What are the Mostly Commonly Broken Bones in Motorcycle Accidents?
Motorcycle accidents can generate a significant amount of force and because riders are not protected from this force as much as they would be if they were inside a vehicle, they are far more likely to sustain blunt force trauma injuries, like broken bones. Read on to learn more about which bones are broken most often in motorcycle accidents and the potential complications that riders face.
Types of Fractures
There are a lot of different types of broken bones that an accident victim can sustain, with some of the most common including:
- Compact fractures, where the ends of the broken bone are driven into each other;
- Comminuted fractures, which occur when the bone shatters into multiple pieces;
- Compound fractures, in which the broken bone pierces through the skin;
- Segmental fractures, where a bone is broken in at least two places, leaving a segment of the bone separated; and
- Spiral fractures, which happen when a bone is broken in a twisting motion.
These are the most severe types of broken bones that a person can sustain and because they require so much force, are common injuries following motorcycle accidents. Not all the bones in the body are, however, equally prone to injury.
Common Broken Bones
Which bones break during a motorcycle accident depends on a number of factors, including the angle, location, and force of impact. Some of the most commonly broken bones (in a motorcycle accident) include:
- The fingers, hands, wrists, and lower arms;
- The lower legs, especially the tibia and fibula, which are thought to account for as many as 95 percent of motorcycle accident-related leg injuries;
- The pelvis and hips;
- The skull;
- The ribs, collarbone, and shoulders; and
- The vertebrae in the spine and neck.
How these injuries are treated and whether an injured party can expect to suffer from long-term problems will depend on the type and severity of the break. Broken bones in the arms and legs, for instance, can often be immobilized and so one they are treated, via surgery or a cast, will heal relatively quickly. More severe breaks, however, like compound fractures, will generally take a bit longer to heal. Broken collar bones, on the other hand, are more difficult to immobilize, so a victim may feel pain in that area for a longer period of time. Vertebral fractures are some of the most serious, as any puncturing of the spinal cord could result in paralysis.
There are also a lot of potential complications with broken bones, including infections at wound sites, nerve damage, reduced mobility, and joint pain. Fortunately, injured parties who can prove that their motorcycle accident was the result of someone else’s negligence could recover compensation not only for the cost of their medical treatment, but also for ongoing expenses, like physical therapy and wage loss.
Set Up a Meeting Today
To speak with an experienced Tulsa motorcycle accident lawyer about your own collision-related injuries, call Levinson Law, P.C. at 918-492-4433 and set up a free consultation. We know the physical, emotional, and financial toll that serious motorcycle accident injuries can take on victims and their families and will put our experience and resources to work in helping you attempt to obtain compensation for your losses.
Sources:
orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/fractures-broken-bones/
my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15241-bone-fractures
