Not every motorcyclist walks away from a crash with road rash or a bruise. In fact, over half of all road traffic deaths occur among vulnerable road users. Many of those victims are motorcyclists.
If you developed motorcycle accident injuries after a crash, the medical bills can get costly. Your quality of life might suffer as well. Remember that motorcycle accidents can be very different from car accidents. By hiring a Columbia motorcycle accident attorney, you can fight for the compensation you deserve.
The money you win from your motorcycle injury lawsuit could help cover medical bills and damages.
In the meantime, stay safe and prepare yourself. Here are the common injuries you can develop after a crash. By understanding the potential dangers, you can get help from a motorcycle accident law firm right away.
Read on to learn more.
Scratches and Bruises
Most people try to downplay common injuries that seem minor, such as scrapes and bruises. These motorcycle accident injuries aren’t minor when you’re the patient though.
In fact, many of these injuries can lead to a serious infection if they’re not cleaned right away. In some cases, you might have sustained damage to your nerves or tendons as well.
After a motorcycle accident, it’s possible that adrenaline will mask the full extent of the pain you’re in. If you were in an accident, seek medical attention right away. Even if you only have a few scrapes, have a doctor look you over—being sure to avoid these common mistakes.
Sometimes, what seems like a minor scrape could indicate a serious condition like compartment syndrome. Patients with compartment syndrome usually require amputation.
Meanwhile, you could end up with scars if your injuries aren’t treated right away. Scars that linger after an accident can lead to emotional distress. Your motorcycle accident law firm could make a case for pain and suffering.
When you’re in a motorcycle accident, there’s little protecting you from getting hurt. While bruises and lacerations are common injuries, you shouldn’t ignore them. Instead, visit a doctor to seek treatment right away.
Keep a record of any treatments you receive. You can use your doctor’s official statement when building your case. A South Carolina injury lawyer will use your motorcycle injuries and medical bills to calculate your losses as well.
Fractures
When you’re on a motorcycle, every limb is completely exposed. A motorcycle accident could result in common injuries like fractures or broken bones. Motorcyclists often break their:
- Wrists
- Ankles
- Legs
- Arms
- Thighs
- Pelvis
- Back/spine
- Hips
- Collar bones
- Ribs
You might require physical therapy or surgery after the accident as a result. A broken bone could limit your mobility for some time.
It could impact your range of motion and ability to work, too. If the bone doesn’t heal, you could develop life-long nerve damage.
Visit an emergency room or clinic immediately after the motorcycle accident. Have a doctor use an X-ray or MRI to determine the extent of your injuries. They’ll let you know if you have a fractured, shattered, or broken bone.
Road Rash
While road rashes are common injuries among motorcyclists, they’re not the same as a scrape or bruise.
During a motorcycle accident, you could slide across the pavement. The force could peel multiple layers of your skin away. Road rash could even leave the muscles under your skin exposed.
Some motorcyclists even fly over their bikes after a crash.
Before getting on your bike, make sure to wear protective gear. Consider purchasing leather riding pants, a leather jacket, riding boots, and gloves.
You can’t avoid every motorcycle accident injury after a crash. The right gear could at least protect you from intense, severe injuries.
Internal Injuries
Blunt-force trauma or penetration trauma could result in internal injuries.
Blunt-force trauma occurs when something hard, like a car, hits you with extreme force but doesn’t break the skin. A penetration trauma, on the other hand, does penetrate the skin. Debris or broken glass could cause penetration trauma.
These traumas could damage your internal organs or cause internal bleeding.
Internal injuries are life-threatening. They can impact different areas, including your tissues, organs, chest, and head.
Internal injuries aren’t visible at a glance. So get a doctor to check you out right away to rule out internal bleeding.
Spinal Cord Injuries
The impact of a motorcycle accident could injure your spinal cord.
Your spinal column includes the vertebrae that make up your spine. They protect your spinal cord from damage. When the spinal column is disturbed, you could develop a spinal cord injury.
These motorcycle accident injuries commonly occur when a motorcyclist lands on their back or neck. An object could pierce your back as well.
In some cases, getting crushed between two objects can cause this injury. You could become partially or completely paralyzed as a result.
There’s no way to correct a spinal cord injury at the moment. If you sustain this type of injury, file a motorcycle injury lawsuit right away.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Helmets saved the lives of 1,872 motorcyclists in a single year. If all motorcyclists wore their helmets, it could have saved another 749 people. Without a helmet, you could sustain a brain injury from a motorcycle accident.
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when something hits your head with sudden force. This force causes your head to shake back and forth. An object could penetrate your brain as well.
A TBI could impact your emotions, cognitive abilities, and physical capabilities.
In some cases, treatments, surgery, and time can help patients heal from TBIs. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. The injury could impact your quality of life for the rest of your life.
If you or a loved one sustained a brain injury from a motorcycle accident, contact a South Carolina motorcycle accident lawyer right away. A Sumter motorcycle accident lawyer can help prove the other driver’s negligence caused the crash. With help from a motorcycle accident law firm, you can fight for the compensation you deserve.
Safety First: Know These Types of Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Motorcycle accident injuries can have a lasting impact on your life. If you or a loved one sustained any of these common injuries, don’t hesitate. Contact a motorcycle accident law firm right away.
If you’ve sustained these injuries, it could leave you out of the job. The medical bills could add to the stress as well. Your motorcycle accident law firm can take this stress off your shoulders.
They’ll have your best interests in mind. While you heal, they can fight on your behalf.
Ready to make your case? Our Columbia personal injury attorneys here to help.
Contact our law firm for a free consultation today.
We have offices in Orangeburg, Lexington, and Columbia, SC for your convenience.
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