The Most Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries in Indiana

Author

Vicky Nunn

Attorney Vicky Nunn joined our office in 2004 and is admitted to practice before the Indiana Supreme Court and all Circuit and Superior Courts in the State of Indiana. She is also a member of the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association.

April 20, 2026

The Short Answer

The most common injuries after motorcycle accidents in Indiana are non-fatal injuries, like broken bones. However, the most common injuries that can occur in a motorcycle accident include upper and lower extremity injuries, head trauma, and road rash.

Other common injuries include broken bones, spinal cord injuries, broken ribs, as well as internal bleeding and organ damage after a motorcycle wreck. Always seek medical care promptly if you’re injured in a motorcycle accident. Getting your injuries documented early can support your case—contact the Ken Nunn Law Office for a free consultation to discuss your case.

Key Takeaways

• Leg and foot injuries are some of the most common motorcycle crash injuries and often include broken bones, knee damage, and painful ankle/foot injuries.
• Arm, wrist, and shoulder injuries are also very common and can make everyday tasks hard, especially when fractures or dislocations limit strength and movement.
• Head and brain injuries are more severe motorcycle accident injuries and are often fatal. But even non-fatal instances can affect how you think, sleep, and function day-to-day.
• Whiplash and other neck injuries can cause lingering pain, headaches, and nerve symptoms that don’t always show up right away.
• Spine and spinal cord injuries can range from severe back pain to life-changing mobility problems, often requiring long recovery and rehab.
• Road rash and soft tissue injuries can be more serious than they look, sometimes leading to infection, scarring, and even surgery.
• Abdominal injuries, internal bleeding, and chest trauma can be dangerous because they aren’t always obvious at the scene, but may require urgent hospital care.

If you’re dealing with any of these injuries after a wreck, a motorcycle accident lawyer can help you protect key evidence, deal with insurance companies, and pursue compensation for medical care, missed work, and other damages.

Leg and Foot Injuries (Lower Extremity)

Lower extremity injuries were the most common category of non-fatal motorcycle injuries, showing up in about 47% of motorcyclists treated at trauma centers¹. Breaking it down further, the most frequently injured areas were:

• Leg injuries: 27%
• Pelvis injuries: 18%
• Knee injuries (about 16%)
• Femur/thigh injuries (about 11%)
• Foot and ankle injuries (about 10% each) 

What Causes Lower Body Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents?

Leg and foot injuries are common in motorcycle accidents because a rider’s lower body has very little protection in a crash. Some of the most common causes include:

• The motorcycle falls onto the rider’s leg (“lowside” skid): During a skid, the bike can slide out and land on the rider’s leg, causing fractures and crush injuries.
• Side-impact (“T-bone”) crashes: When a vehicle strikes the motorcycle from the side, the rider’s legs can take the hit and absorb a lot of the force.

Impacts of Leg and Foot Injuries

Leg and foot injuries can be painful, slow to heal, and expensive to treat. Treatment may involve surgery, plates, screws, rods, or months of physical therapy. Severe fractures can lead to lasting mobility problems, and foot or ankle injuries may cause chronic stiffness, pain, or post-traumatic arthritis. These injuries can make it harder to stand, walk, drive, or return to work.

If you’re dealing with injuries like this after a wreck, talk to an Indiana motorcycle accident lawyer to get help pursuing the compensation you could legally be owed.

Arm, Wrist, and Shoulder Injuries (Upper Extremity)

Arm and upper-body injuries are very common in motorcycle crashes. The rate can be as high as 47.5%, or almost 1 in 2 motorcycle crash patients². They often include:

• Wrist and forearm fractures
• Hand and finger fractures
• Elbow fractures or dislocations
• Shoulder dislocations and collarbone fractures
• Nerve injuries (weakness, numbness, tingling)

These injuries can feel challenging and overwhelming because they affect basic daily tasks like driving, lifting, working, cooking, caring for kids, and even using a phone or computer. Fractures and dislocations may require imaging, surgery, and months of physical therapy. Nerve injuries can be especially frustrating because symptoms may linger and recovery can be slow.

What Causes Upper Body Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents?

Upper extremity injuries often happen when riders try to protect themselves during a crash or when the upper body takes a direct hit. Common causes include:

• Bracing during a fall: Many riders instinctively put their hands out, which sends force into the wrist, forearm, and shoulder.
• Direct impact: Arms and shoulders can be hit by a vehicle, the road surface, or the motorcycle itself.
• Sliding and tumbling: As a rider slides, an arm can twist or catch, leading to fractures and dislocations.

