Initial Treatment
Immediately after an accident, you should seek treatment for your injuries as soon as you can. Severe injuries will mean going to the ER, while less severe injuries would still require a visit to your regular physician. Either way, a doctor should take a look at your injuries and see what requires treatment and attention. After that first hospital or doctor visit, your doctor or hospital nurse will tell you what to do next.
It is critical that you are consistent with your recommended treatments. Especially if you were not at fault for the accident or injuries, because the other party will cover your medical costs if their insurance policy allows it.
Head and Brain Injuries
Although we always wear a helmet while riding to protect us, severe accidents can still cause head injuries. You can get something as mild as a light concussion, to something as serious as a hematoma, which is bleeding underneath the skull. Some common symptoms that may appear after a head injury include:
- Headaches
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness
- Seizures
- Double vision or blurred vision
If you complain of head pain or any of the above symptoms and your doctor suspects possible head injury or head trauma, your doctor will recommend that you do a brain MRI. You may also be referred to a neurologist for any necessary treatment for your head injuries. A neurologist will also determine whether or not surgery is needed.
Neck and Spine Injuries
After head and brain injuries, neck and spine injuries can be the most serious and the most severe. A really bad injury to the spinal cord can even cause paralysis. If you have complaints about back pain, you may be sent to a chiropractor for further examination. You may also be asked to get MRI’s done of your neck and back, in order to identify any serious internal causes of pain.
If your MRI results reveal more serious injuries to your spinal discs, you will most likely be referred to a pain management specialist or an orthopedic specialist, or both. After treating you, they may refer you to physical therapy to continue recovery for your injuries.
Injuries to the Arms and Legs
In a motorcycle accident, it is fairly common to suffer from injuries to the arms and legs. This is because unlike car motorists, we do not have seat belts holding us in place from being thrown off our vehicle. Our body takes the fall, possibly breaking bones in the process.
Usually, injuries to the arms and legs like broken bones are not fatal. However, without proper treatment, they can turn into long-term disabling injuries. Broken bones require surgery, and your hospital doctor will tell you more about your injuries and what must happen next.
Road rash
Road rash is another common injury to the body after a crash, which is again due to the minimal protection of being on a motorcycle. It happens when you slide across the pavement after being thrown off or thrown down on your motorcycle. It can cause multiple layers of your skin to scrape off, sometimes even causing the muscles underneath to be exposed.
Treatment for road rash includes applying topical ointments to assist the healing process. To avoid road rash in a crash, always wear protective gear like a jacket, pants, boots, and gloves in addition to your helmet.
Psychological Injuries
Being involved in an accident can be traumatizing, and leave you with post traumatic stress disorder. Treatment for psychological injuries typically requires therapy. Through therapy, you learn how to cope with the negative thoughts and the anxiety that you are experiencing following your accident.