Florida Bicycle Crashes And The Link To Facial Injuries

Riding bicycles has always been a popular form of recreation for kids, but cycling has grown in popularity with adults over recent years. Because it is a great way to exercise and an inexpensive form of transportation, many more people have taken up on-road cycling. While it is great that more people are getting exercise through cycling, it is unfortunate that there has been an increase in bicycle-related deaths and trauma.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 726 cyclists died and 49,000 bicyclists were injured in traffic accidents in 2012. This statistic shows a six percent increase over the prior year with 682 bicyclists killed in 2011. Additionally, more bicyclists were injured, up from 48,000 in 2011.

Serious Cycling Injuries

Some injuries that can be traumatic for cyclists are head and facial trauma. In fact, cyclists often suffer more traumatic injuries to their upper bodies than their lower extremities. However, while head and facial injuries do occur regularly in Florida bicycle crashes, these types of injuries have been decreasing due to the use of bicycle helmets.

While helmets do help protect the head and reduce brain injuries, bicycle helmets do little to protect the face. This is because helmets leave the eyes, nose, and certain areas of the face exposed. If you have worn a bicycle helmet, you know that certain areas of the face aren’t covered by the helmet, and a cyclist has a greater chance of injuring these regions in a cycling crash.

Types of facial injuries that cyclists suffer from—with or without the use of a helmet—include:

• Dental injuries
• Missing teeth
• Speech difficulties
• Drinking, swallowing, or biting difficulties
• Soft tissue injuries to the face
• Bone fractures
• Damage to nasal bones
• Lip injuries
• Jaw injuries and limitations
• Eye trauma
• Facial fractures

When cyclists suffer from these types of injuries, they may have to undergo a bone graft surgery, dental surgery, reconstructive surgery, esthetic surgery, and rehabilitation. Unfortunately, these types of treatments can be expensive.

Although bicycle helmets might not prevent all facial injuries from occurring, they do help reduce the severity of face and head injuries. This is why it is always important to wear a helmet when pedaling in Fort Lauderdale. If you have been injured in a bicycle accident in South Florida, contact the Law Offices of David Benenfeld.

Call (954) 677-0155 for a free consultation with a bicycle accident attorney in Fort Lauderdale. You will get your questions answered and learn about your legal rights to a personal injury claim from a skilled lawyer.