Most Common Injuries Caused by Motorcycle Accidents

There’s nothing like the adrenaline rush of taking on challenging terrain on a motorcycle or the soul-deep sense of peace that comes with scenic views of nature appreciated from the open air on the open road. Georgia is a motorcyclist’s dream destination, with coastal lowlands and stunning Blue Ridge Mountain peaks to explore from the back of a bike. Georgia’s year-round warm climate also makes a motorcycle a good choice for daily transportation to work and school. Sadly, the very open-air format that makes a motorcycle ride so exhilarating also makes it a significant safety risk in an accident. With 84 motorcycle accident fatalities per every 100,000 registered bikes in Georgia in 2019, riders face high stakes when they hit the highway.

Our team of Atlanta motorcycle accident attorneys handle a range of accident claims and have seen motorcycle accidents often resulting in very serious injuries because motorcyclists lack the protection of an enclosed vehicle.

Common Types of Motorcycle Accidents in Georgia

A motorcycle’s small size and slim profile make it more difficult to spot in traffic. Not only does a motorcycle come with inherent risks due to its open format, but drivers who aren’t practicing extra care and diligence on the roadways may pose a danger to motorcycle riders. Our car accident lawyers in Atlanta know what’s worse is that distracted drivers and intoxicated drivers contribute to some of the most serious accidents involving motorcycles. Common motorcycle accidents include:

• Driver left-turn accidents when drivers make a left turn across lanes and fail to see an approaching motorcycle
• Head on collisions
• Sideswipe accidents from unsafe lane changes
• Rear-end accidents
• T-bone or side-impact accidents

All drivers have a duty to take reasonable precautions to keep others on the roadways safe, including motorcyclists. When drivers breach that duty through an act of negligence or recklessness while driving, they are liable for damages in an accident according to Georgia’s at-fault insurance laws.

Motorcyclists Are Vulnerable to Serious Injuries in an Accident

Georgia requires all motorcyclists and their passengers to wear helmets that meet Department of Transportation safety standards. Helmets help to prevent traumatic head injuries and save lives. However, motorcycle operators are still vulnerable to serious injuries including:

• Bone fractures, including broken femurs, shins, arms, and pelvis
• Head injuries
• Whiplash, neck, and back injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Internal injuries to the abdomen and chest
• Road rash (skin abrasions from contact with road surface during an accident)
• Soft tissue damage, such as to shoulders and rotator cuffs

Some motorcycle injuries may be minor, but in a great many cases, they are very serious, catastrophic, or deadly. By wearing protective gear including helmets, eyewear, and leather clothing, motorcyclists can protect themselves from some types of injuries but remain vulnerable to substantial trauma in an accident since they aren’t enclosed within a vehicle or belted into a seat with airbags. Because of this, drivers owe an extra duty of care to keep a diligent eye out for motorcyclists on the roadways in Georgia and elsewhere.

If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, working with an Atlanta personal injury attorney can help determine liability for the accident and help you to gain compensation for the economic and non-economic damages you’ve suffered.