What Are Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries?

If you are in a motorcycle accident as a bike rider, you will likely suffer more severe injuries than the driver of a car. Unlike larger passenger vehicles, motorcycles do not offer much protection to riders. As a result, a motorcycle accident can cause a wide range of injuries, from cuts and bruises to traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries. Head and neck injuries can leave a victim paralyzed or in a coma. Severe motorcycle accident injuries can lead to the injured motorcyclist facing mounting medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and other damages.

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident in New York that was caused by someone else, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your losses. Finz & Finz, P.C. will fight to get you the financial recovery you need and deserve. We’ll help you get your life back on track after your motorcycle accident. At Finz & Finz, P.C., our skilled and experienced attorneys focus solely on personal injury law. Our committed New York City motorcycle accident lawyer helps those who have been injured in an accident by no fault of their own.

For 40 years, we have litigated complex motorcycle accident claims on behalf of New York residents. Our track record of success includes securing six- and seven-figure settlements and verdicts for clients. Call now at 855-TOP-FIRM to set up a free, no-obligation consultation with our motorcycle accident lawyers.

Common motorcycle accident injuries include:

• Traumatic Brain Injury

  A crash with another vehicle can throw a motorcyclist from the bike, causing severe head injuries. A blow to the head can cause a brain injury (TBI), which can lead to a concussion, brain bleeding, or brain swelling. Even a minor head bump can cause a TBI.

  If you have sustained a brain injury in a motorcycle accident, you may experience some or all of the following symptoms:

  • unconsciousness
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • headaches
  • convulsions
  • slurred speech
  • loss of coordination

  Those who suffer an especially severe TBI may experience cognitive changes and have problems with memory and other cognitive functions. Other issues include neurological problems like speech, hearing, and vision problems.

• Spinal Cord Injury

  A spinal cord injury consists of damage to the bundle of nerves in the spine that transmits messages from the brain to the body. In a motorcycle accident, spinal cord injuries often occur when the rider suffers blunt force trauma to the vertebrae covering the spinal cord, causing damage to the spinal cord itself.

  A spinal cord injury is an especially devastating injury because spinal cord damage disrupts messages from the brain to the body. In mild cases, the injury causes weakness and numbness in the arms and legs. In severe cases, permanent disruption of messages can occur, causing paralysis.

• Road Rash

  This is an injury suffered when a motorcyclist slides sideways across the pavement or when they fly over the handlebars. The pavement can scrape through the clothes, reaching to the skin underneath. Road rash isn’t just a cut, scrape, or bruise; it’s an injury that can lead to long-term or permanent damage, including infections, skin irritations, and even nerve damage.

• Biker’s Arm

  Biker’s arm is another common type of injury that affects motorcyclists who crash their bikes. When a motorcyclist feels that they are about to be thrown from their bike, they instinctively put up an arm to shield themselves from the impact on the road. Because this arm receives the brunt of the contact, the biker can sustain nerve damage or even paralysis.

• Broken Bones

  Fractures are very common motorcycle accident injuries. Hitting the ground or another object hard or having the body forced into an awkward position can break a bone.  Common places to experience breaks include the hands, wrists, shoulders, hips, arms, collar bones, ribs, back, and pelvis.

• Burns

  Motorcycle accidents can result in burns when the crash causes a fire or an explosion or when a rider’s skin comes in contact with hot elements of the engine or exhaust systems. Burns can also be the result of heat generated by friction involved with road rash.

  Burns are classified according to their severity:

  –First degree. These burns damage the epidermis, which is the outermost layer of the skin. First-degree burns are red and sensitive. They can heal on their own without medical attention.

  –Second degree. These burns damage the epidermis and the skin layer underneath it, which is called the dermis. Second-degree burns are often blistered and swollen. They require prompt medical attention and may need skin graft surgeries to repair. They can leave scars after healing.

  –Third-degree. These life-threatening burns damage the epidermis, dermis, and the nerves or bone under the skin. Third-degree burns can have a black or charred appearance. They require immediate medical care and treatment at a burn center. It’s not uncommon to need numerous surgeries to repair and rehabilitation to fully recover. Health complications often accompany third-degree burns, including the danger of infection.

• Muscle Damage

  It is common for muscles in a motorcyclist’s body to suffer severe trauma during an accident. Severe road rash can scrape away muscle layers, and hard impacts and trauma that break bones can also rupture muscle tissue.

Contact a New York Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

If you a loved one have suffered any of the injuries listed above in a motorcycle accident in New York, you deserve financial compensation. Don’t delay. Contact the experienced New York City personal injury attorneys at Finz & Finz, P.C. as soon as you can. We can help you seek the recovery that you need and deserve. Call today at 855-TOP-FIRM to schedule a free and confidential consultation with our skilled and compassionate New York and Long Island motorcycle accident lawyers.