Common injuries from motorcycle accidents in Chicago can range from minor scrapes to serious, life-threatening conditions. The severity of these injuries can vary based on the speed of the accident, whether motorcycle personal protective equipment was worn, and how quickly medical aid was administered.
Motorcycles present greater risks than car driving, primarily because riders lack the physical protection that vehicles provide. This heightened vulnerability makes it essential for motorcyclists and their families to understand the typical injuries associated with motorcycle accidents in Chicago.
If you have been injured due to driver negligence in a motorcycle accident, contact Lloyd Miller Law Group at (773) 838-8100 to seek compensation to cover your losses.
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Statistics on Motorcycle Accidents in Illinois
In the United States in 2020, approximately 82,528 motorcyclists were injured in accidents, with 5,579 fatalities, accounting for 14% of all traffic-related deaths. The injury rate was 992 per 100,000 registered motorcycles, which is slightly higher than the 978 injuries per 100,000 passenger vehicles.
Although the injury rates for motorcycles and passenger vehicles are similar, the fatality rates differ. In 2020, the fatality rate for passenger cars was 10.79, while motorcyclists faced a much higher rate of 67.08 fatalities per 100,000 registered motorcycles. This demonstrates that motorcyclists are at greater risk of dying in a crash compared to those in passenger vehicles. In addition, older riders suffer more in motorcycle accidents.
In Illinois during 2021, there were 3,274 motorcycle-related accidents, resulting in 2,443 injuries and 181 deaths. Notably, more fatal motorcycle accidents occur from collisions with fixed objects than with other vehicles. In 2020, 25% of fatal motorcycle accidents involved fixed object collisions, whereas collisions with passenger vehicles accounted for 18% of deadly crashes.
Common Injuries from Motorcycle Accidents
The most frequent injuries resulting from motorcycle accidents include:
Road Rash
Road rash is a common injury for motorcycle riders that occurs when they fall and slide on the road, resulting in skin abrasions due to friction with the pavement. The severity can vary from minor scrapes and bruises to serious wounds that expose underlying tissue. Symptoms include pain, swelling, and bleeding, often requiring medical attention to prevent infection. After a crash, seek medical care promptly and ensure the wound is kept clean and protected.
Fractures
A fracture is a break or crack in a bone, ranging from a hairline fracture to a complete break. In motorcycle accidents, fractures often occur when a rider is thrown from the bike or collides with an object, resulting in force impacting the body.
Riders are especially vulnerable due to minimal protection, making fractures common in areas like the arms, legs, hips, and pelvis. Treatment typically involves immobilization with a cast or brace. Surgery may be needed to realign bones. Fractures can be painful and may lead to long-term issues like chronic pain or reduced mobility.
Head and Traumatic Brain Injuries
Head injuries are common and can be serious in motorcycle accidents due to the rider’s exposure without protective barriers. Wearing a motorcycle helmet greatly lowers the chances of injury, but it does not completely remove the risk of injury from serious impacts. Symptoms may not appear until hours or days later, and head injuries can lead to long-term effects such as cognitive issues, personality changes, and chronic headaches.
The severity of head injuries ranges from minor concussions to traumatic brain injuries (TBI), with the latter being a leading cause of fatalities in motorcycle accidents. A TBI occurs when the brain is violently jolted within the skull, causing bruising or swelling. Mild TBIs often involve a loss of consciousness lasting less than 30 minutes, but some can occur without any loss of consciousness, which riders may overlook and focus on bike damage.
Symptoms of brain injury can last varied lengths of time and lead to permanent impairment. Recognized symptoms include:
- Experiences of nausea, vomiting, headaches, double vision (diplopia), ongoing and irregular sleep disruptions, increased susceptibility to fatigue, significant lethargy, or altered sense of taste and smell.
- Challenges with attention, concentration difficulties, unusual perceptions, reduced memory capacity, problems with speech and language recall, or diminished executive functioning.
- Changes in behavior or shifts in emotional responses, such as irritability, anger outbursts, or uninhibited actions that psychological factors, emotional stress, or other reasons cannot explain.
Spinal Cord Injuries
The spinal cord is a group of nerves that extends down the back, playing a crucial role in relaying signals between the brain and the rest of the body. It can suffer injuries when a rider’s back experiences impact or twisting that damages the nerves. These injuries can vary in severity, ranging from mild to severe, even leading to partial or complete paralysis.
Symptoms of a spinal cord injury differ based on the injury’s location and severity and may include loss of sensation, muscle control, breathing difficulties, and incontinence. Treatment typically focuses on immobilizing the affected area to avoid further injury, and may involve surgery to stabilize the spine. Rehabilitation may be essential to help the individual recover movement and strength. Spinal cord injuries can greatly impact a person’s quality of life, often necessitating continuous medical care and support.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries occur due to the impact force in a motorcycle accident. They can vary in severity from minor bruises to more serious damage, such as tears or ruptures of tendons or ligaments. Soft tissue encompasses muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other connective tissues supporting bones and joints.
Treatment for soft tissue injuries generally involves resting the affected area, applying ice, using compression, and elevating the area to alleviate swelling and pain. In more severe cases, physical therapy or surgery may be required to repair the injured tissue and restore proper function.