Impacts of Arm, Wrist, and Shoulder Injuries

These injuries can feel especially overwhelming because they affect basic daily tasks like driving, lifting, working, cooking, caring for children, and even using a phone or computer. Depending on the injury, treatment may involve imaging, surgery, immobilization, and months of physical therapy.

Nerve injuries can be especially frustrating because symptoms may linger, strength may not fully return right away, and recovery can be slow. In more serious cases, riders may be left with lasting pain, stiffness, numbness, or reduced range of motion that affects work and everyday life.

Contact the Ken Nunn Law Office today for a free case review.

Head and Brain Injuries

Head and brain injuries are some of the most serious motorcycle crash injuries. While not as common as leg and arm injuries, they still pose a high risk for riders. These types of injuries often include:

• Concussions
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Skull fractures
• Facial fractures
• Cuts to the scalp or face

Motorcycle head injuries with no helmet are often worse. And in an NHTSA analysis³ of fatally injured motorcyclists, head injury was identified in about 35% of helmeted riders vs. about 51% of unhelmeted riders. 

What Causes Head Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents?

Head injuries often happen when a rider’s head takes a direct hit during the crash or after being thrown from the motorcycle. Common causes include:

• Direct impact: A rider’s head can strike a vehicle, the pavement, or a fixed object.
• Ejection: Being thrown from the bike increases the chance of head-first contact.
• Multiple impacts: A rider may tumble and strike more than one surface.

Impacts of Head and Brain Injuries

A head or brain injury can affect how a person thinks, feels, sleeps, and functions day to day. Even a concussion may lead to lingering symptoms like headaches, memory problems, mood changes, dizziness, or trouble concentrating. More serious brain injuries can require hospitalization, rehabilitation, and long-term care. In severe cases, these injuries may affect a person’s ability to work, manage daily responsibilities, or live independently.

If you’ve been dealing with the impacts of a head injury after an accident, you deserve to seek compensation. Talk to an experienced motorcycle accident attorney to learn your next steps and how much your case may be worth.

Whiplash and Other Neck Injuries

Neck injuries are also common after motorcycle accidents, especially when the force of the crash violently jerks the rider’s head and shoulders. These injuries can range from painful soft tissue damage to more serious trauma involving the cervical spine. Common neck injuries include:

• Whiplash (cervical strain/sprain)
• Neck muscle and ligament tears
• Herniated or bulging discs in the neck
• Pinched nerves that cause pain, numbness, or tingling into the shoulder/arm
• Cervical spine fractures (more severe crashes)

In a hospital-based motorcycle trauma study conducted outside Indiana, face/neck injuries were reported in about 17% to 36% of hospitalized riders, depending on age and helmet use.

What Causes Whiplash in Motorcycle Accidents?

Neck injuries usually happen because the crash forces the head and neck to move beyond their normal range of motion. Common causes include:

• Sudden force to the head and shoulders: A collision can snap the head forward and backward or side to side, stretching or tearing muscles, ligaments, and other soft tissues in the neck.
• Impact + landing: Even if the motorcycle does not strike the rider’s neck directly, the force of hitting the ground can put significant strain on the cervical spine.
• Helmet weight in a violent stop: Helmets help protect the head, but in a severe collision, the neck still has to absorb the rapid motion and force.

Impacts of Neck Injuries

Neck injuries can leave riders with ongoing pain, stiffness, headaches, and reduced range of motion that make it harder to drive, sleep comfortably, work, or get through normal daily activities. Some injuries also irritate or compress nearby nerves, which can cause numbness, tingling, weakness, or radiating pain into the shoulder, arm, or hand. Depending on the severity, recovery may involve imaging, medication, physical therapy, injections, or longer-term treatment.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Motorcycle crashes can cause a wide range of spinal injuries, some of which can permanently affect movement and sensation. These injuries may involve damage to the bones of the spine, the discs between them, or the spinal cord itself. Common spinal injuries include:

• Vertebra fractures (cervical, thoracic, or lumbar)
• Herniated discs and disc damage
• Spinal cord compression (pressure on the spinal cord)
• Partial spinal cord injury (loss of strength or sensation)
• Complete spinal cord injury (paralysis)

In a 2002 study⁴ of around 1,000 motorcyclists involved in accidents, it was found that spinal injuries occurred in 11% of riders in these accidents.

