Atlanta Motorcycle Accident Treatment

Motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable to serious, catastrophic injuries following a crash. There’s no steel cage that surrounds them like passengers in a vehicle, no airbags, and no safety belts. Motorcycle accident injuries are often devastating for both the rider and their passenger.

If you’ve been involved in an Atlanta motorcycle accident and have sustained injuries, please contact Georgia Spine and Orthopaedics. We are a leading treatment center for motorcycle accident injuries and are here to evaluate your injuries and provide the right treatment to help you get back on your feet.

If you have questions about how we can help with your motorcycle accident injury or even the type of therapies that we offer or you would like to schedule an appointment, don’t hesitate to give us a call today at 678-929-4494.

What Are Some Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries?

Motorcycles have a notorious reputation in Atlanta and the rest of the United States and the world at large, for causing various traumatic injuries, even when the motorcyclist takes the right precautions, such as wearing a helmet. Typical injuries include:

Road Rash

Road rash occurs when the pavement comes into contact with the rider’s skin. It’s an injury unique to motorcyclists since there’s nothing between the rider and the road. The accident can sometimes cause the rider to be thrown off their bike, causing them to slide across the roadway.

Ideally, the rider should be wearing some form of protective gear, but there’s often nothing much to protect the body from road rash. Concrete can scrape the skin away, which ends up resembling burns. Very severe cases of road rash require skin grafts to repair.

Another unfortunate issue with road rash is that debris can easily lodge itself in the body once the skin has been scraped away. If this is not treated properly, it may result in a severe infection.

Fractures

Motorcycle accidents often involve the bike falling over in some way. Unfortunately, this usually happens so quickly that the rider doesn’t have enough time to get their legs out of the way. So, in many instances, the bike falls on top of the rider’s leg thus fracturing it.

The rider’s leg can also be broken on impact if a vehicle hits the motorcycle from the side. Again, the motorcyclist does not have enough time to get their leg out of the way, which results in their leg getting crushed between the bike and the car.

Arm and wrist fractures are also very common in motorcycle accidents. Like most people, your instinct is to try using your hands to break a fall. However, if you are thrown off a motorcycle, you are far more likely to actually break your arm than actually break the fall.

Internal Injuries

Motorcycle accidents often leave external wounds, but it is also common to find motorcyclists suffering from internal wounds after being involved in an accident. The intense trauma experienced by the body due to the crash can cause internal bleeding and organ damage.

Internal bleeding and organ damage can be caused by penetrating trauma (when a sharp object such as debris or broken glass penetrates the skin) or blunt-force trauma (a blow caused by something hard that doesn’t break the skin) in an accident.

Atlanta Motorcycle Accident

Head Injuries

Injuries to the neck, face, and head are without a doubt some of the most serious suffered by motorcyclists in accidents. Most obviously, permanent physical damage or even death can be a consequence of such injuries.

Head injuries can cause brain damage, concussion, brain swelling and hemorrhaging, skull fractures, or even paralysis. Head injuries often result in the loss of memory, coordination, motor skills, speech and vision problems, anxiety, and depression.

Broken noses, cheekbones, jawbones, and smashed teeth require reconstructive surgery and can lead to permanent scarring. On the other hand, neck injuries range from damaged tendons and whiplash to strained nerves, ligaments, and pulled muscles.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

The head is arguably the most important part of the entire body. It houses the brain, which controls the rest of the body. If you suffer a blow to the head in a motorcycle accident, you could be at risk of brain swelling, a concussion, brain bleeding, or even worse.

If you hit your head during a motorcycle accident, you may be worried about a concussion or any of the aforementioned injuries, but a traumatic brain injury (TBI) should be the major cause for concern. TBI occurs from sudden and violent trauma to the head even when wearing a helmet.

TBIs are particularly traumatizing for victims since the impact of the brain injury is so far-reaching. It can end up affecting how you perceive the world, your ability to move limbs or speak, or any number of subconscious bodily functions.

Damaged Discs

A motorcycle accident can cause severe trauma to the spine, often resulting in damaged discs. The impact can lead to herniation or rupture of the intervertebral discs, causing intense pain, numbness, and weakness due to nerve compression.

