According to the Texas Department of Transportation, more than 9,000 motorcycle accidents occur each year, leading to a long list of common motorcycle accident injuries, some worse than others.
The TxDOT reports that almost 2,500 motorcyclists are injured during motorcycle crashes annually. Some walk away suffering from little more than road rash, an abrasion caused by skin scraping up against asphalt, gravel, and other surfaces. However, many sustain more severe injuries.
Learn about five other common motorcycle accident injuries in Texas below.
1. Broken Bones
The human body contains over 200 bones, many of which may break during motorcycle accidents. Bones susceptible to fractures during motorcycle crashes include those in the:
- Fingers
- Wrists
- Arms
- Hips
- Legs
- Feet
Leg and foot injuries, in particular, are prevalent in motorcycle accidents. They limit the mobility of motorcyclists in the aftermath of crashes.
2. Soft Tissue Damage
The bones in a motorcyclist’s body aren’t the only things at risk during a motorcycle accident. Riders may also sustain soft tissue damage that impacts their muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
They might, for example, suffer a brachial plexus injury. This type of injury greatly impacts the shoulder and the nerves that run from a person’s spinal cord to their arms and hands.
Soft tissue damage might not sound as bad as broken bones or some other common motorcycle accident injuries in Texas. However, it can cause pain, numbness, and weakness. It may even limit a person’s mobility.
3. Internal Injuries
On the outside, someone who was involved in a motorcycle accident might not appear as though they were injured badly. However, they may have sustained internal injuries that sit just below the surface and pose a serious threat.
These injuries do lasting damage to a person’s kidneys, liver, and other internal organs. A motorcyclist might also suffer from internal bleeding, which is caused by damage done to blood vessels due to the blunt force trauma they face.
4. Traumatic Brain Injury
According to the Brain Trauma Foundation, about 2.5 million Americans suffer traumatic brain injuries each year. Around 20% of TBIs are caused by motor vehicle accidents.
Fortunately, wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle minimizes the chances of a person being diagnosed with a TBI following a crash. However, because Texans over 21 aren’t legally required to wear a helmet in many instances, not all motorcyclists use them. This at least partially explains why TBIs remain common motorcycle accident injuries in Texas.
5. Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal cord injuries aren’t quite as common as traumatic brain injuries. Only about 18,000 new spinal cord injuries are diagnosed in the U.S. annually.
Nearly 40% of spinal cord injuries stem from motor vehicle accidents, including motorcycle crashes. These are some of the worst motorcycle accident injuries, as they can change the lives of motorcyclists forever in an instant.
SCIs usually cause long-term disabilities and even paralyze people in certain cases. Motorcyclists who suffer from SCIs caused by crashes should take the appropriate legal steps to regain control of their lives.
Did You Sustain Any Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries? Let Us Explain Your Legal Options
If you sustained one or more of the common motorcycle accident injuries mentioned here, you might find it will impact your life even more than you could have ever imagined. Dow Law Firm can help you begin to put the pieces back together after a motorcycle crash.
Interested in discovering more about your legal options following a motorcycle accident? Give us a call at 512-240-9951 or complete this brief form to arrange a consultation with our experienced legal team.