While motorcycles appeal to many for the freedom they have come to represent and the thrill factor, there are also very real and very prominent risks associated with motorcycles. Did you know that, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorcyclists are 26 times more likely to sustain fatal injuries in a crash than those occupants of cars and other passenger vehicles? Furthermore, motorcyclists are 5 times more likely than passenger vehicle occupants to be injured in a crash. The very nature of a motorcycle explains these statistics. A motorcycle lacks the basic protections that are provided by riding in an enclosed vehicle that has walls, a roof, seatbelts, and airbags. On top of this, the fact that motorcycles are both less stable than other vehicles and less visible to other drivers on the road works to increase the likelihood of a motorcycle being involved in a crash.
Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Due to the fact that motorcyclists are so exposed because they lack the enclosure of other vehicle types, motorcycle riders stand to sustain very serious injuries if involved in an accident. It is far too common for motorcyclists to sustain a traumatic brain injury in an accident. While a traumatic brain injury can vary in severity, the consequences of such an injury can be severe and long-lasting. It can impact mobility and cognitive processing. If you are a motorcycle rider, know that wearing a helmet can be a significant step in protecting yourself from sustaining a traumatic brain injury in the event of a crash.
Motorcyclists also commonly sustain spinal cord injuries in accidents. The impact of a collision can lead to serious and permanent damage to a person’s neck, back, and thoracic spine. In more serious cases, a spinal cord injury can result in paralysis.
Injuries to the lower extremities, such as the knees, calves, ankle, and feet are also common in motorcycle accidents. In a motorcycle accident, a rider may sustain a soft-tissue injury to the leg, but it has been found that bone fractures are actually more common. Failure to receive proper care for these kinds of injuries may not prove to be fatal but can result in long-term disability.
Leg fractures are common motorcycle accident injuries as are fractures to other parts of the body, such as wrists and arms. While a leg fracture may be the result of something like a rider’s leg being trapped under the bike when it falls to the ground, wrist and arm fractures often occur as riders attempt to catch themselves as they fall from the bike or as the bike falls to the ground.
Road rash is another common motorcycle accident injury and one that is fairly specific to motorcycle riders, although it is possible for other vehicle occupants to sustain this type of injury. Road rash occurs when a person’s skin makes contact with the surface of the road leading to a serious skin abrasion. Like so many other injuries, road rash can vary in severity, but will often require immediate medical attention to prevent infection and scarring from occurring. The possibility of road rash is one of the main reasons motorcyclists are encouraged to wear full coverage, durable clothing on rides.
Personal Injury Attorneys
If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, you may be trying to recover from extremely serious injuries. While you focus on your recovery, let the trusted team of personal injury lawyers at SoCal Injury Lawyers fight the legal battle to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact us today.