Bicycle accidents are a common occurrence in Las Vegas. These accidents happen for various reasons, most of which circle the negligence of drivers or other road users. When a bicycle collides with a vehicle, bicyclists will likely suffer more severe injuries. This is because they have no protection from the impact resulting from the collision. If you are a bicycle accident victim, you can recover compensation for your injuries from the negligent parties.

If you seek to file a civil lawsuit in court, you must proceed with the guidance of an experienced car accident attorney. Having an attorney by your side could make the difference between dismissing your claim and recovering maximum compensation for your bicycle accident injuries.

At Las Vegas Car Accident Attorney Law Firm, we have the skills and experience that your case deserves to ensure the best possible outcome. If you or your loved one battles a bicycle accident compensation claim in Las Vegas, NV, you will need our legal expertise by your side.

Overview of Bicycle Accidents

Often, people around Las Vegas opt to use bicycles as a way to move through the city. Bicycle travel is considered less expensive, safer, and quicker for short distances. Additionally, there is so much to see in Las Vegas. Therefore, cycling allows you to enjoy yourself as you move about. Unfortunately, individuals on bicycles are at a high risk of being victims of catastrophic accidents.

Bicyclists wear minimal protection leaving them vulnerable to all sorts of injuries. Bicycle accidents which involve cars, buses, or trucks are catastrophic and sometimes fatal. Nevada has established rules on the use of bicycles and ways to keep you safe as you cycle around. Some of these rules include proper navigation of the bikes, moving with traffic flow, and turning the same way as another motorist.

Although state laws are apparent, many people ignore them, which could result in serious injuries. The injuries from a bicycle accident could impact all aspects of your life. Therefore, if you are a bicycle accident victim, you should contact an attorney to help you seek compensation. 

Most bicycle accidents occur as a result of:

Distracted Driving

Like all other forms of collisions, bicycle accidents may be a result of distracted driving. Driver distraction occurs when the physical or mental concentration of a driver deviates from the road and vehicle control. A distracted driver cannot be able to stop the vehicle on time in case of an emergency on the road. Additionally, these drivers will not notice the cyclists on Tim and could hit them at any moment. A drivers distraction could stem from:

  • Texting or viewing messages while driving
  • Checking out for directions on navigation apps
  • Eating or drinking behind the wheel
  • Conversing with a passenger in the vehicle

Driving Under the Influence

Drug impairment and alcohol intoxication are among the most common causes of serious motorcycle accidents in Las Vegas. Drunk drivers drive behind them when they lack the necessary judgment to operate the vehicle safely. Additionally, a drunk driver’s perception of speed and distance may be impaired. This could cause them to drive too close to the cyclist and end up hitting them.

Sometimes, a drunk bicycle rider could compromise their safety through a careless change of lanes, driving in the middle of the road, or losing control of the bicycle.

Opening Car Doors Unsafely

When a driver parked beside the road opens their door without checking for bicyclists could result in a severe bicycle accident. A cyclist at high speed may lack enough time to react to the open door. When a bicycle hits an open door, the rider is often thrown off the bike onto the road, where they could suffer severe injuries from being hit by other vehicles or from hitting the hard road surface.

Driver Fatigue

Another common cause of bike accidents in Las Vegas is diver fatigue. People party all night in this busy city, and by the time they drive home, they may be too tired to operate correctly. A tire driver’s level of intoxication is similar to that of a drunk driver. When a tired driver falls asleep behind the wheel, the likelihood of crashing into other vehicles or bicyclists is high.

Failure to Yield to Bicyclists

In Nevada, the right of way is the law that gives specific road users a right to move first in different situations. When a driver is in a hurry, they may fail to see the cyclist or ignore them. In addition, failing to leave adequate space for the bicycle could result in a collision. Drivers who fail to account for the bicyclists end up causing severe accidents.

Driver Misconduct

Many bicycle accidents result from aggressive behavior from drivers. Some drivers could lose their patience when they are stuck behind a bicycle. This can lead them to tailgate, reckless change of planes, or unsafe overtaking. Any of these behaviors can be very dangerous for bicyclists.

Speeding

As much as people understand that speed kills, many drivers still fail to adhere to speed limits. When a driver operates at high speed, they cannot control the vehicle effectively. Additionally, stopping a speeding car may be very challenging. When a vehicle loses control or cannot come to a complete stop, it could hit the bicycle from the back. Speed-related bicycle accidents are often very catastrophic. This is because the impact is higher, and the rider has minimal protection.

