and other benefits the family members lost due to the loved one’s death

What factors determine the type and severity of bicycle accident injuries?

The injuries depend on a variety of factors:

• How the accident happened. If a driver opens a door while a bicycle rider is traveling, that type of accident is serious – but normally less serious than a head-on collision. In some cases, the car may not directly strike the bicycle rider. Instead, the rider may tumble over the handlebars when he/she brakes quickly in order to avoid a car in the path of the bicycle.
• The protective gear the bicycle rider was wearing. Helmets do make a difference. Padded clothing may help.
• The size of the vehicle. The larger the vehicle, the higher up on the body the cyclist is likely to be hit. Large SUVs and trucks tend to hit cyclists in the torso, causing the rider’s body to wrap around the Smaller vehicle tend to hit the legs, which can cause the rider to bounce onto the hood of the vehicle.
• How fast the car was traveling when it strikes the bicycle. There’s a big difference between being struck by a car traveling at 5mph and a car going at 50 mph.

Common injuries bicycle riders suffer when struck by a car in Vancouver or Battle Ground

Many bicycle injuries due to car accidents require surgery and extensive medical therapy. Bike injuries usually include one or more of the following injuries:

• Head trauma. Bicycle riders often fall head-first from the bicycle or the car strikes the head directly. Head injuries include traumatic brain injuries (violent forces that cause the brain to lose oxygen), fractured skulls, bleeding, concussions, and other disorders. Victims who suffer head trauma often lose cognitive functions in addition to suffering physical harm and emotional problems. Many head trauma victims need a lifetime of medical care and can’t perform daily tasks without difficulty. Helmets may reduce the severity of any head trauma.
• A bicycle rider, especially if his/her body is pinned against the car, may suffer an amputation of a leg, arm, or another body part. If a bicycle accident victim suffers or requires an amputation – he/she may lose the ability to work. Victims often need long-term psychological help. They usually need to use prosthetic devices in order to function and enjoy life.
• Facial injuries. If a bicycle rider lands on his/her face or the face is injured to other crash dynamics, the rider can suffer bone fractures, damage to tissues, nerve damage, vision loss, and other trauma. Many facial trauma victims require plastic surgery and mental health care. The rider may need expensive dental care to fix broken teeth and other dental injuries.
• Spinal cord damage. Riders may suffer damage to their back, spine, neck, or vertebrae which can damage the spinal cord. In severe cases, the rider may become paralyzed. In many cases, riders live with chronic pain.
• Broken bones. It’s frankly a miracle if a bicycle rider who is truck by a car doesn’t suffer any broken bones. Riders who land on their chest often suffer broken ribs. Most riders suffer multiple fractures including compound fractures. The fractures often require surgery and extensive physical therapy to learn how to use the injured part of the body again.

Other common bicycle accident injuries include:

• Road rash due to sliding on the asphalt
• Internal organ damage and internal bleeding
• Respiratory difficulties if the chest was struck
• Soft tissue and muscle injuries
• Damage to tendons, ligaments, and joints
• Cuts and bruises

In virtually all cases, the bicycle rider will need emergency care. In addition to the initial surgery, additional surgeries may be required. The injured bicycle rider may need to treat with orthopedists, neurologists, pain management doctors, psychologists, physical therapists, rehabilitation therapists, and many other health care providers.

If you were injured or a loved one was killed while riding a bicycle, the Vancouver, WA bike accident lawyers at Philbrook Law Office have the experience and resources to help you get justice. We examine the accident site, speak with witnesses including the police who are called to the accident site, and conduct extensive discovery to determine just how the bicycle accident occurred. We work with physicians and financial professionals to help show your injuries and just how much money you or your family is entitled to. When a tragic or serious bicycle accident occurs, call our experienced caring lawyers in Vancouver, or Battle ground, WA at 360-695-3309 or complete our contact form to discuss your case.