Most Common Bicycle Accident Injuries

Unfortunately, some of the most common bicycle accident injuries when involved in a crash with a vehicle can be very serious.

If you ride a bike, you’ve likely experienced a few scrapes and tumbles, but if you ride on city streets and share the road with automobiles, the risk of more serious bicycle accident injuries is very real.

Indeed, according to one study published by researchers from the University of Washington School of Medicine, when people ride on the street their risk of serious injuries increases by orders of magnitude. Having an understanding of the symptoms and relative severity of the most common serious bicycle accident injuries could help safeguard your health and your life when trying to decide whether to call 9-1-1 after a bicycle accident.

Common Causes and Outcomes of Bicycle Accidents

Bicycle accidents often occur due to collisions with motor vehicles, poor road conditions, or rider error. These incidents can lead to severe injuries such as fractures, head trauma, and internal bleeding. Additionally, many accidents result in costly medical expenses, prolonged recovery periods, and emotional trauma.

Bicycle Safety Tips

Taking proactive steps to enhance your safety on the road can significantly reduce your risk of being involved in a bicycle accident. Here are some essential tips to keep in mind:

Be Visible: Wear bright clothing, use lights (especially at night or in low-light conditions), and equip your bike with reflectors to ensure you’re easily seen by motorists.
Follow Traffic Laws: Obey traffic signals, signs, and road markings just like any other vehicle. Ride in the same direction as traffic and use designated bike lanes whenever possible.
Use Hand Signals: Clearly communicate your intentions to drivers and other cyclists by using proper hand signals for turning and stopping.
Be Predictable: Maintain a consistent line while riding and avoid sudden swerves or movements that could surprise drivers.
Stay Alert: Avoid distractions like headphones or using your phone while cycling. Be aware of your surroundings, including pedestrians, other cyclists, and parked cars.
Maintain Your Bike: Regularly inspect your bike for any mechanical issues, such as worn brakes or tires. Proper maintenance ensures your bike is safe and functioning correctly.
Wear a Helmet: Always wear a properly fitted helmet to protect your head in case of a fall or collision.

By incorporating these safety practices into your cycling routine, you can significantly reduce your risk of accidents and injuries.

The Most Common Bicycle Accident Injuries and Their Symptoms

The study mentioned above detailed bicycle crash data collected from a wide variety of sources and collated the most common types of bicycle accident injuries suffered by people who had been struck by motor vehicles while cycling on roadways and bike lanes. The researchers found that most bicycle accident injuries impact:

The upper extremities (arms, wrists, hands.)
The lower extremities (hips, legs, ankles, feet.)
The head (skull, brain, face, mouth.)
The abdomen (ribs, internal organs, the groin.)
The neck (spine and throat.)

These injuries are listed in order of prevalence, but that could a bit misleading. While a typical bicycle accident victim suffers injuries to the upper and/or lower extremities, the same victim may also suffer injuries to the head and abdomen. Injuries to the neck are included in the list but they are actually far less common.

Most all victims of these common bicycle accident injuries also suffer abrasions, (commonly called road rash), which alone can be serious injuries requiring debriding of the wound and in some cases even skin grafts.

The Most Common Bicycle Accident Injuries and Their Symptoms

Upper and Lower Extremities

By simply visualizing being struck by a vehicle while riding a bike, it’s not hard to imagine why damage to the upper or lower extremities is the most common type of bicycle accident injury seen in emergency rooms across the country. Often, the limbs are trapped between the bike and the automobile, or if the rider is thrown from the vehicle, these extremities come into contact with obstacles such as other automobiles, sign posts, and the road. In such accidents, victims are likely to suffer injuries including:

Contusions (bad bruises.)
Fractures (broken bones.)
Torn connective tissue (ligaments and tendons.)
Lacerations (cuts.)
Abrasions (road rash.)

While active bleeding may signal abrasions and lacerations, broken bones may be harder to diagnose. Victims often experience pain and swelling with a fractured or broken bone, but dislocation of the limb severe enough to be visually detectable is less common.

Other common bicycle accident injuries involving the extremities can be difficult to detect – soft tissue injuries (such as muscle tears) may express no symptoms until hours after the accident.

