Motorcycle Accident Muscle Injuries

The worst day imaginable for a motorcyclist is when they crash their beloved hog. With expert skills and knowledge, riders navigate the roads precisely and cautiously. Most of the time, when a crash happens, it's not their fault. Bikers can be forced to put down their bikes for multiple reasons, whether it be road conditions, bad weather, or another driver's reckless actions. An accident strains more than just their bike—it strains their muscles.

If forced to hit the dirt, you may be dealing with bike wreck strain. Such an injury, though it may seem minor compared to a broken arm or amputation, can have a permanent effect on victims. When looking to get compensation from those who caused your accident, call Steelhorse Law. We fight biker bias and win BIG.

What Are Muscle Injuries?

Muscle injuries are defined as a "painful injury that occurs when a muscle or tendon is overstretched or torn," according to the Mayo Clinic. Your muscles are pieces of soft tissue throughout your body, consisting of thousands of fibers that contract and relax, allowing movement. Tendons are fibrous tissue that connects your muscles to bone, assisting with movement. When you've been involved in a motorcycle accident, potential muscle and tendon injuries include strains, sprains, whiplash, and other soft tissue injuries. Legs, ankles, hands, and elbows are most susceptible to injury.

Types of Muscle Injuries

Muscle injuries are common in accidents and range from minor (strains) to severe (tissue damage). Bike wreck strains happen when your muscle is stretched too far, too fast, or too hard, which causes the muscle fibers to tear. Sprains are another common muscle injury, though superficial, that occurs when muscles cross two joints. If the accident is severe, you may experience a laceration, which means an external object tore your muscle. Less general types of muscle injuries include:

Impact-related muscle trauma — Caused by direct blows during a crash. It may cause contusions, strains, or tears in muscle tissue.
Abrasion-induced muscle damage — Caused by severe cases of road rash, which scrapes skin away and down to muscle tissue.
Whiplash-associated muscle injuries. Caused by sudden jerking motions in accidents that strain or tear the neck and back muscles, resulting in pain and limited mobility.
Overexertion injuries — Caused by the attempt to maintain control of the bike during a crash, resulting in muscle sprains or strains from the forceful movements.
Crush-related muscle damage — Caused by heavier vehicles or being pinned under a motorcycle, resulting in compression injuries like compartment syndrome.

How to Identify a Muscle Injury

If something doesn't feel right after a motorcycle accident when you try to move, you may have a muscle injury. Ask yourself if you felt or heard a pop/snap, what exactly happened in the accident that may have caused the injury, when it happened, and if you've ever injured that body part. Signs and symptoms of a muscle injury may include:

Pain or tenderness
Redness or bruising
Limited motion
Muscle spasms
Swelling
Muscle weakness
Tightness
Inability to move muscle

Most mild sprains can be treated at home, but if your symptoms worsen even as you're taking care of the injury, you'll need to consult with a doctor. If your pain becomes intolerable or you are experiencing numbness or tingling, get emergency care. Other symptoms that require immediate medical care are:

Significant pain
An inability to walk
A popping sound when the injury occurred
A fever
Broken skin at the injury site
Major swelling of the injured area

When you meet with a medical professional, provide them with as much information about your injury as possible. Be sure to give a detailed description of your symptoms, information about previous medical problems and familial history, and your daily medications/dietary supplements. If you have any questions that need answers, now is the time to ask.

Healing Muscle Injuries

When it comes to how to treat sore muscles after an accident, the best methods will be determined by the type of injury. For example, because a bike wreck strain involves injury to the muscle of the band of tissue that attaches the muscle to the bone, and a sprain injures the bands of tissue that connect the bones, they would have slightly different healing approaches. If you plan on caring for your muscle injury independently, we recommend starting with the R.I.C.E. method — rest, ice, compress, elevate. From there, you can move up to P.E.A.C.E. (protect, elevate, avoid, compress, educate) and finish with L.O.V.E. (load, optimism, vascularization, exercise).

Rest. Don't avoid all physical activity, just the ones that cause pain.
Ice. Apply ice or a cold compress when it hurts for 10-15 minutes every 2-3 hours.
Compress. To minimize swelling, wrap the muscle with an elastic bandage.
Elevate. Raise your injured muscle above your heart, especially at night, to help reduce swelling.
Protect. Reduce irritation of the injured part by limiting the amount you use it. As pain reduces, begin using the strained area.
Elevate. Raise your injured muscle above your heart, especially at night, to help reduce swelling.
Avoid. Do not take anti-inflammatory treatments without talking to your doctor.
Compress. To minimize swelling, wrap the muscle with an elastic bandage.
Educate. Learn how long the road to recovery is and what you can do.
Load. Slowly return to using your injured muscle as much as is tolerable without causing pain.
Optimism. Try to remain optimistic about your situation and the healing process.
Vascularization. Get active as much as possible— cardiovascular health encourages healing.
Exercise. Perform recommended exercises mentioned by your doctor or physical therapist.

Tips for Dealing with a Muscle Injury

While most muscle injuries are minor and may not require medical intervention, it's always better to be cautious. Pay close attention to the following tips for dealing with a bike wreck strain or other muscle injuries to ensure you properly treat your injury.

Check with your doctor before taking any anti-inflammatory medicine, such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or Tylenol, during the first 48 hours after injury.
Apply heat to the muscle as pain decreases.
Have ice, plastic bags, towels, a compression bandage, pillows, and painkillers on hand.
Stretch muscles daily and warm up before exercising/performing physical therapy.
Eat foods high in potassium to prevent muscle fatigue.
Stay hydrated.

The Average Compensation for a Muscle Injury

As the victim of a bike wreck that caused a muscle injury(ies), you're entitled to pursue compensation. As a team of highly experienced, skilled attorneys, we ensure you get it. The amount of your settlement will be determined by various factors such as the kind of injury, location, necessary medical treatment, and impact on your daily life. By examining all of the evidence in your case, we'll work to win you maximum compensation so that you can focus more on healing and less on paying bills. The average settlement for various muscle injuries is $2,500-$20,000 for whiplash or minor soft tissue damage. Severe soft tissue injuries range from $10,000 and could exceed $200,000.

On the Long Road to Recovery, Steelhorse Law Guides the Way.

After a motorcycle accident, it can feel like you're all alone in the world. Riding your bike meant a lot to you, and now it's damaged — if not totaled — and you've been injured. It's easy to understand how an injury like a bike wreck strain might leave you feeling down in the dumps. You don't have to stay feeling that way for long when you recruit the legal help of Steelhorse Law.

We'll work your case to ensure you receive maximum compensation so that you can pay your crash-related medical bills and get your bike in the shop and on the road as soon as possible. To schedule a free consultation, call Steelhorse Law today.