According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorcyclists face a fatality risk that’s 28 times higher than that of people in passenger cars, often due to internal injuries that may not show symptoms right away.
Unlike visible wounds or broken bones, internal injuries, such as internal bleeding, organ damage, and rib fractures, aren’t always immediately apparent. But left untreated, they can become life-threatening.
If you or a loved one has been in a motorcycle crash in NYC, it’s critical to understand how internal injuries affect your health and your legal rights. At Douglas & London, our New York City motorcycle accident lawyers have helped many riders recover full compensation for injuries that insurance companies often try to downplay.
Common Internal Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists have little protection when hit by a car or truck. Even with a helmet and protective gear, a rider’s body is still vulnerable to blunt-force trauma or being thrown from the bike.
Frequent internal injuries among motorcycle accident victims:
- Internal bleeding: Hidden damage to blood vessels or organs can lead to life-threatening hemorrhaging, even without visible bruising.
- Organ damage: Vital organs like the liver, spleen, kidneys, and lungs are especially vulnerable and may rupture or bruise upon impact.
- Rib fractures and punctured lungs: Broken ribs can pierce lung tissue, leading to pneumothorax (collapsed lung) or severe breathing issues.
- Abdominal trauma: Blunt-force trauma to the stomach can injure the intestines, bladder, or other internal structures, sometimes without external signs.
These injuries can worsen quickly, making early diagnosis important and potentially life-saving. Because these injuries may not be visible, insurance companies often question their severity or deny responsibility unless properly documented.
Internal Injuries Aren’t Always Obvious
One of the most dangerous aspects of internal injuries is that symptoms can be delayed. You might feel sore but stable after a crash, only to experience severe pain, dizziness, or shortness of breath hours or even days later.
In some cases, internal bleeding may not cause external bruising. You might feel fatigue or confusion before realizing something is wrong. Unfortunately, delayed treatment can make it easier for insurance companies to argue that your injuries aren’t serious or weren’t caused by the accident.
That’s why getting checked out by a doctor immediately after a motorcycle crash is essential, even if you feel okay. Insurers often exploit gaps in care or delayed diagnoses to argue your injuries were unrelated to the crash.
Why Immediate Medical Attention Matters
From a health perspective, early treatment could save your life. But from a legal standpoint, it also strengthens your personal injury claim.
Insurers often look for ways to reduce or deny payouts, especially for injuries that aren’t visible on the surface. If you wait to seek care or don’t follow up with your doctor, they may claim:
- Your injuries weren’t caused by the crash.
- You’re exaggerating the severity of your injuries.
- You failed to mitigate your damages.
By getting prompt medical care, documenting all symptoms, and following through on all recommended treatments and tests, you show a clear link between the accident and your injuries. That paper trail is essential to recovering full compensation.
Every delay or missed appointment allows the insurance company to dispute your claim.
The Role of Thorough Medical Documentation
When filing a motorcycle accident claim for internal injuries, your medical records become the foundation of your case. This includes:
- ER and urgent care records
- Imaging (CT scans, MRIs, X-rays)
- Test results (bloodwork, vital signs)
- Notes from follow-up visits
- Referrals to specialists
- Prescriptions and treatment plans
Keeping a personal record of how your symptoms evolve and how the injury affects your daily life is also helpful. For example, if you missed work due to pain or required ongoing therapy, that information helps calculate your damages.
Detailed medical documentation makes it harder for insurers to minimize, deny, or undervalue your injuries.
Why You Need Legal Support
Managing a motorcycle accident claim is difficult enough when you’re dealing with visible injuries. When the damage is internal and more complicated to prove, it’s even more critical to have legal representation.
A skilled New York City motorcycle accident lawyer can:
- Work with your doctors to obtain detailed medical documentation
- Bring in medical experts to explain the seriousness of your injuries
- Calculate long-term impacts, including lost wages and ongoing care
- Push back when the insurance company tries to undervalue your claim
- File a lawsuit if necessary to pursue full compensation
At Douglas & London, we understand how easily insurers can dismiss internal injuries, especially if you didn’t get treatment immediately. That’s why we move quickly to gather evidence, protect your rights, and build the strongest possible case.
Protect Your Health and Legal Rights
If you’ve been in a motorcycle crash, even a minor one, you should never assume you’re fine just because you don’t see blood or broken bones. Internal injuries can worsen with time, and failing to get treatment could cost you both physically and financially.
Let our New York City motorcycle accident lawyers help you with your claim. We can handle the insurance company while you focus on your recovery.
Don’t wait until symptoms become severe or until the insurance company starts picking apart your case. Call Douglas & London today for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your accident and legal options for recovery.