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

The Most Unsafe Era for Pedestrians in 40 Years

Pedestrian safety is of utmost importance right now, and not just because pedestrians legally have the right of way in most places in the United States. Being asafer pedestrian is always key to avoiding injuries by being aware of ones surroundings and avoiding distractions, but as it stands, North Americans are not stemming the tide […]

24/02/2023
Read more

Cell Phones and Accidents on the Road

We have all done it. Even with the headsets, the hands-free devices, and the ability to connect your phone to your car, all of us have reached for the phone while driving. Whether it’s checking a quick text at a stoplight or messing around with your maps app while driving in a new place, the […]

20/12/2021
Read more

Accidents with the Uninsured

Let’s say the worst happens and you find yourself in a serious car accident. Even if everything after the crash goes according to plan, it is a difficult and confusing process. But if you add to all this the fact that the other person is not insured, you could be left facing an absolute nightmare. […]

14/06/2021
Read more

California Lemon Laws: How Exactly Do They Work?

Buying a car in California, whether brand new or slightly used is always an exciting experience. Even if you already have a few in your garage, the thought of painting the town red in a new ride is nothing but thrilling. So, it can be incredibly disappointing if your new or used car keeps on […]

14/07/2020
Read more

Looking Out for Motorcycles

In 2019, the number of deaths caused by motorcycles was found to be 29 times that of deaths caused by cars. Motorcycles can go very fast, they have no sides to protect the rider, they are more difficult to see on the road and they do not perform well in bad weather. While it is […]

11/10/2021
Read more

How Dangerous are Ride Shares?

Everyone with a smartphone now has access to the next generation of personalized, private transportation. It used to be a matter of calling and reserving a cab or, in some places, hailing one from the side of the road. Since ridesharing is a new phenomenon, however, all of the kinks are still being worked out, […]

02/11/2022
Read more

Common Causes for Tractor Trailer Accidents

There’s a good reason tractor trailers require a specialty license to operate them. They’re big, fast, heavy, and – in the wrong conditions – incredibly dangerous. It is estimated that 3.5 percent of all automobileaccidents each year involve tractor trailers. Around 4,600 of these result in some sort of fatality. This can be due to […]

16/12/2022
Read more

Car Airbag Injuries: What You Need to Know

Car airbags are designed to save lives in the event of a car crash. They are among the most innovative, auto-safety features of recent decades, and have even been proven effective in reducing driver mortality.  However, even though efficient, airbags are sometimes the reason behind fatalities. We explore various airbag defects, the type of injuries […]

08/03/2021
Read more

Holiday Travel Safety

As we get into the holiday season, it’s a good time to think of some relaxing times spent at home with loved ones. Having a nice meal, meeting new spouses and grandchildren, or just coming together finally after a long time apart- it is a period of joy and togetherness. For these reasons and more, […]

13/12/2021
Read more

Keeping Older Drivers Safe

A lot of us have had to have a talk with our grandparents or parents about how they are on the road. There comes a time when caring for yourself can become difficult, as an older person, especially when driving. What can you do to ensure the older person in your life is being safe […]

17/01/2022
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.