Motor Vehicle Causes Bicyclist Injury at Rio Linda Intersection
A bicyclist injury occurred in Rio Linda recently in a collision with a motor vehicle. The accident was reported by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) as occurring around 6:32 p.m. at the intersection of Curved Bridge Road and Oak Lane. A person said that the accident involved a Kia Optima and that the bicyclist appeared to have a head injury.
Bicyclist Reportedly Suffers Head Injury in Crash
Information was not provided on whether the injured cyclist was treated at the scene or transported to a hospital for additional care. The incident is under investigation by the CHP to find out how the accident happened and to assign fault.
Trauma in a Bicyclist Injury Accident
Although setting out on a bicycle to run errands or go to work is a healthy approach to transportation, bicyclists are also prone to minor and major injuries. Here are some of the injuries a bicyclist faces:
- Minor trauma: The injuries here include scrapes, bruises, and muscle strain. They usually require a few days to heal, although seeing a doctor to be evaluated is always a good idea. That’s because a bicyclist may not feel symptoms for 48 hours after the accident due to the release of adrenaline when the injury occurs. The physician will be able to tell you what you should be aware of in the days ahead.
- Fractures: Broken bones usually occur in a bicyclist’s hand, arm, legs, and feet. Many are simple or closed fractures and heal when casted in approximately six to eight weeks. However, some fractures are more difficult to treat and require long hospitalization and recovery time.
- Back injuries: These range from muscle strain and sprain to slipped vertebral discs. Some injuries are mild and heal with rest and analgesics, while others require surgical intervention, longer times away from work, and the inability to do household chores.
- Blunt force trauma: When bicyclists collide with a stationary object or are hit by a motor vehicle, they can suffer blunt force trauma to internal organs. These include abdominal organs, the heart or lungs. When impacted in this manner, abdominal organs are notorious for causing an infection of the peritoneal cavity, resulting in a life-threatening situation. This infection requires immediate surgical intervention. Heart contusions can be deadly as well as an impact to the lungs. In some cases, the aftereffects of the blunt force trauma are not immediately apparent. Some people experience a drop in blood pressure after internal bleeding early on.
- Head trauma: One of the most deadly injuries due to a bicycle accident, head trauma is responsible for many deaths. Using a helmet can largely avert this catastrophe.
Reasons for a Bicyclist Injury
The following are reasons a bicyclist is injured:
- Distracted driving: Many motorists are too busy focusing on electronic gadgets in the vehicle, eating or talking on a cell phone to notice a bicyclist in their path.
- Drunk driving: A drunk driver cannot control their vehicle appropriately and often enters the bicycle lane or fails to swerve in time to avoid a bicyclist injury.
- Dooring: Drivers who park perpendicular to the road and open their doors without looking are responsible for a bicyclist injury.
- Right turns: Drivers making a right turn often fail to look to the right before turning.
Proving Negligence in a Bicyclist Injury Accident
At AutoAccident.com, we send our investigators to the accident site as soon as possible. Evidence is an essential part of a personal injury claim, and we comb the area for clues that prove liability. We use accident reconstruction techniques and obtain surveillance camera videos, among other things, to provide to our legal team.
Rio Linda Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Rio Linda personal injury lawyer. Let me help you obtain the compensation you deserve after a bicyclist injury accident. Just call (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for our free and friendly advice. You can also reach out to us online.
I’ve helped numerous Rio Linda residents with bicycle, car, and motorcycle accidents as well as other traumatic events.
Learn more about my practice here:
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Photo attribution: Image by Rudy and Peter Skitterians from Pixabay
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