By Matt Lalande in Motorcycle Accidents on August 12, 2022
Motorcycle accidents can cause severe facial injuries that can sometimes be life-threatening. These injuries can result in permanent scarring and damage that require extensive specialized treatments. The medical costs associated with these procedures can be steep, and the victim may require facial reconstructive surgery to deal with structural damage.
Full-face helmets have been known to reduce the risk of motorcycle riders and passengers sustaining facial injuries in bike accidents. Even then, failing to wear one doesn’t preclude you from seeking compensation for your injuries if they were the result of the negligent actions of the at-fault driver.
A Hamilton motorcycle accident lawyer can work with you to recover damages for your injuries. This guide takes an in-depth look at the types of facial injuries caused by motorcycle accidents and the damages you can recover from the negligent party.
Scarring is generally considered a cosmetic issue. On the other hand, facial injuries resulting from motorcycle accidents are more serious. Below is an overview of some of the common ones sustained by victims of motorcycle collisions.
Facial Fractures – when the impact from a motorcycle collision causes one or more bones in the face to break, what you have is a facial fracture. The intense pressure from penetrating and blunt force trauma can cause the bones in the face to fracture. The symptoms of facial fracture can vary depending on the affected bone, such as:
If you experience piercing or radiating pain in your face after a motorcycle crash, you need to seek medical attention as soon as possible to determine whether you have a facial fracture. While some fractures are minor, complex ones can damage the nerves. In severe cases, they can be life-threatening.
Facial Lacerations – Lacerations are deep cuts or tears in the skin or flesh. Road rash and the impact of debris on the face in a motorcycle accident can lead to facial lacerations. These can include severe abrasions, also known as hematomas.
Depending on the point and force of impact, a facial laceration may result in minor soft tissue injury, which can easily be treated using home remedies.
On the other hand, severe facial lacerations can cause continuous bleeding and require medical attention from a qualified healthcare practitioner. Failure to get prompt medical treatment can cause significant complications, including infection.
Broken Jaw – The sheer force of the impact from a motorcycle accident can cause blunt and penetrating force trauma to the upper jawbone or mandible, causing them to fracture. This condition is referred to as a broken jaw. If you experience one or more of the symptoms listed below, you must seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Jaw Dislocation – The force of impact from a motorcycle accident can cause misalignment of the lower jawbone at any of the two temporomandibular joints. These are the points where the mandible and skull connect. When they misalign, the victim suffers a dislocated jaw.
A minor dislocation can resolve on its own without medical intervention. In severe cases, a doctor will need to install supportive medical devices around the jaw.
Eye Injuries – Motorcycle accidents can cause injuries to the bones surrounding the eyes, known as the orbital bones. The impact may also injure the eyes, causing total or partial blindness, which can be life-altering.
Victims who become visually impaired may not be able to return to work and make a living like they used to. They may also require lifetime care, which can cause a financial strain.
Dental Injures – It is not uncommon for motorcycle riders involved in crashes to chip or lose their teeth. Dental repairs can be costly and, in most cases, aren’t covered by insurance providers.
Fractures Skull – Motorcycle accidents can cause fractures to the skull. If bone fragments travel to the brain and lodge themselves in cerebral tissue, it can cause brain bruising or traumatic brain injury. This can result in severe lifelong damage and can even end up being fatal.
Not all motorcycle crashes are serious. Others can be detrimental. Below is an overview of motorcycle accidents that can lead to serious facial injuries.
Head-on Collisions – The force involved in these crashes leaves riders with a high risk of serious facial injuries, even while wearing protective helmets.
Sudden Stops – A sudden stop collision occurs when the rider slams into the vehicle in front of them or gets pinned between the front and rear vehicles, leaving them with gruesome facial injuries.
High-Side Accidents – A high-side crash occurs when the force of impact from a crash flings the rider from their motorcycle, catapulting them off their seat and handlebars before slamming them onto the ground.
Open Door Crashes – When a rider moving at high speeds crashes into an open car door, the sheer force of impact can cause serious, life-threatening injuries. Modern vehicles have reinforced doors as part of their safety features. Unfortunately for the rider, crashing into these reinforced doors may leave them with severe facial damage.
