What injuries are common among motorbike riders?

On Behalf of Holmes & Wiseley, P.C.

In 2021, there were 3,175 motorcycle accidents in Michigan, which was an increase from the previous year. Over 2,500 of those incidents resulted in serious injuries. Motorbike riders are significantly more vulnerable on the road because they don’t have a shield around them to absorb some of the impact. They often directly take hits somewhere on their bodies, or they are thrown off of their motorcycles where they suffer a serious injury in the fall.

Broken bones

Motorcycle accidents often cause broken legs, wrists, collarbones and pelvises. Wearing boots that have shin guards reduces the chance of your legs breaking. Broken wrists tend to happen if the rider doesn’t let go of the handlebars quickly enough in a frontal impact or if they hold out their hands to shield themselves from impact. If a rider lands sideways on the road, they might break their collarbone.

Internal injuries

Any impact that you take during the accident could cause an internal injury. A common one among motorbike riders is an abdominal internal injury from their stomachs hitting the handlebar.

Signs of internal injuries include:

• Swollen, tight abdomen
• Breathlessness
• Pale, clammy skin
• Extreme thirst
• Nausea and vomiting
• Bleeding from the nose, ears or anus
• Coughing up blood
• Blood in the urine

Head and spine injuries

Helmets reduce head injuries, but they don’t always prevent them. An impact could be strong enough to cause the brain to sustain an injury from hitting the skull. You don’t need a visible sign of injury on your head to suffer from a traumatic brain injury. Spine injuries could cause paralysis, nerve damage and other problems.

Motorbike riders have higher rates of serious injuries, such as broken bones, internal bleeding and head and spine injuries. Wearing the best protective gear helps reduce injuries.

Posted in Motorcycle Accidents | No Comments »