If you are someone who rides motorcycles, it's essential to be aware of the injuries that may come with this form of transportation. Motorcyclists often face a greater risk of injury than drivers in four-wheeled vehicles when involved in an accident. In this blog post, we will take a look at some of these common motorcycle injuries. As always, riding safely is key to minimizing your chances of being injured while out on two wheels.
9 Types of Motorcycle Accident Injuries
1. Road Rash
Road rash is a common injury for motorcyclists and can range from minor scrapes to severe abrasions. When riders are thrown from their bikes and skid along the pavement, they encounter road rash, which causes damage to the skin by removing layers of tissue. Although road rash may appear to be a simple skin injury, it can also lead to major complications such as infections or even nerve damage in more extreme cases.
2. Broken Bones
Both femurs and forearms are common points of fracture in a motorcycle accident; the former often occurs due to a direct impact with a car or other solid object, while the latter is more common from being launched off the bike by the force of the crash and slamming against a hard surface. Meanwhile, shins and pelvis bones tend to be fractured due to the high pressure created by contact with the ground when falling off a motorcycle after an accident, often causing multiple fractures at once.
3. Leg & Foot Injuries
Leg and foot injuries are a common result of motorcycle accidents. As motorcycles provide riders with little protection, legs and feet are prone to coming in contact with hard surfaces and sharp metal in accidents.
The most common leg and foot injuries from motorcycle accidents include the following:
- Fractures: break(s) in bone
- Sprains: stretching or tearing of ligaments that connect bones to your joints
- Lacerations: deep cuts or slices to skin
- Contusions: bruises, can cause damage to skin surface and to deeper tissues
In some cases, these injuries can be serious enough to require surgery or long-term rehabilitation. It is important for motorcyclists to seek medical attention immediately after an accident to ensure that any potential leg or foot injury is properly treated.
4. Facial Injuries
Facial injuries caused by accidents can be disfiguring and life-altering. When a person impacts with the road, their skin and tissue can be stripped away, resulting in permanent scarring and disfigurement. Even with a helmet, a person can suffer facial injuries. Facial trauma can cause pain, loss of function, and a drastically altered appearance. In addition to the physical injuries, depression and anxiety are associated with facial trauma. There are many types of facial injuries that can result from an accident.
Motorcycle accident facial injuries can include:
- Lacerations that require stitches
- Fractured skull
- Broken nose or cheekbones
- Fractures involving the bones around the eyes or mouth
Treatment for these injuries may include reconstructive surgery to repair any damage done to the face.
5. Head & Neck Injuries
Head and neck injuries are a major cause of death and disability in motorcycle riders. The most common types of head and neck injuries sustained by motorcyclists are traumatic brain injury (TBI) and whiplash.
TBI is one of the most serious types of head injury that can occur in a motorcycle accident. It is caused by a sudden jolt or blow to the head, which can result in bruising, bleeding, or swelling of the brain. In severe cases, TBI can lead to slurred speech, coma, and unusual behavior.
Whiplash occurs when the head is suddenly jerked forward or backward due to an impact with another vehicle or object.
Cervical spine fractures are another type of head and neck injury that can occur in a motorcycle crash. These fractures involve damage to the vertebrae in the neck, which can lead to paralysis or even death if not treated quickly.
6. Spinal Injuries
Overtime, riding a motorcycle can lead to a repetitive stress injury in the lower back. However, in accidents, spinal injuries can be severe and even deadly if the rider is thrown from their bike.
Spinal injuries may include the following:
- Displaced bone fractures
- Ruptured ligaments or tendons
- Herniated discs: when your spinal disk’s center slips out of place
- Compression on the cord: this can cause the nerves to swell and slow down or block the blood supply
- Muscle strains
From partial and full paralysis to chronic pain and major impacts on mobility and independent functioning, these kinds of injuries can change the course of a person's life.
7. Internal Injuries
Motorcycle accidents often result in serious and potentially life-threatening injuries, as the rider is exposed to road hazards with very little protection. One of the most devastating types of bodily damage caused by these accidents is blunt-force or penetration trauma. Blunt-force trauma occurs when a strong, non-penetrative striking force is inflicted on the body, such as a forceful collision or fall in which the skin remains unbroken. This can lead to significant bodily damage, including internal organ damage and internal bleeding. Similarly, penetration trauma takes place when something sharp – such as debris from an accident - pierces the skin upon impact. Both of these forms of trauma can lead to internal damage and be deadly if not treated immediately.
8. Hand & Arm Injuries
Motorcycle accidents can also cause serious injuries to hands and arms. The most common hand and arm injury from a motorcycle accident is known as “biker’s arm.” Biker’s arm occurs when a rider’s motorcycle falls on their arm in an accident. It can cause severe injuries such as paralysis that can lead to permanent loss of movement or sensation in the affected area. Treatment for biker’s arm and other hand and arm injuries can include physical therapy, surgery, massage, chiropractic treatment and more.
Other common hand and arm injuries resulting from motorcycle accidents include:
- Temporary nerve damage that affects movements of the triceps and back of the hand
- Broken bones or fractures in forearms and wrists
- Permanent loss of the use of arms, hands, or fingers
- Amputation
- Cuts or bruises
9. Burns
Burns can be caused by a variety of factors, including chemicals, fire, hot metal parts, and in some cases even gasoline. Burns not only cause immense pain but can also penetrate through layers of skin, muscle, and bone. In extreme cases, the motorcycle’s gas tank can spill causing the rider to suffer such severe burns that skin grafts are required for proper treatment. The long-term effects both physically and mentally make burns one of the most serious yet common types of motorcycle injuries.
Get the Compensation You Deserve with a Personal Injury Lawyer
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries from a motorcycle accident, contact Bridges, Jillisky, Weller & Gullifer, LLC. Our attorneys are dedicated to fighting for your compensation. You may be entitled to compensation for medical costs, pain and suffering, lost wages due to time off because of injuries, and more.
Call us at (937) 403-9033 or contact us online.