Spinal Injuries in Motorbike Accidents

Spinal injuries are among the most common injuries to occur as a result of a motorbike accident; unfortunately, they are also extremely serious. Ranging from fractures and slipped discs to permanent spinal cord damage, a spinal injury can be life-altering for the victim involved.

If you have sustained spinal injuries in a motorbike accident through no fault of your own, you may be entitled to compensation. We understand the difficulties you may be facing after a motorbike accident and are here to recover the compensation you need to make the best possible recovery. Contact us on 0800 980 9386, if you would like to find out more about making a motorbike claim.

Spinal injuries in motorbike accidents:

Spinal injuries are an extremely common consequence of motorbike accidents, largely because motorcyclists do not have as much protection as other road users when on the road. If a motorcyclist is thrown from their bike in a collision, the spine is often the part of the body that absorbs most of the impact, often leading to serious injuries.

Every spinal injury is different and will affect the person involved in different ways. There are, however, several common spinal injuries that can result from a motorbike accident:

Fractures:

Fractures to the spine are usually caused if the back hits the ground or another object with a strong degree of force. Fractures are some of the most common spinal injuries, particularly when the motorcyclist is involved in a collision with another vehicle. Ranging in severity from hairline fractures to more serious, extensive ones, all fractures are extremely painful and can take some time to fully recover from.

Slipped discs:

A slipped disc occurs when one of the spinal discs ruptures, which causes the protective gel that cushions the spine to leak out. Once it has slipped, the disc can put pressure on other areas of the back, causing significant pain and discomfort. In serious cases, this can also put pressure on the spinal nerves, extending the pain to other parts of the body. A slipped disc can take anything from a few weeks to a year or more to heal.

Coccydynia:

Coccydynia is a very specific type of lower-back pain, affecting the coccyx (tailbone). The injury itself is relatively easy to treat, often with a combination of spinal manipulation therapy and painkillers; however, it can cause great pain for the person involved, particularly when sitting down.

Spinal cord damage:

In a serious motorbike accident, the spinal cord may become severely damaged, often resulting in permanent injuries. In some cases, depending on the nature of the accident, the nerves in the spinal cord could be affected. This is the most serious type of spinal injury as these nerves lead to all other areas of the body; if the nerves are seriously damaged, the body can become paralysed.

Preventing a spinal injury:

Spinal injuries are fairly difficult to prevent among motorcyclists, as they do not have the automatic protection afforded to other road users. There are, however, some steps that can be taken to reduce the chances of a spinal injury from occurring.

The best measure to take is to wear a protective, padded jacket. If the back is cushioned and supported, ideally with high-abrasion-resistant nylon or foam, then if a collision does happen the jacket will absorb some of the impact of hitting the ground, reducing the chances of a serious spinal injury occurring.

Making a spinal injury claim:

Sometimes, no matter how many precautions you take, accidents can still happen. If you have sustained spinal injuries in a motorbike accident that was not your fault, you may be entitled to compensation.  Our lawyers are experts when it comes to motorbike claims, and will fight for the compensation you need to make the best possible recovery. Whatever the extent of your injuries, we will recover the maximum compensation for your injuries, treatments needed and any financial losses. We deal with all motorbike claims on a no win, no fee basis, meaning that you will not have to pay any legal expenses; our clients always keep 100% of the compensation awarded.

For more information about making a motorbike claim, please contact us on 0800 980 9386, or fill out our online claim form. Our advice is completely free to you.