When a motorcyclist and his or her passenger get into an accident caused by a careless (“negligent”) driver, product defect in the motorcycle, dangerous road design, or otherwise due to another person’s fault or dangerous condition, the injuries to the motorcyclists are often serious. Broken feet, ankles, legs, pelvis, and hip bones frequently result from a motorcycle accident.

Serious head injuries—especially traumatic brain injury (TMI)—can result from the force of the collision or fall, even if you and your passenger were wearing properly fitted government-approved helmets. A motorcycle accident can also cause injuries to the neck resulting in quadriplegia (paralysis of all four limbs), or injuries to the back resulting in paraplegia (paralysis of the lower half of the body, including both legs).

The motorcyclist may also suffer severe abrasion burns if he or she is dragged or slid across the pavement or asphalt, especially if the motorcyclist was not wearing the most protective clothing covering all of his or her body and hands.

The type of medical care you should get depends on the nature and severity of your injuries. If your injuries are mainly broken bones to the lowest part of your body (i.e., your foot, ankle, and legs), a competent orthopedic surgeon can usually set the broken bones and put them in a cast or a brace, depending upon where and how badly the injury is.

After the bone mends, the orthopedic surgeon will remove your cast or brace and give you a prescription for a course of physical therapy. It may require two or three courses of physical therapy to get your limb working properly again. In some cases, permanent damage may occur which prevents you from returning to your job and/or doing all of the things you did before the accident. In addition to all of the other monetary damages you are entitled to recover (such as your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering), you are entitled to be compensated for permanent damages that leave a disfiguring scar or physical impairment, such as a limp. You would also be entitled to recover monetary damages for your “loss of enjoyment of life” due to the accident.

But if you have been more seriously injured in the accident, a typical orthopedic surgeon or neurologist (a specialist in diseases and disorders of the brain) may not be good enough to treat your injuries. Depending on the nature and extent of your injury, there are hospitals and clinics that specialize in its treatment and your rehabilitation. For instance, specialized hospitals exist for the treatment of traumatic brain injury, while others specialize in the treatment of spinal cord injuries (quadriplegia and paraplegia) or severe burns.

An experienced personal injury lawyer knows which hospitals and clinics specialize in your type of injury and, working with your doctor, will do everything he or she can to get you transferred to the specialized hospital. Being treated at a hospital that specializes in your type of serious injury can make a big difference in the extent of your recovery and your ability to adjust to a new style of living.

For example, if you have been rendered paraplegic because of your injuries, at a hospital that specializes in the treatment of spinal cord injuries, besides the orthopedic surgeon, there will be physical therapists, occupational therapists, social workers, mental health care workers, and other professionals all working together every day to get you functioning to the highest degree possible and adapting to life in a wheelchair.

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