Motorcycles are the most exhilarating way to get around the road. Their lightweight frame lends to their ability to move faster than cars. Plus, their design allows the rider to experience the thrill of riding in a way that isn’t possible with a car. However, these design elements also mean that motorcycles are also more dangerous. Thanks to their small size, motorcycle accident injuries are easier to obtain and more deadly. Impacts at even low speeds can cause substantial injuries and can also send riders flying.
At high speeds, death is a common occurrence, especially on the highway around other vehicles. Keep reading to learn about the different kinds of motorcycle accident injuries and what they can entail.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injury occurs when the head is hit with substantial force, is shaken back and forth, or suffers a puncture wound. TBIs are serious injuries that can leave a person impaired for the rest of their lives.
A rider usually succumbs to this injury when they are not wearing a helmet. Unfortunately, many riders forgo the protection a helmet provides to ride without one. Since 2002, an estimate of 25,000 lives has been saved thanks to a motorcycle helmet in a crash.
In some cases, riders with helmets still suffer a TBI. But the severity is not as serious thanks to a helmet.
TBIs can result in physical and cognitive impairments. In some cases, surgery and other treatments can fix TBIs. For many, however, a TBI results in a permanent change in how a person conducts their lives.
Some side effects of TBIs can include seizures, sleep apnea, difficulty thinking, and others. The area of the brain that suffers the injury will result in many different side effects.
Road Rash
The idea of road rash can elicit horrifying images of bloody skid marks and shredded skin. Unlike a simple scrape, road rash results when a rider slides across the ground after getting thrown from their motorcycle. This causes multiple layers of skin to be torn from the body.
This can expose the layer of muscle underneath.
Death from road rash is rare. However, the amount of pain can be excruciating.
The arms, legs, and back are the most common recipients of road rash. Permanent scarring can be a result of this injury. Depending on how serious it is, skin grafts may be necessary.
Because the body loses multiple layers of skin, infection is another risk with road rash. The injured person needs to take special care to disinfect, clean, and bandage these areas regularly.
If a rider’s clothes are thin enough, sliding along the ground can tear through with ease. Riders should wear the proper gear when on a motorcycle to reduce the chance of injury. This includes a leather riding jacket, riding pants, riding boots, and gloves.
If you are injured in a motorcycle accident as a result of another driver’s reckless driving, consider hiring a motorcycle accident attorney.
Motorcycle Accident Injuries and Broken Bones
The high speed and freedom of a motorcycle can lead to some nasty impacts in an accident. Collisions with stationary objects can lead to the rider hitting these objects with a forceful impact. When motorcycles hit another vehicle, the result often causes a rider to fly off their motorcycle.
Both of these situations can cause fractures and broken bones.
If bones sustain sufficient force in a crash, they can lead to fracture or even shatter. When a rider is thrown from a motorcycle, the impact from that can force body parts into unnatural positions. This can also lead to a fracture or break.
Broken bones can occur anywhere in the body, but the extremities are the most common recipients. Sufficient force to the torso can also result in broken ribs, which are also a common injury.
Broken ribs can make it painful to breathe or even move your torso. Broken ribs can also cause injury to your lungs and heart.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries are one of the most serious non-life-threatening injuries a motorcyclist can experience. These injuries can permanently alter a person’s way of life.
The spinal cord is one of the most important and sensitive parts of the body. The severity of the injury will determine the quality of life a person will have. But all injuries to the spinal cord are serious.
Injury can result when the motorcycle lands on a rider’s neck or back. An object that pierces the back can also cause damage to the spinal cord or even sever it.
Injuries to the back can cause temporary or permanent paralysis to the lower extremities. A severe injury to the neck can damage the spinal cord in such a way that leaves the person quadriplegic. Injuries to the spinal cord that don’t cause paralysis can leave a person with chronic pain for the rest of their lives.
These injuries can also result in a decrease in motor function in the arms and legs.
Internal Injuries
Internal injuries can result in serious complications and even death if they are not found in time. Even if it seems like you are unhurt after a motorcycle accident, you should still go to the hospital. An x-ray and an examination can catch internal bleeding before it becomes fatal.
You can also suffer injury to your internal organs, which can become serious if left without treatment. Severe impacts can also lead to muscle injuries, which can take weeks or even months to heal. Muscle injuries can cause difficulty when moving and without proper treatment, can result in permanent injury.
Legal Counsel for Vehicular Accidents
If you found this guide on motorcycle accident injuries informative and have been in a vehicular accident, we can represent you. Our attorneys are equipped to handle car accident cases, motorcycle accidents, and truck accidents. Contact us for a consult and we can help you get started on the road to recovery.