Every year, hundreds of riders lose their lives to bicycle accidents. Since a bike does not provide as much protection as a four-door vehicle, a cyclist will suffer more significant injuries.
Many bike riders hit by a car could have alleviated some injuries by simply putting a helmet on. Cyclists are the largest recreational sports population suffering from traumatic brain injuries.
Cyclists experience these head injuries due to falling and hitting their heads directly on the pavement or colliding with a car. Head injuries can alter a person’s brain activity, and if the damage is not examined by a doctor immediately, it could worsen over time.
Head injuries are common in bicycle accidents due to the unprotected nature of riding a bicycle. Head injuries can range from mild to severe and can cause various symptoms. Common head injury symptoms include blurry vision, memory loss, headaches, dizziness, and confusion.
In more serious cases, the individual may experience seizures, speech problems, or even loss of consciousness. It is important to note that a head injury can also cause long-term problems, such as difficulty concentrating, memory loss, and changes in behavior.
If you have experienced a head injury resulting from a bicycle accident, it is essential to seek medical attention immediately. This is especially true if you experience any of the more serious symptoms listed above. Prompt medical treatment can help minimize the long-term effects of a head injury and help ensure that you recover as quickly and as fully as possible.
Head Injuries in a Bike Accident Resources
California Bicycle Injury Statistics
As the cost of motor vehicles rises, so does the use of less expensive transportation methods. Recent reports have indicated that 47.5 million people ride bicycles daily.
Even though cities have taken steps to accommodate the increasing rates of people commuting on bicycles, bike collisions are still an apparent issue.
Various reasons why bicycle crashes take place include distracted driving, speeding, and motorists riding too close to the bike lane.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 1,000 cyclists were killed and 467,000 people were injured in bicycle accidents in a single year in the U.S.
Helmet vs. No Helmet Data
California Assembly Bill 3077 (California’s helmet law) requires cyclists “under 18 years of age to wear a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet, as specified, while operating, or riding as a passenger upon, a bicycle, a nonmotorized scooter, or a skateboard, or while wearing in-line or roller skates, upon a street, bikeway, or any other public bicycle path or trail.
A violation of this provision is an infraction punishable by a fine of not more than $25.”
California lawmakers prioritized bicycle helmet safety due to the growing concern over bike and e-scooter accidents. The bill was passed to prevent future injuries among young adults and children.
Research has demonstrated that “cycling had the highest concussion rate among all sports, including American football.” Over the years, countless academics and cyclists have argued over the question of “how much risk of a head injury is reduced when wearing a helmet while riding a bicycle?” Many cyclists have also doubted the bicycle helmet’s effectiveness in preventing injuries and death.
Data has proven that the number of head injuries was reduced with people wearing helmets when riding a bike. The demographic that is most at risk for enduring life-threatening head injuries from bicycle accidents is children.
Children Are More Susceptible to A Bike Accident Head Injury
Children are admitted into the emergency room for serious bicycle injuries on a daily basis. Evidence released by the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital showed that minors 10-14 years old who did not wear helmets were harmed more than kids who wore protective gear.
One of the primary reasons that led to a child experiencing a head injury from a bike crash was colliding with a motor vehicle. Children are unaware of their surroundings and how fast they are going.
5 Common Cycling Injuries
Common head injuries cyclists frequently sustain include:
Concussion
A concussion has been classified as a mild brain injury, although recent research suggests that even these types of injuries could have long-term effects. Common concussion symptoms include headaches, memory issues, mood swings, loss of consciousness, and seizures.
Skull fracture
Skull fractures involve parts of the cranial bone (the bone that carries the brain) becoming broken. There are four types of skull fractures that a cyclist can experience, which may encompass an open, depressed, or basal fracture of the skull.
Many people assume that a cranial fracture is obvious. This often is not the case. A closed skull fracture does not tear the skin.
If a person is bleeding from their ears, having swelling or a warm sensation where the injury occurred, they must seek medical attention immediately.
Brain contusion
A brain contusion is when the brain develops bruises from a blunt force to the head. This type of injury causes swelling and bleeding of the brain.
These bruises can vary from minor to severe. Contusions are equivalent to blood clots; if large enough, they will need to be removed surgically.
Occasionally, signs of contusions or the progression of contusions are not formed until two or three days later. Monitor for symptoms like confusion, sleepiness, vomiting, or seizures.
Intracranial hemorrhage
Intracranial hemorrhaging or cerebral hemorrhaging differs from a brain contusion because the bleeding of the brain is caused by a ruptured blood vessel.
The brain needs continuous oxygen circulation, and when a blood vessel breaks, oxygen has little space to circulate. Intracranial hemorrhaging can also lead a person to suffer a stroke.
Epidural hematoma
An epidural hematoma is the bleeding of the space between the skull and the dura. The bleeding is not directly in the brain but between the skull and the layer that covers the brain.
This type of head injury primarily affects children, especially those two years old or younger. A toddler’s brain is not yet fully developed, and the brain’s outer layer (dura) is still close to the skull.
When there is intense bleeding between the skull and dura, the child has an increased chance of experiencing intracranial pressure.
