Buffalo Personal Injury Lawyer NewsWhat If I Am Injured In A Car Accident While Riding A Bicycle?
Even the smallest car outweighs the sturdiest of bicycles by a considerable margin. When cycling, the protection offered to riders is minimal, almost non-existent. Cyclists are alarmingly vulnerable to severe injuries in the event of a collision with a motor vehicle. From bone fractures and traumatic brain injuries to organ damage and even death, the impact is bound to be life-altering. The financial ramifications of a car accident as a bicyclist can be grave, as emergency medical treatments and hospitalization typically come at a steep price.
Crucial Steps For Victims Of Car Versus Bicycle Accidents
Suppose you were hit by a car while riding your bicycle. In that case, our battle-tested injury lawyers strongly recommend taking the following steps to safeguard your legal rights:
After being involved in any car accident, your top priority should be your health. For those victims who sustain devastating injuries or worse, an ambulance will likely rush them to the closest emergency room for treatment. In this blog post, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C.’s seasoned car accident lawyers in Buffalo, New York, would like to discuss how victims with minor to moderate injuries should obtain medical treatment. 
Every year, millions of Americans are involved in car accidents and suffer devastating injuries or worse. Victims who are fortunate enough to survive severe collisions may need weeks or even months to recover. Instead of being able to earn a living, crash victims may be incapacitated or in too much pain to work. Even with the best medical insurance policy, hospital bills and other medical expenses can quickly pile up. Consequently, far too many car accident victims find themselves in demoralizing psychological, physical, and financial circumstances. 
Suppose that you got into a car accident that was not your fault, and you sustained some unfortunate injuries. You are likely feeling highly stressed and overwhelmed. Filing an insurance claim is one of the most critical steps toward obtaining compensation for medical expenses, repair shop costs, missed work, and other damages.
According to statistics released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in a recent year alone, approximately 2.74 million victims suffered severe crash-related injuries. Even minor collisions can have grave and lifelong consequences for victims. At the Dietrich Law Firm P.C., our veteran car accident attorneys understand the profound impact that crash-related injuries can have on victims and, ultimately, their loved ones. Being mindful of the most common car accident injuries can help you be prepared to take the proper steps after your crash. 
While car crashes can happen just about any time, the risk of being involved in a collision significantly increases in bad weather. In fact, bad weather conditions are notorious for causing devastating car accidents throughout Western New York. Heavy rain, intense snowfall, poor visibility, and slick roads can all easily cause you to lose control of your vehicle. Driving in poor weather conditions is even more dangerous when drivers fail to take proper safety precautions to prevent unnecessary accidents. 
Every motorist must have automobile insurance to drive in New York State legally. You must fully understand your insurance policy because your coverage will determine what compensation you may receive in the unfortunate event of a collision. 
Whiplash is an injury to the neck that a violent, swift back-and-forth neck movement can cause. The neck is a highly vulnerable body part, which is left unprotected and unrestrained even when wearing a seatbelt. A car crash victim’s neck can be forcefully jerked or jolted back and forth. Consequently, whiplash is one of the most prevalent injuries suffered in collisions, especially by rear-enders. Whiplash injuries commonly result from slip and fall accidents, physical abuse, and sports mishaps. While most whiplash victims tend to recover within a few weeks of a treatment regime, some victims continue having chronic pain and other persistent complications. 
Unfortunately, even after an accident victim’s initial pain subsides, they could be left with permanent scarring and other disfigurements. Most scarring is caused by damage to the skin, such as scratches, abrasions, and puncture wounds. Depending upon the severity and location of the scar, it can significantly impact a victim’s ability to work and even perform routine tasks. Besides being a constant reminder of the traumatic injury, even the slightest alterations in a victim’s appearance can bring about overwhelming depression and emotional pain. Victims with scars in prominent places, such as the head, face, neck, or hands often struggle with terrible self-esteem and anxiety. 
In the wake of an accident, it can take victims who have suffered from herniated or bulging discs weeks or even months before these injuries become problematic. Consequently, back and spinal cord injuries are regularly overlooked and undiagnosed. Unfortunately, failure to detect bulging discs can result in long-lasting pain and suffering. A herniated or bulging disc occurs when one of the rubbery cushions positioned in-between the bones that make up the spinal cord is shifted out of alignment. While any region of the spine can endure a herniated disc, this type of injury tends to arise in the lower back.