Riding a motorcycle is one of the best ways to enjoy warm weather and spend time outside. Unfortunately, however, the vulnerable nature of riding a motorcycle often leads to severe injuries during vehicle crashes and other accidents.
If you’re a motorcycle rider, knowing the common types of injuries can help prepare you if you ever experience a crash. Read on to learn the most common motorcycle injuries and a few tips to prevent serious injuries from a collision.
The #1 Most Common Motorcycle Injury
According to a recent study titled “Injury Patterns Among Motorcyclist Trauma Patients,” head injuries are the most common motorcycle accident injuries.
Motorcyclists are at a high risk of experiencing head injuries during accidents because their bikes do not offer any external bodily protection. While passenger vehicle drivers can benefit from the safety of being in an enclosed car, motorcyclists have no such protection, leaving their heads vulnerable to injury.
Additionally, the nature of many motorcycle accidents leads the rider to become ejected from the bike. The fast, harsh impact of hitting the ground after this ejection can often cause traumatic brain injury and other serious head injuries.
While many motorcyclists wear helmets while riding, many do not. However, according to the study above, riders who do not wear helmets are at a higher risk of receiving severe head trauma from an accident than those who do. Still, riders who wear helmets sometimes also experience head injuries from crashes.
Other Frequent Motorcycle Accident Injuries
The most severe motorcycle accidents often cause head injuries and a range of other injuries. Here are a few other common injuries occurring due to motorcycle accidents.
Upper Extremity Injuries
Upper extremity injuries occur in the upper half of your body, such as your face, neck, thorax, abdomen, and head.
Riding a large motorcycle may place you at a higher risk of experiencing an upper extremity injury, as the heaviness of the bike may cause it to overturn easily during a crash. Larger motorcycles also take up more space on the road and may crash into highway structures or other drivers more easily.
Lower Extremity Injuries
Lower extremity injuries occur in the lower half of your body, such as your legs or pelvis. Unfortunately, when you ride a motorcycle, your legs are exposed to any elements you may encounter during a crash. As a result, some motorcycle accident victims permanently lose the use of their legs and feet due to severe injury.
Road Rash
Road rash is a common motorcycle accident injury that can range from mild to severe. This abrasion occurs due to the friction of your skin scraping the pavement during your crash. Even if you are wearing long pants and sleeves, the impact of the collision can cause severe abrasions.
Broken Bones
Motorcycle accidents can also lead to bone fractures, sprains, and breaks. The most common bone fractures from motorcycle accidents occur in the legs, while wrist, shoulder, and collarbone fractures are also common.
Tips to Prevent Motorcycle Injuries
Here are a few tips to avoid injuries from motorcycle accidents:
- Wear a helmet: You should never, ever ride your motorcycle without a helmet. Wearing your helmet could make the difference between experiencing no head injuries and enduring traumatic brain injury from a crash.
- Avoid riding in bad weather: Slick roads, downpours, and other elements of bad weather could make riding your motorcycle more dangerous. As a result, you should try not to ride in any bad weather conditions.
- Be aware of your surroundings: You should always watch out for other drivers and ride defensively to avoid accidents that are other drivers’ faults.
- Follow all traffic laws closely: Additionally, you should be sure to follow traffic laws and act predictably while riding.
While following the tips above can reduce your chances of experiencing common motorcycle injuries, accidents are not always preventable. If you’ve recently been involved in a motorcycle accident, call our Law Tigers motorcycle accident lawyers today at 1-888-863-7216 to schedule a consultation.
