Motorcyclists appreciate the freedom and relaxation that a ride down the highway can bring. They also understand the practical benefits that come with riding a motorcycle around town. Unfortunately, a motorcyclist knows all too well that a painful injury can happen in an instant – sometimes due to someone else’s negligence.
The motorcycle injury lawyers at Phillips Law Group can help a victim recover after a motorcycle accident. Of course, there are many types of injuries a victim may experience. Here, we will discuss the most common motorcycle injury. Nonetheless, our knowledge on this particular topic can be applied to other motorcycle injuries as well.
If you or a loved one has experienced a motorcycle accident injury, we can help. Please get in touch with the personal injury lawyers at Phillips Law Group.
Why the Possibility of a Motorcycle Injury is High
A motorcycle provides its rider with a unique experience. It is the sharp contrast between freedom and enclosure. However, the openness that the motorcyclist feels can be a mixed blessing.
In the case of a motorcycle accident, unrestricted exposure to the outside world is one reason for greater risk of serious injury. An enclosed vehicle offers more protection in a collision or impact with something on the road. A bump or clash that could be minor or even unnoticeable in a car can be the catalyst to a horrific injury for a motorcyclist.
One study published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) made this observation. Someone riding a motorcycle may be 26 times more likely to die and 5 times more likely to be hurt than persons riding in a car at the time of an accident.
The Most Common Type of Motorcycle Injury
Injuries to a motorcyclist depend on a variety of factors. However, studies performed by the NHTSA indicate that there are some types of injuries more common among motorcycle riders. Specifically, the lower extremities of the human body are most likely to receive injuries in an accident on a motorcycle.
Why are the legs and feet most prone to injuries in a motorcycle accident? It is due to their close proximity to the motorcycle itself and the road beneath. Additionally, even in what we might refer to as a “less intense accident,” the lower half of the body can sustain injuries since there are only inches between you and a potentially dangerous surface.
In a severe accident, the legs and feet of the rider can come into direct contact with another vehicle. The resulting injuries could be catastrophic. It would be similar if the rider’s feet or legs collided with a stationary object.
Even when the motorcyclist can manage to avoid a full collision, the resulting injuries of an accident can be serious. For example, if the rider may attempt to adjust his body in order to reduce the intensity of a collision. In such a case, he might move hastily and clumsily, and his legs could be burned by parts of the engine.
Additionally, if the motorcyclist is able to successfully evade a severe crash, he or she could possibly still lose balance. As a result, the motorcycle could fall over, and the weight of the motorcycle could crush or break the rider’s feet and legs.
Of course, the motorcyclist could avoid being crushed by the bike in the accident. However, he or she could be thrown from the bike and suffer severe road rash on the legs and feet. The fallen rider could also suffer deep lacerations and bruises from a hard fall.
There are many more possible scenarios in which you could injure your lower extremities. If you have been hurt in a motorcycle accident, please contact an attorney. With the help of the legal team at Phillips Law Group, you can pursue receiving compensation for your motorcycle injuries.
How a Common Motorcycle Accident Injury Can Create Uncommon Problems
A motorcycle accident victim can experience severe injuries, even in seemingly minor collisions. The injuries could be long-lasting and cause a mountain of bills and debt.
Additionally, due to the injuries, it could be hard to get back to making money again. It may be that your ability to work is diminished or that you are forced to change jobs. Perhaps you are even prevented from returning to work entirely.
In all the situations described above and many others, it is imperative that you obtain the compensation your injuries, pain, and life adjustments require. There can be many obstacles to you getting the compensation you need, but receiving help from a skilled motorcycle accident attorney is crucial to your receiving the maximum restitution possible.
How a Motorcycle Accident Attorney Can Help You
When compensation is sought for injuries that result from a motorcycle accident, it can be met with opposition from the guilty parties. Additionally, insurance companies may attempt to sidestep responsibility if possible. They and the guilty party may attempt to assert that it is the motorcyclist who is responsible for the accident and injuries.
Their goal is to avoid being liable and, thereby, paying compensation. They hope to wear down the recuperating victim so that he or she either gives up entirely or accepts a deficient amount in restitution. The help of an attorney, though, can change their tune.
