What Is The Most Common Motorcycle Injury?

Riding a motorbike is usually a fun and invigorating experience. It's something millions of people all over the world love to do. Moreover, whether you ride some of the biggest superbikes in the world or drive a classic chopper, there are risks associated with riding. A motorcycle offers little to no protection in the case of an accident, meaning that motorcyclists involved in accidents will have injuries that are more severe than those of drivers and passengers in other vehicles.

You're entitled to financial compensation for your injuries if you've been injured in a motorcycle accident. A personal injury attorney can help you understand your rights, including legal representation during negotiations, court proceedings, and any appeals, file the necessary paperwork and work with experts to build the most robust case possible.

According to NHTSA, most fatalities involving motorcycles result when the front of the bike strikes an object. The amount of compensation that you can claim is directly proportional to the severity of your injuries. Let us look at some of the more common injuries suffered by motorcycle riders in New York.

Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injuries occur when there is damage to the brain from a blow or jolt to the head or from an object penetrating it. This causes severe damage to brain cells and nerve fibers, resulting in permanent disability or death.

A traumatic brain injury is one of the worst injuries you can sustain in a motorcycle accident. Without a helmet, the risk of sustaining a life-altering injury is increased by 50%. When a bike crashes, the head is thrown forward during impact, and the sudden deceleration causes the rider's brain to bounce around inside his skull. 

Traumatic brain injuries are classified as mild, moderate or severe depending on the extent of damage to your brain tissue. Mild TBIs do not cause unconsciousness but do cause confusion, disorientation and memory loss. Moderate TBIs can leave you unconscious for several minutes and can cause long-term effects such as impaired thinking and reasoning ability, memory loss and mood swings. Severe TBIs can result in coma and death if not treated immediately after the accident.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries are severe, often life-altering, injuries that require extended recovery and rehabilitation periods. In many cases, the victim's spinal cord injury will never fully heal, leaving them with permanent damage.

When someone falls off a motorcycle, they can experience extreme muscle spasms that cause them to fall in unnatural ways, which result in ligament damage and instability of joints in their neck and back. The sudden stop is so intense that the body cannot take the stress. This causes soft tissues and vertebrae to become unstable and tear, resulting in hemorrhaging that leads to paralysis.

A motorcyclist may also be pinned or crushed between two objects, causing severe damage to the spine. Depending on the area of the injury, the victim may find that they are unable to walk, cannot use their arms, or cannot move at all.

Broken Bones & Fractures

Motorcycle accidents can result in broken bones and even serious fractures. Due to their smaller size and lack of protection, motorcyclists are much more likely to suffer broken bones when involved in an accident. Also, if the rider ends up under their bike, there's no way for them to protect themselves from getting crushed by its weight.

Wrist fractures often result from handlebars hitting a driver's hands during an accident or a driver trying to brace themselves during impact by putting their hands out in front of them on the pavement. Broken bones can be very painful and cause complications if not treated properly. They can also make it difficult for you to carry out your daily routine, participate in everyday activities or return to work.

If you have suffered a broken bone due to a motorcycle accident, you should contact our personal injury attorneys at Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff & Wolff, LLP immediately so we can begin investigating your case and seek maximum damages from the negligent party on your behalf. 

Road Rash & Abrasions

Road rashes are abrasions and lacerations that occur when a person's skin comes into contact with the asphalt or another hard surface during a motorcycle crash. It results from sliding on the pavement after being thrown from a motorcycle. The severity of road rash can vary widely, depending on how fast you rode before crashing and how long you skidded on the pavement before coming to rest. 

If you have a road rash on your face, there may be swelling and bruising around the area that may be painful to touch. You may also experience bleeding from minor cuts in your skin caused by gravel or other debris. Though road rash is not typically fatal, it can lead to complications, including skin grafts and permanent scarring. It heals over time with antibiotics and bandages, but if the internal pain lasts longer than a day, consult a doctor immediately.

Internal Bleeding

Internal bleeding occurs when a person’s blood vessels become injured and bleed. If your accident involved another vehicle or if you were thrown from your bike during the wreck, then it’s possible that internal organs could have been damaged. Some people who have experienced internal bleeding may not even realize they have suffered an injury until hours later. 

Victims may gradually notice signs and symptoms of internal bleeding such as dizziness, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, pain in their abdomen or chest area, pale skin color and cold hands or feet. Internal bleeding can cause serious medical complications if left untreated as it deprives vital organs and tissues of oxygenated blood required for proper functioning.

Injuries to the Lower Extremities

Motorcycle accidents frequently result in injuries to the lower extremities, particularly the feet and legs. Direct force is applied to the feet and legs during any impact or fall, often resulting in significant bone fractures, dislocations, and torn ligaments. 

The nature of a motorcycle accident also puts riders at a higher risk of tissue damage or amputation of the lower extremities than in an automobile accident. All motorcycle riders should wear protective gear such as boots with solid soles and shin guards that protect against direct impacts with asphalt and other surfaces in the event an accident occurs.

Steps to Take After a Motorcycle Accident

• If someone was injured or killed in the accident, call 911 right away. If no one was hurt, but there's extensive property damage, call the police so they can come out and file an incident report on what happened. You'll need this report later when filing your claim with your insurance company.
• Seek immediate medical treatment. Call 911 or go directly to an emergency room so your injuries can be evaluated and treated as soon as possible. This will help ensure that you receive proper care for your injuries, which will help protect your legal rights. It can also help prevent more severe problems from developing if you do not get immediate treatment for certain types of injuries, such as head trauma or broken bones.
• Exchange contact information with all parties involved in the crash — drivers and passengers — including their names, addresses, phone numbers, insurance companies and policy numbers.
• Take photos of any visible damage caused by the crash — including any skid marks left behind on pavement or dirt roads — along with photos documenting your injuries. Take photographs of the scene and vehicles involved as soon as possible after the accident. Pictures can help you recall details about what happened during the crash and provide evidence for your claim when it comes time to file a lawsuit against another driver involved in your accident.
• Avoid speaking with the insurance company. If an insurance adjuster contacts you after an accident, asks questions about what happened or about your injuries, do not give them any information over the phone. The adjuster's goal is to get information that will help reduce their liability and their payout to you. It would help if you spoke with an attorney before speaking with any insurance company representative or giving them any information about your injuries or damages from the accident.

Schedule an Appointment with Our NYC Motorcycle Accident Attorneys

While motorcycles may be fun to ride and offer a sense of freedom, they also come with inherent risks. If you or someone you love has been injured in a motorcycle accident, you must speak with a skilled motorcycle attorney at Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff & Wolff, LLP. Our dedicated and experienced legal team will do everything necessary to help you get the financial recovery you deserve for your injuries.

We know how stressful it can be when dealing with a serious injury, so we focus on providing compassionate legal assistance while working diligently to resolve your case as quickly as possible. You can trust that we will fight hard on your behalf to recover compensation for your injuries and pain, and suffering. 

We will work with you every step of the way to ensure that all of your questions are answered and that all options are explored so that we can achieve the best possible outcome for your case. Call us today at 212-344-1000 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.