Motorcycles are fun to ride, but they are also prone to serious accidents. A rider on a motorcycle is more vulnerable than a driver or passenger in a car as they don’t have the protection or safety features that a car has. Motorcycles are also less visible on the road, and cars are more likely to crash into them. Due to the lack of protection, injuries in motorcycle accidents can be deadly.
Common Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents can range from serious to catastrophic. Any part of the body can be injured in a motorcycle accident. Some common injuries include:
- Head Injuries—while a helmet provides a great deal of protection in an accident, head injuries are still very common in motorcycle accidents. Head injury is the most common injury sustained by people who die in motorcycle accidents.
- Spinal Cord Injuries—the impact of a collision can result in spinal cord injuries and paralysis. This type of injury can cause permanent disability for a victim.
- Fractures—motorcycles are not stable and often fall over in an accident. A rider’s leg can be caught under the motorcycle, and arms and hands can be fractured when a rider attempts to break their fall.
- Internal Injuries—the blunt force trauma of hitting the pavement without protection can result in serious internal injuries.
- Road Rash—when the rider makes contact with the road surface, they can suffer serious abrasions known as “road rash.” There is a range of severity in road rash cases, and the abrasions can cause permanent scarring.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Just as in any kind of accident, there are a number of common causes of motorcycle accidents, including:
- Left Turns—it is a dangerous situation when a car turns in front of a motorcycle. Sometimes drivers can’t judge the speed of oncoming motorcycles, and this can result in a t-bone collision.
- Unsafe Lane Changes—because motorcycles are less visible than other vehicles, drivers may not see them before they change lanes. This is especially true if the motorcycle is in the vehicle’s blind spot.
- Rear-End Collisions—when a motorcycle is struck by a car from behind, the rider can be thrown over the handlebars. Rear-end collisions are common in situations where a driver is distracted.
- Lane Splitting Accidents—lane splitting occurs when a motorcycle drives between two stopped or slow-moving lanes of traffic. Drivers are usually not expecting a motorcycle to come near them, and the proximity of the motorcycle and another vehicle can lead to an accident.
Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney
If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, you may need an experienced personal injury attorney on your side. Gregg Goldfarb has been helping the victims of motorcycle accidents for over 25 years. Contact us online or call us at 305-374-7000 to schedule a free consultation.