Many enjoy the thrill of the ride and choose motorcycles as their vehicle of choice. However, there's no denying the dangers of traveling on two wheels and the risk of serious injuries that come with having no metal shell, airbags, or seatbelts for protection.
Motorcycle accident injuries are often serious and, in many cases, life-threatening, if not fatal. This article will discuss the most common types of injuries sustained in motorcycle crashes and provide more insight into what causes them.
Why Are Motorcycle Accidents So Serious?
There are three main reasons why motorcycle accidents often result in serious injury.
1. Motorcycles Have Less Braking Power
Many motorcycle crashes are caused by faulty brakes. Even when the motorcyclist engages the brakes, the two-wheel vehicle can quickly spin out of control. The reality is that passenger vehicles have far more powerful braking systems than motorbikes.
The results are often devastating. In many motorcycle accidents, the rider is flung from the motorbike, inflicting additional injuries. In such cases, motorcycle accident lawyers can assist injured victims in determining whether defective or troublesome brakes may warrant a product liability lawsuit.
2. The Lack of Safety Gear
Motorcycles are notably different from passenger vehicles in that they do not have the obvious protective equipment that they have. This includes things like seatbelts, that are designed to prevent people from being flung off the vehicle.
They also do not have airbags to cushion the blow of an impact or the hard metal shell that absorbs the brunt of the blow. As a result, motorcycle accident victims are often thrown off the motorcycle following a collision, causing serious injuries, such as traumatic brain injury, broken bones, abdominal injuries, upper extremity injuries, and more. Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys can answer questions like How common are amputations after a motorcycle crash?
3. Less Control Over the Vehicle
The final reason why motorcycle riders are more prone to accidents is because they typically have poor control over their vehicle.
This is because these vehicles have sensitive steering, so when a rider encounters something unexpected and reacts, it's much easier for them to veer off the road, resulting in a collision with a nearby object.
What the Statistics Say
To understand the seriousness and prevalence of motorcycle accidents in the United States, it's important to look at the data.
According to Forbes, 82,528 motorcyclists were injured in a motorcycle accident in 2020, and 5,579 died from injuries sustained.
Moreover, these accidents have an astounding 80 percent injury or fatality rate. 34 percent of all accidents were the result of speeding, while 27 percent of fatalities in motorcycle crashes could be attributed to alcohol usage.
6 to 9 pm is the most common time for motorcycle accidents in the US.
Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries
With this understanding of the seriousness of motorcycle crashes, it's time to discuss the most common types of motorcycle accident injuries.
Head and Traumatic Brain Injury
Although the use of a helmet can certainly help to prevent traumatic brain injuries, it's important to remember that the helmet must meet certain safety standards implemented by the Department of Transportation. A helmet that does not meet the requirements may not offer the same level of protection against head injury.
Even so, helmets do not prevent all types of head injuries. Because of the lack of safety gear, riders are often thrown off their vehicles, causing the rider to make impact with the ground. This impact can result in skull fractures, which often lead to brain damage.
In addition, neck injuries and spinal injuries may also occur as a result of being flung off the two-wheel vehicle. Such injuries can have serious repercussions and may even result in permanent disability. Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys also has answers to questions like Can you lose short term memory after a motorcycle accident?
Lower Extremity Injuries
The truth is that riders' legs are exposed. They have nothing protecting their legs in a collision, which is why blunt force trauma to the lower extremities can result in serious injuries and even disability.
Apart from the legs, there are other parts of the lower extremities that are susceptible to injury. They include the:
Feet
Knees
Ankles
Calves
Although most of these injuries do not result in death, they can be excruciatingly painful and lead to long-term impairment.
Broken bones often require surgical implantation of hardware, such as screws, pins, and rods. Numerous procedures, in addition to months of arduous physical therapy, might be necessary. Injured riders are often left with lifelong consequences, such as disabilities and a limp.
Road rash is also common in the lower extremities, and although not as severe as the other injuries mentioned above, it can cause scarring and long-term pain.
Upper Extremity Injuries
When a rider is launched from the seat of a motorcycle following a collision, they do what most people would do: try to break the fall with their hands or arms. This common reflex results in injuries to the upper extremities.
As a result, bike riders who fall hard in a crash are more prone to shoulder injuries. In addition, fingers, arms, and elbows may be broken or dislocated, and nerve damage can occur.
Injuries to the Thorax and Abdomen
Blunt force trauma to the chest or abdomen can result in damage to important internal organs, such as the heart and lungs. Moreover, broken ribs can pierce organs in the abdomen, such as the stomach, liver, and kidneys.
This can lead to internal bleeding, requiring expensive surgical procedures and lots of recovery time. Motorcycle crash victims who suffer such injuries are often left unable to work for long periods.
Final Thoughts
A motorcycle accident can result in serious and sometimes life-threatening injuries. Those who are involved in such crashes are often left to deal with the aftermath. This often entails expensive hospital bills, lengthy outpatient treatment, and lost earnings.
The good news is that victims are not left to deal with the consequences of these accidents on their own. With the help of an experienced motorcycle accident attorney, they can file a personal injury claim to obtain much-needed financial compensation.
Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys is a trusted personal injury law firm in Dallas, Texas, where claimants can go to find reliable advice and aggressive legal representation.
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