Damaged discs may also lead to conditions like spinal stenosis or spondylolisthesis, further compromising spinal stability and mobility. Immediate medical evaluation is crucial, as untreated disc injuries can result in chronic pain and long-term disability.

Treatment options may include conservative methods like physical therapy and medication, or surgical interventions such as disc replacement or spinal fusion, depending on the severity of the injury.

Spinal Cord Injuries

The spinal cord plays an important role since it’s essentially the relay system between the brain and the rest of the body. If it is damaged or even severed in a motorcycle accident, this can end up affecting you for the rest of your life.

Spinal cord injuries are of 2 forms:

  • Partial
  • Complete

 

What are some common motorcycle accident injuries

People who suffer partial spinal cord injuries retain some level of motor function and sensation below the injury point, but there are many degrees of severity. Complete spinal cord injuries, on the other hand, involve total severance of the spinal cord resulting in total loss of motor control and sensation below the injury point.

Depending on the nature of the spinal cord injury, there could be other chronic secondary complications that include cardiovascular problems, osteoporosis, pressure ulcers, pain syndromes, urinary and bowel complications, and respiratory problems.

What Should I Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Atlanta?

If you are ever involved in a motorcycle accident in Atlanta, do the following.

Call 911

If you can call 911 for EMTs and the police to come to the accident scene. The police will then question all those involved in the accident as well as any witnesses to the accident to determine fault for the accident. Answer all questions asked by the police truthfully.

Seek Medical Attention

If you have sustained visible injuries, you should make sure that you are treated by a competent medical professional at a reputable facility. You should also seek medical attention even if you don’t have visible injuries since you might have sustained internal injuries in the accident.

Motorcycle Accident Injury Treatment

Gather Evidence

If you can, use your cell phone to capture photos of the accident scene including the vehicles involved, your motorcycle, the license plates of all vehicles involved, your injuries, and even the road conditions.

Exchange Information

You should also exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver or drivers. If there are any witnesses present, you should make sure that you obtain their contact information so that they can help corroborate your version of events.

Contact Your Insurance Company

Your insurance policy probably states that you’re required to notify your insurance company when you are involved in an accident. Call your insurer as soon as you can and provide them with just the facts of the accident.

Contact an Atlanta Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Motorcycle accident injuries are usually quite serious and recovering compensation is often a complex process. You can benefit significantly from having an experienced Atlanta motorcycle accident lawyer representing you.

What Are Some Safety Tips for Avoiding Motorcycle Accidents?

Here are 5 safety tips for avoiding motorcycle accidents.

Always Wear a Helmet

It is very important to always wear a helmet whenever you ride your motorcycle. You should also keep an extra helmet for your passengers. A helmet helps minimize the impact of an accident.

Wear the Proper Rider’s Gear

Besides wearing a helmet, it is also important for you to always wear clothing, shoes, gloves, and eyewear that are specially designed for safe motorcycle riding such as a reflective jacket.

Be Wary of Your Surroundings

It might seem obvious, but you may be surprised to learn that motorcycle accidents are often caused by the riders’ habitual behavior of failing to pay full attention to their surroundings while riding.

Don’t Drink and Ride

The only effective way to truly avoid any alcohol-related accidents is to abstain from drinking just before or while riding your motorbike. Alcohol impairs your judgment and causes slower response times.

Don’t Ride in Unfavorable Weather

Wet and slippery roads are the absolute worst conditions a motorcyclist can face. Bike tires tend to have much less traction on slippery roads than on dry roads. It’s generally advisable to completely avoid riding in unfavorable weather.

Have You or a Loved One Been Injured in an Atlanta Motorcycle Accident?

We understand that motorcycle accident injuries can be quite devastating. If you or a loved one has recently been injured in an Atlanta motorcycle accident, don’t hesitate to reach out to Georgia Spine & Orthopaedics today.

Our team of experienced medical professionals is ready to assist you on your path to recovery from your motorcycle accident injuries. Let us help you regain your mobility, strength, and quality of life. Call us today at 678-929-4494 to schedule your free consultation.

Testimonials

Read Our Blog

Georgia Spine & Orthopaedics

If You've been Injured Don't Wait!

Our team of specialist can treat your injuries.

Our goal is to help you recover from your injuries as quickly as possible and ensure you get the legal help you need.