Chapter 3: Motorcycle Accident Injuries

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data, the death rate in motorcycle accidents is four times higher than in car accidents. 

Motorcyclists are more vulnerable to uneven road surfaces and potholes than passenger vehicles. The smaller size of motorcycles makes them less visible to other road users, especially those who are not in the habit of checking their blind spots before turning or switching lanes. 

Motorcyclists have higher exposure to the road surface, moving vehicles, and stationary objects than car drivers. The two-wheel design of a motorcycle also makes them less stable and more difficult to control while cornering or braking. Unlike passenger vehicles, motorcycle riders don’t have access to safety features such as airbags and seatbelts. 

Don’t engage in high-risk behaviors such as rapid acceleration or traffic skirting when riding your motorcycle. You should also wear all the necessary protective gear, including a helmet, and ensure that your motorcycle’s tires are in good condition. 

Let’s take an in-depth look at common injuries resulting from a motorcycle accident and discuss some of the potential personal injury claims one might pursue after sustaining an injury due to another’s negligence. 

Contact us at Law Tigers to schedule a consultation with a lawyer near you, anywhere in the U.S., if you suffered an injury in a motorcycle or car accident and need to pursue compensation for damages. 

Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries

Motorcycle accident injuries range from minor to severe. With proper medical care, injuries such as broken bones or cuts typically don’t have long-term medical effects. On the other hand, brain, neck, and spinal cord injuries can result in permanent disability or impairment. 

Some injuries can have a delayed onset, which means they don’t present symptoms immediately after the accident. After an accident, you should always seek emergency medical attention, even if you don’t experience pain or other symptoms.

Lower-Extremity Injuries

Lower-extremity injuries are common in motorcyclists and might result in hospitalization, infection, amputation, or death. This injury category is a leading cause of permanent physical disability among motorcyclists. However, lower-extremity injuries have a significantly lower fatality rate than head and spinal cord injuries. 

Common lower-body injuries motorcyclists suffer include: 

●        Hip injuries, such as dislocations and fractures

●        Leg injuries, including femur, fibula, and tibia fractures

●        Foot, toe, or ankle injuries, including bone fractures

●        Stable or unstable pelvic fractures

●        Kneecap fractures or tears to the PCL, MCL, ACL, and meniscus 

If you have a lower-extremity injury, seeking immediate medical treatment is crucial to prevent complications. For example, a femur fracture can result in blood loss or bone infection, possibly warranting an amputation.

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)

A traumatic brain injury is brain damage resulting from a sudden head impact. Two types of traumatic brain injury exist: 

●        Closed head injuries due to blunt force trauma

●        Penetrating head injuries due to an object piercing the skull 

Severe traumatic brain injuries can cause various physical and psychological symptoms. Even in mild cases of traumatic brain injury, patients can experience debilitating symptoms, including: 

●        Loss of consciousness

●        Blurred vision and ringing ears

●        Chronic fatigue

●        Light-headedness

●        Headache

●        Mood and sleep pattern changes

●        Difficulty with concentration, memory, and attention 

Patients with a moderate TBI might experience slurred speech, weak or tingling limbs, and convulsions. 

Depending on the severity of the injury, treatments can include rest, stabilization, and surgery to remove blood clots and dead tissue, repair a skull fracture, or relieve pressure around the brain. Patients may also receive medications such as anticonvulsants or muscle relaxants. 

Wearing a helmet is the most effective way for a motorcyclist to prevent a traumatic brain injury.

Neck and Spinal Cord Injuries

The spinal cord is the tissue band connecting the brain to the lower back and carries nerve signals, or sensory information, between the brain and body. Trauma to the spinal cord can have permanent and problematic consequences, including paralysis and disability. A spinal cord injury can also be fatal.

Patients with a spinal cord injury will typically undergo a CT or MRI scan. If a lesion is visible, it can be due to: 

●        Bone fracture

●        Ligament or tendon rupture

●        Disc hernia

●        Cord compression

●        Hematoma or abscess 

Surgery is typically the most effective treatment for the above issues. However, after surgery, patients often need to undergo an extensive recovery period that involves physical therapy, pain management, and rest.

Muscle Injuries

Muscle damage is a common injury among motorcycle accident victims. This type of injury typically occurs along with road rash, when skin loss exposes the muscles to the road surface. Sudden and hard impacts can also cause the muscular tissue to tear or strain. 

A motorcycle crash victim can sustain muscle damage in any part of the body, which might present as muscle fiber and tendon tears. Patients with muscle injuries typically experience local bleeding, pain, and bruising. 

A minor muscle injury can result in a limited range of movement. In severe cases, the patient might not be able to use the muscle at all, and the injury can cause a permanent impairment, even with proper and immediate medical care. 

Internal Organ Damage

Internal injuries are typically due to penetrative and blunt force trauma. Internal bleeding and organ damage can be late-onset injuries, which means patients don’t experience the symptoms of these injuries immediately after the accident. However, the consequences of these injuries can be severe and potentially lead to lung, bladder, heart, or kidney damage. 

If you were involved in a motorcycle crash, seeking emergency medical care is crucial, even if you think you feel fine. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent complications and death. It can also provide documentation for a legal case.

Fractures

Bone fractures can fall under the neck, spinal cord, and lower extremity injuries. However, riders often break their arms, ribs, and clavicle bones when colliding with other vehicles or objects. Other common fractures include: 

●        Phalanges, or finger bones

●        Metacarpal bones in the middle section of the hand

●        Carpal bones in the wrist 

Fracturing these bones can be debilitating and painful, and most patients have difficulty carrying out everyday tasks such as driving, walking, or writing. These fractures are not permanent in most cases, but proper medical care is necessary to prevent complications and long-term disabilities.

Road Rash

When riding a motorcycle, your body has momentum in the same direction as the speed of your motorcycle’s motion. In the event of a collision, your body will conserve this momentum when your motorcycle comes to a sudden stop. These laws of physics often cause riders to fall from their motorcycles and slide across the road surface. 

The abrasion with the road surface causes road rash, a painful skin condition that can cover a large part of the body. The elbows, knees, hands, and forearms are the most vulnerable to road rash. Seek medical treatment to prevent infection, manage pain, and prevent the formation of a hypertrophic scar.

Motorcycle Accident Injuries: Secondary Consequences and Damages

Motorcycle accident injuries can cause physical and mental pain and suffering. The consequences of motorcycle crash injuries also include: 

●        Medical expenses, such as medications, hospitalization, and rehabilitation

●        Disfigurement

●        Disability

●        The inability to work

●        Loss of income 

If your motorcycle accident and injuries were due to someone else’s negligence, you might be able to file a claim against that party and pursue compensation for these damages.

Law Tigers: Partner with a Reputable Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Motorcycle accident injuries can be life-altering, accompanied by various physical, emotional, and economic consequences. If another road user’s negligent conduct caused the accident, you have several legal remedies at your disposal. 

At Law Tigers, we can provide you with the legal support and representation you need and advise you about pursuing compensation for your damages. We will help you navigate the claims process and deal with insurance companies on your behalf. Our personal injury attorneys will provide you with a custom legal solution that fits your requirements. Contact us today at 1-888-863-7216 or complete and submit our online form to schedule an initial consultation with a motorcycle attorney near you.