Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys Discuss Pelvic Injuries from Motorcycle Accidents

Pelvic injuries can be severe and occur during motorcycle accidents, especially those involving direct collisions at high speeds. Treatment for pelvic fractures can be invasive, expensive, and leave sufferers facing a lengthy recovery.

Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys fight for people harmed by others’ negligent and wrongful actions. If you or someone you love was hurt in a crash, our motorcycle accident attorneys can help you seek compensation.

Why motorcycle riders may face a greater risk of pelvic injury

According to the National Library of Medicine (NLM), a study found that 85 percent of pelvic injuries in motorcycle accidents resulted from bodily contact with the motorcycle’s fuel tank. Motorcycles designed with lower handlebars and higher fuel tanks can contribute to this problem.

In general, motorcyclists have a greater risk of injury in a collision than automobile drivers and passengers. Riders do not have seatbelts to prevent them from flying forward into their fuel tank or off their bike. They also do not have a cab, airbags, or other safety features to absorb any of the force of the crash. For this reason, in addition to pelvic fracture, motorcyclists are vulnerable to other severe and catastrophic injuries, including:

• Serious cuts and bruising (“road rash”)
• Head and facial injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Loss of limb
• Organ damage

Types of pelvic injuries

There are several different bones that can be cracked, fractured, or broken within your pelvis, including the hip bones, coccyx, and sacrum. Additionally, there are various types of fractures that a person can suffer, resulting in excruciating pain and possible immobility. Types of pelvic injuries include:

• Vertical shear pelvis injury – A vertical shear pelvis injury is a very serious injury that occurs when the pelvis shifts upwards. It is not only painful, but it can also be life-threatening and result in a tremendous amount of blood loss.
• Lateral crush injury – Lateral crush injuries occur when part of the pelvis becomes crushed either inward or outward. As a result, the bones, structure, vessels, and arteries may all become temporarily or permanently damaged.
• Open book pelvis injury – An open book pelvis injury is exactly how it sounds. This type of injury causes the pelvis to open like a book. The pelvis begins to “open” when the ligaments and tissues are torn, preventing the bones in the pelvic area from remaining stable and aligned. The arteries and veins may tear, leading to significant bleeding, which is extremely dangerous and could be life-threatening.
• Injuries to the bladder and reproductive organs – Your pelvis covers and protects your bladder, intestines, and reproductive organs. As a result, individuals with pelvic fractures or injuries may experience bladder dysfunction, fertility complications, blood in the urine, sexual dysfunction, and other serious complications. Depending on how severe the injuries or damage are, organ failure may also occur.

Injury classifications

Pelvic fractures are also classified as open or closed and stable or unstable.

Open pelvic fractures involve a wound that breaks the skin; closed fractures do not. Open fractures are much more severe because they have a higher risk of infection and mortality.

Stable pelvic fractures involve a single bone break, and the bones are not displaced. Unstable fractures are more serious because they involve two or more breaks and displaced bones.

Signs you may have a pelvic injury after a crash

The signs and symptoms of some pelvic fractures may not be immediately present. If you did not receive emergency treatment for pelvic injuries at the time of your motorcycle accident, see a doctor as soon as possible, particularly if you experience:

• Lower back, hip, or groin pain
• Pain when walking or moving your legs
• Abdominal pain
• Numbness or tingling in the legs or groin
• Difficulty urinating
• Difficulty standing or walking

Pelvic fractures can be life-altering, so getting treatment is essential to protecting yourself from undiagnosed injuries, worsening injuries, and complications. Seeking treatment also generates a medical record that will be important evidence in your personal injury claim.

How to seek compensation after a motorcycle accident

Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys serves clients in both Missouri and Kansas.

Missouri is an at-fault insurance state, while Kansas has no-fault/PIP rules for many vehicle claims. Kansas motorcycle policies are treated differently because motorcycle owners may reject PIP coverage. However, Kansas tort-threshold rules may still affect recovery of non-economic damages, though a pelvic fracture will often satisfy that threshold.

Damages you can recover

Pelvic injuries and fractures take a great deal of time to heal. In fact, depending on the extent of your injury, you could spend several weeks, months, or even years in physical therapy and occupational therapy, learning how to move, function, and carry out your obligations again.

For this reason, pelvic injury claims may involve substantial damages because of extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, and lost income. You may have extensive medical bills and lost wages, and you may qualify for compensation for your physical, mental, and emotional pain and suffering.

How our lawyers can work to maximize your claim

Because of the potentially high value of pelvic injury claims, insurance companies are incentivized to fight them. Insurers will likely look for reasons to invalidate your case. Our motorcycle accident attorneys can combat this by presenting strong evidence and aggressively negotiating on your behalf.

Our legal team can:

• Visit the crash site to take photographs and gather physical evidence
• Obtain police reports and medical records
• Locate eyewitness and video footage of the collision
• Hire and consult with case experts when needed
• Prepare and file insurance claims and legal paperwork
• Fight for the maximum settlement possible and stand up to tactics aimed at reducing your compensation
• File a lawsuit and represent you at trial if necessary

Time limits for taking action

Each state sets its own statute of limitations for filing personal injury lawsuits.

Missouri generally allows five years to file under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.120. Kansas allows two years to file under Kan. Stat. § 60-513. Though there can be rare exceptions to these deadlines, in general, if you do not pursue your motorcycle accident case before they pass, the courts will bar your suit. Once the statute of limitations expires, insurers generally have little incentive to negotiate because courts will likely dismiss a lawsuit filed afterward.

Reach out to Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys today

The lawyers at Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys have successfully assisted other clients with pelvic injury cases. When you hire our team to help you, you can rest assured knowing that we have the experience, skills, and knowledge to handle claims just like yours. We go above and beyond for our clients, while they focus on healing and recovering from their accidents.

We have offices located in Kansas City and at several other convenient locations across Northwestern Missouri and Kansas. Contact us today for a free consultation and learn more about how our motorcycle accident attorneys can fight for you.