Bicycling around is an excellent way to get exercise. For some people, this is also their chosen method for running errands and doing things around town. People in the Los Angeles area have the benefit of living in a community that’s mostly bicycle friendly.
Even though it’s a healthy activity, bicycling is still associated with some injuries. One of these is brain injuries, which can happen if a person is struck by a vehicle or if they fall off the bicycle. Most people won’t face a significant chance of a brain injury if they simply fall off the bicycle, but that risk is increased if they’re struck by a vehicle.
Helmets can help, but injuries can still happen
In California, there’s no requirement for people who are 18 years or older to wear a helmet while they’re riding. People younger than that are required to have a helmet on if they’re operating the bicycle, and those who are under five years old have to wear one even if they’re a passenger on a bike.
Helmets can significantly reduce the risk of a head injury in a bicycle crash. Serious head injuries are reduced by 60%, and traumatic brain injuries are reduced by 53% when the person is wearing a helmet.
One misconception that many people have is that the bicyclist needs to hit their head to suffer a brain injury. The injury can occur if the head is flung around, which is highly possible if the bicyclist is hit by a vehicle. The force of the brain slamming into the skull during the flinging motion can cause injuries on opposing sides of the brain where it contacts the skull.
Bicyclists who are struck by a vehicle should receive a medical evaluation to determine if they have a possible head injury. This care, as well as the treatments they have, can be costly. They may opt to pursue a compensation claim from the driver who struck them. This can help to offset those costs, but it must be done quickly after the crash.
