Kansas City’s Favorite Law Firm Talks Pelvic Injuries from Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcyclists who are involved in accidents are known to experience painful, life-changing, and catastrophic injuries. One of the most serious types of injuries that they may experience is pelvic injuries, which are injuries to the area between your legs and abdomen (the hip area). When a motorcyclist suffers a pelvic injury, they will likely experience various complications for the rest of their life, causing overwhelming amounts of trauma and devastation.

There are various types of pelvic injuries that may arise from a motorcycle accident, including:

• Pelvic fracture: There are several different bones that can be cracked, fractured, or broken within your pelvis, which include the hip bones, coccyx, and the sacrum. In addition, there are various types of fractures that a person can suffer, resulting in excruciating pain and possible immobility.
• Vertical shear pelvis injury: A vertical shear pelvis injury is a very serious injury that occurs when the “pelvis shifts upwards.” This is not only painful, but it also can be life-threatening and result in a tremendous amount of blood loss.
• Lateral crush injury: Lateral crush injuries occur when part of the pelvis becomes “crushed either inward or outward.” As a result, the bones, structure, vessels, and arteries may all become temporarily or permanently damaged.
• Open book pelvis injury: An open book pelvis injury is exactly how it sounds. This type of injury causes the pelvis to open “like a book.” The pelvis begins to “open” when the ligaments and tissues are torn, preventing them from holding the bones within the pelvic area together. In addition, the arteries and veins may also tear, leading to a lot of bleeding. This is extremely dangerous, and most people with this type of injury need emergency surgery right away to prevent them from bleeding to death.
• Injuries to the bladder and reproductive organs: Your pelvis covers and protects your bladder, intestines, and reproductive organs. As a result, individuals with pelvic fractures or injuries may no longer be able to control their bladder, have trouble becoming pregnant, experience blood in their urine, suffer from sexual dysfunction, and more. Depending on how severe the injuries or damage is, organ failure may also occur.

Why motorcycle riders may face a greater risk of pelvic injury

In general, motorcycle operators and passengers face a greater risk of injury in a collision; they simply have less protection than the average car driver or passenger. But some riders are at greater risk because of the design of the motorcycle itself. Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA), an independent, non-profit research institute, found the following:

Researchers at the Transurban Road Safety Centre at NeuRA simulated a variety of fuel tank designs and sitting positions. They found that fuel tanks with a lower angle or more gradual rise from the front of the seat to the handlebars were safer and less likely to cause a pelvic injury to the rider during an accident….

“In the simulated crash tests, we found differences in fuel tank shape influence the severity of the impact to the pelvis, with fuel tanks rising steeply and abruptly from the bike seat increasing the possibility of injury,” said Dr Tom Whyte, an injury biomechanics engineer and researcher at NeuRA.

Data compiled in EFFORT Open Reviews in 2020 corroborates this claim. Per their findings, “the momentum of the driver creates high peak loads between the rider’s pelvis and the motorcycle fuel tank. In one study, 85% of the pelvic injuries sustained by the patient were due to this type of mechanism. The injuries most commonly associated with this injury mechanism include pelvic fractures and bladder injuries.”

Even in cases where the fuel tank doesn’t create additional dangers, the truth is that lower body injuries are common for motorcycle riders. A rider who is knocked down or falls to the side can crack part of his or her pelvis. Those who are thrown forward may suffer injury hitting the handlebars.

Signs and symptoms that may indicate that you have a pelvic injury following a motorcycle accident

If you have recently been in a motorcycle accident and are unsure of whether you have a pelvic injury or not, you should visit your primary healthcare provider or local emergency room as soon as possible. Regardless of whether your injury is severe or mild, these injuries can have lifelong impacts on your health and body. In some cases, a pelvic injury or fracture can even kill you. Here are some of the signs and symptoms that may indicate that you have a pelvic injury following a motorcycle accident:

• Lower back, hip, or groin pain
• Inability to walk or move around without feeling pain
• Numbness or tingling feelings in the legs or groin
• Abdominal or lower stomach pains
• Inability to use the restroom or urinate
• Trouble standing or walking
• Rectal or vaginal bleeding
• Inability to carry on with your daily life, routine, or normal activities

If you have any of the above-mentioned symptoms, it is crucial that you do not put them off. By choosing not to prioritize your health, you could end up causing your injuries to become worse over time. Keep in mind that it is possible to have a pelvic injury without any symptoms, which is why you should allow a licensed doctor or physician to perform an exam after being involved in any type of motorcycle accident to ensure that you do not have any hidden injuries.

These types of injuries and fractures take a great deal of time to heal. In fact, depending on the extent of your injury, you could spend several weeks, months, or even years in physical therapy and occupational therapy, learning how to move, function, and carry out your obligations again.

The lawyers at Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys have successfully assisted other clients with pelvic injury cases. When you hire our team to help you, you can rest assured knowing that we have the experience, skills, and knowledge to handle cases just like yours. Our firm has recently been voted Kansas City’s Favorite Law Firm because we go above and beyond for our clients, while they focus on healing and recovering from their accidents. If you are ready to schedule your free case review, please call our office or fill out our contact form today. You can visit our main office location in Kansas City, MO, or you can schedule an appointment at any of our other office locations, which are in Lee’s Summit, Parkville and St. Joseph (MO); Olathe, Kansas City, and Overland Park (KS).