A careless driver’s mistake can put California bicyclists at risk of all sorts of dangerous injuries. The arms, legs, and even the face are left vulnerable. The neck is another vital part of a cyclist’s body that can suffer harm. A neck injury can result in a painful recovery of a few weeks or end up costing riders mobility over a lifetime.
When cyclists are injured, they need to focus on getting better and getting back to their rides. They should never have to stress over the costs of care. A California bicycle accident lawyer makes sure an at-fault driver and the driver’s car insurance provider can’t turn their backs on victims.
Contact a California Bicycle Accident Neck Injury Attorney for a Free Consultation
When a driver’s carelessness is responsible for your neck injury, you’ll have one chance to secure the compensation you’ll need now and possibly in the future. You are encouraged to file a bicycle accident claim against the insurance company representing that motorist.
They won’t automatically supply everything you’ll need in recovery, but with strong legal representation, it’s possible to hold an insurer fully liable.
A California Bicycle Accident Traumatic Injury Lawyer protects you during settlement negotiations to make sure you and your family receive everything required to pay hospital and physical therapy bills. Contact Maison Law to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation and find out what your neck injury is worth and how to maximize your bicycle accident injury claim.
Neck Injury Dangers in California Bicycle Accidents
Bicyclists out enjoying California’s (usually) mild weather don’t travel with a lot of protection. Riders might have a helmet on, but hands, knees, ankles, and even the head are still at risk. The neck is another area that’s in jeopardy when a car vs. bicycle collision occurs.
These are just a few of the serious consequences of neck damage in cyclists:
- Whiplash – A painful soft tissue injury caused by the sudden back-and-forth motion of the head in a car collision. Cyclists can suffer other soft tissue damage like neck sprains and strains.
- Neck Hematoma – When blood collects outside of a blood vessel. Internal bleeding around the neck can expand into the brain and cause life-threatening harm.
- Vertebrae Fracture – The cervical spine is the section of the spine that extends up the neck. A vertebra fracture here can endanger the spinal cord and result in paralysis. A “broken neck” is life-threatening and victims need immediate attention.
- Slipped Disc – A disc injury affects the soft padding between each vertebra. Nerve damage can cause numbness and pain in the neck. Chronic pain and arthritis are a possibility.
- Facet Joint Injury – Cedars Sinai explains that the facet joints are the connections between the bones of the spine. They house nerve roots that extend into the extremities. When the facet joints in the neck swell, they affect the movement of the head. Headaches could also develop.
A California Bicycle Accident Lawyer asks for support for clients for their current hardships, but they also factor in the difficulties that may arise down the road. A California bicycle accident settlement needs to include money for medical care expected to be necessary in the future. The time away from work and away from the road should also help determine how big a settlement check is.
Neck Injury Diagnosis for Bicyclists
Something as simple as whiplash can take two to three weeks to clear up. Non-surgical treatment for broken vertebrae can cost around $10,000 or more. The cost of care will vary greatly among hospitals in California.
Surgical treatment might cost anywhere from $50,000 to well over $100,000. Healing from a spinal fracture can take between 6 to 12 weeks. The vertebrae probably won’t return to their former shape and this can cause long-term pain and a curved spine. These side effects can greatly reduce a cyclist’s ability to ride long distances.
Of course, any injuries near the spinal cord can result in damage that’s permanent. Victims can lose their ability to control their arms and legs after vertebrae damage presses into the spinal cord. The cost of care would have to be estimated over a lifetime.
Victims would need home care and home renovations to make them as comfortable as possible. Medical equipment would be another cost meant to give a patient as much freedom as possible. Physical therapy should also factor into any settlement for a permanent physical disability.
Hopefully, recovery is still possible for the bicycle accident victim. But a bicycle accident neck injury lawyer makes sure injured riders get the level of support they need for however long they need it. That would include help for the families of victims too.
Compensation Available for California Bicycle Accident Victims
Your California bicycle accident attorney creates a full list of every damage you and your family have suffered. Every hardship you’ve faced with your neck injury must be included so that you can maximize the amount you’ll see on a cycling accident settlement check.
These and other factors will determine the levels of compensation you can expect in recovery:
- Help with medical bills now and those anticipated in the future.
- Estimated lifetime costs for victims who must adapt to life with a permanent disability.
- Physical pain and emotional trauma suffered in the accident and during a difficult recovery. For riders, this can include the anxiety of getting back out on a bike and riding in traffic.
- Compensation for a loss of enjoyment of life. Being unable to get back on a bike, at least in the short term.
- Travel costs getting to and from doctor visits and surgery consultations.
- A new bike and equipment replacement.
- The replacement of all lost earnings and benefits at work while the victim is in recovery.
- Wrongful death benefits. Families who have lost a loved one in a bicycle collision can file a wrongful death claim to receive support with burial expenses. They’ll also earn help replacing any income the deceased used to provide for the family.
Contact a California Bicycle Accident Neck Injury Lawyer
Neck injury victims and their families have up to two years to file an accident claim. However, it’s critical to bring your neck injury case to a California Bicycle Traumatic Injury Attorney as soon as you can. The longer you wait the more difficult it gets to track down evidence and locate witnesses. A serious neck injury likely won’t allow you to wait that long anyway. Your medical bills and other losses will pile up and you’ll need support as soon as possible.
Contact Maison Law of California for a free, no-obligation consultation. It’s a no-risk way to find out what your bicycle accident injury is worth and what you should demand from an insurance company. Don’t depend on an insurance adjuster to tell you about every benefit available to you and your family.
If you decide we can help you earn more for your bicycle accident neck injury, you won’t need to have any money now. We don’t get paid unless we win your case for you, and then our fee comes out of the settlement you receive.
