5 Commonly Injured Body Parts During a Motorcycle Crash
During a motorcycle crash, there are certain parts of the body that are more likely to sustain injury. Knowing what parts of the body are more susceptible to injury during a crash can help you protect those areas before an accident happens.
By far, the most likely part of your body to be injured in a motorcycle crash is your head. Not only is your head susceptible to impact during the crash, but whiplash and road rash of the face and neck are also serious concerns. Most of the fatalities that occur during motorcycle crashes are a direct result of head injuries. Wearing a helmet significantly reduces the risk of a life-threatening head injury during an accident, and may save you from extensive facial damage during a crash.
Motorcyclists involved in a crash also frequently suffer from fractures of the legs. The weight of the bike compresses the legs between the motorcycle and the pavement during a crash, resulting in fractures of the long bones in the thigh and lower leg. Colliding with stationary objects and attempting to “catch yourself” during a crash by putting your feet down when the motorcycle becomes unstable can also account for many of these injuries. If a motorcyclist suffers a femur fracture during a crash, he runs the risk of severe bleeding if he injuries the major artery located in the upper leg. This is a very common injury in a motorcycle crash and can be life threatening.
In addition, motorcyclists often receive injuries caused by sliding along the pavement at high speeds. This type of injury, commonly called road rash, can appear to be less important than other injuries, but can lead to infection and medical complications later as the motorcyclist attempts to recover from the crash. Without gloves, a rider may experience a type of road rash known as de-gloving, where the skin and tissues of the hands are completely removed during the crash. This type of injury can require extensive surgeries and skin grafting to repair.
Next to head injuries, the leading cause of death following a motorcycle accident is chest trauma. Many motorcyclists are pinned beneath another vehicle, run over by another vehicle, or thrown from the bike and strike stationary objects such as trees, telephone poles, or guard rails. The impact of the crash can also force the rider into the handlebars of the motorcycle, causing severe chest trauma. Some riding jackets have reinforced panels that are intended to absorb some of the energy from an impact, and help protect vital organs like the heart and lungs from excessive injury.
Riders are especially susceptible to burns during an accident as they are likely to come in contact with hot exhaust pipes of the motorcycle or other vehicles. Leather riding gear and synthetic personal protective suits are intended to protect the rider from excessive burns in the event of a crash.
Protecting the major crash-susceptible areas of the body from injury every time you ride can help you limit your injuries drastically should you become involved in a motorcycle accident. See your local motorcycle accessory shop for more information about what types of personal protective equipment are available to help you ride safer.
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