There is little doubt that motorcycles offer thrills and excitement for you as a rider, but they may also present an element of danger in the event of a crash. No matter the brand or style of bike you ride, being struck by any enclosed, larger vehicle can result in serious injuries. However, unlike the driver or passenger of a car or large truck, your injuries may have a greater chance of causing lifelong impairments.
More Severe Head Trauma
While a motorcycle helmet may protect you to some degree in a crash, there may be an increased risk for severe head trauma because of contact with the road or a stationary object upon impact. Unlike riding in a vehicle, there are no safety belts or airbags to protect you during an accident and other factors may increase this risk, including:
- High speeds
- The force of impact
- The size of the vehicle
Depending on the circumstances of the accident, your head trauma may cause permanent disability, such as speech problems and reduced cognitive ability.
Increased Chance of Ejection
When a car crash occurs, those not wearing seatbelts may be ejected from the vehicle and into the roadway. As a motorcycle rider, you run a greater risk of being ejected off your bike during an accident because there is little to prevent this from happening. Ejections at high speeds could result in serious falls or launch your forward onto the road at the same speed you were traveling. This may cause broken bones and serious skin and muscle trauma.
Fractured Legs
When a vehicle strikes your motorcycle, the resulting contact may cause you to lose your balance very suddenly. As you fall over to one side, the weight of the bike may cause a leg fracture, especially if the fall occurs at a high rate of speed. Leg fractures might also occur if you try to break or prevent your fall by extending one leg outward.
Increased Blunt Force Trauma
Many of today’s newer cars were designed with safety in mind, which may protect drivers and passengers in case of a crash. The risk for this injury is typically higher for you as a motorcyclist, as contact with other vehicles, the road or highway railings can cause internal injuries that may not be apparent right away.
Being involved in a motorcycle accident can cause serious injuries that you might not suffer while operating a car or other enclosed vehicle, but there is help available.
If you have questions about a car accident case, contact an auto accident lawyer, like Barry P. Goldberg, for a consultation.