Internal Damage
Internal damage refers to injuries to organs or structures within the body, such as internal bleeding, organ damage, and internal fractures. These injuries can be hard to detect and may pose serious risks if untreated. Prompt medical attention is crucial for assessment and treatment, including surgery to repair damage and supportive care like oxygen therapy or pain management.
Burns
Burns can occur when the skin comes into contact with hot surfaces like engines, exhaust pipes, or flames, especially during an accident. There are three primary categories of burns: first-degree, second-degree, and third-degree.
Burns can cause significant pain and often necessitate medical intervention to alleviate discomfort and avert infection. Treatment options may involve topical ointments or creams to ease pain and encourage healing, or more complex procedures such as skin grafts for severe cases.
Amputations
Amputations happen when a limb or body part is fully or partially severed, often due to a collision impact. They can lead to significant physical and psychological effects, including long-term disability and emotional distress. Treatment usually involves surgery to clean and repair the injury, followed by rehabilitation that focuses on physical therapy for adapting to life without the limb and psychological support for managing emotional trauma. Prompt medical attention is essential to prevent infections and complications.
Muscle Injuries
Muscle injuries can vary from slight strains and sprains to serious issues like muscle tears or ruptures. These injuries often occur when muscles are overstretched or torn due to impact in a collision or abrupt movements during an accident. Commonly affected areas in motorcycle accidents include the arms, legs, back, and neck.
Physical therapy and rehabilitation may be required to help individuals recover strength and regain mobility in the injured area.
Emotional Trauma
A motorcycle accident can be a traumatic experience, and it’s important not to overlook the mental anguish that may result. The injuries sustained, such as amputations, disfigurements, burns, and scarring, can lead to long-lasting physical and emotional challenges. Victims may experience depression, anxiety, PTSD, or other forms of psychological distress. If you’ve been in a motorcycle accident, it may be necessary to seek professional assistance for both your mental and physical injuries.
Seeking Compensation After a Motorcycle Accident
You can pursue compensation for your damages from the driver at fault. Contrary to what some people may believe, the motorcyclist in a motorcycle accident is not always at fault.
Damages Available After a Motorcycle Accident
Economic and non-economic damages are the main recoverable damages in motorcycle accident claims. Economic damages pertain to the financial consequences of the accident and your injuries. These can encompass costs for medical care, lost wages or income during your recovery, reduced earning potential due to a disability, and expenses related to motorcycle repair or replacement.
On the other hand, non-economic damages address the emotional toll of the accident and injuries sustained. These may cover aspects such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and disfigurement.
Grounds for a Motorcycle Accident Claim
To be eligible to claim compensation following a motorcycle accident in Chicago, Illinois, you need to have sustained injuries due to someone else’s negligence. To establish negligence in your claim, you must prove four elements:
Duty of Care
You must demonstrate that the defendant was legally obligated to ensure your safety. According to Illinois law, every motor vehicle driver must exercise due care to avoid accidents. Therefore, every driver on the road has a duty of care towards you.
Breach of Duty
You must show that the defendant failed to uphold their duty, which led to the accident. This could involve speeding, talking on the phone, or driving under the influence. Evidence like surveillance videos, witness testimonies, police reports, and data from an event data recorder (EDR) demonstrating the defendant’s violation of traffic laws can support the claim of a breach of duty.
Proximate Cause
The driver’s negligence must have directly caused the accident resulting in your injuries. Evidence such as your doctor’s notes, accident reconstruction reports, videos, or photos of the accident can be instrumental in demonstrating the proximate cause.
Damages
To have a valid case for a motorcycle accident, it’s necessary to demonstrate that you experienced losses, such as medical expenses, physical pain, or emotional distress. Your claim may be weak if you didn’t need medical care after the accident. Gathering evidence like medical bills, prescription records, and photos of your injuries is crucial to support this aspect of your case.
What You Should Do After a Motorcycle Accident
If you’re involved in a motorcycle accident, the most critical step is to seek medical attention. If you require emergency assistance, dial 911 for an ambulance or visit the emergency room or your regular healthcare provider for an assessment. Keep copies of your medical reports, discharge documents, and bills.
If you’re able to at the scene, consider taking photos or videos of the road conditions, weather, position of the vehicles, and other relevant details. Using your smartphone can also help you document insurance information, vehicle registrations, witness contact information, and other evidence supporting your claim.
Consulting with a car accident lawyer is essential, as he or she can help explain your right to compensation following a motorcycle accident and work to get you the maximum compensation for your injuries. A lawyer can assist in determining liability for an accident, which can be tricky in some cases, such as determining who is liable for a multi-car accident.If you have sustained a serious injury due to another driver’s fault or a dangerous road condition, it may be necessary to engage an attorney who can advocate for your compensation. It’s vital to preserve your memory of the incident and any evidence you possess until you speak with your attorney, especially if you believe you have a strong personal injury case. Typically, your legal representative will investigate your claim, gather evidence, and manage all communications with your insurance company and the other party to facilitate a settlement. Your attorney may file a lawsuit to pursue compensation if a resolution cannot be reached. Having legal representation increases your chances of receiving the maximum compensation possible. Contact us at Lloyd Miller Law Group to help you seek compensation after your motorcycle accident.
