5 Most Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries

Many people in Michigan enjoy riding a motorcycle during the warm spring and summer months and crisp fall days. They enjoy the freedom a motorcycle brings as they move smoothly around a curve, celebrating the beautiful days. Unfortunately, while a motorcycle can bring immense freedom and joy, it can also pose a risk of serious motorcycle accident injuries or death if a motorcyclist is involved in an accident.

The tradeoff for the freedom experienced on a motorcycle is that bikers have little protection from other vehicles, trucks, or the road. As a result, if a motorcycle is involved in a crash, the injuries are often severe.

Common injuries after a motorcycle accident include traumatic brain injury (TBI), broken bones, neck, back, and spinal cord injuries, facial injuries, and road rash.

If you were injured or someone you love was killed in a motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation. The motorcycle accident injury attorneys at Muth Law, P.C. can help.

Traumatic Brain Injury

Even with the extra protection afforded by a helmet, a rider who is involved in a crash may sustain head trauma that can result in a traumatic brain injury (TBI).

TBI is actually the result of two different impacts. The first occurs when the brain is violently shaken inside the skull, which can result in injury and damage to the brain. The second injury occurs when the brain swells, creating additional pressure on the brain from the skull.

A motorcycle accident victim may suffer an initial loss of consciousness. After they wake up, may still experience confusion and disorientation, which are common symptoms of a TBI.

The long-term effects of TBI can be especially difficult as accident victims may experience memory loss which can make it difficult to complete even the simplest of tasks.

TBI can also affect a person’s focus and concentration, which can make work and hobbies more difficult or even impossible. TBI can also make it more difficult for a person to regulate their emotions, and someone suffering from TBI may overreact to minor stimuli or react inappropriately to certain emotional situations.

Broken Bones

When a car is involved in an accident, the driver is protected, to a certain degree, by the vehicle around them. But when a motorcycle is involved in an accident, the rider does not have the same protection. As a result, motorcycle accident victims often suffer broken bones when their body strikes the pavement or another vehicle.

Neck, Back, and Spinal Cord Injuries

Motorcycle riders who are involved in an accident may also sustain severe neck, back, and spinal cord injuries as a result of the extreme forces that occur during a collision. A rider may experience whiplash, herniated discs, serious damage to the spine and back muscles, or spinal cord injuries that can lead to partial or full paralysis. Depending on where the injury occurred and its severity, a rider may be unable to move their legs or, in more severe cases, may be paralyzed from the neck down.

Spinal cord injuries can result in lost or reduced mobility, while neck and back injuries can cause serious pain, numbness, and tingling. These injuries can pose significant limitations on a person’s activities of daily living and can make it hard to move around or perform basic tasks.

Facial Injuries

Riders involved in an accident are often thrown from the bike and onto the road. Their head may strike road debris or hit other obstacles that can cause severe facial injuries, especially if the rider is not wearing a helmet.

A facial injury can be particularly devastating, as crushed facial bones often require extensive reconstruction surgery. Cuts and lacerations may also result in significant scarring.

Road Rash

During a crash, the rider’s skin may drag across the pavement, sometimes for quite a long distance. Even though many riders wear protective gear like leather jackets and heavy pants, the pavement can wear away at the protective clothing and result in severe injuries and lacerations to the rider’s skin.

Road rash is a type of friction burn that strips away protective layers of skin. In addition, foreign matter may be embedded in the wound, increasing the risk of infection. Some accident victims suffer permanent scarring and even a loss of mobility, especially if the injury occurs near one of the rider’s joints.

Muth Law Is Here to Help

If you or someone you love was injured in a motorcycle accident in or around Ann Arbor, Michigan, the motorcycle accident injury lawyers at Muth Law can help.

We have over 35 years of experience helping people who were injured in motorcycle accidents, and we know that a motorcycle accident can be devastating. While we cannot heal your injuries, we can seek compensation from the people responsible and take the burden off of your shoulders so you can focus on what matters most: your health and your family.

At Muth Law, our lawyers proudly represent people in Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, and throughout Michigan.

We handle motorcycle accident injuries on a contingency fee, which means you will never pay us a fee unless we recover money for you. Learn more about us, then contact us today to schedule a free, confidential consultation to discuss your case.

Call 734-481-8800 anytime or email us at info@muthlawpc.com to schedule a free consultation.