A North Carolina State student was critically injured when he was hit by another student while riding his bike early Sunday morning. Apparently, the impact of the bicycle accident tossed the victim into the windshield of the vehicle, shattering the glass and leaving him with serious injuries.

North Carolina state police said that the victim was rushed to a Raleigh hospital where he was listed in critical condition. The driver of the vehicle involved in the accident was charges with driving while impaired, police said.

Reportedly, the driver was administered a test that reported a blood-alcohol content level of 0.12, while the legal limit to drive in the state is 0.08. The accident is said to have occurred at about 2:50 a.m. when the vehicle and bicyclist collided on a service road.

This unfortunate accident reminds drivers of the grave consequences of driving while intoxicated. North Carolina treats these cases very seriously, especially when injuries are involved.

The driver in this case could potentially face a civil lawsuit brought by the student who was hurt in addition to the criminal charges his faces.

Accidents involving bikes and cars are frequently catastrophic. This is because a person on a bike is no match for a heavy and powerful vehicle. Both adults and children who are hit by cars while riding bikes can suffer head injuries, neck injuries and sometimes death.

However, even if the damage appears minimal after being hit by a car while riding a bike, the bicyclist should call the police and file a report. This is because head and neck injuries can sometimes take a few days to appear.

Source: Newsobserver.com, "Car accident critically injures N.C. State student on bike," Ron Gallagher, Feb. 18, 2012