Car and a red sport motorcycle crash scene on an open road in afternoon. Workers and police seen around the crash site, with a queue of traffic building behind. Destroyed van and motorcycle.
A 27-year-old California man is trying to rebuild his life after an accident last month near a state park in Felton. The motorcyclist suffered a severely damaged leg in the crash. Motorcycle accidents often result in severe trauma to the limbs, especially the legs and arms, due to the lack of protective barriers on motorcycles.
The accident happened at about 6:40 p.m. when the driver of a Mazda pickup turned left on Highway 9 in front of the man’s Honda Rebel motorcycle. The impact threw the motorcyclist over the roadside guardrail, severely injuring his leg. Common causes of motorcycle accidents leading to amputation include left-turn collisions, crush injuries, and contact with a sharp object.
Crush injuries and sharp objects can damage blood vessels and disrupt blood flow, sometimes leading to tissue death and the need for surgery and amputation. He was taken by helicopter to Stanford Hospital, where an amputation below the knee was performed. Lower leg amputations are among the most common types of traumatic amputation in motorcycle accidents, as reported by the NHTSA reports. Doctors performed emergency surgery to save the rider’s life and prevent further complications. According to a California Highway Patrol representative, neither alcohol nor drugs was involved in the incident, and the driver of the pickup remained at the site.
The motorcyclist had insurance coverage and health insurance, but according to his family, there are many costs outside their budget. Family and friends are helping the biker pay such expenses while they are waiting for the pickup driver’s insurance to respond. Emotional and practical support systems are crucial for affected individuals. The biker’s mother suggested that the pickup driver might be underinsured.
The man left the hospital on Sept. 26 and, since then, has found routine tasks challenging. He is unable to be fitted for a prosthesis until the leg swelling disperses. The importance of a properly fitted prosthetic device or prosthetic leg, along with physical therapy and occupational therapy, is critical to help the patient adapt. He said his love of outdoor sports would be put on hold, and his upcoming wedding was delayed.
A motorcycle accident may result in severe injury. Rehabilitation after a serious injury may be extensive, and medical expenses may be significant. Furthermore, a victim may be disabled and require long-term care. Pain, phantom pain, and suffering are common after a traumatic amputation, and these life-altering injuries affect a person’s mobility and emotional well-being.
The person is now forced to adapt to a new reality, with significant changes to employment, daily activities, and future plans. Support for motorcycle accident victims, including therapy and rehabilitation, is essential to help them recover and rebuild their lives.
However, a knowledgeable Santa Ana motorcycle accident lawyer may help the injured individual obtain compensation for financial loss stemming from the accident. After reviewing accident reports, the attorney may file a personal injury suit against the allegedly negligent driver on the plaintiff’s behalf.
Source: San Jose Mercury News, “Felton man loses part of leg in motorcycle crash“, Stephen Baxter, October 02, 2014
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