MOST COMMON LOUISIANA MOTORCYCLE INJURIES: LOWER EXTREMITIES

Injuries occurring in the lower extremities are the most common; fortunately, these are unlikely to be fatal. Roughly 81% of motorcycle riders with injuries to the lower extremities are released from short-term (acute) care in the hospital to their homes.

  • Injuries to the feet typically involve fractures to the structures, especially to the tarsal and metatarsal bones.
  • Over 90% of injuries to the leg and ankle involve the tibia or fibula, which are in the lower legs extending to the ankles.
  • There are several common knee injuries, including to the tibial plateau and patella.
  • Injuries of the thigh are largely fractures of the femur shaft.

MOST COMMON LOUISIANA MOTORCYCLE FATAL INJURIES: HEAD & NECK

The most deadly injuries are those where there is an impact (trauma) to the head, neck, or spine. Those who survive a traumatic brain injury may have long-term problems, including:

  • cognitive impairments
  • loss of coordination
  • paralysis

Severe trauma to the neck or spine may also lead to neurological damage and other problems with communication, sight, hearing, emotional well-being, and more. The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates wearing a helmet will reduce accident fatalities by 29 to 35 percent.

MOTORCYCLE-SPECIFIC INJURIES: “BIKER'S ARM” & “ROAD RASH”

There are two specific injuries that occur to motorcyclists, and they include the arms and skin.

In a motorcycle collision, the rider may use his or her arms to protect him or herself. When doing so, this causes significant problems to the arms, including nerve damage and losses of feeling or movement in the arm.

Road rash occurs when the rider's skin scrapes along the ground. The abrasion or laceration may resemble a burn and require wound care.

MEDICAL TREATMENT

Injuries that are not life-threatening may be treated in an emergency room. This treatment can include:

Prescription pain or anti-inflammatory medication
A cervical collar for whiplash
Surgery to realign bones or splints and casts for broken bones
Diagnostic procedures, like a CT-scan or MRI to diagnose brain injuries
Velocity testing to detect nerve damage
Specialists, including but not limited to those in pain management, orthopedics, and physical and occupational therapy.

TREATMENT COSTS

The Centers for Disease Control have studied motorcycle accidents and found that costs of treatment from a crash vary widely. The NHTSA reported the median charges for lower extremity injuries were $21,000 for single injuries or $39,000 for multiple injuries. Medical expenses among motorcycle injury victims were paid as follows:

  • Commercial health insurance: 40%
  • Patient self-pay: 20%
  • Automobile insurance: 19%
  • Medicaid: 4%
  • Medicare: 3%
  • Other: 14%