Motor bike safety is a primary concern due to the unique design of the vehicle and methods of operation. Compared with automobiles the fatality rate for motor bikes is more than double. Serious injuries are fifty times greater. It is not mandatory to wear safety gear such as helmets, ear plugs and protective clothing in most places in the U.S. and this contributes to the elevated seriousness of injuries occurring in motorcycle accidents.
When a rider loses control through some form of mishap or collision there are various types of common injuries sustained. Most roadsides are designed with signs, fences, lampposts and other furnishings that create consequences for a rider during sudden, unexpected contact. The most serious are brain damage and concussions caused when the head violently impacts an object. There is no structural damage to the brain with a concussion, but there is a temporary change in brain function and most treatment is aimed at controlling headaches and dizziness. More serious head trauma can result in short or long term coma situations. Some riders never come out of the coma. For those that do, their level of recovery is based on the severity of the impact but it usually takes several months. Some never fully recover their ability to function normally.
The joints are particularly vulnerable during a motorcycle crash. The shoulder and pelvis typically get broken, but fractures to the shoulders, elbows, knees, hips, wrists, fingers, neck and spine happen with an unfortunate regularity. Depending on the severity of the bone or joint fracture it can be treated in various ways. Most often, several weeks in a cast allows the bone tissue to heal but sometimes surgery is necessary. Bolting the bones together with permanent rods and pins is the worst case scenario. On average a fracture takes 6 to 8 weeks to heal, but multiple breaks requiring surgery can take many months to repair.
Skin, muscle and other soft tissue damage occurs when the rider is thrown off the bike and slides across the road or ground surface at high speed. Biker's road rash is quite common even at lower speeds. This is relatively easy to handle with first aid treatment using bandages and antiseptics. With proper care there will be no scarring and after 6 to 8 weeks the damage is generally not noticeable.
A frequent injury when a motor bike accident happens is nerve damage to the rider's upper arms from the impact of a fall. This can result in paralysis or limited movement in the arms and hands. Medications including pain relievers, tricyclic antidepressants and anti-seizure medications can be prescribed. Surgery and physical therapy may also alleviate the symptoms and treatment may continue for up to 6 months. In severe cases full recovery does not occur.
When the rider is not wearing a helmet the chances of facial disfigurement increase. Smashing face first into an object or the handle bars of the motorcycle causes serious injury. As the unprotected face slides across the asphalt or gravel on the road it can be badly mutilated. Treatment for these injuries depends on the entire scope of the damage. It can include traditional first aid treatment, wiring a broken jaw, bone grafts, skin grafts, dental surgery and plastic surgery. Serious facial damage can take up to a year of surgeries to repair. Rehabilitation for such injuries is costly and person injury claims may be necessary to cover costs. The best course a rider can take to prevent this is to learn comprehensive safety techniques and put them into practice.
