Why Are Motorcycle Accidents Usually So Serious?

Published On - January 15, 2015

For motorcycle enthusiasts, the State of Tennessee provides some of the most beautiful geography in the country in which to ride. With everything from towering mountains to gently rolling hills along with miles and miles of unspoiled land, Tennessee offers bikers in any part of the state a scenic ride. Unfortunately, however, riding a motorcycle remains one of the most dangerous forms of transportation we have in the United States. A motorcycle accident often leaves the victims with life-threatening, even fatal, injuries, leading to the question, “ Why are motorcycle accidents usually so serious? ”

One reason is that other vehicles that share the roadway with motorcycles don’t watch out for them. For decades now, booth private and public advocacy groups and organizations have been trying to educate the general public about the presence of motorcycles on the nation’s roadways. Despite these efforts, motorists continue to fail to see motorcycles until it is too late to prevent an accident. Crash statistics continue to tell us that when another vehicle is at fault in a motorcycle collision the driver of the at-fault vehicle admits that he/she never saw the motorcycle.

Failing to notice motorcycles, however, explains why collisions occur, not why they are so serious. For that we must consider the lack of protection a biker has when riding. Unlike a passenger vehicle, a motorcycle provides virtually no protection to the driver and passenger. The reason why motorcycle enthusiasts enjoy riding – the “wind in your face” feeling – is also what makes riding so dangerous. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, almost one in four non-fatal injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident is a head injury. Head injuries, in turn, are among the most serious injuries a victim can sustain in any type of accident. While the use of a helmet certainly decreases the chance of sustaining a serious head injury, even a helmet cannot prevent all head injuries. Being thrown off a motorcycle at highway speeds with nothing to break the fall except pavement is bound to result in a serious injury.

For victims who manage to escape a head injury, a wide variety of other serious injuries are still possible, including:

Spinal injuries
Broken or fractured bones, particularly in the leg
Internal injuries

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, or you have lost a loved one to one, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries or your loss if another party caused, or contributed to, the collision. Consult with the experienced Tennessee motorcycle accident attorneys at Bennett, Michael & Hornsby. Contact the team today by calling 615-898-1560 to schedule your appointment.

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Dinah Michael

Dinah’s practice at Bennett and Michael focuses on Family Law, Personal Injury Litigation, Insurance Defense, and General Civil Litigation. She has litigated cases in Tennessee’s trial courts, Court of Appeals, and the Tennessee Supreme Court. Dinah also maintains an active Family Law and Civil Mediation practice. She is a certified Rule 31 Family Law and Civil Law Mediator, handling matters ranging from divorce and custody to personal injury lawsuits.