*And what you should never do immediately after a motorcycle or auto accident.
In the past five years, only about 2% of all Florida traffic crashes involved a motorcycle. Yet the injuries both obvious and ‘hidden’ from motorcycle accidents can be among the most severe.
Motorcycle accidents can result in a variety of injuries, some of which may not be immediately apparent.
MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS: THE OBVIOUS INJURIES:
- ROAD RASH: The most common form of a motorcycle injury is road rash. Road rash is a type of skin abrasion that occurs when riders are thrown from the bike and then skidded on the pavement.
- BROKEN BONES: Common fractures after motorcycle accidents include femurs, forearms, shins, and pelvis bones.
- FOOT AND LEG INJURIES: According to the CDC, 30% of non-fatal motorcycle accident injuries happen to the rider’s legs and feet.
- HEAD & NECK INJURIES: Studies have shown that larger motorcycle engine sizes come with a higher risk of head injuries.
- SPINAL INJURIES: The thoracic spine is the most commonly damaged area of the spine in motorcycle accidents.
- ABDOMINAL INJURIES: Studies have shown that older riders have significantly higher incidences of thoracic (chest) injuries compared to their younger counterparts.
- HAND & ARM: Hand, wrist, and arm injuries are incredibly common among injured motorcyclists because most people will throw their arms out instinctively when flung to the ground. “Biker’s Arm” (also called “Rider’s Arm”) occurs when a motorcycle lands on its rider’s arm during an accident, resulting in nerve damage.
- BURNS: If the motorcycle’s gas tank spills during a wreck, a rider can end up with severe burns.
- TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES (TBI). TBI is the leading cause of death among injured motorcyclists.
MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS: THE ‘HIDDEN’ INJURIES:
Many injuries don’t show up right away. How often have you heard of someone who felt fine after an accident, only to be rushed to the hospital hours or days later?