Regardless of how common your injuries may have been, an experienced motorcycle accident attorney can fight persistently on your behalf to get you the compensation you deserve, countering the efforts of resistant insurance companies and guilty parties. While you focus on rest and recovery, let your lawyer diligently seek justice on your behalf.
Phillips Law Group Takes Seriously the Most Common Motorcycle Injury
Although something may be common, that does not mean that it is less important. Injuries to the legs and feet, though frequent, do not mean they should receive any less legal pursuit for compensation. Your full financial recovery is crucial and should not be left to chance.
The attorneys at Phillips Law Group know this to be true. Our lawyers want you to receive fair treatment, whether your injury is common or one of a kind. As one of Arizona’s largest consumer law firms, we can use our legal clout to work hard and get you the compensation your motorcycle injury deserves.
If you are suffering from an injury resulting from a motorcycle accident, we can help. Please speak with the personal injury lawyers at Phillips Law Group.
Due in part to weather conditions, Arizona is a popular location for motorcycle enthusiasts. With this in mind, it’s natural that with more bikes on the road, your odds of being involved in an Arizona motorcycle accident are much higher.
Motorcycle accident injuries are generally more severe and debilitating given the exposed nature of the vehicle. In most motor vehicles, the body of the automobile serves as a barrier for passengers – absorbing a majority of the impact from the collision. Unfortunately, most motorcycles do not offer such protection. In that instance, to help increase a rider’s chances of survival on the road, Motorcycle safety classes are provided to help prevent accidents from happening.
Unfortunately, not all prevention systems are perfect – so if you have received an injury from a motorcycle accident, you could be eligible for compensation.
Contact the Phillips Law Group for a FREE case evaluation by simply filling out the contact form to the right!
Common Injuries Sustained in Motorcycle Accidents
Road Rash
When a rider is thrown from their bike in a motorcycle wreck, any skin that hits the road while unprotected will suffer injury. Road rash refers to skin and bone abrasions of unprotected skin, which can often leave accident victims with life-long scars. If needed, skin-grafting operations can require a patient to be in the hospital for weeks at a time.
It is important that motorcyclists wear proper gear – such as boots and a riding jacket – in order to reduce the severity of this type of injury.
Disfigurement
This type of injury usually refers to damage to the face. Facial scarring and teeth damage occur when bikers don’t wear the proper equipment to protect their face. Serious disfigurement can result in painful, expensive plastic surgery. Dental trauma can require oral surgery as well. When surgery is not an option, accident victims are often forced to live with facial scarring for the rest of their life.
Fractures and Broken Bones
These types of injuries are the most common in motorcycle accidents. When a motorcyclist is thrown from their bike in a crash, it is reasonable to assume that the rider will sustain a broken bone or fracture. Broken bones can result in expensive medical costs, and fractures can often take years to fully heal.
Neck and Back Trauma
Back and neck injuries are usually very traumatic and can result in spinal cord injury (SCI). Spinal cord injuries can cause the motorcycle accident victim to become paralyzed or permanently disabled. The impact caused by the neck or back injury can depend upon the location of the injury as well asthe accident’s severity.
Brain Damage
Brain injuries and the resulting damage can range in severity from minor traumatic brain injuries (TBI) such as a concussion, to permanent trauma like paralysis. Arizona motorcycle crashes often lead to some level of head trauma, especially because Arizona bikers are not required to wear a helmet over the age of 18.
Severe brain injuries can significantly reduce the accident victims quality of life, often affecting the victims ability to live without some form of live-in care.Sometimes, a TBI can lead to the wrongful death of a motorcyclist.
Tips for Preventing Motorcycle Injuries
Unfortunately, most victims who have suffered injuries in an Arizona motorcycle accident were harmed not by their own actions, but by the negligence of another driver sharing the road.
One of the best ways to prevent a serious injury in a motorcycle wreck is to wear the proper gear. This includes wearing a helmet, riding jacket and sturdy boots. By wearing approved, protective apparel, you reduce the risk of severe injuries. Additionally, driving defensively can help you avoid potential accidents.
For more safety tips for motorcyclists, visit our Tips for Safe Motorcycle Riding page and if you need help with a lawsuit to pursue damages for injuries caused in a motorcycle accident, simply fill out the form to the right!