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Key Takeaways
- Motorcycle accident injuries are often severe due to a lack of physical protection, even in low-speed crashes.
- Common injuries include road rash, fractures, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, internal injuries, and nerve damage.
- Some injuries do not exhibit symptoms immediately, making prompt medical attention critical.
- Motorcycle injuries frequently lead to long-term physical, emotional, and financial challenges that require careful documentation and legal support.
Motorcycle accidents often result in far more serious injuries than crashes involving passenger vehicles—everything from cuts, bruises, and road rash, to broken bones, brain injuries, and nerve damage. Without the protection of an enclosed frame, riders are vulnerable to direct impact with the road, other vehicles, and surrounding objects. Even a single moment of driver negligence can leave a motorcyclist facing painful injuries, extended recovery, and uncertainty about work and finances.
If you are trying to understand the most common injuries in motorcycle accidents or what those injuries may mean for your future, this guide can help. Below, NST Law explains the injuries riders most often experience, warning signs that should never be ignored, and when it may be time to seek legal guidance to protect your health and financial recovery.
- Why Motorcycle Crashes Cause More Serious Injuries
- Types of Injuries Caused by Motorcycle Accidents
- Warning Signs of Serious Motorcycle Accident Injuries
- Long-Term Complications of Motorcycle Injuries
- When To Contact a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
- How Our Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Can Help You
- Frequently Asked Questions About Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Why Motorcycle Crashes Cause More Serious Injuries
Even in low-speed accidents, motorcyclists can suffer serious harm. Since motorcycles leave riders completely exposed without protective features like airbags, a collision can easily throw a rider into the road. Their smaller size compared to cars also increases the risk of being hit if drivers aren’t watching for motorcycles.
Head trauma is one of the most frequently reported injuries after a motorcycle accident, and victims often report multiple injuries. Riders face the risk of more severe injuries if they do not wear a helmet or protective gear, which provides some protection from the impact of a collision.
Types of Injuries Caused by Motorcycle Accidents
Although motorcycles make up a small percentage of registered vehicles, they account for a disproportionately high number of serious injuries and fatalities each year. Common motorcycle accident injuries include broken bones, head injuries, road rash, and spinal trauma.
Road Rash & Soft Tissue Injuries
Road rash is a common injury suffered when a rider is thrown from their bike and their body scrapes against the hard pavement, causing friction burns and skin damage. This can be very painful and leave your skin vulnerable, increasing the risk of infection during the healing process. Road rash can also leave significant scarring. Wearing protective gear, long clothing, and leather can help lower the risk of skin injuries in an accident.
Broken Bones & Fractures
The impact of a collision can cause riders to be thrown from their bike onto the road or trapped between vehicles. This can result in broken bones or fractures in the arms or wrists, legs, ribs, collarbones, and pelvis. These fractures can lead to swelling, intense pain, an inability to move or touch the area, and some broken bones might need surgery to repair.
Head Injuries & Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
Concussions, skull fractures, and traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can happen in a motorcycle accident when the brain moves inside the skull due to the harsh impact. Common signs of these injuries include nausea, blurred vision, dizziness, headaches, and trouble focusing.
More severe TBIs have similar symptoms but may be more intense, such as seizures, vomiting, slurred speech, mood swings, and personality changes. TBIs and concussions can also have delayed symptoms that don’t appear right away, but they can lead to long-term cognitive changes or problems.
Spinal Cord Injuries & Paralysis
High-speed accidents or even minor collisions can lead to injuries to the back and spine, such as fractures, herniated discs, and damage to the spinal cord. Spinal cord injuries from motorcycle crashes often show symptoms like back pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the arms and legs, along with limited mobility. Damage to the spinal cord can also result in partial or full paralysis.
Internal Injuries
Internal injuries, including internal bleeding or organ damage, can be life-threatening if left untreated. Symptoms may include abdominal pain, swelling, dark bruising, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, or loss of consciousness. Because these injuries are not always visible, immediate medical evaluation is critical after a motorcycle crash.
Nerve Damage & Amputations
Motorcycle crashes can also cause severe nerve damage. Nerve injuries may result in sharp or burning pain, numbness, weakness, or loss of coordination, which can sometimes be permanent.
