Motorcycles offer environmental and economic benefits, not to mention the enjoyment they bring riders. But they pose risks for riders because they don’t have the caged protection of cars. Broken bones are common after motorcycle accidents and can rack up medical bills and cause patients to lose wages while recovering. If the accident was another motorist’s fault, the motorcyclist can file an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit in order to receive compensation for his or her injuries.
Common Broken Bone Injuries after Motorcycle Accidents
Wrist fractures are common because the rider naturally extends his or her arms when thrown off a bike. This might lead to broken arms and other arm or shoulder-related injuries. Other fractures might occur in the legs, hips and other parts of the body and can occur as a result of the fall or hitting an object after sliding on the road.
There are different types of broken bones, and some of these fractures are more serious than others. As outlined by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), some examples of types of broken bones are:
- Stable fractures: These occur when the bone lines up even after the fracture.
- Compound fractures: The bone pops out of the skin in these fractures. They can cause infections as well as complications resetting the bones.
- Oblique fractures: This is when the break occurs at an angle.
- Transverse fractures: This is when the break is horizontal.
- Comminuted fractures
Broken bones are usually treated with traction, resetting the bones and cast immobilization. The bones naturally heal after the injuries. For serious injuries, the break may be treated with external or internal fixation where rods, screws, plates or pins are used to hold the two ends of the bone in place. These treatments involve surgery. Sometimes, the bones don’t rejoin, which is called non-union. In these cases, surgery, internal fixation or a bone grafts may be necessary to facilitate bone healing.
Challenges of Recovery for Broken Bones Accidents
It can be hard to know the full extent of broken bones injuries immediately after the accident. The injuries can take many months to heal, and nonunion may become noticeable after an even longer time. This makes valuing any insurance claim related to broken bones an inexact process.
In serious accidents, insurance adjusters may try to reduce their payouts to the greatest extent possible. They may claim that the motorcyclist was more at fault in the accident than the facts show. Pennsylvania follows the comparative fault system, so a party may recover damages minus their proportion of fault in an accident.
Cordisco & Saile LLC can help you get fair compensation for your broken bones injuries after a motorcycle accident in Morrisville. Contact our office at 215-642-2335 to schedule a free consultation about your accident.