Determining Which Bicycle Helmet is Right for You
There are many benefits of bicycle helmets. How a helmet is intended to work is by spreading the force from the impact throughout the head. When the force of the impact is extended, it can prevent the skull from fracturing.
There are two essential parts of a bike helmet: the shell and the cushion inside the helmet—the shell of the helmet functions to protect your neck. When you slide on the pavement, the shell keeps your neck from jerking back and forth.
The cushion or foam in your helmet works to lessen the impact of the blow to your head.
Did you know that the type of helmet you purchase can lower your risk of injury?
Many people are unaware that there are different classes of helmets based on their use. For example, a cyclist who participates in mountain biking may need a different helmet from someone who participates in bicycle racing.
Below you will find the various types of helmets that are used for each cycling category:
Commuter cycling helmets (recreational helmets):
Commuter bicycle helmets have a basic form of design to protect your head. Since cyclists who wear these helmets are not riding at high speed, they do not contain many vents to keep them calm while riding or have lights installed to see when it is dark.
Children’s helmets:
Kids’ bicycle helmets are like those of adult helmets. Sometimes a child’s helmet will come with additional accessories like visors and vents and have many options for adjusting the helmet. Frequently many parents do not take into consideration the fit of the helmet. A child must have a fitted helmet to adequately protect their head when they fall and prevent choking as well.
Mountain bike helmets:
These types of helmets come with many accessories to keep cyclists comfortable and safe. Mountain bikers have an increased chance of being catapulted in any direction as opposed to a cyclist riding on the street who is thrown forward off the bike. This type of helmet provides coverage to parts of the head, such as the occipital bone in the back of the head and to the temporal lobes. It is also designed to protect head regions like the chin, mouth, and face.
Other Types of Bike Safety Gear You Should Consider
Cyclists are more at risk to experience major injuries in an accident due to being physically vulnerable to weather elements and car crashes. Some states even require supplementary bike equipment to secure extra safety for cyclists.
The following are additional materials you can wear along with your helmet to protect you while cycling.
Reflective mirrors
Retroreflectors, or reflective mirrors are designed to reflect light to illuminate the road. The enhanced light from the reflective mirrors helps a driver spot a cyclist and decreases the risk of a biker being involved in a collision.
There are two types of reflector mirrors: “cat-eye” reflectors and “cube-corner” reflectors. The difference between the two reflectors lies in how much light they illuminate and how the light is reflected off each mirror.
Reflective clothing
The key purpose of reflective bike equipment is to help cyclists remain visible to drivers in dimly lit places or at night. By wearing reflective material, you are making your whole body known to a driver.
Research has indicated that drivers can more easily identify bikers if they wear more reflective material. Common types of reflective clothing bikers wear are tracksuits, vests, jackets, and knee and ankle reflectors.
Mouthguards
Even though research has confirmed that helmets protect a biker’s head, this does not mean that they protect a biker’s face. Custom-fit mouth guards protect your mouth and improve your cycling performance.
According to Damage Control Mouthguards, fitted mouthguards “improved the maximum levels of voluntary oxygen consumption, plus increased their ability to perform an exercise for a longer period without becoming tired.”
Active lighting
Active lighting transmits light from a power source, unlike passive lighting (reflectors). It brightens the road ahead for cyclists, makes a rider more visible, and gives a driver an idea of how far away a biker is.
When purchasing lights, consider the size, shape, and whether the light is a solid or single-point light.
First aid kit
A first aid kit will not completely heal an injury, but experts say it can provide enough care while waiting for a medical professional to arrive.
Cyclists can purchase small first aid kits that can be attached to their bikes or carried in a backpack.
Ways to Prevent a Bicycle Head Injury
In the United States, there are over 2.8 million people are admitted to the emergency room for a traumatic brain injury. Participating in recreational sports will increase your chances of sustaining a brain injury.
Biking is one of the most prominent sports where people experience serious head injuries, but there are methods that can be used to lower the possibility of being involved in a bike accident.
Measures you can take to minimize the chances of you being in a bike collision include:
Maintain upkeep of your equipment
Keep your bike in working condition by cleaning it regularly. The number of times you need to clean your bike will depend on where you cycle and the weather conditions.
It is important to keep your bicycle well-lubricated. By lubricating it when needed, you can prevent your bike from rusting or freezing. When you are cleaning, the chain, the rear cassette, and the brakes are part of the bike.
Fall correctly
To prevent serious injuries when falling, most riders are not aware that there are actual techniques to do so. The methods differ on the kind of fall you experience and at what speed you cycled.
Experts stress that no matter what fall you endure, do not fall on your hands. It’s a natural reaction to want to fall on your hand to protect your upper body.
The right way to fall would be to curl up and keep your knees against your chest. This is known as the tuck-and-roll method.
Follow the rules of the road
Cyclists who bike regularly, whether for recreation or commuting to work, must adhere to the rules of the road to prevent a collision.
Some rules include riding in the same direction as traffic, not riding their bike on sidewalks, yielding to drivers and pedestrians crossing the street, obeying traffic lights, and using hand signals when making turns.
