What Are the Most Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries in St. Louis, MO?

Every year, thousands of Missouri motorcycle riders suffer serious injuries from motorcycle accidents. In many cases, these incidents involve passenger cars or semi-trucks colliding with motorcycle riders, so it’s no surprise that the injuries are often severe or even fatal.

While wearing a helmet and other safety gear can decrease your chances of being seriously injured in a St. Louis, MO motorcycle accident, sometimes it’s not enough to avoid injury when a negligent driver hits your motorcycle. Before you get on your bike, you should learn what some of the most common motorcycle accident injuries are and what to do if you ever suffer one of these painful injuries in a crash.

What’s the Most Common Motorcycle Accident Injury?

The most common injury motorcyclists suffer is road rash. This skin abrasion occurs when tissue makes contact with a rough surface, such as the road. It can look and feel like a burn, depending on severity. In fact, there are different degrees of road rash, similar to burns.

First-degree road rash is the least severe kind, as it causes bruising, redness, and sometimes bleeding. Second-degree road rash usually bleeds and swells quite a bit, as muscle and nerves may be exposed. Third-degree road rash is the most severe, as the skin is gone from the area and may lead to the bone being exposed.

Fortunately, road rash is not usually a life-threatening injury, but it is extremely painful and can cause scarring, infections, and other medical complications if not cleaned and treated right away. This is why you should see a doctor immediately after a motorcycle accident in St. Louis, MO, even if your only injury is minor road rash.

What Are Other Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries?

Broken bones are also very common injuries for motorcyclists to suffer, especially in the arms and legs. Some of the bones in the lower extremities are the most likely to be affected by this type of crash, including the pelvis, shins, knees, femurs, ankles, hips, and feet.

Broken bones in the upper extremities are also common. Examples include the forearms, upper arms, clavicle, wrists, hands, ribs, shoulders, and even fingers.

Other common motorcycle accident injuries that can be serious include limb amputations, burns, organ damage, and open wounds. You should get medical attention immediately after your motorcycle crash to identify and treat all your injuries before they become worse.

What Are the Most Severe Injuries in St. Louis, MO Motorcycle Accidents?

Road rash and broken bones may be the most common motorcycle accident injuries, but they’re not typically the most severe. Some injuries can be life-threatening or could lead to disability, especially if you don’t get immediate treatment for them.

One of the most severe motorcycle accident injuries is traumatic brain injury (TBI). This is most common for motorcyclists who are thrown off their bike on impact, especially if they’re not wearing a helmet. A TBI can cause permanent brain damage or death. In fact, head injuries are the leading cause of death for motorcyclists who pass away due to an accident.

Spinal cord injuries are also severe and are most common when motorcyclists are ejected from the bike. If your spine is broken due to a motorcycle accident, you might need to spend months learning how to walk again. In some cases, spinal cord injuries lead to paralysis or even death.

If you’re the victim of a motorcycle accident in St. Louis, your first step should be to call an ambulance for medical care. Once you’re on the way to recovery, you should call a St. Louis, MO motorcycle accident lawyer to discuss the details of the crash. You might be able to bring a personal injury claim against the at-fault party, which can result in the money you need to pay for your medical bills, motorcycle repairs or replacement, and lost wages.

At Jett Accident & Injury Lawyers, we have handled motorcycle accident claims for clients who were severely injured due to the other driver’s negligence. We’ll work hard to get you the compensation you deserve for your medical expenses and more. Call us at 314-501-9509 to schedule a free consultation.