More often than not, facial injuries resulting from motorcycle collisions aren’t necessarily life-threatening. Victims usually achieve a full recovery if they receive proper medical treatment. That said, the damages these injuries cause extend beyond mortal endangerment. Survivors are left grappling with disfigurement issues and significant scarring, which can affect their quality of life in various ways.
For starters, the economic damages come with piling medical bills and the loss of wages during the victim’s treatment and recovery. Individuals whose appearance plays a significant role in their work may lose their earning potential because of a scar or disfigured face.
While these damages can be significant, there are also non-tangible damages that come with these injuries. Living with a facial disfigurement can lead to mental anguish to the detriment of the victim’s mental health. They may suffer psychological pain, trauma, anxiety, and depression due to the life-changing implications of their injuries. Their self-worth can also be affected and can profoundly affect their relationships.
The good news is – an experienced Hamilton motorcycle accident lawyer can help you file a claim to recover damages from the negligent parties. Damages can be in the form of:
It is important to determine how much to seek in damages since the costs associated with facial injuries can be steep and long-running. This is in addition to the lost wages and skyrocketing medical expenses. A Hamilton motorcycle accident lawyer can help you determine the amount to seek in compensatory damages, negotiate with the party at fault, and deal with insurance providers.
Most provinces have laws that make it mandatory for bikers to wear a protective helmet when riding motorcycles. One of the things you might have to prove when pursuing a personal injury claim against a negligent driver is that you were not at fault at the time of the collision and that you were wearing a helmet when the accident occurred.
To minimize your chances of sustaining facial and traumatic brain injury after a crash, here are a few precautions you can take:
If you or a loved on has been hurt in a motorcycle accident, it’s important that to retain the right representation the first time. Our Hamilton Motorcycle Accident Lawyers have been representing motorcycle accident victims since 2003 – and have helped fallen riders recover millions in compensation to help them go on with their lives.
Contact us today no matter where you are in Ontario for your free consultation by calling 1-844-LALANDE or local in the Southern Ontario Region at 905-333-8888. Alternatively, you can reach us by email by filling out a contact form on our website.
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[disclaimer]This information is not intended to be legal advice. You should consult with an attorney for individualized legal advice regarding your particular situation. Nothing in this article should be construed as a guarantee or prediction of outcome in any legal matter. The information contained herein is general in nature and may not apply to your specific circumstances. Every legal matter is unique and the law changes constantly. Therefore, the information provided herein may not be accurate for your particular situation at the time you read it. You should always consult with a qualified lawyer for legal advice specific to your circumstances. No lawyer-client relationship is formed by reading this information or by contacting our firm. You are not considered a client of the firm until we have agreed in writing to represent you and that representation has been confirmed in writing by one of our partners. Lalande Personal Injury Lawyers serves clients throughout Ontario.
I was a dental hygienist that suffers from really bad scoliosis. My insurance company ignored my doc & cut my benefits off & told me I could do “something”. Matt got me CPP Disability and and LTD settlement – I don’t know what I would have done without him.
My daughter was killed by a drunk driver and it forever changed all of our lives. It seemed that for two years time stopped. This was no an easy journey. Matt let me sit in on the discovery of the driver and boy, he never let up. In the end, our grand-daughter was taken care of and we were compensated for our loss – which we then donated to a cause we believed in.
I call Matt my knight in shining armour. After I was struck by a car while cycling and permanently crippled, he fielded all communications with my especially difficult and downright nasty insurance adjuster. Every step of my care was a battle and I did not have the strength to fight alone.
I lost my leg in a terrible motorcycle accident and Matt help me recover compensation I need because I could not work and the cost of prosthetics and rehab are out of this world. I don’t know what I would have done without him.
My brother ended up paralyzed after a car accident and Lalande did SO MUCH to help get things straight from him getting out of the hospital to all his care for life. We are so grateful for Matt & Heather. I don’t know how my family could have done this without them.
