Motorcycle Accidents Resulting in Paralysis

A study of 1,121 motorcyclists injured in collisions revealed that 11.2% of injured motorcyclists sustained a spinal cord injury. When a motorcycle accident results in paralysis, the victim may experience immobility, loss of sensation, and bodily dysfunction.

Paralyzed Motorcycle Rider Statistics

19.8% of injured motorcyclists sustain a neurological injury, including spinal cord injury.
8.7% of those injured in motorcycle accidents need spinal surgery.
42.9% of spinal cord injuries from motorcycle accidents affect multiple regions of the spine.

Region of spine*

Cervical region—27% of motorcycle spinal cord injuries
Thoracic region—54% of motorcycle spinal cord injuries
Lumbar region—29% of motorcycle spinal cord injuries

*A person may have injury in multiple regions.

Types of Paralysis Injuries Common in Motorcycle Accidents

There are four basic types of paralysis injuries common in motorcycle accidents.

Monoplegia

Monoplegia is paralysis affecting only one limb. Usually, the affected limb is an arm. A person who sustains injury causing monoplegia from a motorcycle accident will experience significant disruption to their daily life. However, many people learn to self-care.

Hemiplegia

Hemiplegia impairs one side of the body. Trauma on one side of the brain, or an incomplete spinal injury to one side of the spine, may result in hemiplegia. Another name for hemiplegia is Brown-Sequard Syndrome (BSS). The person may experience weakness, loss of voluntary muscle movement, and an inability to feel pain or sense temperature on the affected side of the body.

Paraplegia

Paraplegia is paralysis impacting the lower extremities and lower body. Injury may result in a full or partial loss of function. Muscles may be limp, or the person may experience uncontrolled spasms.

Quadriplegia/Tetraplegia

Quadriplegia, also called tetraplegia, is paralysis affecting all four limbs of the body. Usually, the injury is high up on the spine, near the neck. A person may lose muscle control and the ability to feel.

Complete vs. incomplete

A paralyzed motorcycle rider may have a complete or incomplete injury. A complete injury is a disruption that fully severs communication between the brain and the spinal cord below the point of injury. Incomplete injury still allows some spinal function, and a person may maintain some nervous system processing.

Medical Treatment and Rehabilitation for Paralysis

Medical treatment for motorcycle accident paralysis should have multiple objectives. In the immediate aftermath of the accident, motorcycle wreck injuries must be stabilized. Care must be taken so that the person does not suffer additional injuries. While spinal cord injury can’t be reversed, there are immediate treatments that may reduce pressure on the spinal cord and minimize the impact of injury.

The focus should be given to rehabilitation and regain of function. The person may benefit from therapy to increase muscle strength and coordination. There may be adaptive techniques that can improve the person’s ability to self-care. With paralysis, there is a concern of secondary complications like blood clots or respiratory problems that may result from immobility. Mental health care should be included in treatment for paralysis.

How Motorcycle Design and Gear May Affect Injury Severity

Motorcycle design and riding gear may affect injury severity, including paralysis. Even though cars and trucks are much larger than motorcycles, riding gear can reduce crash severity. For example, a helmet can reduce trauma to the brain while a back protector may absorb impact and minimize traumatic injury to the spinal cord.

Reflective materials may increase visibility. Gloves may increase grip and the ability to react to danger on the road. Even a fraction of a second of increased reaction time may reduce the speed and forces of impact. Eye protection may prevent vision loss and boots may protect the feet from broken bones.

Motorcycle design may also impact the severity of injury. The wheelbase, fork angle, fuel tank location, frame, and engine configuration may all impact the forces in a crash and injury to the victim.

Seeking Compensation for Life-Altering Injuries

A paralyzed motorcycle rider has life-altering injuries. They may seek compensation through a legal claim, which requires specialized attention to issues affecting motorcyclists and issues that are common to victims suffering from paralysis.

Can a motorcyclist receive compensation for an accident resulting in paralysis?

Yes. A motorcyclist who suffers injury resulting in paralysis may receive compensation. They must prove that another party is at fault for the accident through negligence or other grounds for liability. A victim must initiate a claim in order to receive compensation.

There is no limit to what a motorcyclist may receive since they are not an occupant of a passenger vehicle. A victim may claim the full amount of damages, even if someone else may not have suffered paralysis in other circumstances.

A claim must establish legal liability. Fault and causation of injury are often contested in claims involving life-altering injuries like paralysis. In addition, case preparation must value and prove damages. Future losses and non-economic damages are large in claims involving paralysis.

The victim may seek compensation, limited only by the damages allowable by law and their ability to prove their case.

Proving Liability in Catastrophic Motorcycle Accident Cases

Proving liability in a catastrophic motorcycle accident case requires detailed evidence. All motor vehicle operators have a duty to operate with reasonable care and diligence. Passenger vehicle operators have a duty to motorcyclists, and motorcyclists have a duty to others on the road.

Liability may be based on one or more actions that are negligent. Traffic violations are generally considered negligence, but you must establish that the violation occurred.

Negligent behavior doesn’t have to amount to a traffic violation—any act or failure to act may be negligent if it creates an unreasonable risk of harm. You may present witness testimony, which may include your own testimony.

Contact an Experienced Greenville Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Are you a paralyzed motorcycle rider? Contact Bobby Jones Law.

You can have an experienced Greenville motorcycle accident lawyer represent you. Lawyer Robert “Bobby” Jones is proud to aggressively represent the interests of injured motorcyclists.

He handles claims involving catastrophic injury including paralysis.