According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) motorcycle riders are eight times more likely to be injured if involved in a motorcycle accident and thirty-seven times more likely to die in a crash than the occupants of any other type of motor vehicle involved in an accident. The reason, of course, is obvious for the only protection a motorcyclist has between them and the pavement is their personal protective gear.
Types of Injuries Suffered by Motorcyclists
Some of the most frequent injuries suffered by motorcyclists include:
- Road rash
- Lacerations
- Severe soft tissue trauma
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Fractures
- Broken bones
- Severe burns
An injury commonly seen in a motorcycle accident is road rash, which sounds innocuous when compared to a traumatic brain injury, but road rash is not just skinning your knees. If not properly treated a road rash injury can develop into permanent damage, such as chronic skin infections and nerve damage.
Severe burns, fractures and broken bones can result in disfigurement, permanent nerve damage and life-long disabilities. Wearing personal protective gear like helmets, jackets, pants, boots and gloves made of materials like leather does offer some protection against injury.
Catastrophic Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Limb amputations, traumatic brain injuries and paralysis are life-altering and life-threatening injuries and even if these injuries are survivable, your quality of life will change forever. These catastrophic injuries require long term or assisted living care that is difficult and expensive. The stress of these severe injuries can cause depression and anxiety which complicates your recovery. Independent studies have revealed that head trauma is the leading cause of death in motorcycle accident victims.
Dealing with the Aftermath
An experienced motorcycle accident attorney can help motorcycle accident victims and their families deal with the consequences of a motorcycle accident. When someone else’s negligence changes your life in an instant, you deserve financial compensation for your injuries and losses.
Damages may include payment for medical expenses, physical, emotional and mental distress, pain and suffering, lost income and lost future earning potential and any other expenses you are forced to incur due to the motorcycle accident.
