While good cycling habits and safety equipment can protect you on your bicycle, these measures can only go so far. Simply put, you cannot control the behavior of those around you. You are perfectly entitled to operate your bicycle in busy areas, where there is a high volume of traffic, but this does make cycling more hazardous.
A helmet can protect your head but most helmets don’t offer much facial protection. This means that your face is especially vulnerable to injuries during a collision. Outlined below are some of the more serious facial injuries that can be suffered during a bicycle accident.
Dental injuries
It is very rare for cyclists to wear helmets that cover the entire face. This style of helmet is usually bulkier than traditional cycling helmets and just not practical. Consequently, the face usually remains exposed and if it takes the brunt of an impact during an accident, serious dental injuries can occur. In some cases, the jaw can become fractured or completely dislocated. This type of injury generally involves surgery and an extended period of recovery in which talking, eating and functioning each day can be difficult.
Even if the jaw escapes injury, the teeth can still be damaged. Fixing broken teeth can be expensive, painful and damaged teeth also often leave people feeling self-conscious.
Nose fractures
The nose is the part of the face that protrudes the most. As a result, if you fall face first from your bicycle, the nose is going to take the brunt of the impact when you land. Not only is the nose extremely sensitive, making nose injuries severely painful, but it is also crucial to a person’s breathing. Those who suffer serious nose fractures often have trouble breathing for several months after the initial incident. In severe cases, it may not be possible to fully repair the damage.
You should be free to operate your bike safely in Durham, North Carolina. If a careless driver has interfered with this and caused you injury, you might be able to hold them to account. Seeking some legal guidance could help to point you in the right direction in terms of pursuing compensation for your injuries.