Bicycle Accident Injuries

Bicycling is a wonderful way to explore Northeastern North Carolina’s scenic coastline. Many vacationers cycle Highway 12 on the Outer Banks or rent bicycles while visiting places such as Duck, Manteo, Nags Head, Ocracoke and Corolla. But sadly, riding a bike can also be dangerous. On average, 25 cyclists were killed and another 850 were injured or possibly injured in bicycle accidents in North Carolina from 2004-2008, according to the state Department of Transportation. The most recent data indicate that deaths from bicycle accidents are increasing.

Catastrophic injuries are an all too common result of North Carolina bike accidents, especially when a motor vehicle is involved. A bicyclist is directly exposed to the force of the impact and every inch of hot metal, shattered glass and asphalt in a way that other motorists are not. That’s why bicyclists suffer nearly all of the fatalities and injuries in bicycle accidents. Head trauma, spinal cord injuries, broken bones and other injuries can lead to thousands – even millions – of dollars in medical bills. Victims and their families need a bicycle accident attorney to explain their legal rights to compensation under North Carolina’s personal injury and wrongful death laws.

The bicycle injury attorneys at Glover Law Firm, have represented victims of North Carolina bicycle accidents for years. Attorney Danny Glover Jr. is a competitive cyclist who has ridden on teams throughout the coastal region. We strongly believe in fighting for the rights of bicyclists and helping accident victims recover the compensation they deserve. If you’ve been injured in a serious bicycle accident in Northeastern North Carolina, including Elizabeth City, Currituck County and the Outer Banks, Glover Law Firm is on your side.

For a free consultation, contact our N.C. bicycle accident attorneys at (252) 299-5300 or complete our online form. If we do not obtain money on your behalf, you owe us nothing.

The types of injuries in a bicycle accidents are similar to those suffered in any other car accident, motorcycle wreck or truck crash. But it takes much less force to cause a serious or fatal injury to a bicyclist. What might result in a bump or bruise to someone in another vehicle could cause much more serious injuries to a bicyclist.

No part of the cyclist’s body is safe from catastrophic harm. The most common types of serious injuries stemming from bicycle accidents include:

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI): Head injuries are the signature injury of bicycle accidents, and more than 5 million Americans are living with permanent TBI-related disabilities. At least 75 percent of bicycle accident deaths are due to head injuries.
• Spinal cord injury: The sudden and violent impact of a bicycle accident can cause the spinal cord to become injured or split apart, leading to temporary or permanent paralysis, paraplegia and tetraplegia. Survivors of spinal cord injuries often face life-threatening and lifelong complications from their condition due to nerve damage and an inability to control various body functions. Medical equipment and treatment of secondary medical problems can cost upwards of $4 million over the course of a lifetime, depending on how old the victim was when the accident happened and the severity of the injury, according to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center.
• Broken bones: Bicyclists’ lack of physical protection from other vehicles, the road and obstacles such as trees and signs makes virtually every limb vulnerable to serious fractures. At the minimum, a broken bone can cause expensive medical bills, pain and difficulties in performing everyday tasks. At its worst, broken bones can lead to permanent disabilities, disfigurement and other problems. Bicyclists are particularly vulnerable to facial fractures.
• Knee and shoulder injuries: The delicate tissues, tendons and ligaments supporting the knees and shoulders can become torn or dislocated in bicycle accidents as the cyclist contorts his or her body due to the impact or in an attempt to avoid a crash.
• Amputation: Sometimes bicycle accidents lead to irreparable damage to bones, muscles, tissues, nerves and arteries in the limbs, leading doctors to amputate the affected part. Other times, the limb is severed entirely during the collision and cannot be reattached.
• Burns: Spilled gas, mechanical fires or “road rash” can cause serious skin damage to bicyclists. Skin grafts may be needed to repair the damage. Scarring is almost always apparent in burn injuries.
• Psychological trauma: The injuries sustained in a bicycle accident may not only be physical. Depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may also arise following a life-threatening event, making it difficult for the person to function in daily life.

If you’ve been seriously injured in an Elizabeth City, Currituck County, Outer Banks or other Northeastern North Carolina bicycle accident, you need to seek legal help as soon as possible. Let the personal injury attorneys at Glover Law Firm, help you on the path to recovery. You may be entitled to compensation that will be crucial in ensuring your physical, financial and emotional well being.

The attorneys in our law firm have over 24 years of combined experience representing injury victims in Northeastern North Carolina. We have obtained favorable verdicts and settlements for our clients, including those hurt in bicycle accidents. The personal injury lawyers at Glover Law Firm have earned recognition from North Carolina Super Lawyers, Million Dollar Advocates Forum and N.C. Advocates for Justice, among others.

We work on a contingency fee basis. We get paid only if we obtain money in your case. For a no-cost consultation about your bicycle injuries, call our lawyers at (252) 299-5300 or use our online form.

We help bicycle injury victims throughout the state, especially in Northeastern North Carolina and the Outer Banks, including those in Elizabeth City, Edenton, Hertford, Camden, Manteo, Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills, Duck, Corolla and surrounding areas in Pasquotank, Camden, Dare, Currituck, Perquimans, Chowan and Gates counties.