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Soft Tissue Injuries in Bicycle Accidents
A Chicago bicycle soft tissue injury lawyer can help you build a strong injury claim. A growing population of Chicagoans is relying on bicycles to get around the city, especially as infrastructural improvements have prioritized cyclists in recent years.
Soft tissue injuries are damage to muscles, tendons, and ligaments rather than bones. In a bicycle accident, they commonly include sprains, strains, whiplash, bruises, and bursitis. They can be painful and long-lasting, and an injured cyclist may be able to seek compensation if another party’s negligence caused the crash.
Although the number of safe roadways and lanes for bikers is increasing, cyclists still face significant danger. They are more vulnerable to injury in collisions, especially when larger motor vehicles are involved. Our Chicago bike crash attorney team can assist with your compensation claim.
Areas like the Downtown Loop have numerous intersections where bikers and drivers could collide. Even the best helmets and safety gear do not always prevent all types of injuries in bike accidents.
Common Types of Soft Tissue Injuries in Bicycle Accidents
Soft-tissue injuries encompass a wide range of bodily damage, including damage to tendons, muscles, or ligaments. Due to blunt force trauma and the violent movements that occur in most crashes, this type of injury is common in bike accidents.
A sprain is an injury to a ligament. Ligaments are soft tissues that connect bones at a joint. Ankles, knees, hips, and elbows are common locations for sprains.
Strains occur in either muscles or tendons. A tendon is the fibrous connective tissue that links muscles to bones. Strains commonly occur in the back, neck, hamstring, shoulder, groin, and calf, though any area of the body can be vulnerable during a bicycle accident.
Whiplash is commonly associated with vehicular collisions because it involves sudden, violent neck movement. When your body is thrown in one direction quickly, it can damage the soft tissues in the neck and cause severe pain or other health complications.
A contusion is another name for a bruise. It occurs when soft tissue under the skin is damaged, causing discoloration. Small blood vessels damaged by blunt force leak blood under the skin, causing discoloration.
Many joints are cushioned by small fluid-filled sacs called bursae. Bursitis is inflammation of these sacs, and it can be triggered by a direct blow or repeated pressure. Mild cases can improve with rest, ice, and gentle range-of-motion exercises, but untreated bursitis can worsen or become infected.
Soft tissue injuries often occur together with fractures and other injuries in the same crash. If you also suffered a broken bone, see our page on broken bone injuries.
Causes of Chicago Bicycle Accidents Leading to Soft Tissue Injuries
Many factors can contribute to bike accidents in Chicago. As a cyclist, you should know these causes to protect yourself while riding around the city.
One of the primary causes of bicycle collisions is negligent drivers. Often, drivers are not looking out for bikers, or they may be distracted. Many don’t realize bikers have the same rights as drivers per municipal code 9-52-010.
Busy corridors where bikers and drivers share the road are especially risky.
Another common cause of bicycle accidents in Chicago is road hazards. Potholes, uneven surfaces, streetcar tracks, and debris are most frequently cited as causes of bike crashes. When riding through areas under construction or with poor maintenance, look for these hazards to protect yourself from soft tissue injuries.
Liability in a Chicago Bicycle Accident Soft Tissue Injury Case
If you have suffered from soft tissue injuries or other types of bodily damage from a bike accident, you may be eligible for a personal injury claim. To recover compensation for your damages, you must prove liability.
Establishing negligence requires four elements in a personal injury case. The defendant must have a duty of care toward the plaintiff. They must have breached that duty of care with their actions. A causal link must exist between the defendant’s actions and the plaintiff’s suffering. Lastly, the plaintiff must prove damages.
Various parties could be held liable for bike accidents. The most common defendants in these claims are negligent drivers, government entities, pedestrians, other cyclists, property owners, driver employers, and even equipment manufacturers.
If you’re unsure about who is responsible for your injuries or how to prove negligence, a bicycle accident lawyer in Chicago can help you determine liability.
Steps to Take After a Bicycle Accident Resulting in Soft Tissue Injuries
If you are considering a personal injury lawsuit for soft tissue injuries suffered in a bike collision, you must understand how the legal process works. Here are the basic steps you should follow in the aftermath of the crash to prepare for a potential lawsuit:
- Prioritize your safety by seeking medical attention immediately.
- Report the accident to the Chicago Police Department.
- Document the accident scene with photos, videos, and witness information.
- Collect driver and insurance company information if vehicles are involved.
- Preserve any physical evidence, such as your bicycle, helmet, and clothing.
- Keep detailed records of all medical treatment, expenses, and lost wages.
- Never admit fault for the accident to anyone, and don’t discuss it with other insurance companies without first seeking legal advice.
- Consult an experienced lawyer to discuss your legal options.
Filing a Claim or Lawsuit for Soft Tissue Injuries from a Chicago Bicycle Accident
If you are ready to file a claim against the at-fault party, you should consult an experienced law firm specializing in Chicago bicycle accidents. Once you hire a lawyer, they will investigate the case and start gathering evidence to support your claim.
For example, if a witness saw you signal your intent to turn properly and follow municipal code 9-52-045, their testimony could strengthen your case. Your lawyer will help you file the claim and issue a complaint in Illinois courts. A discovery process, a settlement negotiation with the insurance company, and a potential civil trial will follow.
Your attorney will protect your rights and guide you through the process.
Compensation You May Be Entitled to for Soft Tissue Injuries
Whether you were involved in a bicycle crash in the Near North Side or on Pulaski Road, you may be able to seek compensation if someone else’s negligence caused the accident. You can pursue two types of legal damages: economic and non-economic.
Economic damages in a bicycle crash case may include lost wages, medical expenses, future medical costs, therapy bills, and property damage.
Non-economic damages could include emotional distress, mental anguish, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life. If your soft tissue injuries have caused long-term disabilities, this could be another loss included in your settlement.
Your lawyer’s job is to assess all potential damages and negotiate for maximum compensation from the at-fault party and their insurance company. The more experienced your attorney, the more likely they are to maximize your settlement.
Why Soft Tissue Injury Claims Are Often Undervalued
Soft tissue injuries can be hard to prove because they often don’t show up on X-rays, and symptoms like pain, stiffness, and swelling may take hours or days to develop. Insurance companies sometimes use this to argue an injury is minor or unrelated to the crash.
Steps that help protect a claim:
- See a doctor promptly, even if the pain seems mild at first.
- Follow your treatment plan and keep your appointments. Gaps in treatment can be used against you.
- Ask your doctor whether an MRI or specialist evaluation is appropriate.
- Keep a simple journal of pain levels, missed work, and activities you cannot do.
- Save all medical bills, therapy notes, and work records.
Statute of Limitations for Chicago Bicycle Accident Claims
Illinois has a statute of limitations for bike accident cases. Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, most plaintiffs have two years from the date of the incident to file their compensation claims. Although exceptions exist, your eligibility for a settlement could be dismissed if you wait too long to pursue legal action. Claims against a city or other local government body generally must be filed within one year (745 ILCS 10/8-101).
Another reason to act quickly is to take advantage of fresh evidence that can strengthen your case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get compensation for soft tissue injuries after a bike accident in Chicago?
Yes, if another party’s negligence caused the crash. Compensation can include medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. You must show the other party owed you a duty of care, breached it, and caused your injuries.
Why do soft tissue injuries sometimes show up days after a crash?
Swelling and inflammation can build over time, and adrenaline can mask pain right after an accident. That is why it is wise to get checked by a doctor promptly even if you feel fine.
Do soft tissue injuries show up on X-rays?
Usually not. X-rays show bones, so doctors often rely on a physical exam and sometimes an MRI to diagnose sprains, strains, and other soft tissue damage.
Secure Expert Legal Counsel!
A bicycle accident injury in Chicago could be life-changing. Although many soft tissue injuries are less severe, they can still cause you to miss work or pay expensive treatment bills, all because someone else behaved negligently.
Many areas of the South Side, West Side, and Northwest Side lack bike lanes, forcing riders onto roads more often. This puts them at higher risk of injury from inattentive drivers.
When you need a law firm to level the playing field against the insurance company or defense lawyers, our team can help. We know what it takes to build a strong case, negotiate from a position of strength, and assess all legal damages.
When you work with an Illinois bike crash attorney at our firm, an experienced professional will guide you through the claims process. Choosing a legal path should never be an uninformed decision, so we offer a free consultation during which you can ask questions about the claims process or your specific case.
Legally Reviewed By
Attorney Jonathan Rosenfeld
Reviewed by Attorney Jonathan Rosenfeld The material on this page has been legally reviewed by Attorney Jonathan Rosenfeld of Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC. Mr. Rosenfeld and his team have experience representing injured cyclists in bicycle accident cases in Chicago. With a focus on personal injury law, they help bicycle accident victims understand their legal options and pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages resulting from their injuries.
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