Five Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Any motor vehicle accident can cause serious injury or even death, but collisions are likely to be much more debilitating for motorcyclists. The Insurance Information Institute reports that motorcyclists are about five times as likely to be injured in an accident than car passengers, with 88,000 injuries reported in 2013 alone. Since motorcycles are smaller and lack the protections of other vehicles, motorcyclists are vulnerable to other drivers’ negligence. At the Tawwater Law Firm, we help victims of motorcycle accidents get the compensation they are owed so they can treat their injuries and move forward with their lives. Injuries from a collision could result in expensive medical bills, put you out of work, or even result in permanent disability. At our Oklahoma City practice, we can help you take legal action for common motorcycle accident injuries.
Bone Fractures
If you become trapped under your motorcycle during an accident or brace yourself against a crash, your arm or leg bones could break. If you suffer from a minor fracture, a doctor will need to reset your bones and you may need to wear a cast, sling, or crutches as it heals. However, compound fractures, in which the bone breaks through the skin, could be fatal if not immediately treated. More severe breakages typically require surgery and, in some cases, physical therapy to rehabilitate the limb.
Road Rash
Skidding across the road after being tossed from or dragged by your motorcycle can cause a condition known as road rash. The friction of the road can scrape, bruise, or even rip through your skin, causing severe pain. This injury can destroy nerves, cause long-term disfigurement, or lead to potentially life-threatening infection. Road rash is typically worse for motorcyclists who are not wearing thick protective gear.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Impact to the head, especially if you are not wearing a helmet, can cause traumatic brain injury, in which the brain begins to swell and bleed. TBI can interfere with your cognitive abilities, hearing, eyesight, speech, mood, and balance, as well as causing uncomfortable symptoms such as vomiting, convulsions, and headaches. Depending on the severity of your TBI, you may suffer from permanent disability.
Biker’s Arm
If you are thrown off of your motorcycle during a collision, your body’s natural response is to raise your arms as a shield. This means that your arms absorb the force of the impact as you fall and your motorcycle may crash on top of you. While wrapping your arms around your body does to some degree protect your chest, it can also lead to devastating nerve damage in your arms and upper body, potentially causing loss of sensitivity or even paralysis.
Spinal Injuries
Your spine could become damaged due to the trauma of the accident or the way your body twists as you fall. Fracturing one of the vertebrae of your spine could lead to issues with posture or chronic back pain. Your spinal cord, the nerves and tissues along your spine, form an important part of your central nervous system, so spinal cord injuries can cause paralysis, respiratory issues, impaired bladder and bowel function, and sexual dysfunction. After a spinal cord injury, you may no longer be able to work and might require home nursing assistance to go about daily activities. Spinal injuries often require complex and costly surgery to treat.
Were You Injured in a Motorcycle Accident?
If you’ve suffered one of the above injuries or other damage from a motorcycle accident, we can help you obtain the compensation you need and deserve. For more information, please contact the Tawwater Law Firm to schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys.
