Motorcycle Accidents – Common Injuries & Effects on Claims
The lack of physical protection offered by motorcycles in comparison to other vehicles can lead to catastrophic injuries in any motorcycle accident. These injuries are not only painful but they can also change your life both emotionally and financially. All riders (and their legal representation) need to understand the general background of injury types, and more importantly how they impact potential insurance claims. In this post, we review a few of typical injuries that are seen in motorcycle crashes and also the reason why these wounds are crucial in personal injury claims.
Road Rash
Road rash is one of the most common types of motorcycle accident injury—a rider is thrown from the motorcycle and their exposed skin drags against the pavement as they slide on the road (right). Road rash can be anything from a minor scrape to serious laceration you may need plastic surgery or skin grafts for. Road rash injuries can greatly influence compensation in personal injury claims because they usually include medical bills, and pain and suffering (and sometime disfiguring).
Fractures and Broken Bones
A traumatic motorcycle accident may cause orthopedic problems, such as fractures and bone fractures Most of these include what we call upper extremity fractures… broken arms, legs, wrists, ribs, collar bones…it happens all the time. Those injuries often need surgery, or immobilization and long periods of rehabilitation. When it comes to personal injury claims, the size and type of fractures will impact the compensations for medical treatment, lost wages, and permanent disability.
Head and Brain Injuries
Motorcycle crashes result in a great deal of head trauma, as riders are at an extreme risk of TBIs since there is no form of protection like airbags and seat belts. Events like concussions, skull fractures and traumatic brain injuries that can lead to permanent physical and psychological impairment. For example, brain injuries frequently play a significant role in personal injury claims, especially when catastrophic resulting in substantial compensation for the ongoing medical treatment, rehabilitation and loss of earning capacity.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Motorcycle accidents are down right dangerous and a common injury in a motorcycle accident case is a serious spinal cord injury; from herniated discs to paralysis, motorcycle accidents can be crippling. Spinal cord injuries can cause partial or complete loss of motor function, loss of sensation, and a lifetime of disability. Such injuries necessitate extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, adaptive gear, and home alterations. Spinal cord injury personal injury claims usually deal with the costs of medical treatment, ongoing care, lost wages, and reduced quality of life.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Motorcycle accidents result in a high incidence of soft tissue injuries e.g. sprains, strains, or ligament tears. The sudden jolt or jerking associated to any crash results in torn muscles, tendons, and ligaments. A soft tissue injury that does not appear acute or require surgery may still be severe and may prevent an individual to have a normal life with little function of the injured part. Damages for soft tissue injuries may include compensation for things like medical bills, physical therapy, and pain and suffering.
Conclusion
Motorcycle accidents are significantly different from car accidents in terms of the amount of injury that can have a lasting effect on the life of a motorcycle rider, both physically and emotionally, and financially. If you have been involved in a bicycle accident, it is important to understand the types of injuries that are commonly sustained in these accidents and how they affect personal injury claims
If you or someone that you know was hurt in a motorcycle accident, then talking to an experienced Rockford motorcycle accident lawyer will help to ensure that all of the proper necessary steps are taken. You should consider that whatever the full extent of your injuries are, whether their long-term effects when you pursue compensation for the damages you have suffered.
