Kentucky is a beautiful state with cityscapes and curvy mountain roads to attract cyclists of all skill levels. Adults may hop on a bike to take a long ride for exercise. They may also travel to work or school on a bicycle. Parents may ensure their children get some fresh air by taking them out for a loop around the neighborhood.
Kentucky bicyclists love the freedom they experience, but that feeling can be upended when cyclists have to confront vehicle traffic. Cyclists have every right to the road when bike lanes aren’t present, but trusting a careless driver to show caution around riders is hazardous.
Someone on a bike can be struck and wake up in the hospital with a bicycle accident traumatic injury. These injuries often require immediate medical care to ensure the survival of the bike accident victim. That care is also often financially overwhelming for victims and their families.
Schedule a Free Consultation with a Real Kentucky Bicycle Accident Traumatic Injury Lawyer
Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC, is a strong advocate for Kentucky cyclists. That’s why we offer a free consultation to all Kentucky bicycle accident victims. After a traumatic injury, we desire to see every injured cyclist get the support they need to recover and get back on their bikes again.
Contact us to schedule a free case review. It’s an easy way to determine how much your bicycle injury may be worth and what you should be expecting from an at-fault driver’s insurance company.
Bicycle Accident Traumatic Injuries in Kentucky
Cyclists in bigger cities in Lexington and Louisville may enjoy the partial protection of bike lanes or be able to stay far away from traffic on bike paths. But those on bikes on rural roads have to trust that sometimes careless and reckless drivers are paying attention as they share the lanes. The narrow lanes along parts of the Bourbon Trail or the Hal Rogers Parkway leave cyclists at risk.
A driver can edge a cyclist from the road, make a turn directly in front of a cyclist, or hit a cyclist from behind. Being knocked from a bike can easily send riders to the hospital with a traumatic injury.
Traumatic injuries for cyclists are suffered in sudden and powerful impacts involving blunt force trauma. Victims of a traumatic injury in a bicycle accident often need urgent medical care. In some devastating cases, the time it takes to get the patient to a trauma center will decide if the victim lives or dies.
Trauma Centers are emergency rooms with special staffing and equipment to handle the worst accident injuries in Kentucky.
For more information on what to do after a Kentucky bicycle accident involving a traumatic injury visit our informational page here.
Common Traumatic Injury After a Kentucky Bicycle Accident
Cyclists, along with pedestrians and motorcyclists, are the least protected users of the roadway. They usually suffer a strike from the car first and then an impact with the ground. In the worst cases, bicycle accident victims are then at risk of being run over by vehicles once they are down.
Kentucky collisions involving those on bicycles are much more likely to cause a traumatic injury than a crash between two vehicles. Cyclists don’t have airbags, seatbelts, and metal walls to safeguard them.
A rider might suffer a spinal cord or back injury in a fall. A tragic accident could leave the rider with a permanent disability. They may not be able to return to work or ride a bike ever again.
These are a few other traumatic injuries that Kentucky bicycle accident victims could receive in an accident:
- Facial Injuries – Cyclists can be launched at the pavement, face first, and suffer fractured nose and cheekbones. Teeth can be knocked out and smiles can be permanently altered with a disfigurement.
- Head Injuries – The skull is a strong bone, but it could fracture even when a cyclist is wearing a bicycle helmet. This fracture sends bone fragments into the brain and can lead to brain bleeding, brain swelling, and brain damage.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) – The force of impact can cause the brain to collide with the inside of the skull. A minor concussion may be the result, but more serious side effects, like memory loss and seizures, are possible.
- Hand Injuries – Riders can instinctively throw out their hands to catch their falls. Hand injuries and fractures can leave victims unable to perform their job duties or participate in family activities.
- Dental Injuries – Teeth might be loosened or be lost on impact. Jaw injuries can also affect teeth.
- Arm Fractures – Arms and wrists may all take the brunt of a collision and suffer fractures
- Leg Fractures — Broken legs, ankles, and knees can leave a rider off a bike for months.
- Chest injuries — Fractures to the breastbone, collarbones, and ribs are also possible.
Compensation for Kentucky Bicycle Accident Traumatic Injury Victims
To enable you and your family to get the most out of your bicycle traumatic injury, your Kentucky Bicycle Accident Lawyer will be making a list of your hardships during recovery. Every damage you’ve suffered must be listed in your injury claim because anything not listed won’t be considered for compensation.
The car insurance provider for an at-fault driver will still try to question every injury and bill you submit, but your attorney negotiates to make sure they provide full coverage for your hardships.
The amount on your bicycle accident settlement check will be determined by these factors and more:
- Totals for medical expenses now and estimates on care needed in the future.
- Estimates on the lifetime expenses of permanent physical disabilities and disfigurements suffered in a bicycle accident.
- Physical pain and suffering. This includes the emotional trauma bicycle accident victims often face. They may be unable to participate in family activities or ride a bike for quite some time.
- Loss of enjoyment of life.
- Past and future lost earnings.
- Money for a new bike.
- Wrongful death benefits. Extensive benefits available to close relatives after a fatal bicycle accident.
Frequently Asked Questions after a Kentucky Bicycle Accident
Do I need a lawyer after suffering a traumatic injury in a bicycle accident?
Yes. The higher your medical bills go the harder insurance companies will fight to avoid blame and the more they’ll question the severity of your injuries. You need a legal representative to make sure you receive fair support.
Can I earn compensation if I was partially at fault for my Kentucky bicycle crash?
Yes. Kentucky allows the cyclist and the driver to share blame in an accident. You may have ridden in a place you weren’t supposed to, but a driver could still face a percentage of liability for not showing caution towards you.
Can I earn compensation if I wasn’t wearing a helmet in a Kentucky bicycle crash?
Yes. Riders are not required to wear bicycle helmets in Kentucky. A jury may assign partial blame to you if a helmet would’ve reduced your injury, but drivers could still have to provide support for their percentage of blame.
Contact a Kentucky Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Bicycle accident victims often wonder if they need an attorney, and the answer is almost always yes. Traumatic injuries force recovery costs higher and higher. This can trigger insurance adjusters to try to shift blame for a collision to you. They may also question the severity of your injury to save their companies a few dollars. You need someone just as determined to help you earn the most from your bicycle accident traumatic injury claim.
Talk to a Louisville Bike Accident Lawyer you can trust to be on your side and fight for your fair compensation. To discuss your case in a free consultation with a real Kentucky lawyer, contact Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC today, by clicking here.
