When you’re on a motorcycle, you’re at a great disadvantage to those who are operating other motor vehicles. Those in cars, SUVs, and trucks have a lot more protection.
On a motorcycle, you’re directly exposed to the impact of the collision, the road surface, and airborne debris. Here’s a consideration of the five common motorcycle accident injuries.
Various head injuries may occur in a motorcycle accident, including mild to severe concussions. Although a concussion is serious, an even greater concern is traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBI can compromise your ability to function on physical and mental levels, and it can lead to the victim being in a permanent vegetative state or even to their death.
Sometimes, TBI symptoms will not be apparent at first. That’s why it’s always a good idea to go to the hospital and get checked out after an accident, even if no symptoms are immediately present. If you present any of these symptoms after a motorcycle accident, you must get to the emergency room immediately.
Recovery from TBI can takes years, and some victims never fully regain specific physical and mental abilities. Speech, vision, motor skills, and hearing can all be affected. Intensive rehabilitation is often necessary.
Back injuries are also common in these accidents. As it is with head injuries, a back injury may not first be recognized. Nerve damage, disc strain, and muscle pulls may be a problem for the cyclist.
These can be extremely painful and can make it difficult for someone to perform even the simplest of physical actions, such as getting up from a chair or lying down.
Even more serious are spinal cord injuries. Such injuries, in which the spine’s ability to send messages to various parts of the body is compromised, may result in extreme loss of motor ability.
Results may include a cyclist becoming a paraplegic or quadriplegic. Victims may require ongoing care, undergo excessive physical rehabilitation, and lose their ability to work.
Those who are thrown from their motorcycle in such accidents often suffer from bone fractures. As it is with the first two injuries, fractures range in severity. However, a bone fracture will result in extreme pain, an inability to perform certain physical tasks for sometime, and a loss in physical performance. Some fractures will have lifelong effects and will result in years of pain and suffering.
Injuries to the face and body can occur, which may result in scarring or even the loss of a limb. Disfigurement can cause physical pain and mental anguish. Although protective equipment can help reduce the risk of injury, there are no guarantees when a motorcycle collides with a larger vehicle.
Of all injuries, road rash is the most benign. However, it is very painful, and it can be dangerous if it is not properly treated and becomes infected. Road rash, which occurs when the rider’s body is propelled or pushed along the ground during an accident, can result in severe lacerations, abrasions, and burns.
If you are severely injured while riding your motorcycle and another driver is at fault, it is important to contact a knowledgeable and experienced motorcycle accident attorney, such as those at Fetterman & Associates. Aggressively pursuing your claim is an important step towards ensuring that you receive the compensation that you deserve.
If you have been in a violent motorcycle accident, then chances are you have more than one of the five most common motorcycle accident injuries. Protect your rights and your future by having Fetterman & Associates at 561-845-2510 handle your personal injury claim.
648 US Highway One
North Palm Beach, FL 33408
Phone: 561-983-4771
1225 SE Port Saint Lucie Boulevard,
Port St. Lucie, FL 34952
Phone: 772-344-5515
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