Head Trauma

Traumatic injury to the head can be extremely serious and life-threatening. Indeed, roughly 60% of all fatal bicycle accidents include head trauma. Types of head trauma include:

Skull fracture.
Lacerations.
Contusions.
Concussions.
Facial or dental damage.

While some types of trauma (such as dental damage) are easy to spot, intracranial hemorrhaging is a serious, potentially life-threatening medical emergency that may be unnoticeable for hours or even days after the accident. Symptoms of such injuries include:

Dizziness.
Vomiting.
Loss of consciousness.
Confusion.
Seizures.
Pain/headaches.

Head injuries occur in up to half of all seriously injured bicyclists. If you’ve suffered any sort of head trauma – even if you’re not experiencing symptoms – it’s essential that you get checked out by a medical professional immediately. Medical imaging may be the only way to determine whether you’re bleeding internally, and catching such an injury early in some cases may be the only way to save your life.

Wearing a helmet can reduce your risk of suffering fatal head injuries in a bicycle accident by up to 65%.

Abdominal Injuries

Common abdominal bike crash injuries seen by medical professionals include:

Fractured ribs.
Bruising.
Internal bleeding.
Puncture wounds.

These often occur when the rider is thrown from the bike in the impact, and collides with an object while in motion. While almost all of these injuries will cause a certain amount of pain, you can look for signs of serious injury at the scene of the crash by performing a few quick checks.

Take a Deep Breath

If you’ve fractured a rib and are in danger of potentially puncturing a lung, deep breathing will often be painful. If you’re experiencing internal bleeding, you may also feel tightness in your chest, or be unable to draw a complete breath.

Gently Probe Yourself

Using your fingertips, gently push on portions of your abdomen and/or groin that are tender. If the pain is severe or if pushing on the area greatly increases it, you could be suffering from an undiagnosed internal injury. In addition, if any areas of your abdomen feel hard or stiff the touch, this could signal an internal rupture and bleeding even if there is no pain associated with it.

Look at Yourself

In the heat of the moment, many people fail to simply look themselves over after a crash. Look for anything that might clue you in to a potential injury, like blood, torn clothing, abrasions, dislocations, or swelling.

Neck Injuries

Neck injuries aren’t as common as one might expect in bicycle accidents – head trauma happens much more frequently. When they do occur, however, spinal injuries can be extremely serious, and are a leading cause of permanent disability from a bicycle crash.

It’s important that you remain as still as possible if you believe you may have injured your spine, as any motion could potentially worsen the injury. Symptoms of possible neck/spine injury include:

Numbness.
Tingling.
Inability to move fingers or toes.

Even soft tissue injuries in the spinal region can cause significant impairment, and could even lead to permanent nerve damage. As with head trauma, if you believe you may have injured your neck at all after a bicycle accident, seek medical attention immediately.

Long-Term Effects of Bicycle Injuries

Beyond the immediate pain and medical treatment, bicycle accident injuries can have lasting consequences. These may include chronic pain, limited mobility, and disability, impacting your ability to work and engage in daily activities. Additionally, the trauma of the accident can lead to emotional distress, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

What to Do After a Bicycle Accident

If you’ve been in a bicycle accident, taking the right steps can protect your health and your legal rights:

Seek Medical Attention: Even if you feel fine, get checked by a doctor to rule out internal injuries.
Gather Evidence: If possible, collect information at the scene, including photos, witness contact details, and the driver’s information.
Contact the Police: Report the accident to the authorities and obtain a copy of the police report.
Contact a Lawyer: Consult with an experienced bicycle accident attorney to understand your legal options and pursue compensation for your injuries and losses.

Serious Bicycle Accident Injuries Can Be Costly

While there are various kinds of serious bicycle accident injuries that can result from being hit by a car, these injuries generally have one thing in common – they can be extremely expensive. A single day of hospitalization can cost several thousand dollars – common surgeries that much or more.

If you’ve been seriously hurt in a bike crash caused by another person, you may not have to pay those expenses out of pocket. Successfully pursuing an insurance claimor a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault individual(s) can result in your medical expenses being completely covered by your settlement or award.

