Home » Blog » Common Pedestrian and Bicycle Accident Injuries
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Last Modified on Oct 26, 2026
A driver’s mistake takes about a second, but the injuries from it can last for years. If you were hit while walking or riding a bike, you’re probably dealing with pain, a stack of bills, and a body that doesn’t work the way it did before the accident.
Common pedestrian and bicycle accident injuries include head trauma, spinal cord damage, broken bones, road rash, and internal injuries. Some of these injuries are more serious than they look at first. Some don’t show symptoms for hours or days.
Our dedicated personal injury lawyers at Bentley & More LLP handles catastrophic injury cases for people hurt on California roads.
Key Takeaways
- Head injuries can stay hidden for hours or days, so feeling fine at the scene doesn’t rule one out.
- Spinal cord injuries are complete or incomplete, and the difference shapes what lifetime care will cost.
- Pelvic and rib fractures can bleed or damage organs inside the body before the pain gets worse.
- Road rash and soft tissue injuries are real injuries that often need medical treatment.
Bentley & More LLP offers a free, no-obligation consultation, so you can find out where you stand before you decide anything.
Traumatic Brain Injuries and Concussions
A traumatic brain injury happens when a blow or jolt disrupts how the brain works. A pedestrian or cyclist who hits a hood, windshield, or pavement takes that kind of force.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) places concussion at the mild end of the range of brain injuries. But “mild” describes the diagnosis and not the months of headaches, dizziness, and trouble finding words that can follow. Symptoms often surface hours or days later, even after a clear initial exam.
Moderate and severe injuries involve bleeding or swelling inside the skull and can leave lasting problems with memory, balance, and mood. These life-altering neurological injuries frequently result from high-velocity motor vehicle collisions that throw unprotected victims onto roadways.
Brain injury claims run on records, so every ER visit, neurologist follow-up, and family member’s note about changes in behavior belongs in the file.
Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis
A spinal cord injury disrupts the signals traveling between the brain and the body, and one hard impact with a vehicle can cause it.
These injuries are classified as complete or incomplete. A complete injury means the cord can’t carry signals below the injury site, which causes paralysis. An incomplete injury leaves some function in place, such as movement in one leg or sensation without strength.
What Lifetime Care Costs
Wheelchairs, home modifications, attendant care, and decades of therapy add up to a number far larger than the first hospital bill. Before any settlement talk, a life care plan from medical experts should price out your future needs.
Attorney Greg Bentley won a $31.5 million jury verdict after the state’s failure to fix a dangerous stretch of Highway 138 contributed to a major crash that caused brain and spinal cord injuries requiring a lifetime of care. Prior case results do not guarantee future case outcomes.
Broken Bones and Fractures
Broken bones are common in pedestrian and bicycle crashes, and where they break depends on how the person was hit. For example:
- Legs and pelvis take the first impact when a bumper strikes a standing pedestrian, and pelvic fractures can bleed heavily inside the body.
- Wrists, collarbones, and forearms break when a cyclist or pedestrian throws out a hand to stop a fall.
- Rib and skull fractures follow hits against a hood, windshield, or pavement and put the lungs and brain at risk.
Complex fractures often need surgery with plates or screws and months of rehabilitation, so the medical bills keep arriving long after the cast comes off. Riders who suffer severe orthopedic fractures can protect their rights by working with an experienced bicycle accident lawyer to hold liable motorists accountable.
Road Rash, Deep Lacerations, and Scarring
Road rash is skin scraped away by sliding across pavement, and deep cases need medical treatment.
Severe abrasions can reach deeper tissue, trap gravel and bacteria, and call for surgical cleaning, skin grafts, and antibiotics for infection.
Scars on the face, hands, and forearms can stay visible for life, and scarring counts as damage in an injury claim.
Photograph the wounds on day one and again every week, since they change fast.
Internal Injuries and Soft Tissue Damage
Blunt force to the chest or abdomen can damage the lungs, liver, spleen, or kidneys. Internal bleeding may first appear as dizziness, a swollen belly, or pain that builds over several hours. That’s why a trauma team may order scans for a patient who insists they feel fine.
Soft tissue injuries are quieter. Torn knee ligaments, a damaged rotator cuff, and sprains may not show up on an X-ray. Additional imaging and a treating physician’s notes are often necessary to diagnose and document them
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a lawsuit after a pedestrian or bicycle accident in California?
You usually have two years from the date of injury. That deadline comes from Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 335.1. If the injured person is a minor, the clock generally pauses until they turn 18, but evidence disappears long before that.
What if a city, county, or Caltrans caused or contributed to my crash?
You’ll file a written government claim first, and the window is much shorter than the one for a lawsuit against a driver. You have six months to file a claim and then another six months to sue if the agency rejects your claim.
Can I still recover compensation if I was partly at fault?
Yes. California follows pure comparative fault. Your recovery shrinks by your share of the blame. Insurers often push that percentage hard, so don’t agree to one before you’ve talked to a lawyer.
What if the driver who hit me fled or has no insurance?
Your own uninsured motorist coverage often applies, including when you were on foot or on a bike. A household member’s policy may apply too. Ask your insurer for the full policy and have a lawyer read it before you sign anything.
Bentley & More LLP: A California Personal Injury Law Firm
You came here to understand bicycle and pedestrian accident injuries. For many people, that search starts with a diagnosis they didn’t expect and a long list of questions about what comes next. Contact our firm and we’ll talk through your legal options whenever you’re ready. There is no cost, no pressure, and no need to have everything figured out before you contact us.
About the author: Greg Bentley
Co-Founder & Trial Lawyer at Bentley & More LLP
Greg Bentley is Co-Founder of Bentley & More LLP in Newport Beach, California. With 36 years of experience, he represents plaintiffs in personal injury, wrongful death, product liability, insurance bad faith, dangerous road and property conditions, and construction-site failure cases. Admitted to the State Bar of California, Greg earned his J.D. from Western State University College of Law in 1990. He is a member of several invitation-only trial organizations, including the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, and is active in multiple statewide and regional trial lawyer associations.
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