Article: Facial Injuries from a Motorcycle Accident
Arizona Motorcycle Lawyers for Facial Injuries
The face is one of the most vulnerable parts of the body for a motorcycle rider in the event of an accident. If a rider is not wearing a full face helmet, there is nothing to protect a motorcycle rider’s face from the pavement, ground, or other vehicles. Even with a full face helmet, motorcycle riders are at a much higher risk for facial injuries than other motorists.
Broken bones and facial abrasions, the most common types of facial injuries, can be devastating because they can leave permanent and noticeable scars on your most prominent feature: your face. But in addition to affecting your appearance, facial injuries can also affect your sight, speech, breathing, and ability to swallow. These injuries can be painful and severely debilitating to your quality of life.
If you have suffered a facial injury in a motorcycle accident, you should seek medical attention immediately. In addition, if you were in an accident in Phoenix, Mesa, or Scottsdale, you should consult with an Arizona motorcycle attorney to discuss your legal options. If the accident was not your fault, the responsible party may be responsible for your damages, including medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Types of Facial Injuries
There are many types of facial injuries. Common injuries include:
- Facial lacerations
- Facial abrasions
- Oral lacerations
- Avulsed (knocked out) teeth
- Fractured facial bones (jaw, cheek, nose, eye socket, etc)
- Scratched cornea
Frequently, facial injuries will be accompanied by head and brain injuries, such as a concussion or skull fracture. You should seek medical attention immediately after a motorcycle accident, even if your facial injuries seem minor at the time.
Full Face Helmets
Motorcycle helmets are not legally required for adult riders in Arizona, but they are recommended by most motorcycle safety experts. However, if you do choose to wear a helmet, there are many different styles to choose from. The best way to prevent or reduce facial injuries is to wear a full face helmet, which has a lower section protecting your chin and a clear plastic visor across the face.
Many riders do not like these types of helmets because of increased heat, reduced vision, and reduced hearing. Another option is to wear a modular or “flip-up” helmet which has a full face section which can be flipped up to allow the rider to speak or eat without removing the helmet.
Comparative Negligence
If you suffer facial injuries and are not wearing a full face or modular helmet, the defense attorneys may claim that you were responsible for your facial injuries and ask the jury to reduce your award. This is known in legal parlance as comparative negligence. This is one of the many reasons that it is important to have an experienced Arizona motorcycle attorney handling your case.
Contact an Arizona Motorcycle Lawyer
If you suffered a facial injury in a motorcycle accident in Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler or elsewhere in Maricopa County, you should seek medical attention immediately, and it is recommended that you contact an experienced Arizona motorcycle attorney to discuss your case. For more information on motorcycle accidents in Arizona, please visit www.azmotorcycleaccidentlawyer.com/.
