Bicycling in heavily populated urban areas can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, there’s the freedom of being able to move through dense traffic and a sense of well-being that’s attributed to outdoor exercise. However, on the other hand, moving through traffic gives rise to the ever-present danger of suffering serious or even life-threatening injuries. As a result, safety helmets are a must-have piece of equipment for cyclists regardless of age and skill level.
However, only your head is protected, which leaves other areas of your body completely exposed. When bike accidents involve getting struck by a motor vehicle, injuries are usually serious. Unfortunately, in some cases, those injuries can be fatal. For surviving bicycle accident victims, the trauma experienced in such a collision often results in huge medical expenses as well as the adverse impact it has on a person’s daily life, their education pursuits, or their work responsibilities.
Common Injuries resulting from Bicycle-Motor Vehicle Collisions
Compared to a motor vehicle, bicycles are greatly outmatched in size and weight. So when a bicyclist is struck by a motor vehicle, the rider is likely to suffer serious or even catastrophic injury such as:
• amputations/severed limbs
• broken bones/fractures
• concussions
• damage to the central nervous system
• lacerations
• post-traumatic stress
• spinal cord injuries including paralysis
• TBI’s (traumatic brain injuries)
Surprisingly, serious injuries can result when two cyclists collide with one another. This is especially true when inexperienced or young riders cruising at slower speeds and not wearing safety helmets collide with adult professional cyclists traveling at high speed. No matter what the circumstances surrounding the accident, the injured cyclist has the right to pursue compensation in a personal injury claim or lawsuit.
Damages in a Bicycle Accident Injury Claim
If you’re considering pursuing compensation for your injuries and are planning on hiring a personal injury attorney to represent you, one of the first steps will be evaluating your case and determining what it is worth in terms of “damages.” Damages are defined as the emotional, financial, mental, and physical cost of your injuries. In personal injury law, damages are classified as compensatory or punitive. Examples of compensatory damages include:
• emotional distress
• loss of enjoyment
• lost income
• medical expenses
• pain and suffering
• property loss
Compensatory damages are given to ensure that the victim is financially sound. Punitive damages typically arise when the at-fault party’s actions or behavior are deemed outrageously careless or particularly egregious. To learn more about your rights after being injured in an accident, speak with a personal injury lawyer in Edmonton today. It is best to let a lawyer handle your claim so that the insurance company does not pressurize you into accepting an unfair amount as damages.