Ankle Fractures After Bicycle Accidents

Bicycling has been growing in popularity in California for several years and it’s no question why. Cycling offers a sense of freedom and gives people a chance to get some exercise and enjoy the open air while getting from A to B. Furthermore, with winter just behind us, more and more people are taking to the street with their bikes to enjoy the sunshine. However, cycling also comes with some risks. Cyclists are some of the most vulnerable people on the road and accidents can happen anywhere. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

Cyclists are involved in about 2 percent of deadly roadway accidents
Cyclists are most commonly involved in collisions between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.
Men are more likely to be hurt or killed in a bicycle crash
Around three-quarters of cycling accidents happen in urban locations
Around one-third of bicycle accidents involve alcohol

This data highlights the seriousness of cycling accidents. While there are many severe injuries that can happen during a bicycle accident, one of the most common injuries is ankle fractures. These injuries can have a severe impact on people’s lives.

Ankle Injuries

An ankle fracture can happen a few different ways. However, the most common way that these injuries happen is for cyclists to fall to the side, especially when they are struck by vehicles. When this happens, the cyclist’s ankle can get pinned inside of the bicycle while the rest of their body is rotating. This puts tension on the ankle and can often lead to a serious fracture. Some fractures are open, meaning that they break through the skin and are visible to the naked eye. However, closed fractures can be more difficult to spot. Symptoms include:

Swelling
Pain at the injury site
Erythema or redness
Loss of range of motion
Inability to put pressure on the ankle
Bruising

Recovering from an Ankle Fracture

Once a fractured ankle is diagnosed, people begin their recovery process. Sometimes, doctors will need to perform surgery to let the ankle heal properly. These surgeries involve placing bones back in the right location, often by holding them in place with screws or pins. After surgery, people will begin a period of intense rehabilitation and physical therapy so that they can regain use of their leg and walk freely.

The physical rehabilitation process often takes a long time, and many people are not able to walk again for months while they are restoring range of motion, flexibility, and muscle strength. During this period of time, people can face many challenges related to the lack of mobility and may need extra assistance from family members or in-home caregivers.

Watch YouTube Video: Rehabilitating Injured Ankles

This short video contains helpful information about rehabilitation exercises for injured ankles:

Getting Help from an Attorney

Suffering a broken ankle or other bicycle accident injury can put people under physical, emotional, and financial stress. Recovery can be expensive and no longer being able to walk can mean having to take time off work or quitting a job altogether. These issues are important, and people who’ve been injured in cycling accidents should contact an Auburn bicycle accident attorney as soon as they can in order to see what options they have for financial recovery. Having a lawyer on your side as soon as possible is often critical to obtaining the repayments that you deserve.

More Articles from Ed Smith, Auburn Bicycle Accident Attorney

Auburn Bicycle Accident Attorney

I’m Ed Smith, an Auburn bicycle accident attorney. If you have been hurt in a bicycle accident, contact me by calling (530) 392-9400 or (800) 404-5400 so that I can give you my free, friendly advice about your case.

For over 37 years, I’ve helped people in Auburn obtain fair settlements and verdicts for serious injuries. You can see for yourself what my clients think about my work by reading reviews on these popular sites:

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Ankle Fractures After Bicycle Accidents