Motorcycle accidents often cause severe injuries because riders have far less protection than people in passenger vehicles. In a busy city like San Diego, even a single crash can leave a motorcyclist facing broken bones, head trauma, spinal injuries, road rash, and other serious harm.
At Mission Personal Injury Lawyers, we have 43 years of combined experience and have recovered more than $150 million for injured clients. If you or someone you love was hurt in a motorcycle crash, understanding the most common motorcycle accident injuries can help you recognize the seriousness of the harm and the type of medical care and legal support you may need.
Call our law office in San Diego, CA, for a free consultation.
Table of Contents
How Mission Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Motorcycle Accident in San Diego, CA
Some of the ways our San Diego personal injury lawyers can assist you include:
- Handling all negotiations and communications with the other party in your case
- Investigate the extent of your damages and collect evidence to prove your claim
- File a lawsuit and take your case to trial if need be
- Apprise you of your legal options at all stages
- Ensure you’re protected from accusations that you’re to blame for the accident
Motorcycle accidents can cause severe injuries that require expensive medical care. To discuss the compensation you can seek for the injuries you suffered in a motorcycle accident in San Diego, California, contact Mission Personal Injury Lawyers at (619) 777-5555 for a free consultation. Our San Diego motorcycle accident attorneys can answer your questions and walk you through the legal process.
Overview of the Common Motorcycle Injuries in San Diego, CA
Motorcycles are inherently unstable. When a motorcyclist loses balance, the motorcycle can go into a slide, resulting in injuries to the motorcyclist without a collision.
Motorcycles also have a higher power-to-weight ratio than passenger cars. As a result, motorcyclists must have more skill and practice to control a motorcycle.
In a crash, motorcycles provide little protection to the rider or any passengers. Since they are exposed, motorcyclists can suffer injuries when their bodies hit other vehicles, fixed objects, or the road. Motorcyclists are also much more likely to be ejected during an accident than vehicle occupants.
In collisions between motorcycles and cars, the car driver is at fault most of the time. This happens for many reasons, including the smaller size of the motorcycle and the cognitive bias of car drivers against spotting motorcycles near them.
When a car hits a motorcycle due to the carelessness of the driver, the driver bears liability for the accident. In California, at-fault drivers and their insurers must pay the damages associated with any accidents they cause.
Some of the most common motorcycle accident injuries include:
Lower Extremity Injuries
Motorcycle accident injuries occur most frequently to the legs and hips. When your motorcycle goes into a slide, your motorcycle falls over sideways. This fall can injure your foot, leg, or hip. The motorcycle can trap your leg as it slides, causing additional damage.
Some common lower extremity injuries from motorcycle accidents include:
- Broken bones
- Soft tissue injuries, such as knee injuries
- Burns
- Road rash
Fortunately, these lower extremity injuries are rarely fatal. But they can still damage your legs severely enough to require amputation, surgery, or other forms of medical care.
Upper Extremity Injuries
The second-most common motorcycle injury happens to the upper extremities. Like the lower extremities, the arms, hands, and shoulders can impact the ground when the motorcycle goes into a slide.
Head and Face Injuries
Even though California has a universal helmet law, head and face injuries are still common. But the difference between helmeted and unhelmeted motorcyclists is that head injuries for helmeted riders are less likely to be fatal.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our San Diego Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
The injuries caused by a motorcycle accident are often severe, painful, and expensive to treat. When a crash leaves you facing mounting medical bills, missed time from work, and lasting physical pain, you need a law firm that knows how to stand up for injured riders.
Mission Personal Injury Lawyers has 43 years of combined experience and has recovered more than $150 million for clients. If you were hurt in a crash, contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a San Diego motorcycle accident attorney.
Recent Motorcycle Accident Blog Posts
- Motorcycle Licensing Requirements in San Diego, CA
- Recalled and Defective Motorcycle Cases
- Do You Have to Wear a Motorcycle Helmet in San Diego, CA?
- Watch Out for Motorcyclists: Tips for Responsible Driving in San Diego
- Motorcycle Accident Statistics
- Brain Injuries Due To Motorcycle Accidents
- Leg Swelling After a Motorcycle Accident in San Diego