Motorcycle crashes often result in serious injury and death for riders, due to motorcycles’ lack of safety features. In 2020, the National Highway Safety and Traffic Administration (NHTSA) estimated that motorcyclists were four times more likely to suffer injuries and 28 times more likely to die in the event of a crash than motor vehicle drivers and passengers.

While some injured motorcycle riders fully recover from their injuries, they often incur substantial medical bills, especially if they suffered a serious injury like a broken bone. The Michigan motorcycle accident lawyers at Fieger Law can help you recoup the costs of your medical expenses, missed paychecks, and pain and suffering following a motorcycle accident that wasn’t your fault.

Legs and Feet Injuries

According to the NHTSA, motorcycle accidents usually result in broken bones in the legs. In a crash, the motorcycle can land on top of the rider’s lower leg, breaking the tibia and fibula, the bones that bear the body’s weight. 95% of all leg injuries in motorcycle crashes are fractures of the tibia and the leg. While most broken bones can heal in under two months, heavy bones like the tibia can take as much as six months or longer to fully heal.

Impact with the road, if riders instinctively try to put their feet down to catch themselves or steady their bike, can also injure the ankles and feet. 84% of foot injuries in motorcycle crashes occur to the metatarsal bones that connect the toes to the rest of the foot. About 9% of all ankle injuries are ankle dislocations. Casts or splints can help mend broken legs and feet, but surgery may be necessary for more severe fractures.

When mobility is reduced partially or totally due to feet and leg injuries, crash victims often can’t work and earn the paychecks they need to cover their medical bills.

Arms and Hand Injuries

When a motorcycle rider is thrown from their motorcycle, they may extend their arms and hands to brace for impact. The arms and hands absorb much of the impact, preventing further injury to the rest of the body. Because of this, a common injury is broken wrists, also called a motorcycle radius injury.

Motorcycle riders may also suffer road rash from throwing their hands onto the pavement to stop themselves from falling face first. Road rash can vary depending on severity, from minor abrasions to severe injuries exposing the nerves, tendons, muscles, and bones. Severe road rash may require skin graft surgery and antibiotics to prevent the onset of infections.

Injured hands and wrists severely impact an accident victim’s ability to go back to work before they’ve completely recovered from their injuries.

Head and Neck Injuries

If a motorcycle rider collides with another vehicle or a fixed object like a road barrier or tree, they may strike their head. The force of the collision can travel from the head to the cervical spine in the neck. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) may also result from a head-on collision, causing immediate or long-term problems with thinking, memory, attention, and language.

Obtaining medical attention immediately after a motorcycle accident is critical so a doctor can determine if the rider has suffered a TBI and prescribe an adequate treatment plan.

Safety Tips for Preventing Motorcycle Injuries

Sharing the road with other motor vehicles requires motorcycle riders to follow the rules of the road and ride with caution. You must wear protective gear to protect your body when riding your motorcycle.

Here’s what our motorcycle attorneys recommend:

  • Use a helmet: Helmets reduce the risk of death by 37% and head injuries by 69%, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The NHTSA recommends wearing a helmet that fits and secures properly. Look for a safety label certifying that it meets Department of Transportation standards.
  • Protect your hands with gloves: Gloves offer protection against road rash and help keep your hands warm when it’s cold out. They also give you extra grip on the handlebars so you can steer more easily in bad weather and on rough surfaces.
  • Protect your legs and feet with boots and pants: Boots should cover your ankles and support your foot during acceleration or braking. Leather or heavy denim pants protect your legs and feet from some abrasion and impact injuries in a collision with another vehicle or a fixed object.
  • Wear a motorcycle jacket: Jackets made with leather or Gore-Tex can protect your arms from severe road rash. They should also feature protective padding on the shoulders and elbows, which helps prevent broken bones in an accident.

Contact a Skilled Motorcycle Accident Lawyer After a Crash

If you sustain injuries in a motorcycle accident, an experienced motorcycle injury attorney from Fieger Law can assess your case and discuss your legal options. We can advocate on your behalf to help you get the compensation you deserve from the party at fault for your injuries.

Contact the legal team at Fieger Law today to schedule a free case review.