Even if you’ve already paid some of your medical costs out of pocket, you may be able to secure reimbursement of those funds. You owe it to yourself to speak with an experienced bicycle accident attorney to see what legal options are available to you to maximize your compensation.

Take action now – protect your rights

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Karen johnson

2 years ago

When I got into my accident I was really not looking for an attorney, however I became frustrated with the other parties insurance company. I then went online and found Sally Morin Law and called for a free courtesy consult. Annie quickly called me back and spent 30 minutes explaining the attorney process. This made my decision easy,,, an All female attorney group certainly did not disappoint. Annie and her team (Amber) were on the case immediately, making calls, sending emails and dealing with the other party insured (or lack of insured). I’m so pleased to have had this incredible team of ladies to help me through this process. They did all their professional expertise, none of which I was capable of. They advocated for me in every way from medical bills, insurance liens, med pay, demand letters, phone calls, emails etc. All I needed to do was send receipts, and most importantly focus on getting better. Thank u team for all u have done. I am grateful for so much,,, and I can say that making that first phone call was the best decision. Keep up the great work and helping others Sincerely KJJ

Michael Basti

2 years ago

I unfortunately got injured in an auto accident and called a bunch of different attorneys with little to no help. I called Sally Morin Law and got help from Rebecca who was absolutely fantastic. She was there every step of the way to help and Isn’t just trying to make a quick buck. She took her time with me and went out of her way to help out. Thanks for all the help Rebecca!!

Reba Roseberry

2 years ago

I was t-boned by someone who ran a red light, totaling my car and sending me to the hospital with multiple breaks to my pelvis, among other smaller injuries. Once released from the hospital, I was confused, angry, and extremely anxious about what to do next. A friend encouraged me to seek legal help, and I found the team at Sally Morin. I was drawn to their all-women team, and immediately felt assured that I was in good hands. They took the reigns on handling everything, leaving me significantly more relieved to rest and heal like my body needed. With their help, the case was settled within four months of the accident, and I can now move forward with my life and leave this behind me. I would absolutely recommend the team at Sally Morin to anyone in a similar situation!

John Zientek

2 years ago

I was injured while riding my bicycle and a friend recommended Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers. In my experience, they made the process transparent and smooth, allowing me to focus on recovery — they were professional, empathetic, and effective! Rebecca and Carmen made a difficult time much less stressful.

Jimmy Lu

2 years ago

My mom was in a car accident and was badly injured. We wanted her to focus on her recovery without the worries of medical bills and dealing with multiple insurance companies so we hired Sally Morin Lawyers. Fortunately we received Annie Heller who showed strong ownership of the case, dealing with all communications from medical to slow moving insurance companies. Annie and team helped us settle the case with money in my mom’s pocket, but more importantly helped all of us not worry about anything besides my mom’s recovery. thank you!

Shannon Yu

2 years ago

Carmen and team at Sally Morin are the best. Having Carmen and her team for my personal injury case is one of the lucky thing for me in 2024 Carmen is a very capable law professional. she is expert in her domain, also she is very skillful in finding the key information. Carmen is also a compassionate and kind person, she listened and also put my interests in priority. At the same time she patiently explained to me the law information. Carmen is also very good with execution, the whole process she is proactively driving it towards the satisfactory result What more can you ask for a lawyer who is capable, professional, kind, effective and efficient.

Dee49ful

2 years ago

I was very fortunate that, by pure luck, I found Sally Morin’s firm online. It wasn’t recommended to me by anyone, but I now want to recommend them to EVERYONE, especially my fantastic attorney, Annie Heller. Annie was compassionate, honest, attentive, and responsive to my calls and emails. Throughout the entire process of my claim, I felt completely supported by her, and even after my case was successfully settled, she followed up with me. Thank you Annie, for your exceptional legal service!!