Injuries Common to Bicycle Accidents in Nevada

When a car, bus, or truck goes up against a bicycle, the rider could suffer serious injuries or even lose their life. Sometimes, these injuries are incapacitating, and you will need medical care for the rest of your life. The physical pain and financial strain caused by bicycle accident injuries can impact your life significantly. Some of the common damages that could result from a bicycle accident include:

Road Rash

Most people have experienced road rash at one point in their lives. However, nothing compares to the road rush resulting from bicycle accidents. When a bicyclist is hit by a vehicle, they will be thrown off the bike. Road rash can occur at different parts of the body which come into contact with the road. The severity of a road rash is categorized into degrees like that of a burn injury:

  • First degree. A first-degree road rash is more than a basic scrape. You could experience mild bleeding, and your skin appears red. Treatment for a first-degree road rash will require minimal treatment, including a bandage and wound cleaning.
  • Second degree. This level of road rash is more severe and causes the epidermis breakage. Second-degree road rash is often very painful, and professional cleaning of the sound may be necessary to avoid infections.
  • Third Degree. A third-degree road rash often results in severe bleeding and pain. If you have suffered a third-degree road rash from a bicycle accident, you will need immediate medical treatment to avoid blood loss. In most cases, third-degree road rash is accompanied by other severe injuries like broken bones.

In addition to the severe pain you experience from road rash, the injuries could leave behind scars that are a reminder of the traumatic incident. Therefore, the type will need to aggressively pursue compensation from the negligent parties.

Severe Lacerations

A laceration is a wound that results from the tearing of body tissues. Lacerations often break the outer layer of the skin, which could cause severe infections. Involvement in a bicycle accident will expose you to different forms of sharp objects. From parts of your bicycle to metals on the vehicle and other objects on the road, severe lacerations are common in this type of accident. This injury can cause excessive blood loss, and you should not ignore it.

Soft Tissue Injuries

Soft tissue injury includes pain, soreness, and discomfort, which are persistent injuries to different body parts. Soft tissue injuries often result from impact or trauma from a bicycle accident. Mostly, soft tissue injuries are invisible, and there is no way to vary them. Therefore, if you wish to seek compensation for soft tissue injuries, you must have medical evidence to support your claim.

Spinal Cord Injuries

The nature of cycling leaves a rider vulnerable to the likelihood of a spinal cord injury. A spinal cord injury results from trauma to your back and can occur in different degrees. Depending on the severity of the accident, you could suffer one of these types of spine injury:

  • An incomplete spine injury mesa that you will retain some of the spine function 
  • When you sever your spinal cord entirely, you lose mobility and function below the point of injury.

In addition to the loss of mobility, a spinal cord injury can affect the function of your reproductive system and bladder and bowel functions. Spinal cord injuries may result in lifelong consequences, including paralysis or death.

Broken Bones

With the impact of colliding with a vehicle, even the most robust bones in your body could break. Without the protective metal of a car, a bicycle rider is at risk of a wide variety of broken bone injuries, including:

  • Facial bones. A broken cheekbone, nose, or chipped tooth may require painful and expensive surgical procedures to correct.
  • A helmet can protect you from injuries to the head. However, if it comes off or is damaged, you can suffer a devastating head injury.
  • You may have suffered a broken collar bone if you experience pain and difficulty moving your arms after a bicycle accident.
  • Broken neck. When a cervical vertebra between your shoulders and skull breaks, you may have a case of a broken neck. This further predisposes you to a spinal cord injury.
  • Broken ribs not only cause immense pain but can also damage the internal organs and cause severe internal bleeding.
  • Arms and legs. Being hit by a vehicle can cause one or several of your limbs to break.

Broken bones are not fatal. However, these injuries take a long time to recover. Therefore, you may need to spend significant time in the hospital and undergo painful procedures.

Amputations

An amputation involves traumatic or surgical removal of a body extremity like the arm, foot, leg, fingers, or toes. A traumatic amputation occurs when the brutal force from the accident tears away the body part. On the other hand, surgical amputation is done by a doctor when the leg or harm has severe damage.

An impact from a heavy vehicle or one traveling at high speed could easily shatter the bones of your arms and legs. The physical and emotional pain resulting from surgical and traumatic amputations is often severe. As a victim, you may be facing these processes:

  • Paramedics at the accident scene 
  • Extensive and painful surgeries to save your limb or amputate it
  • Long post-surgical recovery
  • Rehabilitation
  • Psychological counseling
  • Fittings of prosthetics
  • Inability to return to work
  • Lifestyle changes

As a result of the severe impact that amputations have on your life, the process of recovering maximum compensation could be long and complicated. Therefore, seeking legal guidance is vital.

Facial and Dental Injuries

Facial injuries are common following a bicycle accident. A collision with a vehicle could cause the helmet to come off or break, leaving you without protection. In minor bicycle accidents, facial injuries may be confined to cuts and bruises. However, in serious cases, you could have deep cuts that will need stitching. Cuts on the face could leave you scars that require correct cosmetic procedures. For victims of a bicycle accident, facial scarring could cause severe trauma.

Another common outcome of severe facial harm in a bicycle accident is jaw fractures. Dental fractures may require painful and expensive procedures to treat.  

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Injuries to your head or brain are some of the most life-changing injuries you could suffer from a bicycle accident. Traumatic brain injuries often result from violent blows to your head or sharp objects penetrating the skull. When you are hit by a vehicle while cycling, your body will absorb all the impact from the collision. However, our bodies are built to absorb a certain amount of pressure. The impact of a vehicle could be damaging.

