Motorcycle riding offers freedom and adventure that attracts hundreds of enthusiasts across Oregon. When you’ve been working in an office, retail business, or even at home all day, a ride through the Tillamook State Forest or along I-84 can be genuinely refreshing. However, there are also risks involved: motorists don’t always watch out for bikers, and poorly maintained roads can cause you to lose control and crash, especially if the weather is less than ideal.
When accidents happen, the outcome can be devastating. According to the NHTSA, lower-extremity injuries are the most common among motorcycle accident victims, accounting for 47% of moderate to severe cases. In this article, we’ll go into detail about how these crashes occur, why your legs are especially vulnerable in a motorcycle collision, and how an experienced motorcycle accident attorney can help.
Why Motorcycle Accidents Are So Dangerous
Your vulnerability on a motorcycle puts you at a massive disadvantage compared to passenger vehicle occupants. When a 4,000-pound vehicle collides with your 400-pound bike, physics isn’t on your side: you have no protective barrier between your body and the impact force, which means that you’re more likely to suffer blunt force trauma, permanent impairment, and even wrongful death. Common hazards include:
- Distracted and Inattentive Drivers: Distracted drivers pose one of the biggest threats to motorcycle operators today. When texting, talking on their phone, or adjusting GPS systems, they often fail to see motorcycles in their blind spots. They merge into your lane or make left turns directly into your path in “looked but didn’t see” accidents.
- Road Hazards and Environmental Factors: Road conditions and environmental factors create additional hazards. Dangerous conditions like wet roads, construction zones, uneven road surface, and debris can all cause you to lose control of your motorbike and hit a vehicle, road divider, or tree.
Regardless of the cause, motorcycle accident injuries can be devastating and may include:
- Tibia Fractures: The tibia, or shinbone, can break when a rider’s leg is pinned between the motorcycle and another object. These fractured bones usually require surgery followed by an extended period of immobilization.
- Fibula Fractures: Though smaller than the tibia, the fibula can also fracture under impact or pressure. These breaks often occur alongside tibia fractures, compounding physical pain and recovery time. Healing may involve wearing a brace, using crutches, or undergoing surgery.
- Femur Fractures: The femur is the large bone in the upper leg. While it’s difficult to break, high-speed collisions or direct trauma to the thigh can cause this injury. Recovery often includes surgical intervention using rods or plates, followed by extensive rehabilitation.
- Knee Injuries: The knee joint is vulnerable to dislocation, ligament tears, or fractures during a crash. These common injuries can severely limit mobility and require long-term physical therapy. Some cases involve torn ACLs or meniscus damage, which may need surgical repair to restore function and stability for the injured rider.
- Ankle Injury: Ankles can twist violently or be crushed during direct impact with the ground or vehicle. These common motorcycle injuries may range from minor cracks to full breaks requiring metal hardware. Recovery includes immobilization in a boot or cast and several weeks on crutches, which affects your quality of life.
- Foot Injuries: The foot contains many small bones that can fracture easily during a crash. Crushing injuries are especially common when the motorcycle lands on the rider’s foot. These injuries can make walking painful or impossible without medical treatment, and they often lead to expensive medical bills during recovery.
- Soft Tissue Damage: Even without broken bones, muscle tears, bruising, and deep lacerations in the legs are common. Sliding across pavement can cause skin abrasions and damage to underlying tissues. Treatment for soft tissue injuries may include wound care, stitches, and antibiotics to prevent infection, followed by ongoing medical care to monitor healing and reduce the risk of complications.
- Compartment Syndrome: This is a rare but serious condition where swelling from a leg injury cuts off circulation to muscles and nerves. It often follows severe fractures or crush injuries and can lead to permanent nerve damage if not treated quickly. Emergency surgery is typically required to relieve the pressure, and follow-up surgeries may be necessary.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Crashes
Motor vehicle accidents can happen in seconds. Even skilled riders who take safety seriously can get hurt when another motorist is careless or a hazard appears unexpectedly. While no two crashes are the same, certain patterns show up again and again.
- Left-Turn Collisions: These accidents often happen when a car turns left in front of an oncoming motorcycle. Drivers may misjudge the bike’s speed or fail to see it altogether. The rider usually has little time to react, and the result can be a violent impact that leads to leg fractures, foot injuries, or blunt trauma to the pelvis.
- Lane Changes: Motorcycles are harder to see in the side mirror, especially when they’re in a car’s blind spot. If a driver changes lanes without checking carefully, they can sideswipe the motorcycle or force the rider off the road. These crashes often lead to leg and upper body injuries.
- Rear-End Collisions: When a car hits a motorcycle from behind, even at low speed, the impact can send the rider flying. Motorcycles stop more quickly than most vehicles, and distracted drivers may not notice in time. Rear-end crashes can cause spinal injuries, broken legs, or worse.
- Speeding: High speeds leave less time to react and increase the risk of losing control. Motorcycle riders going too fast through corners, traffic, or poor road conditions are more likely to crash and suffer catastrophic injuries.
- Road Hazards: Gravel, potholes, uneven pavement, or debris can upset a motorcycle’s balance. Unlike cars, bikes don’t have the stability or protection to handle rough patches easily. Even a small object like a piece of loose concrete can cause a loss of control, leading to high-impact crashes and severe extremity injuries.
