Motorcycle Accident Crush Injuries: They Are as Bad as They Sound

Riding a motorcycle is fun. It’s cathartic; it allows you to enjoy Mother Nature and gives you a sense of adventure. And if we’re honest? The leather jackets will always be cool. However, riding is still really dangerous, for even the most experienced bikers. As safe as you may be when on your motorcycle, there are always other drivers who might not be on the lookout before they change lanes, pull into an intersection or make a turn.

Some of the most traumatic injuries a motorcycle rider can suffer in an accident are crush injuries. A crush injury is just what is sounds like: some [art of your body is being crushed between two objects. For example, if you are thrown clear off your motorcycle in a collision, and are pinned between another vehicle and the road, the intense pressure could literally crush a part of your body.

What happens after a crush injury?

If you were to suffer a crush injury while riding your motorcycle, you could experience any of the following:

• Bruising
• Bleeding (both internal and external)
• Nerve damage
• Fractures
• Tissue death
• Compartment syndrome
• Limb loss

What is compartment syndrome?

Compartment syndrome is one of the most serious of the injuries motorcycle riders can suffer when they experience a crush injury, because it could last a lifetime. Compartment syndrome occurs when extreme pressure is placed on an arm or leg. The pressure then leads to damage of the tissue, nerves, muscles or blood vessels in the affected limb, which affects blood flow. In cases of acute compartment syndrome, the damage to the muscles may be permanent.

Depending on the severity, compartment syndrome may be treated with physical therapy and anti-inflammatories, or is may require surgical intervention.

Treating an infection related to a motorcycle crush injury

Secondary infections of the bone and/or skin are quite common in crush injury cases, and can lead to tissue necrosis (tissue death). Tissue necrosis requires the removal of the dead tissue, which means surgical intervention. In some cases, it will lead to amputation.

One way to treat a serious, secondary infection is to undergo hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). This therapy helps increases how much oxygen your blood can transmit, and may help save damaged tissue.

A crush injury can be debilitating

If you suffer a crush injury in a motorcycle accident, you could wind up going through extensive rehabilitation for months on end. You might not be able to return to work until your injury has completely healed, or you might never be able to return to your line of work. Crush injuries can be debilitating depending on the damage done to your nerves, muscles and tissue.

Many crush injuries lead to limb loss at the scene of the accident, or necessitate amputation at the hospital. Amputation might be necessary if you suffer an infection, or if so much tissue death occurred that you will no longer be able to use the affected limb. The most severe of motorcycle accidents can lead to amputation of an arm or leg as a result of the crash, but you could also lose fingers, hands, or toes.

Dealing with the effects of a motorcycle accident can be hard, but picking the right lawyer for your needs shouldn’t be. Get a fighter on your side by calling the Nashville motorcycle accident lawyers of Rocky McElhaney Law Firm at 615-425-2500, or completing our contact form, to schedule your initial consultation. With offices in Nashville, Hendersonville and Knoxville, you are just minutes away when you need us most.