Motorcycle Accidents and Leg Injuries
Motorcycle riders have little in the form of protection, so when an accident occurs injuries tend to be severe. While any area of the body can be damaged in a motorcycle crash, leg injuries are especially common.
Here, motorcycle accident attorneys at Tawwater Law Firm, PLLC, discuss the various types of leg injuries that could be caused by a motorcycle accident. We also talk about what motorcycle accident victims in the Oklahoma City, OK, area can do to collect the financial compensation they are due for injury damages.
Road Rash
Scrapes and abrasions on the skin are known as road rash. Road rash occurs when the body slides against the pavement. Road rash is common on the legs, because motorcycle riders seldomly wear any type of protection on this part of the body, other than pants. Road rash is one of the more minor injuries that could result from a motorcycle crash, but road rash can be more damaging than most people realize. Like burns, road rash is classified by its severity. First degree road rash affects only the outermost layer of skin, second degree road rash goes a little deeper and may cause bleeding, and third degree road rash affects deeper tissues and may expose fat or tendons.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries are another potential injury of a motorcycle crash. Soft tissue injuries that affect the legs include sprains, ligament tears, and injuries to the veins or nerves. Soft tissue leg injuries may occur if a person uses their leg to attempt to stop their bike, if they fall off their motorcycle and land on their leg, or if their leg becomes trapped under their bike.
Broken Bones
Broken and fractured bones are very common motorcycle accident injuries. When a motorcycle accident occurs the rider often falls or is thrown off their bike. Once a rider is ejected, their motorcycle will fall. This all happens very quickly, so motorcyclists usually don’t have time to move to safety, which means their bike is likely to land on them. If a motorcycle falls on the lower body, as is often the case, its weight can fracture or break the bones in the legs.
Amputation
The most catastrophic leg injury that could result from a motorcycle accident is amputation. As with broken bones, amputation is usually the result of the motorcycle falling on the rider. If the bones in the leg are completely shattered, if the leg is crushed, or if the leg is partially severed, it may need to be amputated. Amputation often occurs at the point of injury, so a motorcyclist may lose their entire leg, or they may lose their limb from the knee down.
Compensation for Damages
Leg injuries can be extremely painful and may have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life and ability to perform day-to-day functions. Additionally, leg injuries can result in costly financial losses, including medical expenses and lost wages. Motorcycle accident victims in Oklahoma City can work with our attorneys to pursue financial compensation for damages. We gather the evidence needed to prove accident liability so that our clients are justly rewarded for their losses.
Contact Us
If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, the attorneys at the Tawwater Law Firm, PLLC, would be happy to explore your right to financial compensation. To discuss the details of your accident, send us a message online as soon as possible, or call our Oklahoma City law firm at (405) 607-1400.