Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Even with the best available equipment, motorcycle riders are vulnerable to accidents and injuries. When responsible riders face long-term physical and emotional damage after an accident that wasn’t their fault, compensation may be available. At Cordisco & Saile, LLC, we represent clients with common motorcycle accident injuries such as spinal damage, traumatic brain injuries, and bone fractures. Our team is experienced at recovering damages when the accident wasn’t your fault, but the fallout is real.
Motorcycle accidents in Pennsylvania can have devastating consequences. A split second can take you from an ordinary ride to a painful injury with months or years of recovery.
Crashes can happen to any motor vehicle operator, but motorcycle riders are much more vulnerable. Without the protection of a car’s outer body, there’s little between you and the road. Plus, car and truck drivers are often the causes of those accidents and resulting injuries.
Common motorcycle accident injuries include:
- Brain injury
- Spinal damage
- Broken bones
- Skin abrasions
Any of these injuries are potentially serious and even life-altering. For example, a brain injury has left you disabled or an infected wound has extended your recovery. You may also have lost wages you need to recover.
Whatever your needs, the skilled attorneys at Cordisco & Saile, LLC can help you understand the fallout from your motorcycle accident.
Most Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Between 2018 and 2020, the United States logged 82,000 to 84,000 motorcycle crash injuries annually. That’s the lowest number of yearly injuries since 2011, but the damage remains significant.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 80 percent of motorcycle crashes result in injury or death.
Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injury is a typical result of a blow to the head. It can also occur following a body impact that causes sudden head movement. Even a mild traumatic brain injury can make daily life challenging. Signs of this kind of injury include:
- Headache
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Vision, hearing, or taste disturbances
- Changes in mood or behavior
- Difficulties with memory or concentration
Learn more about concussion and mild brain injury symptoms with our concussion quiz.
More severe brain injuries can lead to life-altering symptoms and early death. More than half of people with these injuries have lost the ability to work. Given that a third of all people with moderate to severe brain injuries need help day to day, lost wages have an even more significant impact. According to a study by the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine, riders of larger motorcycles are particularly vulnerable to this type of injury.
If you’ve suffered a brain injury while riding a motorcycle, contact our experienced Cordisco & Saile, LLC team. We’ve helped people across Philadelphia and throughout Pennsylvania, including Bucks, Lehigh, and Montgomery Counties, to secure compensation for accident-induced brain injury.
Spinal Injury
The Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine study also showed that spinal injuries are more common among older riders. Researchers have found that spinal injuries due to motorcycle crashes affect the upper back more than other areas.
Multiple-level injuries affecting several parts of the back are also typical. Among 126 studied riders with spinal injuries, 25 experienced neurological damage such as paralysis or sensation changes.
Rib Fractures
According to the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine study, older riders are particularly vulnerable to multiple rib fractures. Among motorcyclists hospitalized with rib fractures, over 20 percent of those under 40 had three or more broken ribs compared with 44 percent of riders over 40.
The same study also connected broken ribs to an increased chance of internal chest and abdominal injuries. One broken rib increases your chances of a punctured lung and other internal chest injuries 14 times. It increases your chances of multiple chest injuries 41 times.
Broken Limbs
Arm and leg injuries were the most common wound types in the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine study. For riders under the age of 40, leg injuries were the most severe injuries not involving the head.
Motorcycle riders are highly vulnerable to broken limbs. A helmet offers some head protection, but there’s no reliable way to protect your limbs in a fall.
A broken leg can take up to six months to heal, and working or doing other everyday activities may be difficult. Complications such as nerve damage or disrupted blood flow can extend recovery.
Skin Abrasions
A 2015 study identified skin abrasions as the most common motorcycle accident injury. These injuries may still occur even when you wear fully protective motorcycle clothing.
The common name for these types of injuries is road rash because they happen when the body strikes and slides along the pavement. These abrasions can be extremely painful and may become infected if not treated properly.
Causes of Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Researchers from the Yale University School of Medicine have identified several common occurrences that lead to motorcycle injuries. They include:
- Topside flips: The motorcycle decelerates quickly, pushing the rider over the handlebars and onto the road or into a stationary object.
- Low-side falls: The rider falls from the bike while making a sharp turn.
- High-side falls: The rider attempts to correct the bike’s momentum, causing the motorcycle to overturn and throw the rider.
- Collisions: The rider strikes another object, or an object strikes the motorcycle, causing blunt force trauma or a throw to the ground.
These events often happen due to someone else’s negligence. Many drivers don’t check for motorcycles when making turns. Vehicles stop suddenly without warning or force motorcyclists to make a dangerously angled turn.
If you’ve suffered a motorcycle accident in Pennsylvania or New Jersey and believe someone else is at fault, our expert team of attorneys at Cordisco & Saile, LLC can help you understand your rights.
Why Hire an Experienced Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
A knowledgeable lawyer is your strongest ally if you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident in Allentown or other areas throughout .
A lawyer can explain your rights and how to file a claim. If you have questions or concerns, your lawyer can provide personalized answers and help you choose the best action.
For example, suppose you’re a Bucks County resident living with a brain injury after a motorcycle crash. You’re unsure if you have a case, but you know you have medical bills, and your life isn’t the same. The skilled lawyers at Cordisco & Saile, LLC understand motorcycle accident and personal injury law. We’ve helped clients across New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including greater Philadelphia, and we can help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
We’re not the only law firm in town, but we’re the ones you can feel confident trusting with your motorcycle injury. Consider the many reviews and testimonials we’ve received from our grateful clients speaking to our professionalism, thoroughness, and genuine care for our clients.
Clients like these have earned us a five-star average on Google and an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. We attribute those successful experiences to the dedication of our attorneys, who have received praise from:
- The American Trial Lawyers Associaton’s Top 100 Lawyers
- National Trial Lawyers Top 25 Motor Vehicle Lawyers
- Martindale-Hubbell® AV® Preeminent™
We’re proud of each of these accolades, but we also know that our case results matter most to our clients. We’ve repeatedly recovered six- and seven-figure compensation packages for injury victims, including:
- $2.9 million settlement for a motorcycle accident victim with a traumatic brain injury
- $1.37 million settlement for an accident victim in Bucks County
- $2.47 million settlement for a severe injury following a vehicle accident
We continue to fight for our clients’ rights, putting their needs first daily.
Contact Cordisco & Saile, LLC Today
At Cordisco & Saile, LLC, we’re committed to helping motorcycle and other motor vehicle accident victims. We know recovery is a long road, and we’re here to make it smoother by helping you get the compensation you deserve.
Reduce the stress of your recovery. Contact Cordisco & Saile, LLC today for a free consultation.
