Last year, 34 states, including Texas, saw an increase in their accident ratings — but not just any accidents. The rate increased for one accident type in particular: motorcycle.
When the Government Highway Safety Association released their findings at the end of 2012, three factors were thought to contribute to the increase:
- An increase in registered riders
- A longer riding season
- Changes to mandatory helmet laws
Are Motorcycle Drivers at Risk of Injury?
Motorcycle accident personal injury cases are filed with a disturbing frequency. As many critics of motorcycles like to point out, it’s not if an accident happens; it’s when.
Just how high is the accident risk? The latest statistics show that 80% of these motorcycle accidents require extensive medical care or result in fatalities. The majority of accidents occur on weekends and at intersections.
By this point, bike enthusiasts have probably started a mental checklist of just how to avoid a motorcycle accident. Personal injury can happen to anyone at any time. Remember to include that fact on your avoidance checklist.
Top 5 Motorcycle Injuries Reported
Taking precautions will lower your risk, but that risk can never truly be eliminated. This injury overview will explain why:
Injury #1 Road rash: This is the most common injury on the list. Most every motorcycle rider gets it to some degree. What starts out as bruises and scrapes can become scarring and severe deep tissue infection.
Injury #2 Broken bones: Depending on what part of your body hits the ground first, you could suffer from broken ribs, legs, arms, or a fractured collar bone and pelvis. These fractures can take up to 12 months to completely heal and are the biggest determining factor in whether or not you can still ride a motorcycle post-accident.
Injury #3 Disfigurement: Usually affects the face, teeth, hands, and feet. This can require extensive cosmetic and dental surgery to fix.
Injury #4 Head trauma: It is difficult to avoid head injury if you’re thrown from your bike in an accident. Wearing a DOT-certified helmet decreases your chances of traumatic brain injury, but it is absolutely imperative that you get immediate medical attention, following an accident, these injuries can turn unexpectedly fatal.
Injury #5 Back, neck, and spine injuries: This is the leading cause of disability among motorcyclists. Motorcycle accident personal injury cases have been filed for collisions resulting in chronic pain and headaches, life-altering injuries, and paralysis that requires round-the-clock care.
What Should I Do If I’m In A Motorcycle Accident?
If you are injured or have immediate family that are killed in a motorcycle accident, you may have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit. The Amarillo personal injury lawyers at Stockard, Johnston, Brown, Netardus & Doyle, P.C. can help you determine if you have a case and how to proceed.