Lew Jabro (Havasu Lew)

3 years ago

Amazing! After months and months of going it alone and getting nowhere with our sons accident, and struggling...badly, we were lucky enough to get refered to Sally and Rebecca. They took over the whole case and handled everything. The whole team was very personable, professional, keeped us in the loop the entire time and cared about what was going on. They also set us up with all the right people to make sure the settlement funds were properly handled in the most efficient way for us. I just dont think we could have done all of this without them. It was a terrible time for our family, and we are very gratefull for everything they did for us! Thank you guys! ~HavasuLew

Kyle Osborn

3 years ago

Rebecca and the Sally Morin team provided invaluable support during a challenging period after our daughter was involved in a car accident. Their care, expertise, and dedication resulted in an outcome that exceeded our highest expectations. Working with them was a great experience, and I wholeheartedly recommend their services to anyone, without hesitation!

Alysia Lyons

3 years ago

I worked with Annie on my case and had such a pleasant experience! I felt supported and understood throughout the whole process. I highly recommend Sally Morin firm. Being injured isn't pleasant, so having a team behind you that's got your back makes the experience that much better.

Ariana D

3 years ago

I just spent the last 8 months working with a team of caring, compassionate, relatable women for my personal injury claim. Brief background: I was hit by a car while riding my bike to work. The driver pulled out of a parallel parking space without looking and was completely at fault. Initially, he and the others in the car were very concerned, but ghosted us afterwards and made up a story in order to not take on the blame. I ended up needing surgery and costs mounted, so I sought legal advice. After much research, I settled on Sally Morin Law. The team at this law firm is invested and responsive in a very personable way. I specifically worked with Carmen and Annie. Carmen took the lead and she answered every email, text, and annoying question my husband and I sent her way. She wrote a detailed demand letter that personalized my case and thoroughly explained the impact the accident had on my life, my children's lives, and my husband's life. In the end, our own insurance policy covered the claim to the fullest amount. Additionally, Carmen was able to negotiate the medical lien to $0, and my husband received a separate smaller amount for loss of consortium. We are more than happy with the results as it’s way beyond what we expected, and completely life changing. We didn't proceed with the case thinking we would have the outcome we did, and almost didn't pursue the case. However, after spending my own money on copays, days off from work, take out, uber rides, babysitters, and special equipment, it just didn't feel right not to seek help and I am so glad that I did! I highly recommend Sally Morin Law!

Simon Unge

3 years ago

Last year me and my partner was in a MC/Car accident. I was clueless on what rights we had and how to proceed with insurance claims etc. I contacted Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers, who guided us through the year long process in a very pedagogical manner, a lot of support, expertise and professionalism - answering any questions we had in a timely manner. Highly recommended, they made a painful experience very manageable. Thank you, Rebecca, Carmen, and Amber!

    
 
 
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   Amy R. 
 
 
 
 Verified I can't recommend Rebecca at Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers more highly. Rebecca is transparent, honest, and client-centered in a way that was completely different from the other firms I considered. Rebecca broke down what can feel like a very opaque process, and helped me understand my options in an approachable way. It was immediately clear that Rebecca's advice and guidance centered around my personal best interest, not what would make her firm the most money. Thanks Rebecca and team!
  
 
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   Mike B. 
 
 
 
 Verified I unfortunately got injured in an auto accident and called a bunch of different attorneys with little to no help. I called Sally Morin Law and got help from Rebecca who was absolutely fantastic. She was there every step of the way to help and Isn't just trying to make a quick buck. She took her time with me and went out of her way to help out. Thanks for all the help Rebecca!!
  
 
      Posted on Yelp  
   
   Shannon Y. 
 
 
 
 Verified Carmen and team at Sally Morin are the best. Having Carmen and her team for my personal injury case is one of the lucky thing for me in 2024
Carmen is a very capable law professional. she is expert in her domain, also she is very skillful in finding the key information. 
Carmen is also a compassionate and kind person, she listened and also put my interests in priority. At the same time she patiently explained to me the law information.
Carmen is also very good with execution, the whole process she is proactively driving it towards the satisfactory result

What more can you ask for a lawyer who is capable, professional, kind, effective and efficient.
  
 
      Posted on Yelp  
   
   Dinora G. 
 
 
 
 Verified I was very fortunate, and  by pure luck, I found Sally Morin's firm on YELP.  The firm wasn't recommended to me by anyone, but I now want to recommend them to EVERYONE, especially my fantastic attorney, Annie Heller.  Annie was compassionate, honest, attentive and very responsive to my calls and emails. Throughout the entire process of my claim, I felt completely supported and even after my case successfully settled, she followed up with me. Thank you Annie for your exceptional legal service.
  
