Posted in Wisconsin Workers Compensation Related News
It is well-known just how severe injuries sustained in motorcycle accidents can be. In fact, many victims do not survive those injuries. Victims who do survive are often left facing a long and painful recovery. According to national statistics, there are almost 90,000 motorcycle accident injury victims each year. Many of these accidents are caused by another driver who behaved in a negligent or reckless manner, causing the crash and injuring the motorcyclist.
The laws of each state allow for accident victims to pursue damages against the party or parties responsible for the injuries. A personal injury lawyer relies on can help motorcycle accident victims in obtaining the financial compensation they deserve for the losses their injuries have caused them to suffer. Some of the most common type of motorcycle crash injuries victims suffer from include the following:
Head Injuries
These types of injuries are often fatal ones. The risk of head injuries increases when a rider does not wear a DOT certified helmet, even if the bike is traveling at a low speed when the crash occurs. There are currently 19 states that require all motorcycle riders to wear helmets and 28 states that only require some riders to wear a helmet (i.e. only the passenger is required). Three states do not have any helmet law in place. No matter what the law is in the state you are riding in, always wear a helmet. It could save your life.
Neck Injuries
Neck injuries are often catastrophic, resulting in damage to the victim’s spinal cord. Less severe – but still painful and serious – are injuries to the soft tissues in the neck, frequently damaging the many nerves that make up this area of the body.
Upper Body Injuries
Injuries to the shoulders, chest, and back are also common injuries in motorcycle crashes. The abdomen is another upper body area that also can sustain injury. Many upper body injuries require extensive medical treatment and victims often end up with some type of permanent disability because the injury never fully heals.
Lower Extremity Injuries
In approximately one-third of all non-fatal motorcycle accident injuries occur to the lower extremities. These injuries include sprains, fracture bones, abrasions, and road rash to the legs and feet.
Biker’s Arm
This injury can occur even in the most minor of motorcycle crashes and is usually a result of the way the body’s reflexes react. Because of the risk of being thrown off a motorcycle in a crash, a rider’s instinct is to cross an arm around the front of their body as a way to protect or shield it upon impact. Putting the arm in that position means it will likely bear the brunt of force when the body lands. This type of injury causes permanent damage to the nerves in the arm, which is why it is important to wear jackets made specifically for riding as protective clothing.
