California roads are overly crowded, which can put bicyclists in danger of crashing. Riding bicycles at the beach can be hazardous, as well. For example, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, and Laguna Beach are all crowded with other bicycle riders, pedestrians, dogs, and other obstacles that could create dangers for bicyclists.
A bicycle crash in Southern California doesn’t always have to involve a motor vehicle. While car and bicycle crashes are the most deadly type of bicycle accident, other types of bicycle crashes can occur. Even the simplest of falls due to other people, dangerous road conditions, debris, and obstacles can cause bicycle riders to go down and hit their heads.
Anytime riders hit their heads, brain injury can occur. While wearing a helmet can help reduce the chance of serious head injury, it cannot always be preventated, due to the fragility of the brain. However, a helmet will provide some protection for riders. Serious injuries to the head include: concussions, eye injuries, facial injuries, lacerations, traumatic brain injury, skull fractures, and contusions. Two of the most common head injuries that cyclists suffer are:
- Concussions – This is a result of a blow to the head, during which the brain gets knocked around inside your skull, creating bruising, swelling, or bleeding of the brain. This can lead to vomiting and severe headaches, such as migraines. It can also cause dizziness, unconsciousness, and memory loss to occur. These injuries will definitely need medical treatment and could have lasting effects.
- Skull Fractures – This is when the bones in the skull suffer a break due to severe head trauma. Linear fractures are the most common, and can typically heal on their own. However, depressed fractures usually require surgery if there is damage to the underlying tissue.
Anytime there is a bicycle crash, it can leave the bicyclist with head injuries, as well as disfigurement, spinal cord injury, internal injuries, other catastrophic injuries, and even death. If you believe that the bicycle accident in which you were involved was not your fault, then you should contact a knowledgeable Orange County bicycle accident attorney at the Law Office of John P. Burns.
Contact attorney John Burns to get your questions answered, and find out if you have a legal case. You can also request a FREE copy of his book, 9 Mistakes That Can Ruin Your California Vehicle Accident Case. Get your free copy by calling us today at (877) 320-1338.