May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.
Spring in Connecticut means warmer temperatures and the start of peak motorcycle riding season. Unfortunately, it's also the time of year when motorcycle accidents happen more frequently, which is why the state has declared May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.
Each year, over 50 motorcyclists lose their lives on Connecticut roads. According to the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT), there were 62 fatalities in 2022, the highest number in 30 years.
How to avoid causing a motorcycle crash
Drivers of cars, SUVs, and trucks need to share the road and watch out for bikers, especially during the warmer months. However, they also need to take other safety steps to avoid crashes. Common causes of motorcycle accidents include:
- Speeding: Drivers who ignore speed limits will increase their chances of getting into an accident. They have a reduced reaction time. If they crash into a motorcycle at high speed, the person on the bike will likely suffer severe injuries or even death.
- Drunk driving: Drivers who choose to drink alcohol decrease their ability to operate their vehicle safely and put everyone sharing the road, including motorcycle riders, at risk.
- Failing to yield the right of way: Drivers sometimes strike motorcycles because they fail to yield the right of way. As a result, they might turn into the path of a motorcyclist at an intersection, hit a biker while merging, or force a rider off the road by making an unsafe lane change.
Motorcycle accident injuries
Unlike other drivers who have seatbelts, airbags, and an enclosed vehicle to protect them, motorcycle riders have little crash protection. As a result, when a motorcyclist is involved in a crash, they run the risk of any number of injuries, including:
- Leg injuries: Riders sometimes sustain injuries to their knees, calves, ankles, and feet. Broken bones in accidents might require a surgeon to insert pins, rods, screws, and other types of hardware. Recovery can be a long and difficult ordeal.
- Arm injuries: Broken arms and injuries to the fingers and elbows are not uncommon in motorcycle accidents. Biker's arm is a specific injury commonly associated with motorcycle wrecks. It refers to nerve damage or trauma to the arm that occurs when a rider instinctively extends their arm to protect themselves during a crash. The impact and sliding motion on the road surface can cause severe abrasions, lacerations, and nerve damage to the arm.
- Road rash: Road rash is a term used to describe a type of abrasion injury that occurs when a motorcyclist's skin makes contact with the road surface during a crash or accident. This friction can result in the removal or damage of multiple layers of skin, leading to painful wounds and potential complications, such as infection.
- Head and brain injuries: Among the most severe types of injuries, head or brain injuries can result in permanent incapacitation. A rider with a skull fracture may suffer brain damage. In some cases, brain injury victims may need a lifetime of medical care.
- Spinal cord injuries: A motorcycle crash could lead to spinal cord damage, resulting in partial or total paralysis.
- Internal organ damage: Motorcycle accidents can cause internal organ damage, including injuries to the liver, spleen, kidneys, and lungs. The impact of the crash or the force exerted on the body can lead to lacerations, contusions, or even organ ruptures. Internal organ damage can have severe consequences and may require immediate medical intervention, surgery, or long-term medical care. In some cases, internal organ damage can be life-threatening or result in permanent impairment.
Contact a Connecticut motorcycle accident lawyer today
One of your first steps after a motorcycle crash in Connecticut is to contact an experienced attorney to review your legal rights and options. At the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone & Morelli, we know the challenges motorcyclists face when they've been injured in an accident.
Insurance companies only care about protecting their bottom line and might downplay the seriousness of the injuries sustained or deny a claim for no good reason.
With our law firm on your side, you can feel confident that we know how to deal with insurance companies and aggressively advocate for the compensation you deserve.
There's no obligation when you contact us, and we work on a contingency basis, which means you pay no fees unless we win your case. Reach out to the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone & Morelli today to learn more. Tell them you mean business!