Motorcycle Accident Safety Requires Precaution

Motorcycle Accident Safety Requires Precaution

The statistics show that people who are involved in a motorcycle accident are less likely to die in the accident than those who are involved in a car crash. The odds of suffering head trauma or traumatic brain injury are also reduced if the accident is caused by a defective motorcycle part. While a motorcycle accident is less likely to cause death, the injury it can cause can still be significant. Motorcycle accidents can also be costly, especially if the other driver was not paying attention.

Less likely to die in a motorcycle accident than in a car

While the chances of dying in a motorcycle accident are lower than in a car crash, you should still take every precaution possible to avoid an incident. Because motorcycles are much smaller than cars, they are far more vulnerable to collisions, and the occupants of the vehicle are less protected. Cars are constructed with steel cages to protect their occupants, but motorcycles have no such protection. Instead of a steel cage, motorcycle riders have no protection at all. In a crash with a car, the front and rear bumpers and airbags protect passengers.

Statistics have shown that people who are younger and inexperienced in motorcycle riding are less likely to wear helmets, which increases the chance of fatalities. The number of fatalities in motorcycle crashes is higher among those who ride on hot days or during inclement weather. Motorcyclists who are also older are more likely to die in a motorcycle accident, as 54% of the fatalities in 2015 were people over 40 years old.

Less likely to suffer traumatic brain injury

Although the number of people who are injured in a motorcycle accident has decreased, the number of people who die from the injuries is still 28 times higher than that of passengers in motor vehicles. The most common fatal injury suffered by motorcycle riders is traumatic brain injury, and motor vehicle accidents are among the leading causes of this type of brain injury. A traumatic brain injury can have serious consequences for those who are injured, and the effects of one cannot be fully understood until the cause of the brain damage has been determined.

While assessing a motorcycle accident patient in the emergency room is vital, it is impossible to fully evaluate the severity of the damage to the brain on a first physical exam. Instead, doctors in ER situations will often order additional tests and observations. From these, an expert will combine the results of the tests and observations to come to a diagnosis. A TBI diagnosis can only be an estimation, and it is important for the patient to be closely monitored by a physician after the accident to minimize the risk of secondary brain injury.

Less likely to sustain head trauma

A biker’s chance of suffering traumatic brain injury is increased by several factors. For one, they are more likely to fall off the bike, be ejected, and hit their heads while landing. This combined with the impact of the crash itself increases their risk of sustaining head trauma. A motorcycle accident can result in either type of injury. Here’s what you should know about the types of head injuries in motorcycle accidents.

The study focused on the head injuries sustained by riders of all ages in motorbike crashes. It studied data from 1995 to 2000, before and after the motorcycle helmet law was repealed in Kentucky. It found that non-helmeted riders were 4.33 times more likely to suffer head trauma compared to helmet-wearing counterparts. In addition, helmet-wearing riders were significantly less likely to suffer traumatic brain injuries.

Less likely to sustain traumatic brain injury in a motorcycle accident caused by a defective part

In a recent study, doctors found that motorcyclists who were not wearing helmets are more likely to sustain traumatic brain injuries. The cost of medical treatment for brain injury is 13 times higher than that for non-brain injuries. Survivors of such accidents are also less likely to be discharged home, but instead are often sent to a rehabilitation facility or long-term care facility.

Some people may not show any symptoms of traumatic brain injury. In fact, traumatic brain injuries can develop hours or even days after the crash. Even though you may not be disoriented and confused immediately after a motorcycle accident, the brain may be damaged for days or even weeks. The brain reacts to trauma differently from person to person. Even a minor injury to the head can cause bruising and bleeding. But the damage to the brain can cause permanent problems.