Bruises after a Bicycle Accident: When You Should Worry

Whether you’ve been involved in a minor collision or a major crash with your bicycle, it’s not uncommon for bruising to occur. While most of the time bruises aren’t something to worry about, really bad bruising could indicate a more serious problem.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that “children (5-14 years), adolescents, and young adults (15-24 years) have the highest rates of nonfatal bicycle-related injuries, accounting for almost 60% of all bicycle-related injuries seen in U.S. emergency departments.”

Signs That Bruising Could Be a Serious Injury

When blood vessels under the skin rupture or tear, a bruise may develop from the resultant bleeding. A bicyclist might suffer such an injury in the event of a fall from the bike or if struck by a vehicle.

One sign of a potentially serious injury is when there is really bad bruising, swelling and pain. The bicyclist might have suffered a sprain or fracture or there may be deep tissue damage, so it’s important to get evaluated by a medical professional.

If there is bruising around certain parts of the body, it could indicate specific types of injuries. For instance, bruising around the belly button may indicate internal bleeding in the abdomen, according to MedicineNet. Bruising around the chest could indicate broken ribs. Bruising around the eyes or behind the ears might indicate a skull fracture, notes Johns Hopkins Medicine. There could also be fluid leaking from the ears or nose.

Complications of Serious Bruising

One type of complication that injured bicyclists might experience is compartment syndrome. As pressure builds from bleeding, it may reduce the flow of blood and oxygen to the body’s tissues, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). It can turn into a life-threatening situation that sometimes requires surgery in order to drain excess fluids.

Another potentially serious complication, according to the AAOS, is a condition called myositis ossificans. Instead of growing new muscle cells, the bruised muscle grows bone. Signs of the condition may include pain that doesn’t go away, swelling and reduced flexibility. Rarely is surgery required, according to AAOS.

Determining If Injuries in a Bicycle Accident Warrant Seeking Legal Advice

It is important to seek medical attention immediately after a bicycle accident if you did not receive care at the scene or in an emergency room. Even what appears to be nothing more than a few bruises, aches and pains could turn out to be serious. So it’s best to get checked out as soon as possible.

If it turns out there was serious physical harm, seek legal advice. An attorney can determine your right to file a claim against another party liable for the bicycle accident and establish the types of damages that may be recoverable. In addition to medical bills and lost wages, there might be other forms of compensation available such as pain and suffering.

Get help from D.J. Banovitz if you were suffered really bad bruising and related complications or were otherwise seriously injured in an accident in the Denver area. Set up your consultation by calling 303-300-5060 or fill out our contact form.

D.J. Banovitz’ career has always concentrated on trial practice and he has litigated hundreds of cases. His passion and sole career focus has been to seek justice for people suffering from personal injuries as the result of someone else’s negligence. The hallmark of the Law Office of D.J. Banovitz, is the total commitment to professionalism, quality, and personalized care of your injury case. D.J. has dedicated his professional life to helping those most in need and is a proud and active member of the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association. His experience includes volunteering for Colorado Rural Legal Services in Montrose, the Colorado Aids Project, consumer law, family law, criminal defense, and Alternative Defense Counsel for juveniles in Denver.