Article: Lower Leg Injuries from a Motorcycle Accident

Arizona Motorcycle Lawyer for Lower Leg Injuries from a Motorcycle Accident

Motorcycle accidents are more likely to cause injury to the operator than an accident in a passenger vehicle. The legs are one part of the rider that is particularly vulnerable in accidents with vehicles or fixed objects. Leg injuries might seem less traumatic than injuries to the head or spine, but a motorcycle accident that causes traumatic injury to the legs or feet can lead to months of rehabilitation, inconvenience, and pain. If you are struck by a negligent driver you should contact an experienced Arizona motorcycle attorney who can help you receive the help and compensation you need to recover.

Over Half the Injuries Reported are to the Legs

The Hurt Report found over half the injuries in the motorcycle accidents studied were to the rider’s lower body. They occurred predominantly because a motorcycle rider lacks the protection a passenger cabin provides.  Even in crashes where the bike was fitted with crash bars, the rider still received injuries to the upper leg and thigh.

Collisions with fixed objects

Motorcyclists face special risk to injuring their legs by colliding with highway railing or dividers. Designed to keep out of control cars in the roadway, when stuck by motorcycles these fixtures can create pinch points with the motorcycle’s body, catching and sometimes severely damaging a rider’s leg. Riding the highways across Phoenix, motorcyclists should take care not to be forced into the divider. Riders face similar risks on scenic rides from the even more dangerous metal dividers on the rural mountain roads outside of the valley.

Protective Gear

Choosing the appropriate protective gear can mean the difference between severe injury and just a few bruises. The correct riding gear protects a motorcyclist from crushing and abrasion. Some protective gear for the lower body would include:

  • Heavy boots with ankle support protect your feet and ankles against crushing and abrasion.
  • Reinforced synthetic jean or leathers: cotton blue jeans only provide half a second of resistance when skidding on asphalt.
  • “Armor” pieces: plastic guards designed to withstand abrasion and absorb the shock of impact.

Types of Injury

Motorcyclists can receive several types of injury to the lower leg:

  • Broken foot
  • Broken ankle
  • Torn ligaments in the ankle
  • Fractures in the leg
  • Torn ligaments in the knee
  • Ruptured arteries and tissue

Costs of Injury

A 2008 study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reviewed a survey of accidents and found motorcyclists pay a significant price for treatment of lower leg injuries. Median hospital charges for a single leg injury was $20,000, with some costs higher than 35,000. Costs for patients with multiple leg injuries averaged at $38,000 with some costs as high as $63,000. Costs were even higher when other parts of the body were injured as well, reaching up to $109,000. Additionally, lost wages and additional rehabilitation will further add to the cost of a leg injury. Contacting an experienced Arizona motorcycle attorney can help recover assistance from those responsible, letting you focus on recovery.

Contact an Arizona Motorcycle Lawyer

If you have suffered a lower leg injury while riding a motorcycle in Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale or elsewhere in Maricopa County, 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 http://www.azmotorcycleaccidentlawyer.com/

NHTSA , Lower-Extremity Injuries in Motorcycle Crashes, http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/810982.PDF (August 2008)