Top 5 Motorcycle Injuries
As of 2018, 8.3 million motorcycles were registered in the U.S. If you own one of them and thoroughly enjoy experiencing the thrill of the open road, you should realize, however, that you face an extremely high risk of receiving serious injuries in the event your bike crashes. In fact, cycling is the riskiest transportation modality. Statistics show that upwards of 80% of bike accidents result in injury to the rider, many of them catastrophic, and you are 26 times more likely to die when riding a bike than when riding in a car or other motor vehicle. You may wish to contact a Baltimore MD Motorcycle Accident Attorney.
Here is an overview of the 5 most common injuries bike riders sustain.
1. Head and Neck Injuries
Even if you wear a regulation helmet, it cannot really protect your head and neck in the event of a crash, especially a high-speed one. When your head impacts the road, a guardrail, a tree or other stationary object, the jolt is extreme enough to cause a concussion or other traumatic brain injury wherein your brain “sloshes around” inside your skull, injuring its delicate tissues in the process. A TBI can result in lasting consequences, including the following:
- Vision problems
- Hearing problems
- Balance problems
- Cognitive problems
- Memory problems
- Psychological problems
Your neck is also at extreme risk in a bike crash. If you break or crush one of your cervical vertebrae, you may become quadriplegic, meaning that you could have little, if any, ability to voluntarily move or feel anything below your point of injury.
2. Leg Injuries
Unfortunately, leg injuries can be, and often are, severe in a motorcycle crash. Not only can they result in fractures, but they can also cause so much damage that one or both of your legs may need to be amputated. A Baltimore MD Motorcycle Accident Attorney can help you navigate the post-accident process.
3. Arm Injuries
Your arms are likewise at great risk for injury in a motorcycle accident. Given that your bike offers you no protection whatsoever, you likely will unconsciously throw out your hands and arms to try to break your impending fall. As with your legs, this can result in multiple fractures or crush injuries extensive enough to require amputation.
4. Muscle and Nerve Damage
Virtually every part of your body is susceptible to muscle and nerve damage in a motorcycle accident. Especially vulnerable areas include the following:
- Hands
- Arms
- Elbows
- Shoulders
- Hips
- Knees
- Legs
- Feet
5. Road Rash
When your body slides across the pavement or ground after an accident throws you from your bike, your skin can suffer extreme damage. Even protective clothing likely can’t prevent it since the clothing itself often tears or shreds, leaving your skin to absorb gravel and other road debris. If you sustain a severe road rash, you may require skin grafts to repair the damage to the greatest extent possible. In any event, you can expect disfiguring scars.
If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, contact a Baltimore MD Motorcycle Accident Attorney immediately. The experienced lawyers at Cohen & Cohen have settled more than 10,000 cases since 1993. Contact us today at (202) 955-4529 for a free case evaluation.
