When cars, trucks, or buses blow a traffic signal while speeding or are intoxicated, it is the motorcyclist most at risk of a life-altering injury along the pavement. Biker’s arm is a common injury among motorcyclists that can occur during an accident. Other severe injuries like a spinal cord injury can also exacerbate biker’s arm. It is a condition that affects the nerves in the arm, causing pain, numbness, and weakness.

Physically, it can lead to critical loss of feeling, even in the legs, leading to partial or complete paralysis with the best medical treatment. Our most experienced motorcycle accident attorney wrote this comprehensive guide to discuss everything bikers and their passengers need to know about a biker’s arm, disfigurement, and spinal cord injuries, including its causes, symptoms, and treatment options as physical therapy for victims and the motorcycle rider. It also discusses how to deal with the insurance companies during this complicated period until you get a proper settlement after a motorcycle accident.

What is Biker’s Arm?

Biker’s arm is a serious injury that occurs when a motorcyclist falls off their bike and lands on their shoulders, hands, arm, or head, causing permanent nerve damage depending on the circumstances. It is often associated with a car accident but can also be caused by a single-vehicle collision. It is a form of peripheral neuropathy that affects the nerves in the arm, causing pain, numbness, and weakness.

Causes of Biker’s Arm

Biker’s arm is caused by trauma to the arm, typically from a motorcycle accident. When a motorcyclist falls off their bike during lane splitting, for example, they may use their arm to break their fall, causing the nerves in the arm to become compressed or stretched. Biker’s arm is a common injury that occurs in motorcycle accidents. It is caused by the impact of the crash on the radial nerves in the upper arm. When a motorcyclist is involved in a motorcycle accident, they are often thrown from common motorcycle injuries by other vehicles.

Bikers often land on their upper arms, causing them to absorb the impact and brace of the fall. This impact after a motorcycle accident can cause the nerves in the arm to become damaged or compressed, leading to symptoms of biker’s arm. Sometimes it can cause other complications, even the death of a close loved one.

The nerves in the arm are responsible for sending signals between the brain and the muscles in the arm. When these nerves are torn, damaged, or compressed by bruises and scrapes, they can no longer send these signals effectively, leading to symptoms such as pain, weakness, numbness, and tingling. The severity and life of biker’s arm can vary depending on the extent of the nerve damage, and in some cases, motorcycle crashes result in permanent nerve damage.

Several factors for riders can increase the risk of biker’s arm in a motorcycle accident. These include:

1. Lack of protective gear: Motorcyclists who do not wear proper protective gear, such as gloves, jackets, and elbow pads, are more likely to suffer from biker’s arm in a motorcycle accident. Protective gear can help absorb some of the impacts of a fall and reduce the risk of nerve damage from motorcycle accidents.
2. Speed and force of impact: The speed and force of impact in a motorcycle accident can significantly impact the severity of the biker’s arm. Higher speeds and greater force can lead to more extensive nerve damage.
3. Type of impact: The type of impact in a motorcycle accident can also affect the risk of biker’s arm. For example, a direct impact on the arm after a motorcycle accident is more likely to cause nerve damage than an indirect impact.

In summary, biker’s arm is a common injury that occurs in motorcycle accidents when the nerves in the arm are damaged or compressed due to the impact of a motorcycle accident. Several factors can increase the risk of biker’s arm, including lack of protective gear, speed and force of impact, and type of impact. It is essential for motorcyclists to take precautions to reduce the risk of injury and neck injuries in the event of a motorcycle accident.

Symptoms of Biker’s Arm

The symptoms of biker’s arm can vary from person to person, but they typically include pain, numbness, and weakness in the arm. Some people may also experience tingling or a burning sensation in the affected area’s skin after a motorcycle accident. In severe cases, biker’s arm can cause a loss of muscle mass and function in the arm. You can call our lawyers for a free consultation if you need help finding a doctor to diagnose damaged nerves, control issues, or related injuries.

Diagnosis of Biker’s Arm

A doctor will typically perform a physical exam to diagnose biker’s arm, leg, and hand and ask about the patient’s medical history and any recent accidents. They may also perform imaging tests, such as an MRI or CT scan, to assess the extent of the nerve damage.

Treatment of Biker’s Arm

The treatment for biker’s arm depends on the severity of the injury. In mild cases, the symptoms may resolve on their own over time and get you back in the right direction to resolve your pain and suffering.

However, in more severe cases, treatment options may include the following steps:

• Physical therapy
• Pain medication
• Surgery to repair and protect the damaged nerves and any muscle damage.

Your lawyer may need to get you money for long-term medical care and may even be able to get you punitive damages depending on the recklessness or intent associated with driving or with your serious injuries or death claim.

