It’s common to see motorcyclists enjoying Kentucky’s breathtaking scenery and bustling cities. Although cruising on a motorcycle is exhilarating and fun, bikers are vulnerable to serious injuries in the event of a crash.
Of course, any driver or passenger can suffer from significant injuries in a crash, but bikers are especially vulnerable because their motorcycles don’t provide the same bodily protection as standard passenger vehicles.
If you’re a motorcyclist who’s recently suffered from an accident, you may be facing any number of injuries that require extensive medical attention. One especially common affliction that many bikers suffer from is a wrist injury.
Fortunately, if another party was at fault for your accident, you may be able to recover compensation. Here’s what you need to know about recovering the money you deserve after a motorcycle wrist injury.
Suffering From a Wrist Injury in a Collision
The wrist is a complex joint that connects the hand to the forearm and is made up of eight small bones. These bones allow for a wide range of motion and flexibility, enabling the wrist to perform a variety of tasks such as bending, twisting, and rotating. The wrist is also supported by ligaments, tendons, and muscles, which provide stability and strength to the joint.
Because of the intricate nature of your wrist, it’s highly susceptible to different types of injuries, such as sprains, fractures, and dislocations. These injuries are especially common in motorcycle accidents. The impact of a crash may throw a motorcyclist from their vehicle, causing them to instinctively put their hands up to brace their fall. The impact of the fall may cause their wrists to bend unnaturally, leading to serious injuries.
Additionally, a motorcyclist could suffer from a wrist injury due to the impact of another vehicle. When a biker anticipates a crash, they might grip their vehicle’s handlebars tightly to avoid being thrown off, causing the wrists to take on too much force upon impact.
Wrist Injury Symptoms
Wrist injury symptoms can vary depending on the type and severity of the injury, but some common symptoms include:
- Pain or tenderness
- Swelling or bruising
- Stiffness or limited range of motion
- Weakness or instability
- Numbness or tingling in the hand or fingers
- Popping or clicking sensation
If you notice any of these symptoms, you should seek medical attention promptly to prevent future complications and start the healing process.
Common Wrist Injuries After a Motorcycle Accident
Motorcycle accidents can cause many different types of wrist injuries that range in their overall severity and recovery times, including:
- Sprain: Wrist sprains occur when the ligaments that connect the wrist bones are stretched or torn. These injuries are incredibly common and can range from mild to severe.
- Cuts: Vehicular accidents can cause broken glass and other sharp debris to go airborne, potentially leading to painful puncture wounds and lacerations.
- Dislocations: A wrist dislocation occurs when one or more of the bones in the wrist joint are forced out of their normal position. Sadly, dislocations can also damage your bones, tendons, ligaments, and nerves.
- Fractures: A wrist fracture refers to a break in one or more of the bones in the wrist joint. There are many different types of fractures, and some can lead to further problems down the road, such as arthritis.
In addition to being aware of these basic types of wrist injuries, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the different types of fractures, as some frequently require surgery.
- Colles’ fracture: Occurs when the distal radius bone in the forearm breaks at the wrist joint, causing an upward displacement.
- Smith’s fracture: Happens when the distal radius bone breaks in the opposite direction of a Colles’ fracture, towards the palm of the hand.
- Scaphoid fracture: Fracture of the scaphoid bone, one of the small bones in the wrist.
- Barton’s fracture: Occurs when the distal radius bone breaks and the radiocarpal joint dislocates.
- Chauffeur’s fracture: Fracture of the radial styloid.
How a Wrist Injury May Impact Your Life
Suffering from a wrist injury in a motorcycle accident can have serious consequences for your life. For one, your injuries will likely require medical intervention. Not all wrist injuries need extensive treatment, but you should seek medical attention to diagnose the severity of your condition.
Fortunately, some wrist injuries only require RICE, an acronym for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Alternatively, more serious fractures require surgical intervention and ongoing treatment, such as prescriptions and physical therapy.
On top of your medical bills, you may be forced to take time away from work to recover from your injury. Plus, your injury may create problems down the line that keep you from earning as much money. For example, if you sustain a serious fracture, you may eventually develop arthritis in your wrist, potentially impacting your ability to work with your hands. Sadly, this may also impact your quality of life and keep you from enjoying certain activities.
Contact Kentucky Motorcycle Accident Injury Attorneys
If you’ve suffered from a wrist injury after a motorcycle accident, you need to file a claim or lawsuit against the responsible party. Otherwise, you may have to pay out of pocket for your losses, such as your medical bills and lost wages.
If you’re looking for motorcycle accident legal support in Central Kentucky, contact McCoy & Sparks Attorneys at Law. Our expert personal injury attorneys have years of experience helping victims recover the money they deserved for their injuries. Depending on your case, we may be able to help you recover compensation for vehicle damages, all past and future medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of future earnings, and more.
You can schedule a free case consultation with our lawyers today by calling our Bardstown office at 844-459-9467 or by contacting us online here.