Sacramento Injury Attorneys Blog
Elbow fractures are common in motorcycle accidents. Elbow fractures are divided into two types:
• Extra-articular, in which the fracture lines don’t enter the joint
Articles Tagged with motorcyclist
Motorcyle Accident Statistics
All information regarding the motorcycle accident statistics compiled here comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). A rider is the operator only, a passenger is seated on the vehicle but not in control. Multiple parties on a motorcycle referenced together are called “motorcyclists”.
In 2013, 4,668 motorcyclists suffered fatal crash injuries, which is a decrease from 4,986 in 2012.
U.C. Berkeley Study – Lane-Splitting
You may see it every day during morning and afternoon commutes. Given our pleasant weather in the Sacramento area, motorcycles are frequently used as commuter vehicles. When the automobile traffic is at a stand-still, the motorcyclist will often travel between the lanes, bypassing the bottleneck.
As an automobile driver and traffic observer, when witnessing this maneuver known as “lane-splitting” you may have thought the following:
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents occur every day in California, with many resulting in serious injury and even death. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported the number of motorcycle crash-related fatalities has doubled in the past decade. There are a number of different types of motorcycle accidents, but some are more common than others. Whether you drive a vehicle or you are a motorcycle rider, it is important for everyone on the road to be familiar with the most common types of motorcycle accidents so that you can avoid them while driving.
Head on Collision
Motorcycle Riding in the Rain
It’s Better to Ride Once the Storm has Passed
Most motorcyclists avoid riding in the rain. Not only does rain affect stability and traction, but it also can interfere with a driver’s concentration. Further, if it has not rained in a while. the rain will bring up the oil on the road that has built up during the dry season and causes the road to be even more slippery. Even slow speed turns in the rain can cause your rear tire to slide out from under you and cause an accident. Hydroplaning/aquaplaning (water between your tire and road) is even worse as it leads to a complete loss of traction.
Does Color Protective Clothing Really Help Motorcyclists?
One of the joys of motorcycle riding is the feeling of having little to nothing between the rider and the open road. It is a freeing feeling, good for the human psyche. Unfortunately, the reality of there being nothing between the rider and the open road, in a literal sense, can be the very thing that causes great physical pain and suffering during a motorcycle accident.
A study performed in Auckland region of New Zealand from February 1993 to February 1996 was done to estimate the risk of crash when conspicuity measures were put into place. This study included taking into consideration such variables such as the use of color protective clothing.
Motorcycle Crashes
When looking at motorcycle and other motor vehicle accident statistics, it’s clear that there are more accidents for motorcycles than there are for motor vehicles. The problem is that most of these accidents are due to the fault of the automobile drivers who fail to give the proper right of way to motorcycles and cause accidents.
There was a survey filled out to assess car drivers’ attitudes and assessment of motorcyclists. Drivers should there were some negative attitudes towards motor cycles in some cases and empathic attitudes in other cases. Some drivers were aware of the perceptual problems when dealing with motorcycles and many had a spatial understanding of the motorcycle on the road. Drivers who had a moderate driving experience held the most negative responses toward motorcyclists.
Unique Injuries in Motorcyclists
Motorcyclists are in a unique position as riders on the road. They ride on two wheels, which is an inherently unstable position. They ride without the benefit of any protective metal around them, which makes direct vehicle to patient contact likely. Road to victim contact is almost inevitable and these riders often suffer from significant injuries. Many motorcyclists use performance enhancing equipment, which makes the chances of severe injury or death quite likely.
One recent review study looked at the patterns of injury, particularly major ones, seen in motorcycle riders following their injuries. There are unique aspects of their care, including airway management, circulatory status and the management of the spine.
Spoke Injuries in Motorcycles and Bicycles
Both motorcyclists and cyclists can sustain spoke injuries if not wearing the proper footwear. Bicyclists get more spoke injuries than motorcyclists because two riders will often ride on a vehicle meant for one person. The rider on a motorcyclist is also at risk for spoke injuries if he or she is riding behind the driver.
The heel is the part of the body most injured in spoke injuries. In one study, 42 patients who had sustained a spoke injury received a heel flap to repair their spoke injury. These were selected from among 216 patients, all who sustained some type of lower extremity injury. The researchers graded the injuries from Class l-lll, depending on the extent of the injury and on its severity. The classification of the injury determined the treatment.
Motorcycle Accident Rates
Riding a motorcycle is inherently dangerous. Not only is it a small and easily hidden vehicle on a road with large vehicles on it, but motorcycles have no protection around the rider and a fall, even without a collision, can lead to serious injury.
The main consequence of motorcycle accidents include head injuries such as concussion or traumatic brain injury resulting in coma and death, leg fractures, particularly tibia and fibula fractures, pelvic fractures, rib fractures and internal injuries.