Accident on 44th Avenue Injures Bicycle Rider
An injury to a bicycle rider occurred in South Sacramento on December 17 after the bicyclist was struck by a vehicle. The accident was reported by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) at the intersection of 44th Avenue and 37th Street in the Lemon Hill area around 3:48 in the afternoon. Paramedics with the Sacramento Fire Department arrived at the scene to discover the bicycle rider with a complaint of pain to the shoulder and a knee injury.
Injured Bicyclist Refuses Transport to Hospital
The bicycle rider refused to be transported to a hospital for further evaluation of those injuries. The vehicle that struck the rider remained at the accident scene as an investigation was conducted by the CHP into how the collision happened.
Delayed Symptoms Following an Accident
Whether on a bicycle, motorcycle, on foot, or riding in a passenger vehicle, it is crucial that the injured person seek medical attention following an accident. When an accident occurs, those involved are pumped with adrenaline, which can mask injury symptoms. In addition, some symptoms are delayed.
Without documentation by a medical check either at a hospital or by a private physician, the injured party may have difficulty pursuing a claim for compensation from the at-fault party. Some of the types of symptoms that can be delayed and appear days or even weeks later that can indicate a serious injury include:
- Neck pain: Straining the cervical muscles, tendons, and ligaments can cause significant and evolving neck pain. This type of injury is often seen in a rear-end collision where it is referred to as whiplash. Far from being a minor injury, some individuals experience continuing pain and disability a year or more after the incident.
- Back pain: Herniating a disk that supports the vertebrae in the spinal area can cause significant pain, which worsens with time. This happens when the soft support between the vertebrae, called the disk, is damaged, forcing the bones to rub against one another. If not treated, continual use can result in nerve impingement and an inability to perform regular tasks. Surgical intervention is often required with a herniated disk.
- Head injury: Many bicyclists do not use a helmet when riding. While a helmet cannot always protect against head injury, it can lower the risk. For those who ride without a helmet, the risk of brain trauma is high in an automobile versus bicycle accident. This can range from a concussion to a situation where blood pools and puts pressure on the brain. Surgical intervention may be necessary, and disability is a common consequence of head trauma. Symptoms may take time to develop.
- Abdominal issues: A blow to the abdomen when a cyclist falls from their bike can initiate an abdominal injury. This is a dangerous situation since the organ involved may bleed or pour its contents into the abdominal cavity. When this happens, the cyclist may experience lowered blood pressure or an abdominal infection, both of which can be deadly. Sometimes, it takes time for symptoms to surface.
Investigating a Bicycle Rider Injury
Once involved in representing a client, our law firm sends our investigators to the accident site. There, they uncover evidence about how the bicycle rider accident happened so liability can be determined. They interview witnesses and use surveillance camera videos from traffic lights and businesses to document the accident.
They also examine police reports for mistakes and perform accident reconstruction techniques that show the vehicle’s positioning and the cyclist. Once all this information is amassed, our investigators release the data to our injury attorneys, who use it to construct a robust case for our clients.
Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer
I am Ed Smith, and I am a Sacramento personal injury lawyer. If you’ve been hurt in an accident, you may benefit from my free and friendly advice. Just call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 or contact me online. I’ve helped Sacramentans for the past 38 years to obtain the compensation they deserve in bicycle accidents, wrongful deaths, car accidents, and other traumatic events. Learn more about my firm using the links provided below:
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Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/bicycle-bike-biking-sport-cycle-384566/
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