When a cyclist gets into an accident with a motor vehicle, they may feel lucky to have survived. However, the injuries that they suffer can have long-term consequences on their health and their quality of life.
One of the more serious injuries commonly associated with collisions between bikes and cars is the torsion or spiral fracture. Cyclists hit by someone in a motor vehicle could very well develop one of the more painful and difficult-to-recover-from kinds of fractures that people can suffer.
What makes a torsion or spiral fracture unique?
Most fractures involve a lateral break of the bone, often due to blunt-force trauma. However, a spiral or torsion fracture is the result of a twisting force or impact. A cyclist spinning as they fall off their bike could very easily produce the kind of force necessary to produce a spiral fracture in their arm or leg when they land.
Spiral fractures often have uneven, jagged edges and may produce multiple smaller pieces of bone that are very difficult to set and heal. Spiral fractures often require surgery or even the implantation of a rod to support the bone as it heals.
Cyclists injured by negligent drivers have legal rights
You shouldn’t have to suffer from pain, lost wages and medical bills because someone else didn’t pay attention to the traffic and didn’t actively share the road with bicycles. When a driver fails to notice a cyclist and causes a crash that produces serious injuries, the cyclist involved may have the right to take legal action against the driver who injured them.
Bruises: When are they serious?
Car Wrecks
After a car crash, you knew that you’d have some bruising. What you didn’t expect was that they’d be as bad as they are. They seem to get worse by the minute.
One thing that you should know is that you could have internal bruising or internal bleeding that needs to be addressed. While a simple bruise isn’t usually a big deal, having bruises that grow in size rapidly is a sign that you could have serious internal bleeding. Internal bruising can also show that you have injuries to deep tissues within your body. Even your organs can have bruises.
What are some symptoms of internal bruising?
Internal bruising may have symptoms such as:
- Blood in your urine
- Limited range of motion
- Pain and tenderness
A hematoma, or pool of blood, that surrounds the area that was injured is what ultimately causes the bruise to form.
When is internal bruising a sign of something more serious?
Internal bruising can be a sign of something more serious when you have symptoms such as:
- Pale skin
- Shallow breathing
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Vomiting or nausea
- A fever above 100.4°F (38°C)
- Numbness, weakness or pain in one or both legs with bruising on the back
- Rapid pulse
These symptoms could be a sign that you have internal bleeding or are going into shock.
While bruising isn’t always serious, the fact is that it shows that you have been injured and could be a sign of significant injuries internally. If you have bruises that rapidly change size or shape, go to the hospital immediately. Your medical provider should look carefully for internal injuries and treat them as appropriate. Don’t delay going to seek medical help. The at-fault driver in your car crash may be held liable for the damages.
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