Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries in North Carolina

Motorcycle accidents can result in severe and life-altering injuries, especially in North Carolina, where motorcyclists enjoy scenic roadways but also face various risks on the road. Common motorcycle accident injuries in North Carolina range from fractures and road rash to traumatic brain injuries, and all have their own special demands on the victims and their families.

Understanding the Risks Motorcyclists Face

Motorcycle riders don’t have airbags or steel frames like a car does. Even with a helmet, riders can still be badly injured, especially when involved in a bigger vehicle. This list of common injuries helps motorcyclists stay on top of the dangers and victims understand how to recover and pursue their legal options after accidents.

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)

Brain trauma is one of the worst motorcyclists can sustain, especially if you get thrown from your bike. Helmets lower the danger but can’t stop every head injury. TBIs can include concussions and severe brain damage that could result in cognitive loss, recollection, and disability for life. When a TBI heals, it’s generally after intense rehabilitation and even more so in cases where it permanently changes the quality of life.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Damage to the spinal cord is debilitating and can cause partial or total paralysis. During a motorcycle accident in the back or neck, the spinal cord can be sliced, and loss of movement and feeling is experienced below the injury location. Spinal cord injuries are possibly treated with surgery, physical therapy, and adapted equipment, but recovery doesn’t always happen, which is why these types of injuries are the most difficult.

Fractures and Broken Bones

Broken bones in motorcycle accidents are usually caused by falling or smashing other cars. Motorcyclists break legs, arms, wrists, and collarbones. Fractures are often treated with casting, surgery, and a lot of extended physical therapy to restore function, depending on the extent of the injury. Riders can also have multiple fractures and need many surgeries to recover from.

Road Rash and Soft Tissue Injury Damage

If a motorcyclist is flung onto the road, they can sustain horrific skin cuts, which are also known as road rash. Road rash occurs when the rough skin slides on the road and leaves cuts, bruises, and infected areas. Road rash can be mitigated by road-rash gear but, even with such equipment, riders can sustain skin injuries, ligament damage, and muscle strains.

Internal Injuries

Internal injuries like organ damage or internal bleeding are harder to detect after an accident, yet these injuries are severe, and they need immediate medical attention. The internal injuries are usually the result of blunt force trauma, such as in a car accident at high speed, and often require surgery to keep complications at bay.

The Road to Recovery: What to Expect

After a motorcycle crash, recovery can be a slow, torturous process involving several different treatments, rehabilitation, and lifestyle changes. Depending on the nature and severity of the injury, the degree of recovery varies. Some require multiple surgeries, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. An emotional support system and psychotherapy can also be essential to recovery because managing chronic wounds can cause anxiety, depression, or PTSD.

Doctor bills, missed work, and pain and suffering add costs to the physical and emotional load. Finding money to pay for it might be the right course of action to reduce these costs and provide medical treatment as you continue your journey. A personal injury attorney can walk you through it, working with insurance companies and for you in court if necessary.

FAQs

What Should I Do Immediately After a Motorcycle Accident?

After a motorcycle accident, first prioritize your safety by moving to a safe spot, if possible. Contact emergency services for medical assistance, as some injuries may not be immediately noticeable. Collect information from other drivers and witnesses, take photos of the scene, and get a medical evaluation as soon as possible to document any injuries for future legal or insurance purposes.

Can Wearing Protective Gear Prevent All Injuries in a Motorcycle Accident?

Helmets, gloves, and hardshell jackets can lessen the damage from injury, but they can’t eliminate it, especially in severe crashes. Traumatic brain injury is reduced with a helmet, and road rash is prevented with gloves and jackets. But there are still fractures, internal injuries, and spinal damage that can be incurred by force from accidents with other cars or things that aren’t moving.

What If My Injuries Aren’t Immediately Noticeable After a Motorcycle Accident?

Some injuries like a bruise, an internal injury, or a concussion do not present immediately. Seek medical attention following an accident, even if you’re feeling okay, to detect unobserved injuries. The symptoms may surface hours or days later, so contacting a doctor will help identify all the injuries and record them for any eventual compensation claims.

Can I Seek Compensation for Pain and Suffering After a Motorcycle Accident?

If the accident resulted from another driver’s negligence, you may be eligible to seek compensation for pain and suffering. This type of compensation addresses the physical pain, emotional trauma, and loss of enjoyment of life caused by the accident. Pain and suffering compensation are typically awarded alongside damages for medical expenses and lost income, helping to provide full support for your recovery.

Should I Hire a Lawyer After a Motorcycle Accident?

Having a motorcycle accident lawyer by your side can be very helpful if you are suffering significant damage. You need an attorney who will get you evidence, speak to the insurance companies, and take you through the court system to help you get the right amount for medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. When you work with an attorney, you can get on with recovery while still safeguarding your rights and maximizing your claim.

Contact a North Carolina Personal Injury Attorney

The trauma of motorcycle crashes is terrible, and the physical injuries are life-changing. In this time of recovery and economic burden, having an attorney on your side is a must. Law Office of Lyndon R. Helton, PLLC, provides sympathetic, skilled legal counsel to motorcyclist crash victims to obtain compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and emotional distress.

Contact us now for a consultation, if you’re in Burke County, Catawba County, Caldwell County, or surrounding areas, and let us get you on the road to recovery in peace and comfort.