Common Motorcycle Injuries
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Motorcycles may be flashy and fun to ride, but they offer their drivers next-to-no protection in the event of an accident. As such, riders can get violently ejected into the road and oncoming traffic or even crushed under the weight of their motorcycle flipping over.
The most common motorcycle injuries affect the head and limbs, with the brutality inflicted on the rider’s body often breaking bones and tearing soft tissues.
How Zaner Harden Law Can Help You After a Motorcycle Accident in Denver, CO
Since its founding, the motorcycle accident lawyers at Zaner Harden Law have proudly represented injured clients in Denver, CO, even setting records for some of the largest personal injury settlements and verdicts in state history.
We will do the following for you if you suffer an injury in an incident caused by someone else’s actions:
- Meet with you to learn your story and discuss your options
- Gather evidence to prove your case
- File an insurance claim
- Negotiate to settle your case
- Litigate if the other party refuses to settle
Motorcycle crash injuries can deeply impact your finances and quality of life. Contact our Denver personal injury lawyers for a free consultation to discuss your injuries and the compensation we can pursue for you.
How Many Motorcycle Accident Injuries Occur in Colorado?
Using the information presented on the Colorado Crash Data Dashboard for 2023, it can be found (by adding the number of motorcycle crashes per season) that the state experienced a total of 2,320 motorcycle accidents throughout the year.
That sum can then be broken down as follows:
- 132 fatal crashes
- 701 serious injury crashes that required an ambulance
- 744 minor injury crashes that caused visible injuries
- 277 possible injury crashes that produced pain and other symptoms
These numbers show that 80% of motorcyclists involved in crashes in Colorado suffered injury or death. That is shockingly high, especially considering that only 15% of drivers and passengers in cars, vans, SUVs, and pickup trucks suffered similar crash-related injuries or deaths.
Motorcycle Injury Causes and Effects
Your injuries can often tell the story of your accident and the future you face. And with such a high injury rate, researchers have plenty of data with which to detect injury patterns. As such, the most common injuries, according to the data studies, affect the following areas:
Lower Limbs
Between 48% and 59% of motorcycle crash victims suffer leg, foot, or toe injuries. That range makes sense, given that operators and passengers ride astride the vehicle’s saddle. When the motorcycle tips over, a rider’s leg can get trapped under it.
You can suffer the following injuries as a result of these forces:
- Broken leg
- Sprained hip, knee, or ankle
- Strained leg muscle
In other instances, an ejected rider can end up sliding across the rough road surface, causing another common motorcycle injury known as road rash. The continued contact with the ground causes friction burns and abrasions. The combination of the two causes redness, swelling, and bleeding. Debris can also become embedded in the wound, causing traumatic tattooing.
Upper Limbs
The second-most common injuries affect the upper limbs, with anywhere between 40% and 55% of motorcycle crash victims injuring their shoulders, arms, hands, or fingers. Like lower limb injuries, these also happen when a motorcycle tips over and the victim hits the road’s surface.
Common upper limb injuries include:
- Fractured arms or wrists
- Rotator cuff strains
- Sprained elbows
Upper limb injuries can also happen when a rider gets ejected from their motorcycle and instinctively extends their arms to try to stop their fall.
Head
Although head injuries are the third-most common injuries experienced by motorcycle crash victims, the risk drops significantly for riders who wear helmets. According to the CDC, helmets reduce the risk of head injuries by up to 69%. They also lower the odds of death in a motorcycle crash by up to 37% for operators and 41% for passengers.
Nevertheless, some common head injuries you might suffer in a motorcycle collision include the following:
- Scalp lacerations
- Fractured skull
- Concussion
- Cerebral contusion
- Subdural hematoma
Although not as common, motorcyclists can also suffer face injuries, which can cause disfigurement, knock out their teeth, or even blind them.
Unfortunately, Denver only requires motorcycle helmets for riders under 18. As a result, many head injuries that would otherwise be survivable with a helmet result in a debilitating or fatal injury.
Thorax
Chest injuries are almost as common as head injuries.
Common chest injuries from motorcycle crashes include:
- Broken ribs
- Strained chest muscles and tendons
- Collapsed lung
Like head injuries, thoracic injuries can cause permanent disabilities or death. For example, a broken rib can pierce the chest wall and damage the lungs, heart, or major blood vessels.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Experienced Denver Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
A motorcycle accident injury can leave you struggling with significant financial and physical hardships. Contact Zaner Harden Law for a free consultation to discuss your injuries and potential compensation under Colorado law.
