Discover the most common motorcycle injuries and how a Waltham motorcycle crash attorney can help you recover fair compensation.
With scenic roadways and great weather, motorcycles are a popular means of transport in Massachusetts. However, motorbikes are smaller and much lighter than vehicles, making them more difficult to spot on the roadways. Since motorcycles aren’t enclosed automobiles, accidents involving motorcycles often cause more severe injuries than other vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports motorcycle crashes are about 30 times more fatal than accidents involving passenger cars.
If you sustain injuries in a motorcycle accident caused by another person’s negligence, a seasoned Waltham motorcycle crash attorney can help you seek compensation for your damages. Keep reading to explore typical motorcycle injuries and what to do if you get hurt.
Common Motorcycle Crash Injuries
According to the NHTSA, the most common motorcycle accident injuries involve lower extremity damage. Although safety gear reduces impact during a crash, motorcyclists also suffer chest and head injuries during accidents. The most common causes of motorcycle crashes in Massachusetts are:
- Intersection accidents
- Blind spot accidents
- Distracted driver crashes
- Drunk driving
- Failure to yield
- Poor visibility
- Road and weather conditions
- Taking curves too fast
Various factors can contribute to the severity of injuries, including:
- The size of the motorcycle
- The size of the passenger vehicle
- The speed both vehicles were traveling
Accident victims primarily sustain two types of injuries: penetrating or impact damage. While some patients recover fully after a motorcycle crash, recovery usually entails immediate medical attention and rehabilitation for up to months.
Below are the most common motorcycle injuries.
1. Road rash
Road rash is the most typical injury for motorcyclists, ranging from mild to life-threatening. Skin abrasions, known as road rash, are sustained by motorcyclists who get flung off their bikes and skid on the pavement. Despite appearances, severe road rash can lead to serious problems, including infections and nerve damage. To lessen the likelihood and severity of road rash, it is essential to constantly wear protective gear when riding.
2. Fractured Bones and Amputations
Motorcycle accident victims may suffer the loss of a limb or need amputation if there is severe damage. Bike riders who suffer bone fractures or amputations may need substantial medical treatment. Amputation may affect your ability to work or enjoy life.
According to the NHTSA, lower-limb injuries are the most common form of injury suffered by motorcyclists in collisions. Bone fractures were more common than soft-tissue injuries, and leg injuries were the most common lower-extremity injury.
3. Biker’s Arm
Biker’s arm is a form of nerve damage that can occur in motorcyclists who either fall onto their upper arms with their whole weight or have their bikes tumble over onto them. This injury may cause paralysis or severely limited mobility.
When motorcyclists get flung from their bike during a collision, they may suffer from Biker’s Arm. For safety reasons, most people riding in a typical automobile always fasten their seatbelts. A car’s occupants will move in the direction of an impact but will be shielded from harm by their seatbelts and the vehicle itself.
This type of protection is lacking on a motorcycle. It is human nature to cradle oneself before a fall to lessen the impact, but doing so only increases the force of the impact, which can inflict serious injury to the bones and nerves in the hands and arms. Potential long-term effects include impaired nerve function in the upper extremities.
4. Spinal Cord Injuries
Paralysis can occur if there is damage to the spinal cord because of an accident. A person who suffers this kind of catastrophic injury often has a long-term disability, requiring continuous care. A Waltham motorcycle crash attorney can help you file a personal injury case after a spinal cord injury.
5. Internal Injuries
Blunt force and penetration trauma are potential causes of internal organ damage and bleeding. Something sharp, such as broken glass or debris, can penetrate the skin in an accident, injuring vital internal organs. Although you may feel fine right after an accident, ensure to visit for an assessment to rule out internal injuries.
6. Burns
Gas can spill from the motorcycle’s gas tank during an accident, causing severe burns. Severe burn injuries are prone to infection and frequently require skin grafting. If you suffered a severe burn after a motorcycle wreck, contact a Waltham motorcycle crash attorney to see if they can help with your case.
7. Head and Neck Injuries
Research shows that riders are more likely to sustain brain damage from motorcycles with more powerful engines. In many cases, motorcyclists sustain head injuries because they weren’t wearing a helmet. Brain damage, facial disfigurement, and even death can result from head injuries sustained in motorcycle accidents. A Waltham motorcycle crash attorney can provide legal advice on how to protect your rights after such an injury.
8. Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injuries are the most common cause of mortality for motorcyclists who get injured in accidents. A TBI may cause long-term behavioral and cognitive impairment. These kinds of injuries can also cause permanent paralysis.
9. Chest Injuries
Riders may sustain chest injuries from blunt force trauma in motorcycle accidents. Chest injuries usually cause rib fractures, collapsed lungs, internal bleeding, or organ injury.
10. Psychological Trauma
Motorcycle wrecks are incredibly frightening events that can leave a lasting psychological mark. A cyclist who suffers an injury may develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or an anxiety disorder. For victims dealing with an ongoing injury like paralysis or disfigurement, psychological injuries such as depressive disorders may arise.
Seek Legal Recourse with a Waltham Motorcycle Crash Attorney
While taking precautions like practicing defensive driving and always wearing a helmet and other safety gear might help you avoid injury, you cannot be responsible for the actions of other drivers on the road. The carelessness of another motorist can alter your life in an instant.
When you or a loved one is hurt in a motorbike accident, you may be able to seek financial compensation for the suffering caused, past and future medical bills, emotional distress, mental anguish, loss of wages, or other costs you incurred because of the incident.
Motorcycle accidents can be overwhelming experiences. If you were hurt in a motorcycle accident, you should consult with a Waltham motorcycle crash attorney as soon as possible. To set up a free consultation, please call our office at 833-470-1199, or fill out our online contact form.