 
      Posted on Yelp  
   
   Phil M. 
 
 
 
 Verified Rebecca and the team at Sally Morin are awesome, plain and simple! Honestly, they were the only legal representation that didn't make me feel slimy after the first conversation. I was thrilled to work with them on my injury case after realizing it was more than I could handle dealing directly with the other party's insurance myself. They advocated for me and my family, going into incredible detail and crafting a great strategy for what to do next. The end result was a pleasant surprise, far exceeding my expectations.

Rebecca and the team definitely earn their share by providing amazing value. They're also no-pressure, which was refreshing compared to other lawyers I contacted before choosing Sally Morin. Their priority was making sure I was always informed and knew exactly what was going on, every step of the way.

If something happens again, Rebecca and Sally Morin will be my first call--and I'm sure there will be a multitude of emails to follow! :P
  
 
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   Steve M. 
 
 
 
 Verified Attorneys Annie Levitt Heller and Carmen from Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers are the absolute best! They are dedicated, approachable and thorough in all their work. They provided the best possible outcome for my case (I was a pedestrian hit by a car in a crosswalk) and supportive every step of the way. I would absolutely recommend Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers to anyone Forever grateful to them!
  
 
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   James Minh N. 
 
 
 
 Verified My sister got in a car accident, was hit badly by another driver, became unconscious, and was immediately taken to hospital emergency with an internal brain bleeding thus could not defend herself. As a result, the police report had false information from the other driver and concluded my sister at fault. While other legal firms purposed disappeared after seeing at the police report and other driver's cheap insurance policy (not easy win), Sally Morin team with great heart and "no win, no pay" written clause took on the case and successfully reversed both insurance + police reports and won the case. My family is grateful to find Sally Morin firm and great team with legal expertise, experience, and most important great heart. Thank you very much.
  
 
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   Tim K. 
 
 
 
 Verified Unfortunately me and my mom were hit by another driver on the freeway. We ended up with hospital bills and a long road to recovery especially for my 85 yr old mother. This was such a tragedy and uncertain times for us not knowing where to turn and what to do about mounting bills while trying to get our lives in order. I contacted Sally and her wonderful team. Carmen one of her associates worked with me and my mom and handled everything. Carmen was awesome and such a caring lawyer as well. She keeps
It real and we loved that about her. When you need a personal injury attorney that will work on handling your case in every aspect, insurance claims, potential health liens and negotiating on your behalf then Sally Morin Personal Injury law firm is the one to contact. You can count on them. Carmen explained everything so we knew what we were in for and was trustworthy and honest. There is no way to state how invaluable and priceless it is knowing the law firm you hired has your back and can be trusted. I hope no one ever needs a personal Injury attorney because being injured is one of the worst things that can happen to you; your life changes in an instant after a bad accident. But having a law firm like Sally Morin with lawyers like Carmen make that terrible experience much better knowing they are there to handle every aspect of your case and do it so well. Thanks Carmen and team. Much appreciated!
  
 
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   Stephan B. 
 
 
 
 Verified I originally reached out to a different law firm to handle my personal injury case, but Sally Morin's team (Rebecca Taylor in particular) left such a good impression on me that I switched to them--and I'm glad I did! They were empathetic and professional, communicated early and often, and patiently walked me through every option. They did thorough research and handled so much on their end that I was able to focus on my recovery/work/life with minimal disruption. So I highly recommend this firm.
  
 
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   Michele H. 
 
 
 
 Verified Word cannot express the honesty from Annie at Sally Morin law . She is honest kind and to the point . If you want to get ripped off by shady humans don't hire Annie . If you want honest kind and attentive go with Annie at Sally Morin law . You will feel good about your choice  . She is a firm advocate with insurance and health care .  Annie and her team will be available to explain things all the way through . Her integrity is not matched in this field . I would hire again and again 
Thanks Annie   You made one of the most difficult times in my families life tolerable !  
Your kindness and integrity are not matched in everyday life . Much less with  personal injury lawyers thank you thank you 
Michele Hargrove