If you were injured in a motorcycle accident that was not your fault, call a motorcycle accident lawyer at Hardison & Cochran. Having been in business for over 30 years, we have extensive experience handling motorcycle accident cases while helping our clients get the help and support they need to move forward.
The Most Common Injuries from Motorcycle Accidents
The National Safety Council (NSC) reports that although motorcycles account for only 0.6% of vehicle miles traveled in the US, motorcycle riders account for 14% of all traffic fatalities.
The nature and severity of motorcycle crash injuries can vary depending on how the accident occurs. However, many motorcycle accidents leave riders with devastating and life-altering injuries. Some common motorcycle injuries include the following:
Head Injuries
Head injuries sustained in motorcycle accidents range from concussions to traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Wearing a helmet significantly reduces the risk of severe head injuries and is recommended for drivers and occupants of motorcycles.
Face or Neck
Motorcyclists can suffer whiplash in an accident when their neck “whips” back and forth after the impact of the crash. Serious neck injuries can cause damage to the spinal cord, resulting in paralysis. A rider’s face is vulnerable to cuts and burns, resulting in permanent scars and disfigurement. Other common face injuries are broken jaws and teeth.
Abdomen
The impact of a motorcycle accident can result in severe injuries to the rider’s abdomen, including the spleen or liver. Because these internal injuries are not always immediately evident after an accident, it is critical to seek medical treatment as soon as possible after the crash.
Road Rash
Road rash is often a severe, burn-like abrasion that can result in infection, nerve damage, and scarring. It typically requires skin grafts. The severity of road rash depends on the type of clothing the motorcycle rider is wearing and the bike’s speed at the time of the crash.
Bone Fractures
Broken bones can require surgery to place rods, pins, and screws inside the fracture to stabilize the bone. Motorcycle riders who sustain fractures may need extensive physical therapy and can be left with a limp or other permanent impairment.
Spinal Cord Injuries
The most severe spinal cord injury is paralysis, which may be partial or total. These injuries often require lengthy hospital stays, extensive recovery time, physical therapy, and ongoing treatment. Many accident victims who suffer spinal cord injuries are unable to return to the jobs they held before the accident.
Internal Injuries
Internal injuries due to blunt force trauma in a motorcycle accident can be life-threatening and can result in internal bleeding.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries may exhibit themselves after a motorcycle accident as swelling, bruising, or pain, which can last for weeks or even months after the crash.
Limb Amputations
Losing an arm or leg is a devastating, life-altering effect of a motorcycle accident. Unfortunately, amputations are common motorcycle injuries because the rider lacks the protection of an enclosed vehicle.
Biker’s Arm
Also known as “rider’s arm,” biker’s arm is typically characterized by nerve damage to the upper arm that occurs when a rider lands on their arm in a crash or the bike lands on their arm. It can result in limited mobility to the arm or even partial paralysis of the arm or hand.
Emotional Trauma
Motorcyclists who are involved in an accident and receive significant injuries can suffer serious emotional and mental distress. The emotional toll an accident can take should not be underestimated, and counseling or psychological care may be necessary.
Thoracic Injuries
Injuries to the upper trunk of the body that houses the rider’s heart, lungs, and other internal organs can be severe and sometimes fatal. Trauma to the chest in an accident can cause internal bleeding and organ damage. Broken ribs can puncture your spleen or liver. The motorcyclist’s lungs are susceptible to collapse and bruising in an accident.
How To Increase Your Motorcycle Safety and Prevent Accidents?
Motorcycle accidents often cause more severe injuries than car accidents because motorcycle riders do not have seatbelts, airbags, or the steel frame of a vehicle to protect them in the collision. Because motorcycle riders are vulnerable to direct impact from other vehicles and ejection from their bikes in accidents, they are more at risk for traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, and the other severe injuries described above.
Want to protect yourself while riding a motorcycle?
Be sure to always wear a helmet. Wearing a helmet is the best way to protect yourself on a motorcycle. Additionally, you can prevent accidents by being road-ready. To receive a motorcycle endorsement on your license, you must pass written and on-cycle tests. Make sure you have adequate instruction and experience to ride by completing a motorcycle ride education course.
When you inspect your motorcycle before a ride:
- Check tire tread depth,
- Test brakes,
- And ensure your headlights and turn signals are operational.
Although you can’t control the actions of other drivers on the road, you can increase your safety practices to prevent accidents and injuries.
Injured? Call Our Award-Winning Accident Attorneys
At Hardison & Cochran, we have the skill and experience to assist you in your motorcycle accident case. Our firm focuses exclusively on injury and disability law, and we are well-equipped to handle all aspects of your case while you focus on healing from your injuries. Retaining an attorney from Hardison & Cochran means you will have a strong legal advocate who will work hard to pursue the maximum compensation you need to cover your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering after an accident.
Our results speak for themselves. Our favorable results include many settlements and awards exceeding $200,000 and a $3 million result related to a TBI. Although these awards do not guarantee the success of your case, with an attorney from Hardison & Cochran on your side, you can be confident we will pursue your best outcome. Moreover, we will handle your case on a contingency fee basis, so you do not pay any fees unless you receive money in a settlement or verdict.
Call us today at 252-333-3333 to speak to a lawyer in a free, confidential case consultation or meet with a personal injury attorney at any of our convenient office locations around North Carolina.
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