When a motorcycle comes in contact with another motor vehicle, it can cause serious injuries or even death. One of the most devastating types of injuries to sustain in a Chicago motorcycle accident is a spinal cord injury.
Neck, back or spinal cord injuries can result in long-term or permanent injuries. Recovering from these injuries will cost you more than just your time; surgeries, rehabilitation, and other factors can lead to hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills alone. This is why you need to seek the help of a Chicago motorcycle accident attorney who can look at the specifics of your case and explain your legal options.
Neck and Back Injuries in a Chicago Motorcycle Accident
If you have been involved in a Chicago motorcycle accident and experienced neck and back injuries, it is no surprise. Back injuries are common, especially for victims who are 50 years and older.
Some victims believe that the neck and back pain will eventually subside. However unless you seek medical attention you may not be fully aware of the extent of your injuries. You may have suffered a spinal cord injury, disc bulge or disc herniation. These are serious injuries that can both immediate and long-term effects, especially if not treated properly.
Other spinal cord-related injuries that can occur are soft-tissue neck and back injuries. This can cause pain and spasms that can result in pain running down your extremities or even numbness or tingling in your fingers, hands, toes and feet.
It is extremely important to seek medical attention and get a correct diagnosis as to the extent of your injuries.
Getting thrown from a bike is definitely harder to prepare for; however, if a rider can relax their body enough it may change the impact. The hope is that a rider would fall flatly onto the road but of course, such a prediction is difficult to make.
The next concern is the location of the bike, because with this type of motorcycle crash, the bike could end up hitting you. If the bike is coming toward you, the best thing is to try and minimize the injuries to your body. While it may seem logical to curl up into a ball, this technique may expose your back to a spinal cord injury. Therefore, you should cover your face with your arms. Exposing your arms to the impact reduces the chance of suffering a broken neck or fractured skull.
Motorcycle crashes also commonly involving hitting or being hitting by another vehicle.
These types of motorcycle accidents are especially common during busy traffic times like Labor Day weekend. This is sometimes the result of a driver not paying attention or not respecting their responsibility to safely share the road with motorcyclists. With this type of motorcycle crash, getting hit will likely result in serious injuries.
The best thing a motorcyclist can do to potentially avoid a motorcycle accident during Labor Day weekend is to make your presence known on the road.
You can do this by keeping your headlight on (even during daylight hours), trying to stay clear of other vehicles’ blind spots, and using your horn when necessary. Additionally you should always wear the appropriate motorcycle safety gear to protect you in the event of a motorcycle accident.
If you have been injured in a Chicago motorcycle crash, the most important thing to do is talk with a Chicago motorcycle accident lawyer. There are deadlines in filing personal injury claims in Illinois, so you may want to speak with an experienced attorney right away.
