Traffic on I-229 south of St. Joseph was slow this morning after a serious motorcycle accident sent the biker to the hospital. The accident highlights the dangers of riding a motorcycle and the kinds of personal injuries that are common in motorcycle crashes.
Motorcycle Crash in St. Joseph
The incident happened at about 10am on June 6, 2017. A motorcyclist was going southbound on Interstate 229 when the bike collided with another car on the highway. The crash happened near the I-229 exit for Highway 752, and slowed traffic down on the interstate for nearly an hour.
According to initial reports, the driver of the car was uninjured, while the motorcyclist suffered hip and leg injuries. The biker was brought to the hospital in an ambulance.
Bikers Frequently Hurt in Motorcycle Accidents
Because motorcycles offer very little in the way of protection, especially when compared to cars and trucks, the injuries typically suffered by bikers in a crash is very different. Unfortunately, one of the key differences between drivers of cars and motorcycles is that people on motorcycles are injured far more often.
According to one study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 80% of all motorcycle accidents that were reported to the police resulted in the biker getting hurt or killed. While this number is likely lower for all motorcycle crashes – minor accidents that do not result in an injury are much more likely to go unreported – this is still far higher than the percentage of car accidents that involve an injury.
Leg Injuries are the Most Common
Out of these injuries, the NHTSA found that, while head, chest and abdominal injuries were more severe, the most common type of injury was to the lower extremities, especially bone fractures in the biker’s leg. This comes as no surprise – there is a lack of protection on the sides of motorcycles, and the height of an average car’s front fender is right alongside a biker’s legs.
Despite Being Common, Leg Injuries are Still Expensive
Just because leg injuries in a motorcycle accident are common and are rarely life-threatening, though, it does not mean that they are inexpensive. The NHTSA’s findings also discovered that, even when a biker had only suffered a single injury to their lower extremity, their median hospital bill was $20,745. When there were multiple lower extremity injuries, this increased to $38,608, and when there were other injuries in other parts of the cyclist’s body, the bill ballooned to $56,288.
St. Joseph Car Accident Attorneys at the Smith Law Office
Just because there is an increased risk in riding a motorbike, though, does not mean that nobody should ride one. Driving a motorcycle is one of the most exhilarating ways to get around on the roads of America, and there is no reason why bikers should have to hang up their helmets.
However, if you or someone you love gets hurt in a motorcycle accident, getting compensated for the costs of your recovery is crucial. That is where the personal injury attorneys at the Smith Law Office in St. Joseph can help. Contact us online or call us at (816) 875-9373.