Bicycle accidents may leave you with severe injuries. Whenever a collision with a motor vehicle occurs, a bike rider is likely to be left with long-term damage. This is because bike riders have little protection in a collision and safety equipment such as helmets may offer only limited benefits.
Understanding these potential injuries is vital when pursuing a claim for compensation. By law, all parties who cause injuries to bike riders due to their negligence must provide full payments for all medical costs. Even so, those injured bicyclists must demonstrate how the collision caused their injuries. A knowledgeable bicycle accident attorney at the Law Offices of R.F. Wittmeyer, Ltd. could provide more information about common injuries from bicycle accidents in Elgin and how to seek out compensation for your losses.
Temporary Injuries following Bike Crashes
Most bike riders are relatively fortunate because their injuries may heal quickly. With appropriate medical attention and time spent in recovery, they will make a full recovery from temporary injuries. Common examples of these injuries may include:
- Scrapes and cuts
- Bruises
- Separated joints
- Broken bones
- Sprained ligaments
- Concussions
In these examples, an at-fault driver must pay compensation for the cost of all past medical treatment. This could include an ambulance ride, ER care, and rehabilitation sessions. A motivated lawyer at the Law Offices of R.F. Wittmeyer, Ltd. could take the lead in these cases to seek out the compensation that injured bike riders deserve after suffering temporary injuries.
Incidents that Leave Elgin Bicyclists with Permanent Disabilities
However, collisions between bike riders and motor vehicles have the potential to have a permanent impact on a person’s life. Despite the best available medical attention, injured parties may never return to their normal life.
Examples of permanent injuries that result from bike crashes in Elgin include:
- Spinal cord damage
- Compound fractures
- Brain damage
- Crushing injuries that necessitate amputation
- Paralysis
- Severe burns
In these situations, even prompt and extensive medical attention is unlikely to lead to a full recovery. As a result, a demand for compensation must evaluate both an injured person’s past costs and their future medical needs. A diligent lawyer in Elgin could work to gather evidence of past medical expenses and estimate a fair compensation package that will allow an individual to receive necessary care far into the future.
Statute of Limitations in Elgin
In bike accident cases involving both temporary and permanent injuries, there is a strict time limit to demand the necessary compensation. 735 ILCS 5/13-202 is the state’s statute of limitations for personal injury accident cases. It states that injured people must demand payments no more than two years after the date of the incident. A competent attorney at the Law Offices of R.F. Wittmeyer, Ltd. could help determine the severity of an injury and seek out compensation that results from common injuries that occur because of bike accidents in Elgin.
Contact a Skilled Attorney about the Common Injuries from Bicycle Accidents in Elgin Today
Collisions that occur between bicycles and motor vehicles can result in life-altering injuries. These may be temporary injuries from which you make a full recovery or catastrophic losses that impact your foreseeable future. In every event, if another driver was responsible for the incident that resulted in an injury, they are liable to provide fair compensation.
These injuries may include cuts and scrapes, ligament damage, head injuries, spinal cord damage, and broken bones. An attorney could help you to better comprehend your legal rights after a bike crash and to hold at-fault drivers responsible. Reach out to the Law Offices of R.F. Wittmeyer, Ltd. now to learn more about the common injuries from bicycle accidents in Elgin.