Recovering From a Broken Nose After a Bronx Bicycle Accident

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), nasal fractures are “most prevalent” among cyclists. If you suffered a broken nose after a bicycle accident in the Bronx, you might be less concerned with statistics and more focused on your recovery. How can you access the treatment you need? What if you have to miss work?  These are questions you might want to raise with a bicycle accident lawyer.

You Might Need a “Closed Reduction” 

The Mayo Clinic states that most broken noses do not require surgical intervention. Instead, the most common course of action is something called a “closed reduction.” With this procedure, a doctor will manually move your nasal bones back into proper alignment. While this procedure should be relatively easy, it is important to see a doctor within the first 10 days of your injury. If too much time passes, it may be impossible for doctors to perform a closed reduction.

Do not attempt to straighten your broken nose yourself. Although this might seem like a relatively easy procedure, you should leave it to the medical professionals. Even though seeing a doctor represents an additional cost, you should receive complete compensation for any medical expenses you incur as a direct result of your bicycle accident. In New York’s no-fault system, you do not even need to prove that someone else was to blame in order to access these medical benefits.

Steps to Take Immediately After the Bicycle Accident

Those with broken noses should try to breathe through their mouths in the immediate aftermath of a bicycle accident. Another positive step could be to squeeze the nostrils to prevent excessive bleeding. An ice pack may also help, and Mount Sinai recommends taking Tylenol. The main priority should be to see a doctor, however. No amount of first aid can truly address a fractured nose. If you refuse to see a doctor, your nose may collapse due to abscesses and tissue damage.

Most Bike Helmets Do Not Protect the Face 

It is worth noting that the average bike helmet does nothing to protect fragile facial bones. An average bicycle helmet only protects the top of the head. It may also protect a portion of the rear skull area, but nothing more. Cyclists rarely fall onto the top of their skulls, and this would require them to flip completely upside down before hitting the ground. Facial injuries are therefore quite common. The only type of helmet that protects cyclists from these injuries is a full-face, “mountain-bike” style helmet.

Can a Bicycle Accident Lawyer in the Bronx Help Me?

A bicycle accident lawyer in the Bronx might be able to help if you broke your nose in an accident. This type of injury can be extremely painful, and it might be disfiguring unless you receive prompt medical treatment. After seeing a doctor, consider calling a lawyer to determine your next steps. An experienced firm like Cohan Law, PLLC can help you assess your legal options.

Sources: 

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10087601/

mountsinai.org/health-library/injury/nose-fracture

mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/broken-nose/symptoms-causes/syc-20370439