According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the most common motorcycle injury is to a rider’s feet or legs. The organization found that 30% of all non-fatal injuries involve this type of trauma. The Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine reports that in the course of their research, they found that the types of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident correlated with the rider’s age; older riders suffered more injuries to the abdomen, pelvis, and spine, while younger riders were more at risk for injuries to the lower extremities.
If you were in a motorcycle accident, regardless of how your collision occurred, you should seek prompt medical attention for your injuries. Internal bleeding, spinal trauma, and other conditions may not be immediately visible following the accident and may prove to be life-threatening if not met with quick medical intervention.
Injuries to the Lower Extremities Can Be Serious
Because a rider’s feet and legs take the brunt of the impact during a motorcycle collision, a lower extremity injury is the most common motorcycle injury. During an accident, if a rider is not ejected from the vehicle and the motorcycle falls over, the rider runs the risk of having their feet and legs crushed by the bike.
Additionally, other motorcycle injuries that affect the lower extremities include:
- Sprains
- Dislocation
- Torn ligaments
- Broken bones
- Soft tissue damage
- Nerve damage
- Cuts and lacerations
- Severe bruising
The long-term effects of injuries to the feet and legs can permanently affect a person’s mobility. While some injuries will require short recovery periods, others require multiple surgeries and years of physical therapy. In serious situations, sometimes the damage to the limbs is too severe to recover from and results in amputation. Reduced mobility, excruciating pain, and stiffness are all consequences of a catastrophic motorcycle accident.
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(855) 529-0269Motorcycle Accidents Can Lead to Brain Damage
A motorcycle rider’s second most common injury, when involved in an accident, is trauma to the brain. The NHTSA states that in 2016, the fact that motorcycle riders used helmets likely saved more than 1,800 lives.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an umbrella term that describes several kinds of trauma to the brain and skull. Some of the types of TBIs include mild or severe concussions, contusions, traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage, diffuse axonal injury, or hematomas. In many cases, motorcycle riders may suffer more than one of these types of TBIs when involved in a serious accident.
After an accident, if you experience any of the following conditions, you should consider seeking medical attention:
- Loss of consciousness (even briefly)
- Headache
- Memory loss
- Disorientation or confusion
- Exhaustion or abnormal fatigue
- An inability to concentrate
- Dizziness
Following any kind of collision, you do not want to aggravate your physical condition. Seeking medical attention can mean the difference between a speedy recovery period and lifelong impairments.
Two Steps to Take After a Motorcycle Accident
Right now, you may be dealing with the aftermath of a collision that you did not cause. In these situations, there are two steps you can take on your own behalf that can promote the chances of your claim’s success when approaching the insurance company.
Seek Prompt Medical Attention
No matter what injuries you suffered following a motorcycle accident, you should seek immediate medical attention. Motorcycle riders oftentimes suffer serious and catastrophic injuries simply due to the fact that they do not have the same protections that those in passenger vehicles have. Following an accident, motorcycle riders can enter a state of shock or have a rush of adrenaline, which masks a lot of pain associated with certain medical conditions.
Additionally, seeking immediate medical attention and treatment allows you to begin building the basis of a claim, should you decide to move forward with legal action. By keeping records of your diagnosis, treatment, prescriptions, operations, and other relevant details, you can begin establishing a link between your injuries and the collision.
Do Not Speak to the Insurance Company Without a Lawyer Present
In the days following your accident, you will likely be contacted by either your insurance company or the other party’s. They may ask you to give a recorded statement or pressure you into accepting a settlement that does not fully cover the cost of your expenses. First, giving a recorded statement gives the insurance company the opportunity to take your words out of context and twist them into comments that you did not mean. Secondly, if you accept any amount of money from the insurance company, you will waive your right to seek litigation, should your condition worsen.
By working with a lawyer, you can have all the communications with the insurance company be left to a legal professional, who can advocate for your rights during this challenging time.
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If you were involved in a motorcycle accident and suffered any type of injury, the team at Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers can provide assistance during the legal process. We can provide a free consultation and determine a course of action for pursuing compensation for your accident-related costs. To get started, call (855) 529-0269.
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