Spring is in full swing here in Virginia and summer is just around the corner. That means Virginia residents will be engaged in lots of outdoor activities. One of the most popular of those activities is bike riding. Unfortunately, it can also be one of the most dangerous. A skilled Virginia personal injury lawyer knows that injuries from bike accidents can cause both physical and financial difficulties for the person injured and their family. Unlike being in a vehicle when hit, a bicycle offers no protection, so the injuries are often serious to catastrophic and require long recovery and rehab. This can also mean high medical bills and substantial loss of income from being unable to work.
If you have been hurt in a bike accident, our personal injury law firm may be able to help you recover the financial losses your injuries have caused.
Bike Accident Data
According to statistics from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), more than 900 people were killed in bike accidents in 2020, the most current year of data available.
Other data that is collected about bicycle accidents reveal the following information:
- The average age of bike accident victims is 44 years of age. This number has raised significantly over the years. In 1988, the average age of bike accident victims was 24 and increased to 32 years of age in 1998.
- More than 80 percent of people killed in bike accidents are male.
- Almost 70 percent of fatal bike accidents occur in urban areas.
- The time of day that sees the most amount of fatal bike accidents is the three hours between 6 and 9 p.m. when more than 20 percent of bike accident deaths occur.
- Alcohol is a major issue in bike accidents, with approximately 30 percent of all bike crashes classified as alcohol-related.
Studies show that most cyclists are struck at an angle, as opposed to head-on. Other studies show that many vehicle drivers fail to see cyclists. Another dangerous issue is that many vehicle drivers and their passengers fail to see cyclists when they open the door to exit the vehicle.
Common Bicycle Accident Injuries
The majority of personal injuries that happen in bike accidents occur to the upper and lower limbs. Many cyclists also suffer road rash. Some of the most common personal injuries sustained in bike accidents include:
- Head area injuries include brain contusions, concussion, hemorrhage, and skull fracture.
- Facial injuries include contusions, dental fractures, facial fractures, as well as eye injuries such as damage to the cornea.
- Chest injuries include injuries to the lungs and fractures to the ribs.
- Abdomen area injuries include bowel contusions, heart perforation, liver lacerations, renal contusion, spleen rupture, and traumatic hernia.
- Musculoskeletal injuries include dislocations, fractures, and strains. Wrists and collarbones are particularly vulnerable to fractures in bike accident injuries.
- Soft tissue and skin injuries include contusions, lacerations, and road rash, which can result in permanent nerve or tissue damage.
Contact a Skilled Virginia Injury Attorney Today
If you or a loved one were injured in a bicycle or any other type of vehicle accident, call Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp to schedule a free case evaluation with one of our dedicated Virginia bicycle accident attorneys
It is critical not to delay contacting our office because Virginia injury laws have strict rules regarding how long you have to file your personal injury claim. If the statute of limitations expires, you will be unable to collect financial damages for any medical expenses, loss of income, pain and suffering, or any other losses you or your family may be entitled to.
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