The mild impact could result in minimal skull fractures and temporary brain cell injuries. However, in most bicycle accidents, the damage is severe. Traumatic brain injury can cause bruising, torn tissues, bleeding, or even physical damage to the brain. If you are involved in a bicycle accident, the following at some signs of traumatic brain injury that you need to look out for:

  • Fatigue
  • Severe headaches
  • Blurred vision
  • Confusions
  • Dizziness
  • Vomiting
  • Seizures
  • Changes in sleep patterns
  • Loss of balance and coordination

A diagnosis of traumatic brain injuries could change your life. Treatments for these conditions may include medications, therapy, or even surgeries. Unfortunately, recovery from a brain injury is often prolonged, and you might never regain your full brain function. If you have suffered a brain injury, your ability to return to work or perform simple tasks may be impaired. 

Internal Bleeding

The violence of a car crashing onto a bicycle can send shock waves through your body. Sometimes, our bodies can absorb the shock with minor bruises and cuts. However, the body doesn’t have unlimited durability. Impact on your body from a bicycle accident can crash bones and cause a rupture of the internal organs.

Internal injuries from some of the most severe body trauma effects. There are times when an external wound accompanies internal injuries. However, in most cases, injuries to the internal organs are not easily noticeable. When such damages go untreated, they could cause serious consequences or even death.

Internal injuries and bleeding symptoms can be mild but more severe over time. After involvement in a bicycle accident, you should not ignore these symptoms:

  • Abdominal pain and swelling which becomes worse with time
  • Blood in the stool or urine
  • Vomiting blood
  • Severe fatigue
  • Pale complexion
  • Depp purple flat bruises in the abdominal area
  • Dizziness
  • Slurred speech
  • Severe headaches
  • Loss of consciousness

Everyone who is a victim of a bicycle accident should consult with a physician even when they do not feel any pain. However, if you experience any of the above symptoms, you should not wait to do other activities like speaking to the police. Seeking medical care should be your priority.

Wrongful Death

Death is a common outcome of bicycle accidents. A person may die instantly from the collision’s impact or injuries from a bicycle accident. Some injuries that could eventually lead to death may include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and internal bleeding.

Losing a loved one in a negligent bicycle accident is a devastating experience. Fortunately, you may recover compensation for the wrongful death by filing a wrongful death lawsuit. Navigating a wrongful death lawsuit is quite challenging since the primary victim and witness of the incident are not around to provide their testimony.

Although monetary compensation cannot bring back your loved one, a successful claim, in this case, could help you recover:

  • Medical bills. Sometimes, a person will not instantly die from a bicycle accident. They may suffer severe injuries and spend thousands of dollars for treatment but still die. In the wrongful death claim, the judge could award you compensation for these medical expenses.
  • Loss of income. Depending on the deceased’s age and career, the court could award the survivors compensation for what their loved one would have earned.
  • Burial and funeral expenses. A wrongful death claim in Nevada will see you recover compensation for the amount you spend for the burial and funeral of your loved one.
  • Loss of companionship and love from the deceased. Although the loss of love or companionship cannot be equated to money, you can recover these damages in a wrongful death claim.

Compensation for Bicycle Accident Injuries in Nevada

Most bicycle accident injuries have lifelong consequences. If you suffer any of the above injuries, you should not be left to shoulder the financial responsibility of another person’s negligence. With the guidance of a skilled attorney, you can file a claim and recover compensation for:

  • Medical expenses. Most bicycle accident injuries require expensive procedures to treat. If you can prove that another person is liable for the accident, their insurance company will compensate you for your medical expenses. However, it is essential to understand that medical records must accompany a claim for medical expenses.
  • Lost wages. When you spend so much time recovering from bicycle accident injuries, your ability to return to work is affected. When you file a claim with the insurance company or court, you can recover compensation for the amounts you lost while you were away from work.
  • Lost Earning Capacity. Lost earning capacity is the loss of your ability to work and earn a living in the future. Some injuries like amputations, spinal cord, and brain injuries can make it impossible for you to return to work. You may recover for lost future earnings if your injuries haven’t recovered when your claim is settled.
  • Pain and suffering. Injuries from a bicycle accident can cause you serious physical and emotional pain. Although you put a dollar value on pain, a successful bicycle accident lawsuit can see you recover compensation for this damage.

Find a Competent Las Vegas Car Accident Attorney Near Me

Nothing is more traumatic than being hit by a vehicle or receiving a call that your loved one has been hit by a car. The bicycle accident’s impact is often severe for the bicyclist. If you survive the accident, you will be left with severe and life-changing injuries. The recovery process following a bicycle accident can be physically, emotionally, and financially draining for you and your family.

Fortunately, if you are a bicycle accident victim, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries by filing a bicycle accident claim. However, compensation is not automatic. You must battle the liable parties and their insurance companies to recover the compensation you deserve. If you or your loved one is a victim of a negligent bicycle accident in Las Vegas, NV, you will require the guidance of a skilled personal injury attorney to navigate your claim. At Las Vegas Car Accident Attorney Law Firm, we will offer you the legal advice you need to build a strong suit and recover compensation. Call us today at 702-576-0010.