For motorcyclists in North Carolina, safety precautions can be essential when relying on two wheels for transportation. Motorcycle accidents are always a concern for bikers, but certain types of injuries are more common in crashes. Over 1,222,000 people were injured and received emergency treatment for their non-fatal injuries caused by motorcycle crashes between 2001 and 2008.
A number of researchers and institutions have examined the data relating to motorcycle injuries, including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Center for Disease Control, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine and even the World Health Organization, which conducted international studies of motorcycle accidents. Across the board, studies have repeatedly found that the most common type of non-lethal injury in a motorcycle crash is a leg or foot injury. These wounds to the lower extremities take place in an area of the body that is often unprotected by even the most thorough safety precautions.
The second most common types of injuries were head and neck wounds, suffered by 22 percent of injured people in motorcycle crashes. Injuries also occurred to other parts of the body, such as the chest, shoulders and back. Arms, hands and the lower trunk area, such as the hips and pelvis, were also relatively common sites of injury. Additional studies examined the impact of the use of safety gear like helmets on the types and severity of injuries resulting from accidents on the road. Researchers found that motorcyclists wearing helmets were more likely than those without helmets to suffer less severe injuries while bikers without helmets suffered a greater proportion of very severe wounds.
Motorcyclists can also be at risk when dangerous drivers are on the road. Even with excellent safety precautions, their bodies are more exposed to nature and at a higher risk of severe personal injuries in case of a crash. Motorcyclists injured in an accident through no fault of their own can consult a personal injury lawyer to discuss pursuing compensation for medical bills and other damages suffered as a result.