As Utah’s Bicycle Lawyers, we love cycling as much as anyone. But we know that the sport comes with risks. The sports world is more aware than ever of the dangers of traumatic brain injuries. For good reason, helmets are now a higher priority for cyclists. Despite greater awareness, less than half of cyclists wear helmets. The risk of head injuries associated with cycling is real, and helmets can help prevent them. This post provides an overview of some common cycling head injuries and ways to identify them.
Cycling Head Injuries
Football gets a lot of publicity for concussions, but cycling actually has the highest rate of traumatic head injuries of any sport. Concussions and contusions are the most common cycling head injuries.
- Concussions
Concussions are the most common traumatic brain injury. Their signs and symptoms can be subtle, so being aware of what to look for is helpful. If you hit your head during an accident, monitor yourself for symptoms such as vision disturbances, headaches, ringing in your ears, and fatigue. These signs may indicate a concussion. If you experience them, seek medical attention immediately.
- Contusions
A contusion is a bruise on the brain itself. Contusions occur in 20-30% of head injuries. Their symptoms are similar to concussions, but doctors can identify what kind of injury you have. Treatment may include occupational and physical therapy, medication, or in severe cases, surgery.
There are several other types of cycling head injuries, but these are the most common. To help prevent injury, always wear your helmet when riding. Making sure you always have a quality, functional helmet is one of the most important things you can do before getting on your bike.
If you or a fellow cyclist suffer a head impact while riding, check for the symptoms listed above. Even while wearing a helmet, brain injuries can still happen. If you notice anything unusual, seek medical help.
Utah Bicycle Lawyers
We decided years ago to dedicate our legal practice to helping injured cyclists. Through our work as Utah’s Bicycle Lawyers, we regularly win large settlements for bike accident victims.
If you would like to learn more about bicycle accident law, order a free copy of our book, The Utah Bicycle Accident Handbook. If you are seeking legal advice or think you may have a case, please contact us. We take the opportunity to represent injured cyclists seriously, and will do our best to help you.
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