Motorcycle accidents donโt happen as often as car crashes, but when they do, they usually cause more serious injuries.
One of the most important things that affect the type and severity of injuries in a motorcycle crash is whether the rider was wearing a helmet.
A helmet might seem like a small thing, but it plays a major role in preventing life-threatening injuries.
Riders without helmets are more than twice as likely to suffer from a serious brain injury compared to those who wear helmets.
Without a helmet, riders also face a higher chance of ending up in the intensive care unit or needing to be put on a ventilator.
Besides the health risks, not wearing a helmet can also complicate things legally. If youโre in a crash and need to deal with insurance or legal matters, not having a helmet could affect your case.
Thatโs why people need legal help for motorcycle accidents to handle claims, prove liability, and secure compensation, especially when the injuries are severe or long-term.
What the Data Shows About Injuries
Although motorcycles make up just 3% of all registered vehicles and only 0.6% of all vehicle miles traveled in the U.S., motorcyclists accounted for 15.5% of all traffic fatalities and 3.4% of all injuries in 2023.
Each year, over 4,500 motorcyclists lose their lives in crashes, and about 37% of those deaths involve head injuries.
Other common serious injuries in motorcycle crashes involve the spine, chest, arms, and legs. Injuries such as face fractures can also lead to disfigurement, vision problems, or even loss of basic functions like speaking clearly or chewing food.
Why the Legs Take So Much Damage
One area thatโs often overlooked in these crashes is the lower body. The legs take a lot of the impact during a motorcycle crash, especially when the rider hits the ground or another vehicle.
Fractures of the tibia and fibula (i.e., the bones in your lower leg) were the most common. These are often open fractures, meaning the bone breaks through the skin, which increases the risk of infection and long healing times.
Thereโs even a type of injury thatโs been nicknamed the motorcycle radius because it happens so often. It refers to a shattered wrist bone thatโs hard to fix and usually needs surgery.
Traumatic amputations were less common, but when they happened, they were always in the legs. These leg injuries can take months or even years to fully recover from, and many people never get back full movement.
How the Body Moves During a Crash
During a crash, the body is usually thrown off the bike. That means the direction and speed of the crash can lead to different types of injuries.
For example, a rider thrown forward may land on their arms or head, leading to skull fractures or broken forearms. If the body twists mid-air or hits a hard surface at an angle, spinal injuries can happen.
Thoracic injuries, including collapsed lungs or broken ribs, are also common when the chest hits the handlebars or the ground.
Some of these internal injuries are hard to spot at first but can become life-threatening if not treated quickly.
The Bottom Line on Prevention
The easiest way to reduce injury in a motorcycle crash is to wear protective gear, especially a helmet.
Helmets clearly reduce head injuries and lower the chance of dying. They donโt increase the risk of spinal injuries, and they can make the difference between walking away from a crash or ending up in intensive care or worse.
