The motorcycle—an iconic two-wheeled motor vehicle—remains a popular mode of transportation that sustained several style evolutions across the decades. Motorcycle ownership and the popularity of bikes reached record numbers in 2018. According to the MIC Owner Survey conducted by the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC), a little more than eight percent of American households owned at least one motorcycle (2018).
Some motorcyclists ride their bikes for leisure, while others rely on their motorcycles as their primary or only way of traveling.
Motorcycle riding can be exciting, but this mode of transportation lacks the protection offered by cars, SUVs, and trucks. As a result, motorcycle riders have an increased chance of being in a fatal road accident.
Serious Accidents Can Cause Intense Pain and Fatal Injuries
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the United States reported that for every mile traveled, the likelihood of a motorcyclist being in a fatal road incident is 16 times greater than that of passenger car occupants. The risk of sustaining injuries in a road incident is higher for motorcyclists as well. A motorcycle rider’s chances of getting injured in a collision are four times greater than that of passenger car occupants. While 20 percent of car crashes cause fatalities or injuries, an estimated 80 percent of motorcycle accidents cause fatalities or injuries.
Motorcycle riders increase their chances of dying or getting injured by riding without a helmet. Helmets explicitly designed for motorcycle riding can withstand harsh conditions and damage, and protect motorcyclists’ heads and faces. By wearing a helmet, motorcycle riders can keep debris, dirt, stones, and rocks out of their eyes. Additionally, helmets can prevent orofacial pain and serious injuries, including broken noses, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and facial fractures.
Common Injuries Caused by Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists thrown from their bikes at high speeds may contact the ground with substantial force, resulting in cracked or chipped teeth, tooth loss, root fractures, facial disfigurement or scarring, and other damages.
Motorcycle accidents expose motorcyclists to a wide range of orofacial and dental damages and fatal injuries. Facial injuries can cause orofacial pain in the face, mouth, and jaw. Dental injuries can cause intense pain that impacts motorcycle riders for the rest of their lives. For instance, dental damage can be severe enough to make eating, talking, sleeping, or even breathing difficult.
Whether or not a motorcycle rider wears their helmet, they may endure damage to the jaw, temporomandibular joint (TMJ), and the temporomandibular muscle. The TMJ enables us to open and close our mouths, chew, and talk. TMJ and jaw injuries can cause temporomandibular disorders (TMD), characterized by chronic pain.
An injured biker experiencing chronic orofacial pain and catastrophic injuries that they fear can result in TMD should visit a dentist or doctor. Dentists and doctors have an expert understanding of temporomandibular disorders, myofascial pain, and neuropathic facial pain conditions. Consulting a professional can lead to an Orofacial Pain Diagnosis and proper management of orofacial pain such as trigeminal neuralgia.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident
Just as motorcycle accident victims should visit medical and dental professionals for chronic pain treatment, they should also contact a personal injury lawyer to pursue a motorcycle accident lawsuit. According to California motorcycle accident lawyer Daniel Kim, crucial actions to take following a motorcycle crash include making sure everyone involved in a motorcycle crash is okay, obtaining insurance company information and contact information from the other driver, and collecting and preserving evidence.
Motorcyclists in Southern California can consult the Law Offices of Daniel Kim, a trusted law firm, for expert legal guidance and to obtain fair financial compensation for property damage, lost wages due to serious injuries, and the medical costs associated with getting treatment for motorcycle accident injuries. Entrusting one’s motorcycle accident case to a skilled attorney can ensure that an injured biker receives the support and compensation they deserve while physically, mentally, and emotionally recovering from a motorcycle accident.
