4 Serious Injuries That Are Common in Motorcycle Accidents
Your mother may have told you that riding a motorcycle is dangerous. She was right – it is. According to the NHTSA, motorcycle accidents result in more traffic fatalities than any other type of vehicles in the US. This is understandable owing to the fact that motorcycle do not offer the same protection from an impact that a car or truck does.
However, motorcycles have incredibly powerful brakes, grippy tires, excellent handling, and obstruction free vision and of course your own brain that helps avoid motorcycle accidents. Listed below are a few of the most serious injuries that are common in motorcycle accidents.
Head Trauma in Motorcycle Accidents
While wearing a helmet does reduce a motorcyclist’s risk of head injuries and trauma, it does so only to a certain percentage. According to the CDC, wearing a helmet lowers the risk of severe head injuries by about 69 percent and lowers the risk of fatality by about 37%. However, serious head injuries are still sustained by motorcyclists. These include:
- Skull fractures
- Brain hemorrhage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord Injury
Since a motorcyclist’s body is directly subjected to an impact, in many cases the spinal cord can get damaged. These injuries must be attended to immediately in order to avoid further complications from manifesting. Victims of a motorcycle accident who sustain spinal cord injuries can lose movement as well as sensory abilities in a certain part of the body temporarily. Some victims may suffer from complete spinal injuries and permanent paralysis.
Muscle Damage
Muscle damage is yet another common and sometimes serious injury that a motorcyclist can sustain in a motorcycle accident. A severe muscle injury can be very painful and also affect your mobility adversely for the rest of your life. If your muscles aren’t properly protected and sustain injuries that aren’t attended to, it can result in paralysis too. The first step in avoiding muscle damage is to wear protective gear and seeking immediate medical attention soon after an accident.
Face Injuries
Motorcyclists generally are thrown off from their bikes on impact, which causes them to hit the pavement or any other object face-first. Facial injuries will need extensive and costly treatment and in some cases also cause permanent disfigurement. Common facial injuries include:
- Broken cheekbones
- Damage to the teeth
- Eye injuries
- Broken nose
- Broken jaw
- Biker’s Arm
While this may not be as severe as a traumatic head injury, biker’s arm too can be rather painful and leave a motorcyclist in excruciating pain. This type of injury is sustained when a motorcyclist lands on his arm during an accident.
This generally happens when the motorcyclist tries to catch himself to avoid face injuries. Unlike other passenger vehicles, a motorcycle doesn’t have a frame to keep you inside the vehicle. And this results in the rider being thrown from the motorcycle rather violently.
When the motorcyclist uses his arms to reduce the impact on the rest of his body, his arms face the brunt of this impact. The arms aren’t capable of withstanding this kind of force and the biker develops serious nerve damage that can last a lifetime.
Since injuries in a motorcycle accident can be severe and devastating, anyone who has sustained injuries must speak to an experienced motorcycle accident attorney at Leifer & Ramirez to discuss their legal rights. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Additional Reading:
Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
