Considered less stable than cars, motorcycles have their fair share of criticism, and one of the major problems for riders, when they ride motorcycles, is lower visibility. Motorcycles are small vehicles that make it difficult for motorists to see and evade accidents. Riders are completely exposed, and any impact can eject motorcyclists onto the asphalt road, causing severe injuries and, in worse cases, death.
The most common type of injury from a motorcycle crash is that involving the lower extremities, such as damage to the legs, feet, calves, and knees. Besides that, head and neck injuries also frequently occur, especially if the motorcyclist is not wearing any protective clothing, including a DOT-certified helmet.
If you received injuries in a motorcycle accident that was not your fault, contact Ehline Law and our motorcycle accident attorneys today, as you may be eligible for compensation.
Motorcycle Injury Facts
There are more cars on the road in the United States than motorcycles. Of all the motor vehicles registered in the country, motorcycles account for only 3% of them. Although there are fewer motorcycles than cars, the accident statistics might bewilder you.
In the first nine months of 2021, there were more than 30,000 traffic fatalities in the country, and 17% of those were motorcyclists. A huge factor that influences the motorcycle accident fatality trend is the proper use of motorcycle helmets.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), although lower extremity injuries are more common, head and chest injuries tend to remain the most severe. The National Safety Council highlights that the majority of motorcycle accidents in the country occur on urban roads (61%), and during good weather (89%).
Types of Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Due to a lack of coverage, motorcycle accidents pose a certain type of risk to motorcycle riders and passengers. According to the NHTSA, motorcycle accident victims are 29 times more likely to die in an accident than motorists.
Certain factors, such as the motorcycle’s size, the other vehicle’s size, and the speed of both vehicles, affect the severity of the injuries. Some patients can recover from the injuries with immediate hospitalization and a few weeks or months of rehabilitation following the crash. Let’s go over some common motorcycle accident injuries that can occur if you’re not careful on the road.
Lower Extremity Injuries
Considered to be the most common type of accident injury among motorcyclists, lower extremity injuries are all injuries impacting the lower half, below the torso region, of the accident victim. Some of the lower extremity injuries include knee contusions, Achilles tendinitis, sprained ankles, and soft tissue injuries. However, broken bones and leg injuries are the most common types of lower extremity injuries.
The knee is an extremely delicate and intricate body part consisting of many different components. This makes it highly susceptible to different types of injuries, such as fractures, dislocations, posterior cruciate ligament injuries, tendon tears, and meniscal tears. To treat these types of injuries, patients require extensive medical treatment such as surgeries, therapy, and even knee replacements in worst-case scenarios.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
A traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is a head injury that occurs when a foreign force or object impacts the head or even penetrates it, affecting the operating functions of the brain. TBI can range from mild to severe, where accident victims can feel unconscious or experience memory loss following the incident. The symptoms can turn worse over time, and without any proper medical treatment and rehabilitation, there are risks of complications over the long term.
NHTSA conducted a study on 104,472 injured motorcycle accident victims and found that of those that did not survive, 54% of the fatalities were due to TBI. The study further concluded that wearing a helmet to protect the head reduces the risk of a TBI.
Treating head injuries, or TBI, can be a long medical procedure and involve medications, surgery, and even rehabilitation. TBI is a deadly injury because it not only affects the individual’s physical and mental well-being but also negatively impacts their financial situation, creating further social problems.
Spinal Cord Injuries
The human spinal cord is responsible for sending signals from the brain to the body parts, and it also remits signals from nerves to the brain. The degree of disability depends on the injury’s severity and where the injury is. There are two types of spinal cord injuries: complete and incomplete.
Incomplete spinal cord injuries occur when there is sensation and some motor function in the part of the body below the level of injury. On the other hand, complete spinal cord injuries occur when there is no sensation or feeling in the part of the body below the location of the injury. There is no ability to control motion in this type of injury.
Some of the symptoms of spinal cord injuries include loss of sensation, loss of movement, spasms, loss of bladder control, loss of sexual function, breathing difficulties, and intense pain. Currently, there is no medical treatment to reverse spinal cord injuries. However, with modern medicine and equipment, doctors can improve functions in the nerves and reduce pain through nerve cell regeneration.
Fractures
Motorcycles are not that stable and also heavy, especially if they fall on the motorcycle rider. During motorcycle crashes, there is a chance that the motorcycle will fall on the rider or the passenger, causing fractures.
A human body cannot withstand a great deal of force, and in situations where a lot of force is strongly applied to a bone, there are chances that it might break. Although a fracture is not a serious injury when compared to the head, spinal, and other fatal injuries, it may require invasive surgical procedures and physical rehabilitation to restore movement in the affected body part.
Common types of fractures include stable, open compound, oblique, transverse, and comminuted fractures.
Road Rash
In an accident, when a rider gets ejected from their motorcycle and onto the road, friction can cause abrasions, also commonly referred to as road rash.
There are three types of road burn injuries, and these include:
- Avulsion injuries
- Compression injuries
- Open wounds.
Serious abrasions can penetrate to the inner levels of the skin, causing damage and exposing muscles. This requires emergency medical treatment, and the road to recovery can be arduously long and painful.
Internal Injuries
Oftentimes, a motorcycle rider is quick to get back on their feet after an accident after realizing that there are no apparent injuries. However, that may not be the case, as attorneys often recommend that accident victims head to a hospital immediately after an accident to conduct a medical examination.
Internal injuries are difficult to determine without any medical tests, as there are no signs of injuries on the skin or the body. Blunt trauma and penetrating trauma may result from internal injuries and may cause internal bleeding, liver damage, kidney damage, punctured lungs, and spleen damage, among many others.
Motorcycle Accidents and Negligent Drivers in California
Treatment for injuries from motorcycle accidents, such as spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries, can result in millions of dollars in hospitalization, medical expenses, and rehabilitation costs over the patient’s lifetime. Experts suggest that costs can easily cross $3 million depending on the severity of the injury and the extent of impairment.
If you receive a motorcycle accident injury that was not your fault, you should not be the one to shoulder the financial burden of the accident. Fortunately, motorcycle accident victims in California can seek compensation for the damage caused to them by filing motorcycle accident claims against the negligent driver’s insurance company.
The stigma that motorcycle riders ride recklessly creates a bias against motorcyclists, even if they are not the ones to blame for an accident. However, California has a comparative negligence law where the compensation awarded depends on the degree of fault. As challenging as it may seem, if you’re able to prove the fault of the negligent driver, you can recover a fair settlement for your loss.
A California motorcycle accident attorney can help you file a motorcycle accident claim for your serious injuries, gather evidence against the negligent party, and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf for the maximum settlement.
A severe injury can lead to long-term complications affecting your life and those around you. Many with traumatic brain injuries or serious decapitating injuries dwindle into trauma-induced depression, affecting their ability to live a normal life.
Ehline Law has helped protect the rights of thousands of injured victims and recovered more than $150 million from responsible parties for the damage. Motorcycle accidents tend to cause permanent disabilities, and it is not fair for you to shoulder the repercussions of the accident, including the financial burden of extensive medical bills.
If you find yourself in a dark tunnel from injuries that were not your fault, contact us at (213) 596-9642 for a free consultation with our legal experts today, as you may be eligible for compensation. If you require legal help, contact us now to speak to our motorcycle accident attorney today. We are also available for a virtual chat that is also risk-free and effective!