What Causes Spinal Cord Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents?

Spinal cord injuries usually happen when the force of the crash places extreme stress on the back or neck. Common causes include:

• High-impact collisions: A violent crash can fracture vertebrae or damage discs, which may then put pressure on the spinal cord.
• Ejection from the motorcycle: Being thrown from the bike can cause the spine to twist, compress, or strike the ground with significant force.
• Crushing or folding forces: When a rider lands awkwardly or is pinned between the motorcycle and another object, the spine can bend or compress beyond its normal limits.

Impacts of Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries can cause intense pain, reduced mobility, and a long recovery that may involve imaging, specialist care, rehabilitation, and surgery. Even a partial spinal cord injury may affect strength, sensation, balance, sleep, and day-to-day independence. In more severe cases, spinal trauma can leave a rider with permanent physical limitations and major changes to work and everyday life.

The Ken Nunn Law Office offers free case reviews, and our attorneys work on contingency. This means you don’t owe us anything unless we win compensation for you, and our fees are deducted from the settlement you receive. Contact us today to get started.

Road Rash and Soft Tissue Injuries

Road rash is a friction burn that happens when skin slides against pavement, but motorcycle crashes can also cause deeper soft tissue damage to muscles, ligaments, tendons, and other tissue beneath the skin. These injuries often include:

• Mild road rash: superficial scrapes and friction burns
• Deeper road rash: damage to deeper skin layers, bleeding, swelling, and higher infection risk
• Severe road rash: large areas of skin loss that may need surgery and skin grafting
• Lacerations: cuts that may need stitches
• Contusions and crush-related soft tissue injuries: bruising and deeper tissue damage
• Muscle strains and tears: damage caused by sudden force, impact, or overstretching
• Ligament sprains and tears: injuries that can affect joint stability and movement
• Tendon damage: injuries that may limit strength and range of motion
• Degloving injuries: skin and tissue pulled away from what is underneath

What Causes Road Rash Injuries?

Without protective gear, both surface wounds and deeper tissue injuries can be much worse. These injuries often happen when a rider’s body makes direct contact with the road, the motorcycle, or another vehicle during the crash. Common causes include:

• Sliding on pavement: When a rider goes down, they may slide across asphalt before coming to a stop, causing friction burns and tearing away layers of skin.
• Lack of protection: Without sturdy protective gear, the road surface can quickly damage exposed skin and soft tissue.
• Embedded debris: Dirt, gravel, and asphalt can get ground into the wound, making treatment more difficult and raising the risk of infection.
• Crushing or blunt-force trauma: A rider may also suffer bruising, muscle damage, or deeper soft tissue injuries if the motorcycle lands on them or if they strike another object during the crash.
• Avulsion or shearing forces: A rider may experience severe muscle tearing or ligament ruptures if the body is twisted violently or if different layers of tissue are forced in opposite directions during a high-speed tumble.
• Penetrating trauma or shrapnel: A rider may suffer deep punctures and lacerations when struck by accident debris, such as shattered fairings or handlebars, or if they impact environmental hazards like fencing during the accident.

Impacts of Road Rash

Road rash and soft tissue injuries can lead to serious pain, infection, scarring, stiffness, and loss of mobility. Severe road rash may require wound cleaning, dressings, pain medication, and skin grafts. Deep soft tissue injuries may require imaging, medication, rest, physical therapy, and ongoing follow-up care, with recovery that can take weeks or even months.

These injuries can also lead to missed work and a harder recovery overall, especially when they happen along with fractures or other serious injuries from the same wreck. If you are dealing with injuries like these after a motorcycle accident, an Indiana motorcycle accident lawyer may be able to help you pursue compensation while you focus on healing.

Abdominal and Organ Injuries

Organ damage can happen when the torso takes a hard hit during a motorcycle crash. These injuries often look like:

• Spleen injuries
• Liver injuries
• Kidney injuries
• Bowel injuries
• Pancreas injuries (less common, but serious)

Abdominal injuries are a regular part of serious motorcycle crashes. In an NHTSA analysis of motorcyclists treated at Level I/II trauma centers (NTDB-NSP, 2003–2005), about 20% of injured riders with moderate-or-worse injuries (AIS 2+) had an abdominal injury. 

What Causes Abdominal Injuries in a Motorcycle Accident?

