Did You Suffer Chest Trauma In A Motorcycle Accident?

Motorcycle accidents are well-known for their violence and devastating physical injuries. While motorcycle accident victims could potentially sustain a wide range of injuries, there are certain parts of the body that are more vulnerable than others, including the torso and chest area. Unfortunately, injuries to these areas are almost always severe, leaving victims to struggle with significant pain and limited mobility, while in other cases, the injuries could prove fatal.

Why are Chest Injuries So Common in Motorcycle Accidents?

Motorcycle riders are generally more vulnerable to physical injury than the occupants of other passenger vehicles, which have airbags, seat belts, and a frame that absorbs a lot of the impact of a crash. Unfortunately, because they are so exposed to impact, and due to the fact that they are positioned differently, motorcyclists are much more likely to suffer an injury if involved in a collision. This risk is especially high for certain parts of the body, including the torso and chest, not only because direct impacts are more likely, but also because of secondary factors. A lot of motorcyclist accident victims, for instance, don’t undergo a single impact, but must suffer multiple impacts when thrown from their motorcycles. In other cases, they may even become crushed beneath their motorcycle, further adding to the chances of an injury to the torso.

What are the Most Common Accident-Related Chest Injuries?

The torso and abdomen areas house a lot of our most important organs, so any damage to this area can have brutal consequences, even putting someone’s life at risk. Some of the most commonly sustained chest-related motorcycle injuries include:

• Blunt aortic injuries, which involve small tears to the artery that are caused by penetrating injuries or blunt force trauma;
• Blunt cardiac trauma, which includes contusions and ruptures in the heart;
• Broken ribs and fractured sternums, which can limit mobility and contribute to other chest injuries, like the rupturing or laceration of nearby organs;
• Pericardial tamponade, in which the blood starts to pool inside the membrane that surrounds the heart, resulting in potential heart failure;
• Pulmonary contusions, which involve the bursting and leaking of blood into the lungs, usually because of blunt force trauma to the blood vessels; and
• Punctured lungs, which can result in internal bleeding, the collapse of one or both lungs, and overall respiratory failure.

Accident victims who sustain these kinds of chest injuries typically require ongoing treatment and multiple surgeries, as well as long-term therapies, even after which, they may still suffer from permanent disability.

Call Anderson & Anderson for Legal Help

Motorcycle accident-related chest injuries can range in severity from minor bruising to potentially fatal damage to the aorta. In either case, accident victims can expect to face hefty medical bills and an uphill recovery. At Anderson & Anderson, we have nearly 40 years of experience helping accident victims recover the compensation they need to move on with their lives after sustaining these types of injuries. We are willing and able to put this experience to work on your case. Call us at 813-251-0072, so our dedicated Tampa motorcycle accident lawyers can get started.

Sources:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3217482/

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6434345/