Burning Rubber – 4 Most Common Injuries Suffered by Motorcycle Riders

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For some, there’s nothing better than taking a motorcycle on a long trip through the wilderness with the sun in the sky and the wind in their hair. However, no matter how exciting riding a motorbike is, there is no denying that they can be a dangerous form of transport as they do not have the same safety features as cars and other vehicles do. Riders can contract severe injuries if involved in an accident. Here are 4 of the most common injuries suffered by motorcycle riders.

Head Injuries

Sadly, injuries to the head and neck are the most common injuries sustained in motorcycle accidents.  Although helmets will protect your skull to a degree, they can still crack and shatter if the crash’s impact is severe.  A motorcyclist can sustain head and neck injuries if they hit a bump in the road or are hit by another vehicle and thrown headfirst from the motorbike. These types of injuries can be extremely debilitating and may cause the loss of cognitive and motor functions. Suppose you have been in an accident that was caused by another driver’s negligence or inferior road conditions. In that case, it is essential that you seek assistance for compensation to ensure that you can cope financially if you are unable to work due to the injuries.

Road Rash

Road rash occurs when the skin comes in contact with a rough surface, so if you are thrown off your motorbike, chances are you will experience this as your skin is scraped along the road surface at high speed. Your skin is unable to stretch sufficiently enough to counteract the trauma. Layers of the skin will be shredded away, leaving a raw wound oozing blood.

Mild road rash can be treated with soapy water to clean the wound and then wrapped in gauze.   If the damage to the skin is severe, medical attention will be required. A tetanus shot may be necessary and careful attention must be given to the wounds to prevent infection. Bruising or damage to the tendons, muscles, nerves, and blood vessels may go hand-in-hand with severe road rash.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Being thrown off a motorcycle or hit by another vehicle may cause damage to the spinal cord. The spinal cord nerves send messages to the brain, and if these are severed or damaged, these messages cannot get through, and some bodily functions may be lost. The spinal cord cannot repair itself, so brain damage and paralysis caused by injury is usually permanent. Damage to the spinal cord can cause circulatory and breathing problems, muscle wastage, bladder and bowel incontinence, depression, and sexual dysfunction. In the worst cases, a spinal injury will cause paralysis or death.

Broken Bones

Broken bones are a common injury suffered in a road accident.  As motorcycles have limited protective barriers and safety features, riders are exposed to more danger than any other vehicle driver.  While thick, padded motorcycle leathers may provide some protection against scrapes and bruises, they give limited shielding against broken bones.