Injuries resulting from motorcycle accidents are more likely to be severe, if not fatal, than passenger vehicle accidents due to the lack of protection that a car provides to the driver. More often than not, motorcycle accident injuries require long-term treatment, long recovery and rehabilitation periods, as well as special medical equipment to enhance mobility. Severe injuries can prevent motorcyclists from being able to work, which results in financial struggle for the families.

Among the most common motorcycle accident injuries are:

Road rash alongside the whole body caused by scraping on the pavement
Neck and spinal injuries, cracked vertebrae and bulging discs
Temporary or permanent muscle damage, including paralysis
Head injuries, including concussions and traumatic brain damage, which can result in memory loss as well as impaired motor skills and trouble with hearing and vision
Traumatic brain injuries can also result in confusion, disorientation, cognitive, physical and behavioral disabilities as well as massive headaches
Nerve damage to the extremities
Shattered bones and knees
Intra-abdominal injuries

According to California law, motorcyclists are required to wear a safety helmet “when riding on a motorcycle, motor-driven cycle, or motorized bicycle.” If your head is not protected and hits the pavement in an accident, you are likely to fracture your skull. One of the most dangerous fractures is the depressed skull fracture, which can cause bone fragments to become embedded in the brain.

Severe injuries can be prevented by wearing protective gear as well as heavy leather clothing.

California law also requires motorcycles to have:

A daytime operating headlight
At least one mirror
Fully operational turn signals

In addition to that, motorcyclists must have a minimum liability insurance covering the following:

$5,000 for property damage
$15,000 for the injury or death of one person
$30,000 for the injuries or deaths of multiple people

This insurance will pay out for motorcycle accidents in which the motorcyclist was at fault and the other party was injured and suffered material damages.

However, most motorcycle accidents are caused by other motorists and cannot be prevented by safety measures alone.

The most common causes of motorcycle accidents are negligent behavior by another driver, including:

Reckless driving
Distraction
Drowsiness and Intoxication
Speeding
Texting while driving
Motorist’s failure to see the motorcyclist or judge his or her speed or distance correctly

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident because of someone else’s negligence, contact the Manhattan Beach motorcycle accident attorneys at Dinsmore & Sandelmann today. We are here to put our personal injury litigation experience to work on your behalf and help you receive satisfactory compensation for your pain, suffering and financial damages. In the state of California, personal Injury claims are subject to a two-year statute of limitations, so don’t delay — contact us today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your legal rights.