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Are you a part of the motorcycle crash statistics?

On Behalf of | Feb 28, 2019 | Motorcycle Accidents |

There are many positives about motorcycles, including their fuel efficiency and the exhilaration of riding on the open roads of Kentucky. However, for safe navigation of your bike, you need more coordination and skills than drivers of automobiles. Constant awareness of your surroundings is crucial, and so is the ability to drive defensively.

Rapidly advancing technology comes up with more and more protective features on every new-model automobile, limiting the risk of injuries to the occupants. In contrast, the only protection available to you is protective gear such as a helmet, a leather riding suit, gloves and boots; therefore, you may suffer some of the injuries that are common to motorcycle crashes.

Fracture injuries

Because motorcycles have only two wheels, they cannot stay upright without support. For this reason, bikes fall over in most accidents, and the rider often lands underneath it. The following bone fractures are common:

  • If your bike falls onto your leg, one or more of the bones can break, and medical data shows leg fractures to be common in motorcycle accidents.
  • Depending on the way you land, you could also suffer shoulder and pelvis fractures.
  • The natural reaction to protect yourself by using your hands to break the fall might cause fractures to the bones in your arms, wrists and hands.

Not all bone fractures are severe, but some could cause long-term mobility problems.

Head and brain injuries

Most fatalities and disabilities in motorcycle accidents result from injuries to the head. These could include skull fractures, penetration wounds that cause brain damage, or internal brain contusions or bleeding. Compliance with the following helmet rules might keep you safe from head injuries:

  • Under state laws, Kentucky bikers who are younger than 21 years must wear helmets, even if they are passengers. Also, while you ride on a permit, and for one year after receiving your motorcycle license, you must wear a helmet.
  • If you are one of the bikers who object to wearing a helmet, you might be interested to learn that studies show that wearing a helmet lowers the risk of head injury in motorcycle accidents significantly.

However, while a helmet can prevent skull fractures and penetration wounds, it might not stop the movement and resulting damage of the brain inside the skull.

Road Rash injuries

Without the protection of encasement, your chances of making contact with the road surface when you fall are high. Only your protective gear can prevent road rash, which can happen in the following varying degrees of severity:

  • If you suffered no more than reddened skin, it is first-degree road rash.
  • Second-degree road rash involves broken surface skin but undamaged inner layers.
  • The most severe is third-degree road rash, which could even be fatal. This will leave you with the outer skin layer completely removed, exposing the inner tissue and fat layers.

Getting immediate medical care for third-degree road rash is crucial.

Know your rights to financial relief

If another person’s negligence caused the motorcycle accident that left you facing mounting medical bills, lost wages or even disabilities, you might have grounds to seek damage recovery through the Kentucky civil justice system. This is a complicated field of the law, and an experienced personal injury attorney can provide the necessary support and guidance throughout the ensuing legal proceedings.

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