- Driving Under the Influence: Alcohol and drugs slow down reaction time and impair judgment. Impaired drivers may run red lights, drift across lanes, or miss stop signs. Riders under the influence are also more likely to misjudge curves or lose control.
- Dooring: This happens when a parked car’s door swings open into the path of a moving motorcycle. The rider has little time to avoid the door, especially in urban areas with tight streets. The impact can launch them into traffic or onto the pavement.
- Poor Weather Conditions: Rain, snow, and ice reduce traction and make it harder to control a motorcycle. Visibility also drops, making it easier for other drivers to miss a rider. Even experienced motorcyclists can struggle with slick roads and strong winds.
These examples don’t cover everything, but they show how easily a ride can turn dangerous. Staying alert, wearing the right gear, and anticipating common hazards can help reduce the chance of injury. Still, riders often pay the price when someone else is negligent.
Prevent Serious Injury with Rider Protection Gear
While the right protective gear won’t stop an accident, it can reduce the damage to your body when things go wrong. Recommended gear includes:
- Motorcycle Helmet: A helmet protects your skull and brain during a fall or collision. Full-face helmets also shield your face from wind, debris, and impact. Studies have shown that helmets lower the risk of fatal head injury by a wide margin.
- Armored Jacket: A good riding jacket does more than block the wind. Many come with padding in the shoulders, elbows, and back to reduce the risk of broken bones and road rash. Materials like leather or textile blends also help prevent skin damage during a slide.
- Motorcycle Pants: Regular jeans tear easily on pavement, leaving your legs vulnerable. Motorcycle pants are built with tougher fabrics and often have armor at the knees and hips. They help protect against cuts, scrapes, and severe fractures.
- Gloves: In a crash, people instinctively throw out their hands to break the fall. Without gloves, your palms and fingers can suffer severe damage. Padded, reinforced gloves protect against cuts, burns, and broken bones.
- Boots: Sturdy boots protect the ankles, toes, and lower legs. They support the foot while riding and help prevent twisting or crushing injuries in a fall. High-top boots also keep the foot in place and reduce the risk of extremity injuries.
- Body Armor and Padding: Some riders wear extra padding under or over their clothes. These include chest protectors, spine guards, and padded shorts. The goal is to absorb impact and shield vital areas from blunt trauma, including extremity injuries that occur when the body hits pavement or debris.
Wearing proper protective gear takes a few extra minutes, but it can spare you months of chronic pain. It doesn’t make you invincible, but it gives your body a fighting chance in a crash. For riders who want to keep enjoying the road, protection should never be optional.
Recommended Riding Techniques
Staying safe on a motorcycle takes planning, awareness, and solid habits. The way you ride affects what happens around you, while small choices (like how you enter a curve or react in traffic) can help you avoid a crash. Below are some recommended safety tips:
- Keep a Safe Following Distance: Tailgating leaves no room to react, so stay at least two to three seconds behind the vehicle ahead. That space gives you time to brake, steer, or avoid debris.
- Look Through the Turn: When riding through a curve, keep your eyes on where you want to go. Looking too close to the bike throws off your balance. Keeping your head up makes turns smoother and safer.
- Use Both Brakes: Many riders rely too much on the rear brake. Using both brakes gives stronger and more even stopping power. Smooth braking helps you stay balanced when the road changes suddenly.
- Stay Visible: Don’t assume drivers see you. Use your headlight during the day, wear reflective gear that stands out, and avoid blind spots. Pick a lane position where you’re easiest to see.
- Adjust to Road Conditions: Slow down on gravel, wet pavement, or loose dirt. Sudden moves in these spots can throw the bike off track. Keep your hands relaxed on the bars and ease off the throttle.
- Watch for Escape Routes: Always scan ahead for space you can move into if traffic shifts or stops. Look past the car in front of you so you’re ready for surprises. Having room to move can keep you upright.
- Ride Smoothly: Avoid sudden swerves or sharp speed changes. Use steady throttle, gentle turns, and early signals. When your movements are easy to read, other drivers are less likely to pull into your path.
Good riding habits come from practice and steady attention. With time, they become second nature. These habits won’t stop every crash, but they reduce your chances of getting caught off guard.
Recommended Motorcycle Maintenance
Regular maintenance checks can prevent mechanical failures that lead to crashes and severe injuries. Recommended steps include:
- Replace worn tires before they become safety hazards. This is especially important before long trips or in bad weather.
- Check your brakes regularly to ensure they’re working properly and have adequate pad material remaining.
- Replace brake fluid according to your owner’s manual recommendations.
- Keep your chain properly adjusted and lubricated to prevent it from breaking or jumping off the sprockets.
- Inspect chain tension and wear regularly, replacing it when stretch or wear exceeds manufacturer recommendations.
Contact Harris Velázquez Gibbens for Your Motorcycle Crash Case
At Harris Velázquez Gibbens, we know the challenges that you face from other motorists, poorly maintained roads, and even the weather. Our experienced personal injury attorneys have successfully represented motorcycle accident victims throughout the Portland metropolitan area, and will pursue the best results for your legal claim too.
We offer free consultations for all personal injury cases, and you pay no attorney fees unless we recover maximum compensation for you. To speak with a qualified Oregon motorcycle accident lawyer about your case, call 503-648-4777 today.
