Northern California Lawyers for Internal Bleeding from a Bicycle Accident
Bicycle accidents always pose the possibility of severe bodily harm. Even if you are wearing protective gear such as a helmet, gloves, and knee pads, the vulnerability of a bicyclist on the road means that the force of an impact can cause painful and debilitating injuries. One of the most devastating consequences of bike accidents is the potential for internal bleeding, which can be life-threatening if left untreated.
If you have suffered from internal bleeding injuries in a bicycle accident in Northern California that wasn’t your fault, you may be able to claim compensation for your losses. The experienced Northern California bicycle accident attorneys of Tiemann Law Firm will help you fight for the compensation you are owed. Call us today at (916) 999-9000 or contact us online now for a free consultation and let us help you seek the justice you deserve.
What Is Internal Bleeding?
Internal bleeding is also known as hemorrhaging. It is a form of bleeding that occurs when the blood vessels are damaged or torn. Sometimes cases of internal bleeding are minor, such as when you have a bruise just beneath the surface of the skin. While such cases heal on their own, more severe types of internal bleeding cannot be healed through the body’s natural blood-clotting processes. As such, significant internal bleeding cases will lead to blood pooling into internal cavities and organs, which can prove fatal if left untreated.
Causes of Internal Bleeding from a Bicycle Accident
The leading cause of preventable death among trauma patients is uncontrolled bleeding, and most of these trauma cases originate in road accidents.
When a bicyclist is struck by another vehicle or thrown to the ground in a collision, their body can undergo blunt force trauma. This external trauma might not pierce the skin but could cause internal organ damage. As a result, the organs may begin to bleed. The organ lining may even tear in severe situations, which can cause bleeding into the abdominal cavity.
Yet blunt force trauma is not the only trauma that can lead to internal bleeding. Penetrating trauma can occur in a bicycle accident as well. This happens when a foreign object punctures the skin of the torso and makes its way into the internal organs. A shard of glass from a broken windshield or even a part of the cyclist’s own bike can cause these injuries. Penetrating trauma almost always creates internal bleeding because of its capacity to cut into internal blood vessels.
However, internal bleeding is not always a consequence of a direct strike or penetration of the body. It can also occur within the brain due to rapid acceleration and deceleration. In a bicycle collision, a sudden, jarring stop can jostle the brain around, leading the brain to hit the inside of the skull. Even if the cyclist wears a helmet, this impact can tear veins and lead to internal bleeding. Even relatively “minor” internal bleeding within the brain can lead to increased pressure inside the skull, potentially impairing brain function temporarily or permanently.
Symptoms of Internal Bleeding
As with penetrating trauma, bicycle accident injuries are sometimes visibly apparent. However, other types of internal bleeding injuries are not always obvious. Internal bleeding does not always present clear external symptoms, particularly early on. For this reason, injured cyclists might not even recognize that they have been hurt until the internal bleeding becomes particularly serious.
Internal bleeding disrupts the circulation to vital organs of the body, so symptoms will eventually become apparent. In its moderate stages, internal bleeding symptoms may include:
- Aching pain in muscles and joints
- Pain in the abdomen
- Blood in the urine
- Burry or abnormal vision
- Bruising under the skin
- Chest pain or shortness of breath
- Dark-colored diarrhea
- Intense headaches
- Low blood pressure
- Confusion
- Unexplained weakness or sudden exhaustion
When internal bleeding reaches more severe stages, there may be:
- Loss of consciousness
- Organ failure
- Death within minutes or seconds
Seek Immediate Treatment
If you have been involved in a bike accident, you must seek medical care as soon as possible, even if you do not believe you have suffered any injuries. Internal bleeding may not be apparent immediately, so it is safer to have yourself checked just in case.
Medical professionals might use an ultrasound to diagnose any injuries you might have, inspecting your chest, abdominal cavity, and kidneys. If they detect fluid in the abdomen, this may indicate a high probability of internal bleeding. You will need immediate treatment.
While the most vital reason to seek medical treatment is your physical health, it is also an important step to take as you work toward building a strong claim for compensation for any losses you have suffered in the accident. Your compensation amount will depend on providing complete documentation about your injuries and their consequences on your life.
Compensation for Bicycle Accident Injuries in Northern California
If you have suffered from internal bleeding from a bicycle accident, you might face a great deal of financial stress due to serious medical expenses and forced time off work. A bicycle accident claim can help you recover compensation for losses such as:
- Medical bills
- Current and future loss of income
- Prescription medication
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
Property damage, including repairing or replacing your bicycle
Contact an Experienced Northern California Bicycle Accident Attorney Today
Being seriously injured in a bicycle accident is one of the most traumatic events imaginable. The Northern California bicycle accident attorneys of Tiemann Law Firm will help you navigate the challenges you face during this difficult time. Our experienced legal team has helped many injured Northern California residents in their successful compensation claims, and we are committed to fighting for the full and fair compensation you deserve, too.
Call us today at (916) 999-9000 or contact us online for a free consultation.
