Motorcycle accidents and their injuries can be devastating, even when they happen at relatively low speeds. That’s because motorcycles lack the protection afforded by a vehicle’s frame, directly exposing riders to the full force of an impact. What would be a fender-bender if it happened between two passenger vehicles could instead send a motorcyclist to the hospital with life-altering injuries.
Why Low-Speed Motorcycle Crashes Can Still Be Dangerous
Several factors inherent to motorcycles make even low-speed collisions especially dangerous. Serious injuries can result regardless of speed, because of the following:
- Riders may have only a helmet and riding leathers to protect them.
- Motorcycles lack frames, so riders are directly exposed to the forces of a collision.
- Because riders are not strapped to their vehicles, they’re at heightened risk of being thrown in a crash.
Even at just 30 miles per hour, the force of a motorcycle collision is the same as falling off a three-story building. That’s why motorcyclists are five times more likely to be injured and 27 times more likely to die in an accident than vehicle occupants, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
How Riders Can Suffer Catastrophic Injuries Without a High-Speed Impact
A collision doesn’t need to happen at high speeds to have devastating results. Even at low speeds, a driver could be thrown from their vehicle or sustain immense force in a collision. Common and catastrophic motorcycle injuries include the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)s and other head trauma
- Spinal cord injuries (SCIs), which can lead to paralysis
- Crush injuries, potentially resulting in amputation
- Abrasion injuries like “road rash”
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Severe fractures
Common Low-Speed Crash Scenarios That Injure Motorcyclists
Low-speed accident scenarios that can lead to serious motorcycle crash injuries include the following:
- Drivers failing to yield the right-of-way at intersections
- Drivers turning left in front of oncoming motorcycles
- Drivers colliding with motorcycles in parking lots
- Drivers making sudden lane changes without checking blind spots
- Drivers mistaking how close they are to a motorcycle ahead of them and colliding into the back of the bike
Motorcycles have a smaller footprint than passenger vehicles. Consequently, many drivers have a hard time gauging how far away these vehicles are or will simply fail to notice them in time to avoid a crash.
How Cain Law Helps Injured Motorcyclists After a Serious Crash
If you’ve suffered low-speed motorcycle accident injuries, you should be focused on your health. Let Cain Law worry about your legal case while you concentrate on getting better. When you hire us for your motorcycle injury case, we can do the following:
- Investigate the accident to determine what caused it and who’s at fault
- Calculate the full and fair motorcycle crash compensation you’re entitled to
- Communicate with the insurance companies for you and protect you from their tactics to minimize your claim
- Negotiate aggressively for a settlement that pays you without having to go to trial
- Take your case to court if it becomes the best way to get you the full amount you deserve
- Never charge you a fee unless and until we win your case
If you’re in pain due to a bike crash, call Cain today to speak with a motorcycle accident lawyer in Oklahoma City about your case and your right to financial compensation. Your initial consultation is free, without obligation, and fully confidential.
