What to Do Right After a Bike Crash

A note before you read

This is general information, not medical or legal advice. If you or someone else is seriously hurt, call your local emergency number straight away. Nothing here replaces first aid training, a doctor or the instructions of emergency services. Rules on reporting a crash differ by country, so check local requirements.

Stop and stay still for a moment

The first instinct after a fall is often to jump up and show that you are fine. Resist it. Pausing for a few seconds gives you time to notice pain that adrenaline may be hiding. If you are lying on the ground, stay put until you have a sense of how you feel.

Make sure you are out of danger

Check your surroundings before anything else. The danger after a crash is often not the fall but what follows.

• If you are on or near a road and you can move safely, get yourself and the bike off the carriageway, onto a pavement, verge or other safe spot.
• If you cannot move, or suspect a serious injury, do not try to get up. Ask a bystander to help, to warn approaching traffic and to call for help.
• On a path or trail, move aside so you are not struck by another rider.
• If it is dark or visibility is poor, turn on lights if you can, or ask others to help make you visible.

Check yourself calmly

Take a moment to check your body, working gently from head to toe.

• Head and neck. Do you have a headache, dizziness, confusion, nausea, blurred vision, memory gaps or neck pain? Any blow to the head, even with a helmet, deserves caution. Head injuries can show up later, so do not dismiss symptoms.
• Back and spine. If you have significant back or neck pain, numbness, tingling or cannot move something, do not move more than you must and get medical help.
• Arms and shoulders. Collarbone, wrist and shoulder injuries are common in cyclists. Look for swelling, deformity, or pain when you move them.
• Hips, legs and ankles. Can you put weight on them? Sharp pain, an odd angle or inability to bear weight are signs to seek help.
• Skin. Grazes and cuts need cleaning and covering. Deep or bleeding wounds may need pressure and medical care.

If something seems seriously wrong, do not carry on. If you feel fine but had a significant impact, tell someone and have them keep an eye on you.

When to seek medical help

Seek help urgently if there is:

• Loss of consciousness, confusion or vomiting.
• Severe pain, a bone that looks out of place, or inability to move a limb.
• Heavy bleeding that does not stop.
• Difficulty breathing or chest pain.
• Neck or back pain with numbness or weakness.

Even if none of these apply, it is sensible to see a doctor if you are unsure, if symptoms get worse, or if pain lingers. Adrenaline can mask injuries for hours, and some problems appear the next day. If you hit your head, ask someone to stay with you and follow professional advice. Anyone who is unsure should get checked, since only a professional can rule out serious injury.

If other people or vehicles are involved

• Make sure everyone is safe first.
• Exchange names and contact details where appropriate, and consider noting the time, place and what happened while it is fresh.
• Photographs of the scene, vehicles and your bike can be useful later.
• Do not argue at the scene. If there is a dispute or injury, you may wish to contact the police or insurer, according to local rules.
• You are not required to say that you are fine. Say what you know, and no more.

Legal and insurance rules differ widely, so if the crash involved a vehicle or significant damage, consider getting advice from an appropriate local source.

Take your time to get up

When you do get up, do it slowly. Sit first, then kneel or crouch, then stand, and rest against something if you feel light-headed. If you feel shaky, sit for longer. Have some water if you have it. Do not ride until you are sure you are fit to, and if in doubt, get a lift home or walk.

Look over the bike

Once you are safe and well, look at the bike. Crash damage is not always obvious, and a part that fails later can cause a second fall.

• Check that the bars are straight, the wheels turn freely and the brakes work before riding on.
• If something looks bent, cracked or loose, walk the bike or arrange a lift.
• A more thorough routine is in the article on the post-crash bike check, which covers frame, bars, wheels and brakes and says when a shop should look.

Your helmet should be checked too. If it took a knock, the usual guidance is to replace it, and the manufacturer’s instructions are the place to confirm that. See the article on helmet replacement after impact.

In the hours and days afterwards

• Clean and dress any grazes, and watch for signs of infection such as spreading redness, warmth, swelling or discharge.
• Rest, and listen to your body. Soreness often builds on the second day.
• Note any new symptoms and seek advice if they worry you.
• Avoid pushing to ride again before you feel ready. If you have been injured, the article on how to return after injury offers a broader view, and a doctor can advise on timing.

Emotional aftermath

It is common to feel shaken, anxious or tearful after a crash, even a minor one. That is a normal reaction. Talking about it, riding gently on quiet, familiar routes, and taking small steps back can help many riders. The idea of confidence after a crash is explored separately. If worry stays with you or affects daily life, consider speaking to a health professional.

A simple order of events

1. Pause and stay still.
2. Check the surroundings and get out of danger.
3. Check yourself, and call for help if needed.
4. Deal with others involved.
5. Get up slowly and rest.
6. Look over the bike and helmet.
7. Follow up on any symptoms in the following days.