At Mogy Law Firm, we fight for people who need strong legal help after a serious injury or criminal charge. We handle personal injury and criminal defense cases across Tennessee, with offices in Memphis, Nashville, Birmingham, and Murray. Our team offers free consultations and charges a 25% contingency fee in injury cases, less than many firms. We’re here to protect your rights and work for the best outcome in every case.
Motorcycle accident injuries are often severe and life-changing. Riders face a higher risk of serious injury or death compared to people in other vehicles. In Tennessee, thousands of motorcyclists are injured each year in crashes caused by distracted drivers, poor road conditions, and high speeds. Understanding the common types of motorcycle accident injuries and knowing your legal rights is critical after a crash. At Mogy Law Firm, we help injured motorcyclists fight for the compensation they deserve.
In this blog, we explain the most common motorcycle accident injuries, the factors that make crashes more dangerous, and why working with an experienced Memphis motorcycle accident attorney at Mogy Law Firm is important for protecting your rights and securing fair compensation.
Why Motorcycle Riders Face a Higher Risk of Severe Injuries
Motorcycle riders are more exposed to serious injury in a crash compared to drivers in other vehicles. Several factors explain why motorcycle accident injuries are often severe or fatal.
Lack of Protection
Motorcycles do not have the external structure that protects occupants in cars or trucks. In a collision, the body of the rider absorbs the full impact. This direct contact leads to serious motorcycle accident injuries such as spinal injuries, head trauma, and lower extremity injuries.
Smaller Size and Visibility
Motorcycles are smaller than other vehicles. Drivers often fail to see motorcycles when changing lanes or turning. This low visibility increases the risk of motorcycle crashes. Injured motorcyclists in these accidents often suffer from blunt force trauma, broken arms, rib fractures, and internal bleeding.
Instability of Two Wheels
Motorcycles balance on two wheels, not four. This design makes them less stable. Riders are at higher risk of losing control during sudden stops, sharp turns, or when hitting debris. Motorcycle accident victims may sustain serious injuries such as spinal cord damage, nerve damage, and abdominal injuries.
Speed and Severity of Impact
Many motorcycle crashes happen at high speeds. Without a protective frame, the rider’s body suffers the brunt of the collision. High-speed crashes often cause traumatic brain injury, severe road rash, and permanent scarring.
Helmet Use and Head Injuries
Tennessee law (T.C.A. § 55-9-302) requires motorcycle riders to wear helmets. However, even with helmets, injured riders can still suffer fatal head injuries or brain damage in serious crashes. Unhelmeted riders face an even greater risk of head trauma and death.
Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Motorcycle accident injuries are often severe because riders have little protection from direct impact. Certain types of injuries occur more often than others in motorcycle crashes.
Head Injuries and Traumatic Brain Injury
Head injuries are one of the most serious threats to motorcycle riders. Even when wearing a helmet, riders can suffer traumatic brain injury, head trauma, and permanent brain damage. These injuries may cause chronic pain, memory loss, and permanent impairment. Head injuries are a leading cause of death among injured motorcyclists.
Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis
Spinal injuries are common when a rider is thrown from the motorcycle. Damage to the spinal cord can cause partial or complete paralysis. Injuries to the neck and back may lead to lifelong nerve damage and chronic pain. Severe spinal cord injuries often leave motorcycle accident victims with permanent disabilities.
Lower Extremity Injuries
The rider’s legs are often the first part of the body to strike the ground or another vehicle. Lower extremity injuries include broken legs, crushed knees, fractured ankles, and deep lacerations. Riders may also suffer abdominal injuries and internal bleeding if struck by other vehicles.
Upper Extremity Injuries and Biker’s Arm
When riders try to break their fall during a crash, they often land on their arms and hands. This impact can cause broken arms, dislocated shoulders, and biker’s arm. Biker’s arm refers to nerve damage that occurs when the upper extremity takes the force of a crash.
Road Rash and Skin Damage
Road rash happens when a rider slides across the pavement during a collision. Severe road rash can strip away layers of skin and require skin grafts to heal. Motorcycle accident victims with serious road rash injuries may experience permanent scarring, infection, and long-term mobility problems.
Factors that Increase the Risk of Serious Injury
Several factors can increase the severity of motorcycle accident injuries. Understanding these risks can help riders take steps to protect themselves.
Speed at the Time of the Crash
Speed plays a major role in the severity of motorcycle crashes. High-speed collisions produce greater blunt force trauma and more serious injury. Injured motorcyclists often suffer traumatic brain injury, spinal injuries, and internal bleeding when crashes occur at higher speeds.
Lack of Helmet Use
Helmets protect riders from fatal head injuries. Tennessee law requires all riders to wear helmets. Unhelmeted riders have a much higher risk of brain damage, head trauma, and death. Even among helmeted riders, serious head injuries can still occur.
Older Riders and Physical Limitations
Older riders face a greater risk of severe motorcycle accident injuries. Slower reaction times, decreased balance, and weaker bones contribute to more serious injury outcomes. Studies show that older injured riders are more likely to suffer spinal cord damage, rib fractures, and chronic pain.
Road Conditions and Weather
Wet roads, loose gravel, and poor lighting increase the risk of motorcycle crashes. Riders are more likely to lose control when surfaces are slick or uneven. Motorcycle accident victims injured under these conditions often experience lower extremity injuries, road rash, and nerve damage.
Involvement of Other Vehicles
Many motorcycle crashes involve other drivers who fail to yield, change lanes without checking, or drive distracted. When other vehicles are involved, the force of impact is often greater, leading to severe trauma to the body, internal organs, and the spinal cord.
The Importance of Hiring a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Hiring a motorcycle accident lawyer can make the difference between a denied claim and fair compensation for motorcycle accident injuries. Injured riders need strong legal help to recover damages and protect their rights.
How a Motorcycle Accident Attorney Helps Injured Motorcyclists
A motorcycle accident attorney understands the injuries sustained by motorcycle accident victims and knows how to build a strong case. Attorneys collect evidence, interview witnesses, negotiate with insurance companies, and fight for full compensation. Injured motorcyclists often face high medical bills, lost wages, permanent impairment, and chronic pain. A skilled lawyer works to recover damages for these losses.
Why Legal Representation is Critical After Serious Injury
Motorcycle accident injuries often cause serious injury or permanent disability. Insurance companies try to minimize payouts or deny claims. Without a motorcycle accident lawyer, injured riders may accept low settlement offers that do not cover medical care or long-term needs. An experienced attorney protects the rights of injured riders and ensures they are treated fairly.
How We Help Injured Riders at Mogy Law Firm
At Mogy Law Firm, we help motorcycle accident victims across Tennessee recover compensation for serious injuries. Our motorcycle accident attorneys have experience handling cases involving traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, road rash, lower extremity injuries, and internal bleeding. We offer a free consultation to review your case and explain your legal rights. Our team fights to make sure injured riders get the compensation they deserve after a motorcycle crash.
Contact an Experienced Memphis Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today!
If you or a loved one has suffered motorcycle accident injuries, our team at Mogy Law Firm is ready to help. We understand the challenges injured riders face and fight to recover the full compensation you deserve.
Contact us at (414) 334-5472 today for a free claim review!
