It is probably no surprise to hear that motorcycle accident injuries are often catastrophic. If you sustained injuries due to another driver’s negligence or reckless actions, you need an experienced Indiana motorcycle accident lawyer to represent you.

Insurance companies often hide behind arguments surrounding motorcycle dangers to avoid paying victims the money they deserve. That is why having an attorney represent you is so important. The skilled legal team at Church Church Hittle and Antrim understands the challenges of pursuing a motorcycle injury claim and is here to help.

Most Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries

Motorcycle riders can wind up with many horrendous injuries, although some are more common than others.

Road Rash

Road rash from a motorcycle accident is quite common because many riders slide across the ground after being thrown off their motorcycle. Road rash is much more severe than a bruise or minor scrape because it strips away multiple layers of your skin. In extreme cases, road rash from a motorcycle accident can even expose underlying muscle tissue.

Lower Extremities

Lower extremity injuries are also prevalent in motorcycle accidents because this part of the body often sustains a direct hit by a vehicle during a collision. Lower extremity injuries include feet, ankles, calves, and knees. While many of these injuries may not be fatal, they can be disabling.

Upper Extremity

Upper extremity injuries may be more common in people who ride larger and heavier motorcycles. The bigger bikes may protect lower extremities better than smaller ones. An example of an upper extremity injury is a forearm or hand fracture and lacerations.

Torso Injuries

According to the National Library of Medicine, older motorcycle riders are more prone to thoracic injuries and rib fractures. As safety technology has advanced and helmet use has increased, head injuries have decreased. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for thoracic injuries. At one point, motorcyclists accounted for nearly one-quarter of serious traffic-related thoracic trauma treated in hospitals, despite only representing 3.2% of the overall registered vehicle fleet.

Head and Neck Injuries

Even if a rider is wearing a helmet, there’s no guarantee that it will prevent all head injuries. But helmets can prevent or reduce the severity of impact in many cases. Motorcyclists who crash can wind up with a concussion, skull fracture, or traumatic brain injury.

Neck injuries tend to go hand in hand with head injuries in a motorcycle collision. You could also wind up with neck injuries when your head receives a hard blow, especially if it hits the pavement. Whiplash and herniated discs are common. A spinal cord injury in the neck could result in paralysis of the entire body.

While all bodily damage is concerning, head and neck injuries are especially problematic as they can worsen over time. You need a skilled Indiana motorcycle accident attorney to represent you and protect your interests if you sustained such injuries in a crash.

Spinal Cord Injuries

When you experience a strong impact, you could be left with spinal cord injuries. Your spinal cord is fragile, and any damage could be permanent. The most severe non-fatal spinal cord injuries can result in permanent paralysis, leaving an accident victim disabled for life.

Internal Injuries

Internal injuries from a motorcycle accident are also common. Damage typically occurs due to blunt-force trauma, which is a blow from something hard that does not break your skin. They also happen with penetrating injuries, where something sharp penetrates your body during an accident.

Motorcycle Accidents vs. Car Accidents

Riders lack the same protections that motor vehicle occupants have. In a collision, a motorcycle rider’s body can directly impact the road or other vehicle. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorcycle riders are 29 times more likely than people in passenger vehicles to die in a traffic collision.

Unlike some other states, Indiana has no universal helmet law. The only people required to wear a helmet in Indiana are those under 18. These same young riders and any rider with only a learner’s permit must also wear eye protection.

Other factors that can contribute to the severity of your injuries in a motorcycle crash are the size of the vehicle you collide with and the size of your motorcycle.

Contact an Indiana Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

If you sustained motorcycle accident injuries due to another driver’s negligence, don’t try to resolve the claim independently. Let our professional Indiana personal injury lawyers assist you. The legal team at CCHA Law has helped injured victims for over 140 years. We are incredibly familiar with how the insurance claims process works and the tactics insurance companies use to avoid paying you the money you are entitled to.

Motorcycle accident claims can be complicated to resolve in Indiana. Claims involving permanent injuries require experts who can review your case and evaluate how much money you need in the future for medical expenses and other care related to a catastrophic injury. Don’t risk your future settlement. Contact CCHA Law today to schedule an initial consultation.