Colburn Law

What Percentage of Bike Crashes Result in Head Injuries?

When cyclists and motor vehicles collide, the potential for head injuries can lead to lasting consequences for victims. Even seemingly minor head trauma can develop into serious conditions that affect memory, concentration, and emotional regulation.

If you were involved in a bike crash, it is important to seek medical attention—even if you do not feel hurt or were wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. Prompt medical care can help identify dangerous head injuries before they develop into life-threatening conditions. Then, contact a Seattle bicycle accident attorney to fight the insurance companies for you while you can focus on recovery.

Call (206) 919-3215 today for a no-obligation consultation.

Bicycle Head Injury Statistics

Head injuries are incredibly common in bicycle accidents. According to data from the U.S. Federal Highway Administration and the National Safety Council, approximately 70% to 80% of all fatal bicycle accidents involve head injuries. Additionally, one-third of bicycle accident injuries that are not fatal affect the head.

Children are especially susceptible to head injuries in bicycle accidents compared to adults. In fact, bicycle accidents—including those that involve head injuries—are the leading cause of injury-related death among young children. Young cyclists under the age of 14 are also 5 times more likely to suffer an injury in a bicycle accident.

Common Types of Cycling-Related Head Injuries

The force of impact during a bicycle accident can cause multiple types of head trauma, from mild concussions to severe, life-altering brain damage. Although helmets can help reduce brain injury risk by up to 88% in these collisions, cyclists can still sustain this form of trauma when they are involved in high-speed or high-impact accidents.

Some of the most common types of cycling-related head injuries include:

• Skull Fractures: These injuries involve breaks or cracks in the skull, from linear fractures to compound fractures where bone fragments penetrate brain tissue, or depressed fractures where segments of skull bone are pushed inward toward the brain.
• Hemorrhages: This condition occurs when blood vessels rupture within or around the brain, creating pools of blood that place dangerous pressure on brain tissue. Hemorrhaging can be life-threatening without medical care.
• Contusions: These injuries happen when blood vessels break and leak into surrounding brain tissue, leading to bruising. Contusions typically occur at the site of impact or on the opposite side of the brain from the impact due to the brain colliding with the inner skull wall.
• Diffuse Axonal Injury: This devastating form of brain trauma occurs when the brain’s long connecting nerve fibers are damaged by rapid acceleration, deceleration, or rotation of the head. The forces damage vital communication pathways throughout the brain, disrupting normal function
• Concussions: This common traumatic brain injury involves a complex cascade of chemical changes within the brain following a serious impact or violent movement. Concussions temporarily disrupt normal brain function and can lead to serious complications if subsequent head injuries occur.

If you have sustained any of these types of head injuries, do not hesitate to call one of our expert Seattle brain injury lawyers today to help with all your legal needs.

Seek Justice for a Bicycle Head Injury Today

Head injuries from bicycle accidents often require extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term care. The financial burden of these injuries, combined with potential lost wages and diminished quality of life, can be severe—and victims deserve justice.

If you suffered a head injury in a Seattle bicycle accident, Colburn Law can fight for you. We can represent your best interests in an insurance claim or lawsuit, advocating for the compensation that you need to pay for the losses that you endured.

Call (206) 919-3215 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation and learn how we can help protect your rights.