Rs Law Offices/Our blog/The Most Common Types of Motorcycle Injury

The Most Common Types of Motorcycle Injury

26/03/2022

The Most Common Types of Motorcycle Crashes

According to the National Institute of Health, there are four main types of motorcycle crashes. Distinguishing these by category helps determine patterns that can later be used to help treat such accidents. The four main types are:

  • Collision: This occurs when a motorcycle rider experiences deceleration forces and blunt trauma after being struck by a stationary object
  • Lowside: This is when the motorcycle rider, during a turn, falls to the lowside of the angle to which they are leaning
  • Highside: This occurs when a motorcycle rider turns, but falls to the opposite side while trying to correct their turn. This causes the motorcycle to flip, and causes the motorcycle rider to be thrown from the vehicle
  • Topside: The motorcycle rider is flipped over the motorcycle’s handlebars after a sudden deceleration

The Most Common Injuries on a Motorcycle

In the same study, the types of injury resulting from those crash types were also broken down. Riders of motorcycles are six times more likely to be involved in an accident than a driver of a motor vehicle. Understanding these types of injury makes them easier to identify, and therefore treat, by medical professionals.

  • Head-leading collisions: These injuries occur after a motorcycle
    rider is thrown from the motorcycle and usually present with obvious
    head trauma. Skull fractures, contusions and soft tissue injuries are typical,
    as are traumatic brain injuries.
  • Direct vertical impact: This type of injury is often incurred when
    a rider hits their shoulder on a pole or road sign at high speed.
    This can fracture the clavicle or scapula, the forearm, as well as the hand and wrist.
  • Motorcycle radius:  Due to a tendency when thrown from a motorcycle
    to extend one’s arms to brace the body, the radius bone often absorbs
    much of this impact, causing it to fracture.
  • Motorcycle thumb: Also caused by bracing, as well as the locking of
    elbows, if a motorcyclist grips the handlebars during the impact, the
    pressure imparted through handlebars from the collision can injure
    the thumb and related ligaments.
  • Fuel tank injuries: When a motorcycle stops abruptly, injury can occur
    to the pelvis and bladder due to the high velocity.
  • Limb entrapment: When a limb is trapped between the motorcycle and
    a fixed object, it can cause fractures or other injuries, especially in the
    tibia, foot and ankle.
  • Tire Spoke Injury: When a rider’s foot is caught in the spokes of the
    motorcycle’s tire, they can suffer soft-tissue damage and have a high
    amputation risk.
  • Crash modifying maneuver: When a rider attempts to compensate for
    an impending crash by stretching out their leg, they may suffer fracture
    dislocations and mangled extremities.

Why Are Motorcycle Injuries Important to Distinguish?

Due to the scope of injuries that can happen on a motorcycle, medical professionals are often placed under immense pressure to identify the type of injury and potential treatment as rapidly as possible. While these types of patterns were identified and researched to help treat them quickly, it should also help to understand them to increase one’s own safeness when driving or riding a motorcycle.

blogs

You might like

Safety Tips for Rideshares

Companies like Uber, Lyft, and others have changed the game when it comes to the gig economy, the taxi industry, and, of course, just getting around in general. For most of us passengers, these ridesharing companies offer an increase in convenience, especially in California where public transport is not entirely dependable. Besides the convenience issue, […]

21/08/2021
Read more

Great Motorcycle Roads in Arizona

There’s no freer way to see the great state of Arizona than to travel it by motorcycle. Being one of the last gateways to the West Coast, our streets are manifold, so your options are virtually endless. Whether you’re touring to see the mountains, the wildlife, the succulents or other plants, or just visit towns […]

30/05/2022
Read more

Car Crashes and Pedestrians in LA

Every year, we check over grim statistics about car accidents, fatalities, damages, and injuries. We always hope that the number will go down, that we will have learned something from the previous years. Unfortunately, though, that is not always the case. But that doesn’t mean that it is not worth it to try. Just knowing […]

03/10/2021
Read more

Five Helpful Facts and Tips About Pedestrian Accidents

The pedestrian fatality rate in Arizona is more than double that of the national average, at 1.61 pedestrian deaths per 100,000 people. Most of these are male pedestrians, killed at a rate of almost three times as much as female pedestrians. Keeping pedestrians safe is everyone’s job, but as a pedestrian, you should understand the […]

26/09/2022
Read more

Staying Safe at Amusement Parks

Every family knows the joys of a day at the amusement park – the thrill of the rollercoasters, the taste of fried foods and sweets, and the splashy fun of a water ride. And while there can be downsides, like waiting in long lines, getting sunburned, or listening to screaming kids, most of these complaints […]

08/11/2021
Read more

Driving Tips for Warm Weather

As winter thaws and we move into spring and summer, the roads will soon begin filling up with road-trippers and people moving cross country. The more cars on the road, and the more freedom we have in that nice, warm weather, the more risk we’re at of some kind of accident. Here are a few […]

09/05/2022
Read more

Five Types of Truck Accidents

Trucks are paramount to our country’s economy. Over 15 million trucks move across the country, transporting consumer goods from one state to another every day. But despite their essential place in our society, trucks are pretty dangerous and pose a high risk to every road user. It pays to know the different types of accidents […]

09/07/2021
Read more

Tips for Avoiding Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycles as a mode of transportation are inherently moredangerous than others. Because of this, motorcycle drivers have an extra onus on them to be the safest drivers possible. Many motorcycle accidents are caused due to careless motorcycle driving, and while you may think you’re one of the safe ones, anyone can be caught off guard. […]

17/03/2023
Read more

Top 5 Reasons Why You Need a Personal Injury Lawyer

Accidents happen almost every time and sometimes so fast that you don’t have time to figure out the way forward. True, you might end up feeling stressed up because of the piling medical bills. The pilling finances might drain you, thus rendering you unable to work. Statistics reveal that more than 31 million people are […]

28/12/2020
Read more

The Car Crash and the Headache

As we slip into the cooler months, and there is more possibility of rain, it is important to keep safe on the road. Accidents happen, especially when it is raining out there in the desert. You know how to be safe – taking extra time on slippery surfaces, making sure you have your car inspected […]

24/01/2022
Read more

contact form

Get in touch

By providing your phone number, you agree to receive text messages from RS Law Offices. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies. View our Privacy Policy.