Kentucky cyclists depend on their legs to power the rides they love. Unfortunately, careless drivers who also use the roadways can put a rider’s legs in harm’s way.
A quick turn in front of the rider, or a reckless lane change into a cyclist can so easily send a victim off a bike. Riders can break an upper or lower leg bone in the fall. They may be in immediate pain or they may not even know it happened until an X-ray reveals it a few days later.
No matter the recovery times and pain that cyclists go through, it’s the careless drivers that need to be front and center when it comes time to pay the enormous hospital and physical therapy invoices.
Contact a Kentucky Bicycle Accident Lawyer for a Free Broken Leg Case Consultation
If you or a loved one has suffered a broken leg in a bicycle accident, you should talk to a skilled Kentucky bicycle accident lawyer before taking any phone call from an insurance representative. The adjuster for the at-fault driver’s insurance company will try to get you to accept far less than what you’ll require to fully recover from a broken leg. Fortunately, you can stay informed about your rights as a victim to avoid their insurance tactics.
To make sure you aren’t stuck with the costs of your comeback from a leg injury, contact Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC, of Kentucky. We offer a free, no-obligation case consultation to all bicycle accident victims. It’s an easy way to learn of every benefit that’s available to you and how to secure those benefits from an unhelpful car insurance company.
Broken Leg Dangers in Kentucky Bicycle Accidents
The leg is made up of four major bones, plus lots of nerves and tendons. Any of these body parts are vulnerable for a Kentucky bicyclist in a collision with a car, an SUV, or a big rig.
The femur is the large bone in your upper leg. What is referred to as a hip fracture is actually a break in the upper Femur. The tibia and the radius are the two bones in the calf. The lower end of these bones helps form the ankles.
The patella is the kneecap and it can be broken in two or into many pieces when a rider lands on it. The patellar tendon and the cartridge used to cushion the knee joint can also take damage.
A simple leg bone break can heal in as little as three weeks, but a more complex break or a broken bone with complications might take up to six months or longer to heal.
These are just some of the complications associated with a leg break:
- Bone Infection – Any bone that breaks through the skin and is exposed to germs in the air is more likely to develop an infection. Some bicyclists will need surgery to drain abscesses or remove a damaged bone. A severe infection could force doctors to surgically remove a leg.
- Arthritis – Inflammation in joints that causes pain and stiffness. The effects can get worse with age for a cyclist. Any insurance settlement must factor in the real possibility of arthritis for the victim down the road.
- Nerve Damage – A single nerve or a group of nerves may also be damaged when a leg bone breaks. This creates a burning or tingling sensation in the leg. Cyclists may also experience numbness.
- Broken Bones that Don’t Heal – A bad break may refuse to heal fully. This could result in additional surgeries in the future.
- Uneven Leg Development – Child bicycle accident victims are common. Any bone break while they are still developing could result in stunted growth. One leg could end up being shorter than the other because a traumatic injury is holding back growth. A Kentucky Bicycle Accident Lawyer would work with medical professionals to determine estimates on the care children with broken legs may need as they age.
Compensation Available to Bicycle Accident Victims with Broken Legs
When filing a broken leg claim against an at-fault driver’s car insurance provider, you’ll want to make sure there’s a thorough list of every hardship you’ve faced and every hardship you expect to face. This list is critical to the amount you’ll receive on a settlement check because anything you leave off won’t be eligible for compensation.
Your Kentucky traumatic injury lawyer will be helping you compile this document and also adding some damages you may not have known could earn support after a bicycle accident:
- Totals on medical bills and estimates on care potentially needed in the future.
- Totals on any physical therapy and leg rehabilitation costs.
- The costs you’ll encounter over a lifetime when confronted with a permanent disability. A leg injury could make medical equipment and leg prosthetics a yearly purchase for victims.
- Pain and suffering. This includes the emotional trauma you suffer in a bicycle accident and in recovery. You may have extreme anxiety about riding a bicycle again. You should also earn support when facing a loss of enjoyment of life, especially if you can’t return to the bicycle rides you love.
- Reimbursement for the wages and benefits you lose at work while unable to handle job duties.
- Money for a new bicycle.
Contact a Kentucky Bicycle Accident Lawyer After a Leg Fracture
Cyclists who suffer broken legs in a bicycle accident have up to two years to file an injury claim against a careless driver. But if you or a loved one have been injured due to a driver’s carelessness, it’s always best to act quickly. The longer you wait the harder it will be for your attorney to retrieve evidence and keep track of witnesses for testimony.
Talk to a Kentucky Bike Accident Lawyer you can trust to be on your side and fight for your fair compensation. To discuss your case in a free consultation with a real Kentucky lawyer, contact Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC today, by clicking here. If you decide we can help you earn the most for your bicycle accident leg injury claim, you won’t need any money. We don’t get paid unless we win your case.
