Car crashes do not always result in injuries, motorcycle accidents rarely do not. With few protections, motorcyclists involved in a crash are at high risk for injury. And many of them are quite serious. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that a death is 27 times more likely in a motorcycle crash.
As a motorcyclist in California, you must follow traffic laws, wear safety gear, and ride smartly. This will decrease your chances of being in an accident. Still, you may not escape a ride unscathed. Here are some of the more common motorcycle accident injuries we see:
Head Injuries
Head injuries are also a leading cause of motorcyclists’ deaths. The easiest way to reduce the risk of a fatal head injury is to wear a helmet. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that helmets reduce the risk of death by 37 percent, and reduce the risk of head injury by 69 percent.
Thoracic Injuries
Thoracic injuries refer to injuries either in the thoracic spine (mid-region of the spine) or to the thoracic cavity, otherwise known as the chest cavity. These injuries may include:
- Fractures to vertebrae within the thoracic spine;
- Fractures to ribs;
- Direct damage to lungs or airways; and
- Clavicle fractures.
These injuries can be very serious. They may lead to internal bleeding, a spinal cord injury, pain, and more. Also, a crash could lead to paralysis or death, too.
External Injuries and Injuries to Extremities
External injuries and injuries to extremities are also common. These types of injuries might include:
- lacerations
- bruises
- road rash
- bone fractures
- amputation or crush injuries
- facial injuries
These injuries are very painful. They can be life-threatening, too. Severe bleeding or fracture leading to puncture of an internal organ could be fatal.
An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer can ensure you have the compensation needed to recover.