Willens Law Offices Articles Chicago Bicycle Accidents and Brain Injuries

Chicago Bicycle Accidents and Brain Injuries

By Matthew Willens  Jun. 11, 2015 1:43p

Brain injuries resulting from a bicycle accident may occur even if a bicyclist is wearing a helmet.

Brain injuries are a common result of serious bicycle accidents. The injury may vary from being a minor headache to permanent functional damage. Brain injuries may occur even if the bicyclist is wearing a helmet. If the impact is strong enough, the bicyclist will suffer an injury despite wearing a helmet.

Statistics have shown that bicycle accidents occurring in rural areas are more likely to cause head injuries compared to the ones that occur in towns. This may be because the speed limits in rural areas are usually higher than that in town. The higher the speed at the time of the accident, the greater will be the impact, and the more serious will be the injury.

Symptoms of Brain Injury

Our brain floats in cerebrospinal fluid that cushions the brain from everyday bumps and jolts. In case of an accident, the head may suffer a blow causing the brain to bounce forcefully against the skull. This can cause bleeding and may damage the nerve fibers. Common symptoms that a bicyclist may experience after suffering a brain injury include:

  • loss of consciousness
  • memory loss
  • headaches
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • slurred speech

Concussion After a Bicycle Accident

A common type of brain injury suffered by bicyclists is a concussion. Concussions can have serious implications for a person as it may cause serious swelling or bleeding inside the skull. The injured person may not experience any symptoms for a period of time after the injury.

If you experience the symptoms of a concussion after a bicycle accident, seek immediate medical attention. A doctor will conduct a neurological exam and may order a CAT scan. The doctor may check your concentration, memory, hearing, vision, coordination, balance, and reflexes. Symptoms of a concussion may last a long time even after the injury has healed.

Speaking to a Chicago Bicycle Accident Attorney

Once a bicyclist is hit by a car and suffers a head trauma, he or she may experience some memory loss around the time when the accident occurred. Before talking to the insurance company of the car driver, contact a Chicago personal injury attorney to conduct an independent investigation into the cause of the accident.

The at-fault driver may give a wrong account of the accident and may throw the blame on to you. If you tell the insurance company that you do not recall the events that led to the accident, the insurance company may believe the car driver’s account and deny you any compensation. Call Willens Law Offices at (312) 957-4166 for a free consultation. We can help you recover compensation from a negligent driver.

Other Recent Articles

Car Accident Settlement Or Lawsuit? Questions To Consider

After an injurious vehicle accident, you may be thinking about filing a lawsuit against the at-fault person instead of just settling with his/her insurance company. But most accident cases are better ...
More Articles »

Electrical Burn Injuries Involving Children - Chicago Attorney

Electrical burn injuries occur when electric current passes through body. These burns are often serious and can damage tissue or organs, or may simply just burn the skin. The most common causes of ...
More Articles »

Settling a Chicago Personal Injury Claim Out of Court

Accidents happen, and the only thing we can do is do our best to control how we react when we are involved in one. From a legal standpoint, there are two ways to resolving an accident claim: go to ...
More Articles »
(312) 957-4166
30 N LaSalle St #3450
Chicago, IL 60602

Office Hours:
Sunday 24hr-
Monday 24hr-
Tuesday 24hr-
Wednesday 24hr-
Thursday 24hr-
Friday 24hr-
Saturday 24hr-

Main Website:
Visit Website
Contact our office by email or phone instantly by clicking the options below: