Brian White | July 19, 2022 | Bicycle Accidents
Many individuals use bicycles as a form of transportation or for recreation or exercise. Unfortunately, there are many injuries that a person might suffer in an accident while riding a bike.
While head injuries have received a lot of attention, and rightfully so, many other catastrophic injuries can occur. One of these is spleen damage, which may be fatal, depending on the situation.
What Is the Spleen, and What Does It Do?
The spleen is a little organ that is located above your stomach. It is tucked away under the ribs, which protect the spleen.
The following are some of a spleen’s functions:
- Storing blood
- Filtering blood
- Producing antibodies and white blood cells
- Maintaining your body’s fluid balance
Each of these functions is vital to stabilizing your body, so a damaged spleen can become dangerous.
How Does a Spleen Injury Occur?
Many people claim that once someone learns to ride a bike, they never forget. However, regardless of how confident a person is in riding a bike, an accident is always possible.
While the ribs do offer some degree of protection to the spleen, they are by no means indestructible. For example, it is common for a bike accident to cause the rider to fly into and over the handlebars. If the handlebars hit someone beneath their ribs, they may injure their spleen.
In other cases, hitting the ground might result in spleen damage if the rider is hit on a rock or ridge on the right side of their rib cage.
What Is a Ruptured Spleen?
Your spleen may tear or burst as a result of trauma and damage. Spleen injury frequently results from car accidents and impacts to the abdomen. The internal bleeding from this potentially fatal injury may be quite serious.
The following are signs of a ruptured spleen:
- Rapid heartbeat
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Discomfort under the rib cage
These symptoms can be serious, so make sure to monitor your symptoms after any bike accident.
Treatment for a Ruptured Spleen
The degree of damage determines how this ailment is treated. A surgery known as a splenectomy is required when a significant volume of blood has been lost, and the patient is in critical condition.
Medical professionals can use less invasive procedures if the spleen damage is not severe. This strategy entails checking the patient into the hospital and keeping a close eye on them. Vital signs, blood counts, and a CT scan may be carried out for a more thorough assessment. For the majority of these individuals, spleen removal is not necessary.
Compensation for a Ruptured Spleen
If another party was at fault for your accident, you might be entitled to compensation for the injuries you suffered due to their negligence.
Medical Costs
You might be able to collect the costs of your medical care from the individual who caused your bike accident, even if you just went to the doctor once to find out whether you required stitches.
You may also be entitled to reimbursement for expenses incurred if you need emergency surgery, long-term medical monitoring, or both.
Lost Wages
In some cases, you could have missed work due to your bike accident because you had to visit the doctor, or your injuries made it impossible for you to execute your job. If this is the case, you are entitled to compensation equivalent to the amount of money you would have made if you had been allowed to resume working.
Property Damage
Any personal property that was harmed as a result of the bike accident may also be replaced.
Following an accident, carefully inspect your:
- Cell phone
- Smartwatch
- Glasses
- Helmets
You can also receive compensation if the accident completely wrecked your bike.
You may also be entitled to recover non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, after rupturing your spleen in a bicycle accident. To discuss the compensation you may be able to get after a bike crash, contact an experienced attorney.
Contact the Houston Bicycle Accident Lawyers at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers For Help
For more information, contact the Houston bicycle accident law firm of Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers by calling (713) 500-5000.
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