Bicycle Crashes and Kids
I’m Ed Smith, an Ione Bicycle Accident Attorney. Most children grow up learning how to ride a bike, and many parents view it as a rite of passage for their children to learn how to ride one. There is a saying that once children learn how to ride a bike that they will never forget. While bikes are an excellent source of recreation and transportation, they are also dangerous. When it comes to bicycle crashes and kids, there are a variety of injuries that someone could sustain. Some of them are more serious than others.
How do Bicycle Accidents Happen?
When someone is learning how to ride a bike, the most important thing to remember is to always wear a helmet. A helmet can protect the individual against a traumatic brain injury should a bicycle accident result. Some important facts include
- Teenagers: According to a study from Safe Kids Worldwide, more than half of the kids killed in bicycle accidents were between the ages of 15 and 19. This commonly results from speed. The child was riding too fast and just lost control of their bike, leading to a crash.
- Cars: A study from the United States Department of Transportation indicated that a motor vehicle was involved in over 90 percent of cyclist fatalities.
- Darkness: Other times, it could be a bike vs. auto accident because one of the two parties does not see the other. This could happen due to night riding, where the bike may not have been equipped with a light.
Children and Bicycle Accidents
Regardless of the cause, a child is at an increased risk of being involved in a bicycle accident for several reasons. These include:
- Skill: Kids often aren’t in control of their bike because they are still learning how to ride.
- Size: They are also smaller than adults, making them harder to spot.
- Behavior: Lastly, children may not know that bikes are dangerous. This makes them more prone to taking risks. When a child is involved, several different injuries could develop.
Injuries from Bicycle Accidents
Children who are involved in a bicycle accident could develop one or more traumatic injuries as a result. Some of the more common injuries include:
- Bone Fractures: Without a doubt, bone fractures occur when it comes to riding a bike. When someone falls off of a bike, there is typically an instinct to reach out and brace oneself for the impact. This protects the internal organs from damage but also means that children could suffer a fracture of the radius or ulna in this manner.
- Head Injuries: Unfortunately, head injuries can also result when someone is riding a bike. Lack of helmet use can have serious consequences. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, close to 90 percent of bikers suffering head injuries weren’t wearing a helmet.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Spinal cord injuries can result in a severe bicycle accident.
Legal Assistance for Bicycle Crashes and Kids
Some of the injuries discussed above can be serious and could have life-altering consequences. If these injuries land a child in a hospital, it is natural for their parents to have questions about what is going to happen next. Parents who are in need of assistance should reach out to an experienced attorney to discuss all of the options available to them. A lawyer can take much of the stress off of the shoulders of the parents, by filing insurance claims, determining if someone negligently caused the accident and interpreting medical records. Do not feel nervous about asking for help when it is needed.
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Ione Bicycle Accident Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, an Ione bicycle accident attorney. Parents of children who have been injured by a negligent driver are welcome to call me at (209) 227-1931 for friendly, free advice or by calling our toll-free line at (800) 404-5400.
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