How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 62 severe cases involving pedal cycles over the past decade. Fractures are the most common injury, appearing in 51% of all reported incidents and often requiring extensive medical intervention.
These incidents frequently result in damage to the pelvic region. The severity of these impacts often leads to prolonged recovery times and significant medical expenses for you.
How these injuries happen
The vast majority of these injuries occur during standard pedal cycle operation, accounting for 87% of all reported events. You are often hurt when you strike stationary objects like trees or lose control on uneven terrain, leading to sudden falls and high-impact collisions.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pedal cycle incidents | 52 |
| 2 | Overexertion while moving or manipulating external object(s)— n.e.c. | 2 |
| 3 | Caught or wedged between objects— nonrunning | 1 |
| 4 | Struck by rolling, sliding, or shifting objects—non-running | 1 |
| 5 | Other fall to lower level | 1 |
| 6 | Struck by falling object | 1 |
| 7 | Nonroadway collision with object other than vehicle | 1 |
| 8 | Struck against stationary object | 1 |
Where injuries happen most
Manufacturing leads with 19% of all reported bicycle injuries, followed by transportation and warehousing at 16% and arts and entertainment at 16%. These industries often rely on pedal cycles for site navigation or internal transport, creating risks when paths are poorly maintained or when you are not provided with adequate safety equipment.
Real cases like yours
Reported incidents frequently involve you performing routine tasks like site inspections, bike patrols, or lesson instruction. Common patterns include striking fixed objects, losing balance on slippery surfaces, or equipment instability, all of which result in preventable hospitalizations. If any of these scenarios sound like what happened to you, an attorney can help you review the specifics of your incident.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | MT | Accommodation & Food Services | "An employee was coaching a bike lesson. Their handlebar clipped a tree, rotated, and struck their left side. This caused the employee to fall, and they were hospitalized with a ruptured spleen." | |
| 2025 | CO | Accommodation & Food Services | "An employee was conducting a bike patrol, traveling down a bike trail on a mountain bike. The bike became unstable on a sandy patch and the employee struck the cross bar, resulting in an abdominal laceration. The employee was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | ID | Arts & Entertainment | "An employee was riding a mountain bike to check on markings and race trails when he struck a tree. He sustained six fractured ribs and a laceration to the spleen." | |
| 2025 | OH | Transportation & Warehousing | "On January 10, 2025, an employee's bicycle slipped on a patch of ice in a parking lot. The employee suffered a hip injury and was hospitalized." | |
| 2024 | FL | Manufacturing | "An employee was mounting a bicycle when they lost their balance and fell to the ground. The employee was hospitalized with a fractured hip." | |
| 2024 | OH | Transportation & Warehousing | "An employee was lubricating a tricycle chain when his index finger got pulled into the sprocket and fractured. He was hospitalized for surgery." | |
| 2024 | PA | Manufacturing | "An employee was driving a three-wheeled maintenance bike through a garage door. The door struck him in the head and face area, and he fell to the ground. He suffered head, neck, and spinal injuries." | |
| 2023 | DC | Transportation & Warehousing | "An employee was making a delivery via bicycle when the basket rod came loose. The employee fell off the bicycle and sustained rib fractures, a wrist injury, and a concussion." | |
| 2023 | DC | Public Administration | "An employee was riding a bike off-site in preparation for an upcoming physical fitness test. The employee encountered a slick spot during the ride and fell off the bike, suffering fractures to the pelvis and right hip socket." | |
| 2023 | LA | Information | "An employee was riding an electric bicycle to get from one production site to another when they tripped and fell, resulting in head trauma." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, if you were performing work-related duties at the time of the accident, you are generally eligible for Workers' Compensation benefits. This coverage is designed to pay for medical treatment and lost wages regardless of who was at fault for the crash. An attorney can help you navigate the claims process to ensure your benefits are calculated correctly.
Workers' Compensation is a no-fault system, meaning you are typically entitled to benefits even if you made a mistake while riding. Employers often attempt to deny claims by citing operator error, but this does not necessarily disqualify you from receiving support. An attorney can help you gather evidence to protect your rights and challenge an unfair denial.
In most cases, Workers' Compensation is the exclusive remedy for workplace injuries, meaning you cannot sue your employer directly. However, if a third party was involved or if there was gross negligence, other legal avenues might exist. An attorney can help you evaluate the circumstances of your injury to determine if you have grounds for a personal injury claim.
Because these accidents often result in fractures, you may face long-term physical therapy and potential mobility limitations. Severe cases involving internal injuries or head trauma can lead to permanent impairment and ongoing medical needs. An attorney can help you document these long-term impacts to ensure your settlement or benefits package accounts for future care.