Prevention of Biker’s Arm During a Motorcycle Accident

The best way to prevent biker’s arm is to wear proper protective gear while riding a motorcycle, including a helmet, gloves, neck protection, and a jacket with armor. Eye protection can also indirectly help by ensuring you can see the whole road and the other driver without obstruction. Motorcyclists should also be aware of their surroundings and ride their motorcycles defensively to avoid accidents with other motorists. Obviously, be careful of oncoming traffic at intersections, where many high-speed accidents happen to occur with bikers and cars in left turn negotiation.

The Importance of Medical Attention For Motorcycle Accidents

If a motorcyclist experiences symptoms of biker’s arm or any other injury after an accident, it is essential for both rider and passenger to seek medical attention immediately. Take an ambulance to the hospital and avoid movement to reduce internal bleeding and swelling. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent further damage and improve the chances of a full recovery. Depression and other issues like alcohol addiction can be connected to biker’s arm, so it remains crucial to monitor your mental health. Seek counseling if necessary to avoid emotional consequences like suicide and dangerous, angry outbursts.

Legal Options for Biker’s Arm After a Motorcycle Crash

If a motorcyclist is hit and injured in an accident due to another driver’s negligence, they may be able to pursue compensation for their injuries. For example, when a motorcycle lands on your arms or you suffer serious road rash injuries. In those cases, a personal injury lawyer can help the victim understand their legal options and pursue their case for a claim for damages.

Personal injury attorneys, such as the aggressive Ehline Law Firm, can help you negotiate with the insurance company. That way, you can obtain the greatest amount of financial compensation to cover things like emotional distress, plastic surgery, lost wages, and other medical bills. The idea is to make you whole from all things that negatively affect your life since the accident. We do this using our essential skills and an elaborate method to gather evidence. Call us at (213) 596-9642. Hiring a knowledgeable legal expert is a phone call or email away, so schedule an appointment as soon as possible.

Resources for Biker’s Arm After Motorcycle Crashes

If you have suffered from biker’s arm or any other injury due to a motorcycle crash, there are many resources available to help you besides suing the police or other drivers. After someone is killed or badly injured, these resources can help many clients deal with the devastating consequences.

Below are some of the resources that may be useful:

1. Medical resources: If you have been injured in a motorcycle crash, it is essential to seek medical attention immediately. Your doctor can evaluate your injuries and develop a treatment plan to help you recover. Physical therapy may sometimes be necessary for a biker to improve muscle strength and function of fingers, wrists, and arms, and can take several months or years to treat.
2. Legal resources: If another driver’s negligence caused your motorcycle crash, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. A personal injury lawyer can help you understand your legal rights and pursue a claim for damages after suffering physical injuries like contact pain, numbness, or broken bones.

Some resources to find a personal injury lawyer include:

• The American Bar Association
• The National Association of Personal Injury Lawyers
• The National Trial Lawyers.

3. Support groups: Coping with an injury after a motorcycle crash can be challenging, and support from others who have experienced similar injuries can be helpful. Support groups can provide a safe and supportive environment to discuss your experiences and connect with others who collectively understand a personal injury claim and what you face.

Some important support groups for motorcyclists include the following:

• The American Motorcyclist Association
• The Motorcycle Safety Foundation
• The Brain Injury Association of America.

4. Educational resources: Learning about motorcycle safety and injury prevention can help you avoid accidents and injuries in the future.

There are many resources available to help you improve your knowledge and skills as a motorcyclist and roadside, including:

• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• The Motorcycle Safety Foundation
• The American Motorcyclist Association

5. Rehabilitation resources: If you have suffered a severe injury in a motorcycle crash, you may need to discuss rehabilitation to help you recover fully.

Rehabilitation programs can include physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other treatments to help you regain strength, flexibility, and function. Some resources for physician rehabilitation and recovery after suffering a motorcycle crash include:

• The National Rehabilitation Information Center
• The American Physical Therapy Association
• The Occupational Therapy Association of America.

Citations:

1. Motorcycle Legal Foundation. (n.d.). Biker’s Arm – Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options. Motorcycle Legal Foundation. https://motorcyclelegalfoundation.com/bikers-arm-causes-symptoms-treatment-options/
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Motorcycle Safety. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/mc/index.html
3. American Motorcyclist Association. (2021). Riding Gear. American Motorcyclist Association. https://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/riding-gear
4. Brain Injury Association of America. (2021). Legal Resources. Brain Injury Association of America. https://www.biausa.org/find-support/legal-resources
5. Mayo Clinic. (2021). Peripheral neuropathy. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/peripheral-neuropathy/symptoms-causes/syc-20352061
6. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (2021). Motorcycle Safety. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/motorcycle-safety
7. American Bar Association. (2021). Personal Injury Law. American Bar Association. https://www.americanbar.org/groups/public_education/resources/law_issues_for_consumers/personalinjury/