A motorcyclist’s lower extremities are the most vulnerable body parts in almost any accident, regardless of severity.
The legs and feet can quickly come in contact with the road, get crushed by the bike and other vehicles, and absorb impact from other objects in a motorcycle accident.
Lower extremity injuries in motorcycle crashes are often treatable and don’t cause long-term effects. However, some cases lead to significant mobility issues.
At the very least, people with foot injuries suffer a temporary disability, preventing them from returning to their everyday lives.
If you or a loved one sustained a foot injury in a motorcycle accident caused by someone else, you could pursue damages.
Our experienced motorcycle accident attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC, will help you file a personal injury claim and ensure you receive fair financial compensation for your injuries.
Contact a motorcycle accident lawyer at (888) 424-5757 for a free consultation.
How Can Motorcycle Accidents Cause Foot Injuries?
Foot injuries are more frequent in motorcycle accidents than upper extremity injuries, although they are not usually fatal.
These injuries are common in motorcycle-related accidents due to the following reasons:
- The legs and feet are closer to the ground and completely exposed on either side of the motorcycle
- The legs and feet often bear the brunt of the initial impact
- Motorcycles tend to fall over on a rider in an accident
- The legs and feet can get trapped and crushed under the bike in a motorcycle crash
Common Foot Injuries from Motorcycle Accidents
Foot injuries vary, depending on the severity of the motorcycle crash and how damage occurs to the lower extremities.
The most common lower extremity injuries in motorcycle accidents include:
- Foot Injuries: Blunt force trauma to the foot can break the bones and damage underlying tissue. There is also a risk of penetrating trauma in a motorcycle crash, which can cause severe bleeding and lacerations.
- Ankle Injuries: The ankle has many tendons, ligaments, and bones. Common ankle injuries caused by trauma include broken bones and sprains.
- Leg Injuries: Like the feet, the legs are completely exposed on either side of the bike. A motorcycle accident can lead to fractured bones, severe lacerations, dislocations, and severe bruising. Severe injuries result from a heavy object crushing the rider’s legs, such as a bike or another vehicle.
- Knee Injuries: Significant impact to the knee can dislodge the bone from its joint, potentially leading to kneecap fractures and damage to the soft tissues. A serious injury to the knee may require long-term therapy to regain its full range of motion.
- Thigh Injuries: The thigh contains more muscle and soft tissues, making lacerations and bruising more common in this area. However, the upper legs can also suffer fractured bones in a severe motorcycle wreck.
- Road Rash: Motorcycle riders wear protective gear to protect the skin in case of an accident. Road rash occurs when hard surfaces, such as concrete or gravel, peel off the skin. This injury can happen to any body part but is more common in bony areas, including the knees and elbows.
- Amputation: Severe injuries to the foot or leg may require amputation to save the victim’s life. Such injuries often involve tissue and bones that are too damaged to salvage.
Effects of a Foot or Leg Injury
Common foot injuries caused by motorcycle accidents lead to significant consequences for victims, such as:
- Chronic Pain: Accident victims may suffer chronic pain after a leg or foot injury, also known as chronic regional pain syndrome. Aside from chronic pain, victims may experience changes in skin temperature, color, or swelling in the injured limb.
- Mobility Issues: Motorcycle riders often experience mobility problems after a foot or leg injury. Many require a cast, brace, cane, crutches, or wheelchair and cannot put weight on the injured extremity. Sadly, severe cases can lead to permanent mobility or function loss.
- Nerve Damage: If a crushing injury stops blood flow to the foot or leg, the victim could suffer nerve damage and experience muscle weakness, pain, and changes in sensation.
- Post-Traumatic Arthritis refers to joint inflammation after a leg or foot injury. Unlike non-acute arthritis, it develops quickly and is usually temporary.
- Permanent Scars: The upper or lower leg lacerations can develop permanent scars.
Furthermore, these effects can lead to other problems, such as:
- Lost income
- Loss of independence
- Reduced quality of life
- Dependence on pain medication
- Depression
- Stress
- Financial strains due to medical treatment and disability
What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident
No one wants to think about possibly getting into a motorcycle accident.
However, it helps to know what to do just in case:
- Call for Help. Seek medical treatment immediately, even if you feel uninjured. Request an ambulance if someone requires emergency treatment. The police will also arrive and offer necessary assistance.
- Document the Scene. Take pictures of the accident scene and get the information of witnesses. It can help with your personal injury claim.
- Go to the Doctor. If you haven’t already, visit the hospital for an injury assessment. The doctor should provide advice if your injury only requires home recovery.
- Find an Attorney. A lawyer will investigate your case, determine the at-fault party, and identify the best option for you to recover compensation.
How to Prevent Common Foot Injuries
Common injuries in motorcycle accidents are often preventable. While you cannot control inclement weather conditions or other drivers, you can increase your protection by:
- Wearing Protective Gear: Always wear a helmet to reduce the risk of a head injury. Invest in appropriate clothing, motorcycle boots, and protective gear to prevent injuries or lower their severity.
- Obeying All Traffic Laws: Tens of thousands of accidents occur due to negligence. Avoid getting into one by following all traffic rules and driving defensively.
- Avoiding Bad Weather: Poor weather poses a higher risk to motorcycle riders than car drivers due to the lower stability of motorcycles. Avoid driving in inclement weather as much as possible.
- Being Alert: Always be alert and aware of your surroundings to react to dangerous situations on time. It also helps to steer clear from speeding, swerving, or distracted drivers.
- Maintaining Your Bike: One of the simplest ways to avoid a motorcycle accident [1] is to ensure your bike is road-worthy. Stay on top of maintenance to prevent mishaps like tire blowouts, brake failures, and engine problems.
How a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Can Help
A leg or foot injury can put you out of commission for weeks or months. More importantly, it can cause significant pain and lead to expensive medical bills.
If an accident occurs due to someone else’s negligence, the at-fault driver should be responsible for the victim’s damages.
A personal injury lawyer can help you file a claim and recover financial compensation for the following:
- Medical Care: Costs of medical treatment, including but not limited to hospitalization, medication, physical therapy, emergency transportation, etc.
- Disability: Expenses following a temporary or permanent disability, such as mobility aids, occupational therapy, etc.
- Pain and Suffering: Compensation for physical pain, emotional trauma, mental anguish, etc.
- Lost Income: Compensation for income and benefits lost while recovering from a foot injury.
- Loss of Quality of Life: Compensation for quality of life lost due to the accident.
- Scarring and Disfigurement: Compensation for the physical and emotional effects of permanent scarring and disfigurement.
- Wrongful Death: Funeral, burial, or cremation costs, pre-death medical care expenses, grief, and other related damages if the victim dies due to their injuries.
Consult an Experienced Motorcycle Accident Attorney Today
Foot and leg injuries rarely contribute to motorcycle fatalities. Nevertheless, they can cause significant pain and financial losses to victims.
Did you or a loved one sustain a foot or leg injury in a motorcycle accident caused by someone else? You can file a personal injury claim to recover your losses.
Our Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC attorneys will help you maximize your compensation and hold the negligent parties fully accountable for their actions.
Contact our law firm at (888) 424-5757 for a free consultation.
All confidential or sensitive information you share with our legal team will remain private under an attorney-client relationship.
Our lawyers handle all accepted motorcycle accident cases on a contingency fee basis. This agreement ensures you don’t have to pay our legal fees unless we win your case.
Resources: [1] CDC