Any motor vehicle collision can cause serious physical injury, but motorcycle crashes can cause catastrophic injuries in an instant. Riders do not have an enclosed vehicle to protect them, leaving them exposed to the force of impact. Severe fractures, limb loss, brain injuries and spinal cord injuries are all possible in motorcycle crash scenarios. Those physical injuries may put someone in the hospital for weeks and may result in long-term symptoms that limit their ability to work or live independently.
Fewer discussions about the psychological impact of motorcycle crashes tend to occur than those that concern physical injuries. However, it can be just as devastating as the physical injuries that a crash inspires.
Mental health consequences are common
Those involved in a collision are at risk of numerous mental health consequences. Even those who escape severe injury while riding in a larger vehicle might be at risk of depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after a wreck.
The risk is even higher for those on motorcycles. Motorcycle riders frequently report a loss of confidence after a crash, in part because they likely question whether they could have prevented the wreck or not. Even when the other driver is clearly at fault, motorcycle riders may lack the confidence necessary to safely ride again in the future.
That lack of confidence can spill out onto other aspects of their life. They may become more risk-averse at work or in their personal life. They could also potentially develop symptoms of anxiety, depression or PTSD. They may withdraw from relationships, avoid situations that remind them of their crash and view themselves more negatively than they did before the collision.
Those symptoms can affect everything from their career prospects to their marriages. Treating the psychological consequences of a motorcycle crash can take multiple years. The cost of intensive therapy can add up to tens of thousands of dollars. Those expenses might significantly increase the overall financial impact of a motorcycle crash.
Recognizing that mental health consequences are common and costly can help those involved in motorcycle-car collisions pursue an appropriate amount of compensation afterward. Motorcycle riders may need to seek compensation for both their current medical expenses and their likely future costs based on their injuries and the trauma they’ve experienced.