Tear of the Biceps Muscle in a Motorcycle Accident
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Motorcycle Accident Attorney. The muscles play an important role in the structure and function of the body. They allow people to both extend and contract their muscles, powering movements that help people perform the functions of everyday life. Muscles work by pulling on their respective bones in different directions. These connections between the muscles and the bones are called tendons. Tears in the tendons or muscle fibers can be exquisitely painful and take an extended amount of time to heal. According to a research paper that has been published in Sports Health:
- Muscle injuries are the most common injuries in athletes.
- They are responsible for about half of all reported injuries in athletes.
- Muscle injuries can range from contusions to strains, lacerations, and tears.
- Severe muscle injuries can lead to chronic pain, a loss of function, increased vulnerability to repeat injuries, and compartment syndrome.
While muscle injuries are common in athletes due to repetitive loading and unloading of the muscle fibers, there are plenty of other ways that people can suffer a muscle tear. One example is in a motorcycle accident. According to statistics that have been published by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA):
- Close to 92,000 people were hurt in a motorcycle accident in 2014.
- Over 4,500 people were killed in motorcycle accidents in 2015.
- About a quarter of all motorcycle accidents involved a motorcycle.
- Motorcycle riders are killed at almost 30 times the rate of car drivers per mile traveled.
In addition to the fatalities suffered, motorcycle riders are also at a great risk of suffering a chronic injury. One example is a tear of a biceps muscle. This can be a painful injury from which some people never fully recover.
How Does a Biceps Tear Happen in a Motorcycle Accident?
The biceps is an important muscle because it powers the movements of the upper arm. In a motorcycle accident, a rider is trained to lay down their motorcycle if an accident is impending. As people slide across the pavement, it is possible for their arm to snag on the pavement. The arm stops suddenly while the rest of the body moves forward, yanking on the arm itself and tearing the biceps. This traumatic injury can make it difficult to move the arm, along with numerous other symptoms.
What are the Symptoms to Watch For with a Biceps Tear?
The biceps tendon has multiple heads and some of the symptoms can vary depending on the severity of the tear. Examples of possible symptoms to watch for include:
- Significant pain over the upper arm
- A palpable “ball” felt in the upper arm that comes with a complete biceps tear
- Difficulty flexing the upper arm
- Feeling or hearing an audible snap or pop
- Bruising along the upper arm
- Significant weakness in the shoulder
The presence of one or more of these symptoms should alert the individual to a possible biceps injury, particularly if a traumatic accident accompanied the symptoms.
What is the Treatment of a Biceps Tear?
If there is any suspicion that a biceps tear has occurred, it is essential to seek medical care as quickly as possible. An MRI is often used to visualize the individual heads of the biceps to look for a tear. Once a tear has been confirmed, surgery is often needed to place the tendons of the biceps back in their proper location. Once medical care has been obtained, it is a good idea to meet with a motorcycle accident attorney in Sacramento. The details of the accident should be reviewed because you and your family might be entitled to financial compensation.
Watch YouTube Video: How to Avoid a Crash | Motorcycles. This short video provides some safety tips on what you can do to have the best chances of avoiding a crash.
Best Sacramento Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Motorcycle Accident Attorney. A tear of the biceps could lead to a long-term disability. If you or a loved one suffered injuries in an accident, call me at (916) 921-6400 at (800) 404-5400 for free friendly advice.
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