One example is brachial plexus injury, sometimes referred to as “biker’s arm,” which can occur when a rider instinctively braces for impact or lands forcefully on the shoulder or arm. In serious crashes involving crush injuries, limbs may be damaged beyond repair, making amputation medically necessary.
Warning Signs of Serious Motorcycle Accident Injuries
You should seek medical attention as soon as possible after a motorcycle accident, even if you don’t notice any symptoms right away. Some injuries, like TBIs or spinal cord injuries, may not show obvious symptoms initially. Delayed symptoms can prevent you from feeling the effects of an injury for hours or even days after an accident, but not getting care risks these injuries worsening.
You should seek medical attention immediately if your symptoms suddenly worsen or if you experience:
- Severe pain that isn’t improving
- Numbness near the injury
- Inability to use, touch, or put weight on the injured part
- Difficulty breathing
- Signs of an infection, like a fever
- Extreme bruising or swelling
Seeking medical care after your motorcycle crash ensures your safety and creates medical documentation of your injuries. This documentation is crucial for supporting a claim for damages.
Long-Term Complications of Motorcycle Injuries
Motorcycle accident injuries often have lasting consequences. Traumatic brain injuries may affect memory, concentration, or emotional regulation, while spinal injuries can limit mobility and independence long after physical healing. Serious injuries may also interfere with your ability to return to work or earn a living.
Beyond physical harm, many riders experience emotional trauma, including anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Early medical care plays a critical role in recovery, while timely legal guidance helps preserve evidence, document damages, and protect your right to compensation.
When To Contact a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
You may benefit from speaking with a motorcycle accident lawyer if your injuries are serious, require ongoing care, or affect your ability to work or enjoy daily life. Legal representation is especially important when fault is disputed, insurance companies minimize injuries, or you feel pressured to accept a quick settlement.
The motorcycle accident lawyers at NST Law have over 35 years of experience representing injured motorcyclists and have secured billions in compensation for clients across the South. Our team thoroughly investigates crashes, preserves evidence, identifies all liable parties, and prepares every case as if it may go to trial.
How Our Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Can Help You
NST Law operates on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront costs and no attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you. From the start, our team focuses on minimizing delays, managing insurance communications, and protecting your interests so you can focus on healing.
Guided by the Six Pillars of NST Law, we remain committed to compassionate care, clear client communication, personalized service, and accessibility. Since our founding in 1990, our mission has remained the same: to advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves. Check out our testimonials to see how we’ve helped motorcycle accident victims pursue fair compensation.
We are passionate about our clients and the communities we serve. If you were injured by someone else’s negligence, contact us today for a free consultation or call (800) 529-4004.
Frequently Asked Questions About Motorcycle Accident Injuries
What If My Motorcycle Injury Symptoms Appear Days After The Crash?
If you start to notice injury symptoms days after your motorcycle accident, seek medical care immediately. Getting treatment will help diagnose your condition, prevent your injuries from worsening, and document the extent of your injuries.
Can I Get Compensation If I Wasn’t Wearing A Helmet?
You may still be able to pursue compensation even if you were not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. However, helmet laws and comparative fault rules vary from state to state. In some cases, the insurance company may argue that helmet use could have reduced certain injuries, which could affect how damages are evaluated. An experienced motorcycle accident attorney can explain how state-specific laws apply to your case.
How Do Insurance Companies Evaluate Motorcycle Accident Injuries?
Insurance will assess your motorcycle accident injuries by determining fault in the crash, evaluating your injuries and their severity, and considering the economic and non-economic losses you suffered because of them.
What Medical Records Or Documentation Should I Gather After A Motorcycle Injury?
Keep all documentation related to your motorcycle accident and injuries, including medical records, bills, doctors’ notes, and any other care-related documents received after the accident. You should collect the police and accident report, any repair estimates for your motorcycle, your financial records, and any photos of the accident and your injuries.
How Long Do Motorcycle Accident Injury Claims Typically Take To Resolve?
Motorcycle accident claims can take anywhere from several months to over a year, depending on the severity of the injury, the extent of medical recovery, and whether litigation is required. Statutes of limitations vary by state, so speaking with a lawyer as soon as possible helps protect your right to file a claim within the required timeframe.
