Motorcycle accidents cause some of the most serious injuries on the road. Unlike passenger vehicles, motorcycle riders don’t have much protection during a crash. Even when riders wear proper safety gear, the impact of a crash can cause life-altering injuries that require extensive medical care for years or even a lifetime. That’s why most injured riders hire a lawyer right away. They need someone to fight for their right to recover as much compensation as possible.
Recovering from a motorcycle accident can extend far beyond the point where visible injuries heal. For many, a serious accident impacts their ability to work and live a normal life. Below are seven long-term lifestyle changes many injured motorcyclists experience after a crash.
- Living with chronic pain
Chronic pain is common after a serious motorcycle accident since many injuries involve the neck, back, shoulders, joints, and nerves. Even without broken bones or lacerations, these injuries can create severe pain that never fully goes away.
Many injured riders need long-term pain management and physical therapy to manage their symptoms. This level of pain makes even simple activities a challenge, like walking and sitting for long periods of time.
Chronic pain also affects sleep quality and mood. It’s not easy to recover from physical injuries when you’re constantly in pain. In fact, chronic pain can keep the body in a state of stress and inhibit wound healing.
- Physical limitations
Many injured motorcyclists suffer permanent changes to their physical abilities. Broken bones, spinal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and joint damage can reduce strength, range of motion, and flexibility.
For victims who used to be active, this can be a challenge since even simple tasks can become harder. For example, climbing stairs and carrying groceries into the house might be painful or difficult. These physical limitations usually require lifestyle changes, like hiring extra help around the house and getting grocery delivery.
- Work changes
Certain injuries – like injuries to the head and spine – can limit or eliminate a person’s ability to perform their normal job duties. While some riders can return to work with accommodations, others need to find a completely different line of work or go on disability.
Injured riders who normally perform physically demanding work often need to find desk work or jobs they can do from home. For example, construction workers, mechanics, delivery drivers, and other labor-intensive jobs need to transition into something less demanding.
- Financial strain
Medical bills can pile up fast, but that’s only part of the financial impact after a motorcycle accident. Many injured riders need ongoing treatment and physical therapy, sometimes for months or even years. On top of that, it gets expensive to pay for transportation, home modifications, home care, mobility devices, and caregiving services.
For those who need to change jobs, they typically experience a significant pay cut, which requires a downgraded lifestyle. Sometimes injured riders need to find a cheaper rental property or sell their home.
- Emotional challenges
After a serious motorcycle accident, some riders are too afraid to get back on the road. Some won’t even drive a car. It’s tough dealing with the stress, fear, and anxiety that follows an accident, and not being able to ride again can feel frustrating. It takes time to heal emotionally after an accident, and some people struggle with this for years.
- Hobby changes
For many motorcycle riders, riding is their main hobby. They ride alone, with friends, and go to various gatherings centered around riding. That can all disappear after an accident.
A serious injury can also make other hobbies difficult or impossible, like sports, working out, and other outdoor activities. It’s not easy to stay active with an injury but many riders eventually adapt and find new interests in time.
- More dependence on others
Having to rely on other people is one of the hardest lifestyle changes injured motorcycle riders face. Motorcycle accident victims often need to rely on friends and family for transportation, household chores, getting to medical appointments, and other support.
For people who are typically independent or who care for others, becoming dependent on others and accepting their help is rough.
The impact of a motorcycle crash can last for years
A serious motorcycle injury can impact every aspect of a person’s life, from how they live and work to how they enjoy their hobbies and spend time with family. These lifestyle changes aren’t always predictable and that’s why they can be so devastating.
It’s hard to adjust when the life you worked so hard to build changes in an instant. That’s why the long-term effects of a motorcycle injury can’t be overlooked when negotiating a claim with insurance.