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Every May, Virginia and the rest of the country recognize Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. The goal of the safety campaign is to remind motorists that they share the road with motorcyclists and to educate them so they understand motorcycle driving behaviors and how to operate their vehicles safely around them. The campaign also promotes increased awareness for those who ride motorcycles on steps they can take to remain safe.
When a motorcycle crash does take place, the injuries to the rider are often serious to severe compared to any injuries suffered by the occupants of the other vehicle involved in the crash. This is because there is absolutely no barrier or protection for the rider when that 3,000-plus pound vehicle smashes into them. While there are many different injuries riders suffer, pelvic trauma is one of the most common.
Pelvic Trauma
Pelvic trauma is any injury to the pelvic area – including the lower back, hip, lap, and leg – that is caused by blunt force. One of the most severe types of pelvic trauma is when the pelvis gets fractured. Other types of pelvic trauma include:
- Broken hip
- Dislocated hip
- Nerve damage
- Perforation or other injuries to the bladder
- Reproductive organ injuries
- Severed arteries
According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), almost half of the injuries that motorcyclists suffer are to the rider’s lower body. Leg injuries are the most common, but the second most common body area that is injured in motorcycle accidents is the pelvic area, adding up to more than 20 percent of lower-body injuries motorcyclists suffer in crashes. About 70 percent of these injuries involve pelvic fractures, with approximately 10 percent resulting in a substantial deformation of the pelvis. And two out of every three hip injuries include a fractured femur.
A Virginia motorcycle accident attorney understands that these types of injuries – fractured hips, femurs, pelvises, etc. – usually require a long and painful rehabilitation period. In many cases, the victim is required to have multiple surgeries to help heal the fractures. For many victims, this extended recovery time often means being unable to work.
A motorcycle accident victim can quickly become financially overwhelmed with mounting medical bills and no wages or benefits coming in. This is where a motorcycle accident attorney can help. The attorneys at our firm have helped countless numbers of motorcycle crash victims can the financial compensation they deserved for the losses their injuries caused them to suffer. Some of these damages include:
- Medical expenses for treatment, including emergency room treatment, hospital stays, surgeries, rehab stays, doctor visits, physical therapy, medical devices and equipment, medication, and more
- Lost wages and benefits
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- Permanent disability
- Scarring
- Disfigurement
- Loss of future income
Contact a Skilled Virginia Injury Attorney Today
While pelvic trauma is one of the most common injuries sustained by motorcycle accident victims, a Virginia motorcycle accident attorney knows that many victims also suffer brain injuries, broken bones, paralysis, and spinal trauma. Our accident attorneys understand that the injuries motorcycle accident victims sustain often leave them with permanent disabilities that not only create physical limitations but also result in significant financial losses.
If you or a loved one were injured in a motorcycle accident this year, it is critical not to delay contacting the legal team at Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp because Virginia injury laws have strict rules regarding how long you have to file your personal injury claim. If the statute of limitations expires, you will be unable to collect financial damages for losses you or your family may be entitled to.
Our firm also offers a free motorcycle injury guide which offers information that you may find helpful.
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