Facial Injuries Caused by Motorcycle Accidents
Facial injuries aren’t very common in passenger vehicle crashes, since standard vehicles offer a lot of protection from the road, other vehicles, and other obstacles. Unfortunately, that same level of protection does not exist for motorcyclists. When a biker is in a crash, their chances of facial injuries are extremely high. These injuries are often disfiguring and can leave victims with pain, numbness, and anxiety over their appearance.
Have you been hurt in a motorcycle crash? Don’t wait any longer to talk to the team at Peake & Fowler. Call us at 803-788-4370 to talk about your options now.
Broken Bones
The face has 14 bones, many of which are very small and fragile, especially in the face of a motorcycle crash. If you collide with another vehicle, the impact of the crash could crush multiple bones and significantly affect your appearance. The same is true if you hit the ground and slide. Crushed and broken bones cause significant pain and physical trauma, and treatment is often expensive. For some people, their pre-accident appearance never returns, even with surgical treatment.
Eye Injuries
Your eyes can suffer serious injuries in a crash, especially if crash debris flies up and hits your eyes. Common injuries include eyelid lacerations and scratches on your corneas. Cornea scratches rapidly worsen over time, affecting your vision, causing redness in the affected eye, and causing the eye to puff up and weep. Without prompt treatment, this can cause serious vision damage and infections.
Other injuries may require surgical intervention. Damage to the optic nerve often leads to blindness, as this nerve transmits information to the brain. Without a full repair, blindness is a likely outcome. Another serious injury to be aware of is a fracture of the bones surrounding the eye. These bones are incredibly fragile, and any breaks can cause the eye to sit improperly within the socket.
Dental Injuries
If there’s anything that can be nearly as expensive as medical care, it’s dental care—and unfortunately, a motorcycle accident could land you in the dentist’s chair. Shattered, chipped, or cracked teeth may occur in an accident. Additionally, fractured roots can render the entire tooth unsalvageable. Depending on the type and severity of the injury you suffer, you could need intensive dental or orthodontic treatment.
Cuts and Lacerations
Facial cuts are almost inevitable in a motorcycle crash. Even with the protection of a helmet, there is still a substantial portion of your face that is not covered. In the worst-case scenario, debris from the crash will get into the cut and cause infection. If the cut is deep enough, you may need stitches. Although these generally heal with time, they can leave unsightly scars.
Dislocated Jaw
A dislocated jaw is an incredibly painful injury that can affect every part of your mouth’s functioning. When the jaw is dislocated, the lower jaw and upper jaw do not align properly. This makes chewing difficult and can cause chronic pain. You may also experience popping or clicking when you use your jaw or move it a certain way.
A related injury is a broken jaw. While we discussed broken facial bones earlier, a broken jaw is in a class of its own. A victim with a broken jaw may experience bleeding from the mouth, numbness in the face, an inability to open or close the mouth, extensive bruising, and difficulty using the mouth in any way.
Getting the Compensation That You Deserve
Facial injuries can be financially devastating and emotionally traumatizing, and that’s before you even consider the physical pain associated with these injuries. It’s important to talk to a motorcycle accident attorney as soon as possible to explore your legal options. If someone else is at fault for the accident, you may be able to seek compensation from them with a personal injury claim.
Reach Out to the Team at Peake & Fowler
Time is of the essence after a motorcycle accident. The sooner you reach out to Peake & Fowler to talk about your motorcycle accident and injuries, the sooner we can start investigating your crash and helping you explore your options. Ready to set up a time to talk? Call us at 803-788-4370 or send us a message online to have someone reach out to you.
