Anybody who rides knows that careless drivers can cause a crash in an instant. But what are the most common motorcycle injuries? Is a motorcycle crash always going to cause severe injuries, or is there hope for a less intense "ride?" Here are the most common types of motorcycle injuries.
Head Injuries
The sad truth is that head injuries are the most common motorcycle injury. This is because so many riders choose to go without a helmet. There is some good news, however, which is that the National Highway Safety Center for Statistics estimates that thousands of riders' lives were saved thanks to wearing a helmet. Like most states, Nevada has a motorcycle helmet law which requires helmets to be worn not just by riders, but by all passengers on a motorcycle.
As a side-note: if you were in a motorcycle crash and didn't have a helmet, it doesn't automatically mean you're responsible for any head injuries. Don't trust anybody who says otherwise. Talk to one of our motorcycle injury lawyers for REAL legal advice on this important subject.
Road Rash
Spend any time with riders, either in person or online, and you'll quickly hear about road rash. Everybody knows that head injuries are serious and could affect you for your entire life. However, most non-motorcycle riders don't know that the same is true with road rash. It's far more than just a little scrape.
Road rash can be severe enough to cause infection, nerve damage, and permanent scars across wide areas of the body. In extreme cases, sliding across the road during an accident can literally peel the skin off of an entire limb - a horrifying trauma called "degloving."
Muscle Damage
Muscle damage ranks high on the list not only because of damage your soft tissues may incur during an accident, but because repetitive use of certain muscles can cause injury for those who ride frequently.
But during a motorcycle crash, your muscles are exposed to damage and injury. It can happen during the impact, if you fall a certain way, if you get pinned under something, or in any one of a thousand other ways.
In some cases, muscle damage can be treated by specialized doctors. Full use of the damaged tissues can be restored given enough time and treatment. However in many cases the damage can cause lifetime problems.
Biker's Arm
Biker's arm is the term used to describe what happens to the arm when it's used to break a fall. You probably know what we're talking about: You feel yourself falling or tipping over, and you very naturally want to break your fall by putting up your arms to protect your head.
During a motorcycle crash, motorcyclists will have that same instinct, even if there's no way that your hands could possibly protect you. It's just human instinct - built into us. So what happens? The rider finds himself flying through the air and raises his arms to protect himself from the impact. The end result is torn ligaments, broken bones, and damaged nerves.
Broken Legs
The legs of a motorcycle rider are exposed in ways that automobile drivers' legs are not. This means damaged and broken legs happen far more often to riders during a motorcycle accident. A severe leg injury can snap bones which themselves cut into muscle, veins, and nerves. It is not uncommon for a rider with leg damage to be unable to ride ever again due to long-term complications related to a leg injury.
While protective gear may help mitigate some of the minor injuries legs commonly get - such as road rash - there's really no good way to prevent legs from breaking. Don't ever believe somebody who says it's your own fault.
Your Injuries Are Not Your Fault.
When a crash occurs the insurance companies will try and get out of paying what they should by saying things like "you chose to ride a motorcycle - you assumed the higher risk." or "You didn't wear your protective gear that day." or "you could have done something to make your injuries less." This is nonsense. DO. NOT. LISTEN. TO. THEM.
You have the absolute right to safety and security on the roads. When another person violates those rights, it is NOT your fault that injuries occurred to you.
Our motorcycle crash lawyers will take a stand for your legal rights. Do not agree with the insurance companies. Do not say yes to them. You let us handle them and make it clear that they must keep their legal promises to you.
If you've been hurt in a motorcycle crash, call us NOW. (702)-522-0696
