Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries

Even the most careful motorcycle owner may have an accident. It only takes one person to cause a devastating accident. Worse, motorcycles do not have the same protections as other vehicles, which means your injuries may be more severe in a minor motorcycle accident.

So what do some common motorcycle accident injuries include? This article is just a tiny sample of the injuries you can suffer if someone is careless and causes an accident while you are on the road.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

When a rider is involved in a motorcycle accident, their head may be at risk of injury even if the motorcyclist was wearing a helmet. Motorcycles travel at high speeds and lack the safety features and protection a car has. That means even if your helmet is what strikes the pavement, you may suffer a devastating brain injury.

The brain is the body’s center for signals sent across the body. Everything from sensation to language to essential bodily functions like breathing is controlled here. When you have a concussion, it can cause massive problems with many bodily functions. 

Spinal Damage and Paralysis 

While your head at least has the protection of a helmet, your spinal cord is almost entirely unprotected, meaning it is vulnerable to severe injury. Your spinal cord is the messenger system where signals travel from the brain to the rest of the body. Any injuries you suffer to your spine can disrupt these signals, causing paralysis.

Spinal injuries may be complete or incomplete. A complete spinal injury in a motorcycle crash means the spinal cord was completely severed in the accident and can no longer send signals below the point of the injury. This condition causes complete numbness or lack of motion.

An incomplete injury means the spinal cord was only partially damaged, which causes only partial paralysis. These injuries can lead to lifelong changes depending on the location and severity of your injury.

The lower your damage, the less widespread the loss of sensation and mobility will be. Because of this, it is vital to seek medical care if you believe your spine is damaged so they can minimize the damage and protect your health. 

Broken Bones 

When you are struck by another vehicle or lose control of your motorcycle, you may hit the ground at high speeds. When this happens, bones can break easily. While you may feel relieved that you are only walking away with a broken arm, bone fractures are no laughing matter. 

Bone fractures can cause severe pain, and that pain can feel inescapable. You may need pain medication simply to function as you did before. Waiting for the bone to heal can also take time, meaning you may suffer from severe pain and difficulty moving with a cast. 

In cases of a complex fracture, you may need surgery to place screws, pins, or nails in the broken bone. These tools stabilize the bone, ensuring it heals as it should and that you will not have mobility difficulties later. 

Facial Injuries 

Your helmet may come with a facial shield, but that will not always protect you from injuries to your face. There are many small bones and easily-damaged organs in this area. Many motorcycle riders suffer at least a laceration to the face that may scar and take time to heal. 

These injuries may include any of the following:

• Eye injuries 
• Broken teeth 
• Broken facial bones
• Cuts and lacerations
• Nerve damage

Any of these injuries can be painful, but they can also be challenging to treat. Your eyes and teeth require site-specific care, so you may need a specialist to repair the damage. These injuries may require permanent corrective lenses, surgery, dental implants, and more. 

Internal Organ Damage 

When you are injured in a motorcycle accident, you may first walk away from the accident feeling fine. You may even be relieved that you are not so seriously injured in the accident. However, if you do not seek treatment, you may find yourself experiencing life-threatening damage in the future. 

That is because organ damage can be hard to spot following the accident but may be fatal if untreated. Your organs have some protections, but the blunt force applied to the body may damage them, causing a rupture and bleeding you may not feel. 

Injuries like these are why seeking out medical aid as soon as the accident happens is vital. If you seek help now, your doctor can provide emergency care that may shield you from more severe costs and injuries. 

How a Lawyer Can Help After You Are Injured 

When you are injured, the first people who can help you are the emergency medical services you need and your doctor. You may be left wondering how you will pay for the costs of your injuries following a motorcycle accident. 

Your lawyer can help you recover after you are injured by ensuring you do not have to pay out of pocket for the harm another party caused. You should not have to face the critical injuries and long recovery times you may be dealing with and a hefty bill to match. Talk to your lawyer about holding the at-fault party accountable. 

Seek Out a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer for Your Case 

When you have suffered any injuries in a motorcycle accident, from a catastrophic brain injury to a broken arm, you may be entitled to compensation. Even if you suffered only minor injuries, you may be due financial relief for the costs of your motorcycle repairs. No matter how little or severe your accident was, you deserve support when someone injures you in their carelessness. 

Injured motorcyclists can seek the help of Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi, PLC. Our attorneys have the tools and resources you need to get compensated and overcome the injuries you have suffered because of your accident. If you believe you have grounds for a claim, we offer free consultations where you can discuss your injuries. 

To learn more, call our office or complete our online contact form.