Because of advancements in both motorcycle safety features and personal protective gear, riding your bike is probably not as dangerous as it once was. Still, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports more than 5,000 motorcycle riders died in crashes on U.S. roadways in 2019 alone.
Any accident-related injury has the potential both to be painful and to interfere with your life. Nevertheless, some injuries are far worse than others. A catastrophic injury is one that permanently alters your life. These injuries typically fall into a few categories.
Traumatic brain injuries
Wearing a safety-rated helmet is one of the more effective ways to avoid a TBI. If you suffer a major one, though, you may experience loss of consciousness, vision and hearing impairments, constant headaches, mood changes and other serious consequences.
Spinal cord damage
Your spinal cord delivers nerve signals from your brain to the rest of your body. If an accident nicks, tears or severs your spinal cord, you may develop permanent paralysis. Depending on its severity, paralysis may make it impossible to breathe, walk, bathe and perform other essential functions with assistance.
Amputation
Amputation, which is the loss of a limb, may happen in a couple of ways during a motorcycle accident. First, the force of a motorcycle crash may sever your arm or leg. Second, doctors may have to amputate a limb during surgery to save your life. While prosthetic devices and rehabilitation may help you regain some mobility, amputations are likely to impede your ability to live your life.
While these are broad groups of catastrophic injuries, many other injuries have the potential to become catastrophic. Ultimately, if you suffer an injury that forever worsens your life, you may be eligible for substantial financial compensation from the person who caused the crash.
