Have you or someone you know already been injured in a bike accident? Injuries like TBIs, spinal cord damage, and more can all be caused by just one run-in with a car. That’s why more cyclists are filing personal injury claims to help recover compensation.

A UC San Francisco study identified that non-fatal bike crashes are contributing in terms of medical costs to damages of $789 million every year. The cost of bicycle accidents goes far beyond medical expenses, since many people in bike accidents are forced to miss work. Businesses, too, lose in terms of productivity.

They looked at more than 17 years of data to identify the types of bicycle injuries for adults in the United States and found that those that were non-fatal and fatal amounted to $237 million. In just 2013 the total cost from bicycle accidents was more than $24 billion, which doubled the medical and other costs associated with the occupational illnesses over the same period.

Nearly 9,800 deaths were reported during this period and there were 3.8 million non-fatal bicycle accident injuries. Men accounted for three-quarters of the total costs of bicycle accidents in terms of injury expenses. There are many documented health benefits of cycling such as decreasing mortality risk and improved cardiovascular function.

Unfortunately, however, life threatening injuries can be sustained in an accident involving a vehicle and many riders ages 45 and older and in particular, men, are at greater risk of being struck in an accident. Many cars have not adapted to greater numbers of bikes on the road and despite the fact that there are bike lanes in some locations and that riders make themselves as visible as possible, accidents can and do still happen. The most serious incidents involving bicycle accidents can be catastrophic or claim the life of a cyclist who does not have the protections afforded inside the vehicle. Even when wearing a helmet or other safety gear, a cyclist could be thrown from the bike and into oncoming traffic or stationary objects generating serious issues like concussions, traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries or even paralysis. If you or someone you know has already been injured in a serious bicycle accident, you need to consult with a knowledgeable attorney about your rights.