8 Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Posted on: May 13, 2024Central Florida’s mild weather, beautiful scenery, and bike-friendly events make it a prime location to own a motorcycle. In fact, Florida ranks #2 in the country for the highest number of registered motorcycle owners.
But even if you love the feeling of the wind in your hair and the road beneath your wheels, motorcycle safety is a key concern. According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorcycle operators are four times more likely to be injured in a crash than those in passenger cars.
In this article, we’ll examine some of the most common types of motorcycle accident injuries, how to stay safe on the road, and—most importantly—how you can protect your rights in the event of an accident.
Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Any time two vehicles get into an accident—whether the vehicles are motorcycles or not—injuries can result. However, there are a few types of injury that are more common among motorcycle accident victims than those who drive sedans and 18-wheelers.
1. Road Rash
There’s a reason that bikers wear leather jackets and long pants, even on the hottest days. Road rash is not only the most common motorcycle injury, but it can also be a serious concern.
Much like rug burn, road rash is a friction injury caused when an accident victim’s skin scrapes against the road (or another surface) and removes the skin. While most cases heal on their own in a couple of weeks, severe road rash may require skin grafting surgery.
2. Broken Bones
While broken bones are a common injury in any accident, not having the protective shell of a vehicle makes motorcyclists more likely to suffer breaks and fractures.
The exact location of your injury will vary depending on your specific accident, but fractured skulls and broken limbs are common. Broken legs are especially likely if the motorcycle falls over, trapping the leg underneath it.
3. Biker’s Arm
Sometimes called “rider’s arm,” biker’s arm is characterized by nerve damage in the upper arm. Common symptoms of biker’s arm accidents include numbness, tingling, or even paralysis in the arm and hand.
This injury often occurs when drivers extend their arms to brace for the impact of a crash. This sends a “shock wave” up the arm that can cause nerve compression and even fracture of the surrounding area.
4. Spinal Injuries
Motorcyclists often wear helmets to prevent head injuries while on the road, but there is very little equipment to protect the rest of the spine.
Injuries to the head, neck, thoracic (upper back), and lumbar (lower back) spine are very common and, if severe enough, can result in paralysis.
5. Internal Injuries
Internal bleeding, bruising, and other injuries caused by blunt force are a grave concern in any motorcycle accident.
This is also why it’s important to get medical care as soon as possible following a crash. Some of the worst injuries can sometimes be invisible to the naked eye.
6. Lower Extremity Injuries
As a two-wheeled vehicle, motorcycles are very susceptible to gravity. In other words, they cannot stand upright on their own.
In the event of a crash, they have a tendency to fall over, which can cause severe injuries to the lower extremities. Fractures and dislocations of the thigh, tibia, fibula, ankle, and foot are quite common; severe injuries may even lead to losing the limb. We have unfortunately handled several cases where a limb was lost in a motorcycle crash.
7. Burns
A motorcycle accident doesn’t have to involve literal fire to cause burns (although they certainly can). Contact with hot exhaust pipes, steam, and even caustic chemicals can cause serious burns.
8. Traumatic Brain Injuries
Surprisingly, it doesn’t take that much force to cause a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and a motorcycle accident certainly fits the bill.
The brain is about the consistency of room temperature butter, which makes it especially vulnerable to blunt force trauma. And because the brain controls every bodily function, TBIs can lead to catastrophic symptoms.
Wondering if you have a case? Take our quiz to find out.
Motorcycle accidents don’t just lead to pain and a lengthy recovery. They can also lead to lost wages in addition to some hefty medical bills. This is especially true in Florida where motorcycles do not have PIP insurance to pay for the first $10,000 of medical treatment. In this case, prevention is worth far more than a pound of cure.
To start, always wear a helmet! Helmets are the best tool you have when it comes to protecting your head in an accident. You can also prevent road rash by wearing protective equipment, such as jackets, gloves, long pants, and boots, any time you ride.
Follow posted speed limits to give yourself better control of your bike. This also gives other drivers time to see (and avoid hitting) you.
Obey all traffic rules! These rules are in place to keep you and everyone else on the road safe. (Remember, lane splitting is illegal in Florida!)
Ride with your lights on at all times to be better seen. Many new motorcycles have lights that illuminate at all times but if yours does not, this is an added layer of safety to be better seen on the road.
Look for vehicles pulling out quickly from side streets. Many of the collisions that we see in our practice are motor vehicles pulling out of neighborhoods or from business entrances and the vehicle driver claims never to have seen the motorcycle on the road.
What To Do If You’re Injured
Some accidents, however, are unavoidable. If you are injured in a motorcycle accident, your next steps are crucial.
First, seek medical attention immediately. There is a very low likelihood that anyone can walk away from a motorcycle crash completely unharmed. Getting treatment as soon as possible after the accident will drastically increase your chances of getting a fair settlement. Importantly, it will also give you the best opportunity for a good recovery from your injuries.
Second, document every aspect of your case in writing, from medical reports and doctor visits to communications from the insurance company.
Finally, make sure you retain the services of an experienced motorcycle accident attorney as soon as possible.
It is very important that you not contact any personal injury attorney, but one with specialized experience in motorcycle accidents. Motorcycle accident lawyers are much better equipped to overcome motorcycle bias that hampers your case and can give you a good idea of what to expect. Many jurors have deep seeded bias against motorcyclists, and you will want an experienced attorney who knows how to identify these biases and work diligently to get you the compensation you deserve.
We Ride With You
Just because certain motorcycle accident injuries are common doesn’t mean that they aren’t cause for concern.
The fact of the matter is that motorcycle injuries are often the most debilitating, severe, and expensive types of accident injuries. Yet despite this, bias against motorcyclists often prevents injured victims from receiving the compensation they deserve.
If you have been injured in a serious motorcycle crash, your case deserves the same amount of care and attention as any other. At Beers & Gordon, P.A., our attorneys are experienced in motorcycle accidents and will tirelessly fight for your rights.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
Jim Gordon
Jim Gordon earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Nebraska in 1997, and two years later began working at a firm in Orlando handling insurance defense matters on cases involving vehicle accidents, negligence, product liability, and more. He established Beers & Gordon P.A. with David Beers in 2009 to represent the rights of people injured because of negligence. He is a member of the invitation-only National Trial Lawyers organization and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
