Every Ohio resident who travels the streets, highways and byways of the state is vulnerable to injury to a certain extent. Even so, the risk for some people is higher than others. For instance, those who travel by bike run a higher risk of suffering serious injuries in bicycle vs. vehicle accidents than those inside the cabin of a vehicle.
Perhaps you try to reduce your risk by wearing a helmet, but that still leaves a large portion of your body vulnerable, and helmets are not foolproof when it comes to preventing head injuries. Even when a vehicle travels at lower speeds, the force of the impact on your unprotected body can be severe. The injuries you suffer could prevent you from working and engaging in your normal daily activities.
The truth of the matter is that you may not make a full recovery. Under the best of circumstances, you may still suffer long-lasting effects of your injuries for years to come that require you to make adjustments to your life. On the other hand, your injuries could leave you permanently suffering from a debilitating condition such as paralysis, brain damage or some other ailment.
The good news is that you may have legal options when it comes to pursuing restitution for your current and future damages, including your financial losses. Just like many other survivors of bicycle vs. vehicle accidents, you could file a personal injury claim in an Ohio civil court. Before the court will consider awarding you damages, you will need to prove that the recklessness or negligence of the other party contributed to or directly caused your injuries.