The most serious bicycle accidents are those leading to head trauma and injuries. In some cases, these are just exterior injuries, such as lacerations, bruises and even fractures. In other cases, they are interior injuries, which are often brain injuries.
Though some brain injuries can happen with very little exterior damage due to the violent movement of the brain inside the skull — even with a helmet on — many cases involve both types of damage. The ramifications are serious and the medical bills can be extensive.
Experts note that most of these injuries happen when a cyclist collides with a car. They can happen in other ways, of course, but cars are the main culprit and thus the greatest risk of serious injury and even death.
Anyone who rides a bike can suffer a serious head injury. Even if you have decades of experience, when a driver makes a mistake, it can cause a traumatic accident.
That said, the age group that faces the highest risk is those from 9 years old to 15 years old. Males are more likely to suffer serious injuries than females.
If you’re a child is in this high-risk age group, that doesn’t mean they should not ride a bike. The key to safety is learning to ride properly and using appropriate safety gear.
However, you still need to know that there is the chance they (or you) could get hit by a car and suffer a head injury. If this happens, you also need to know what rights you have to seek financial compensation for medical bills and other costs.