Motorcycle crashes injure Texas riders at a very high rate.
A motorcycle has no airbags, no seatbelt, and no steel frame to protect you or absorb the impact of a crash.
When a crash happens, the rider’s body takes the force directly, which often causes severe injuries.
Road Rash
Road rash happens when skin slides across the road. It is also called a friction burn1 and can be more serious than a simple scrape. It can range from first-degree to fourth-degree burns.
Riders with road rash may have cuts and scrapes or deep tissue damage that can reach the bone and lead to serious infection. Treatment can include cleaning the area or, in severe cases, surgery and skin grafts.
Broken Bones
Motorcycle crashes often cause broken bones in the legs, arms, wrists, ribs, and collarbone. Some broken bones heal with a cast and rest. Others may need surgery and physical therapy.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Even with a helmet, a rider can suffer a concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI) when their head hits the ground, another vehicle, or a fixed object. TBIs can range from mild (concussion) to severe. Severe TBIs can affect your quality of life and your ability to care for yourself.
Texas does not require helmets for riders over age 212. However, riders who wear helmets are less likely to suffer serious brain injuries.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Damage to the spine can permanently change a rider’s life. Spinal cord injuries may cause pain and discomfort or a loss of mobility that results in partial or complete paralysis. Severe cases may require lifelong medical care and home modifications.
Internal Injuries
Blunt force trauma from a motorcycle crash can damage organs and cause internal bleeding. These injuries may not show right away, but they can become life-threatening without emergency medical care.
Facial and Dental Injuries
Motorcycle crashes can cause facial fractures and broken or lost teeth. Riders without full-face helmets are at higher risk for these injuries, which may require surgery and dental repair.
Burn Injuries
Motorcycle riders may suffer burns from road friction, hot exhaust pipes, engine contact, spilled fuel, or fires after a crash. Severe burns can damage skin, nerves, and tissue. These injuries may need long-term treatment for scarring or disfigurement.
Amputations
Severe motorcycle crashes can cause traumatic amputations or injuries so serious that surgery is needed to remove a limb. These injuries may affect the legs, feet, arms, hands, fingers, or toes. Amputations often require emergency surgery and can permanently affect a rider’s ability to work and handle daily life.
Most motorcyclists suffer more than one injury when they are thrown from the bike and hit the road or other objects. Many of these crashes result in death.
Death
Motorcycle crashes are often deadly. Motorcycles do not have protection, and they are much smaller than cars, which makes crashes very dangerous.
Get Help After a Motorcycle Accident
If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
At Farah Law, we understand the devastating impact a motorcycle crash can have on your life. Our experienced team will fight to protect your rights and secure the compensation you deserve.
Contact us today for a free consultation. We charge no fees unless we win your case.
Sources:
1 https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/road-rash
2 https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/motorcycles/motorcycle-helmet-laws-table