Abdominal injuries often happen when a rider’s torso absorbs a strong impact or gets compressed during the crash. Common causes include:

• Blunt-force impact: The abdomen can slam into the handlebars, tank, or the road in a hard stop or fall.
• Crushing forces: A rider can be pinned or compressed, which can injure internal organs.
• Hidden injury risk: Organ injuries aren’t always obvious from the outside, especially right after the crash.

Impacts of Organ Injuries

Organ damage can cause severe pain, nausea, dizziness, or weakness that requires immediate medical care. Treatment may include imaging, hospital monitoring, and even emergency surgery. Even after you’re stabilized, recovery can mean activity restrictions, follow-up visits, and time away from work.

Because these injuries are internal, insurance companies may try to minimize them if the full impact is not obvious from the outside. Talk to an attorney to get help pursuing the compensation you need for your medical bills, missed income, and recovery.

Internal Bleeding

Internal bleeding after a motorcycle wreck often looks like:

• Bleeding around the lungs or combined air + blood around the lung 
• Bleeding from organ damage (especially the liver or spleen)
• Internal bleeding tied to pelvic or abdominal trauma
• Bleeding connected to serious head injuries (brain bleeding)

What Causes Internal Bleeding in Motorcycle Accidents?

Internal bleeding often starts when a crash causes major blunt-force trauma or crushing pressure inside the body. Common causes include:

• Hard impact to the torso: The chest and abdomen can strike the road, another vehicle, the handlebars, or the fuel tank.
• Crushing forces: A rider can be pinned or compressed, which can injure organs and blood vessels.
• Hidden injuries: You can have serious bleeding without a visible wound, especially early on.

Impacts of Internal Bleeding

Internal bleeding can turn into a medical emergency very quickly. Riders may develop shortness of breath, worsening pain, dizziness, weakness, confusion, or other symptoms that get worse over time. Treatment may require emergency imaging, hospital care, surgery, blood transfusions, or close monitoring.

These injuries can also lead to time in the hospital, missed work, and major medical bills. If you are recovering from internal bleeding after a motorcycle accident, an Indiana motorcycle accident lawyer may be able to help you pursue compensation for your treatment, lost income, and recovery.

Torso (Thoracic) Injuries

Torso, or thoracic, injuries from motorcycle crashes often involve damage to the chest, ribs, lungs, and surrounding tissue. These injuries often include:

• Rib fractures
• Lung injuries (like bruising/contusion)
• Collapsed lung
• Chest wall trauma (deep bruising and tissue damage)
• Sternum fractures (less common, usually higher-force impacts)

Based on national trauma-center data and hospital studies, chest (thorax) injuries show up in about 25%-33% of serious motorcycle injury cases. 

What Causes Thoracic Injuries?

Thoracic injuries usually happen when the chest takes a direct hit or gets compressed during the crash. Common causes include:

• Direct impact to the chest (a rider may strike the handlebars, fuel tank, another vehicle, or the ground)
• Crushing forces (the chest can be pinned or compressed between the motorcycle and another object)
• Violent landing or ejection (being thrown from the bike can cause the chest and ribs to absorb a large amount of force)

Impacts of Torso Injuries

Chest injuries can make breathing, coughing, laughing, sleeping, and even small movements painful. Rib fractures may take weeks to heal, and more serious injuries can require imaging, hospital monitoring, oxygen support, or follow-up care. In some cases, complications involving the lungs or chest wall can make recovery longer and more expensive.

If you are dealing with a chest injury after a motorcycle wreck, an Indiana motorcycle accident lawyer may be able to help you pursue compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and recovery. Contact the Ken Nunn Law Office for a free consultation.

Emotional Trauma

After a serious motorcycle wreck, you may be dealing with emotional symptoms that feel just as real as your physical injuries. Examples include:

• PTSD symptoms (flashbacks, nightmares, feeling “on edge,” avoiding traffic or riding)
• Anxiety (panic in traffic, fear of intersections, driving/riding anxiety)
• Depression (loss of interest, low mood, feeling hopeless during recovery)
• Sleep problems (trouble falling asleep, waking up often)
• Irritability and mood changes (short temper, feeling overwhelmed)

Research on crash survivors shows these problems are common:

• PTSD symptoms: about 20%–40% of motor vehicle crash survivors in early research reviews.
• Depressive mood: about 21%–67% in early research reviews.
• Anxiety and driving phobia: reported up to 47% in early research reviews.

What Causes Emotional Trauma in Motorcycle Accidents?

Emotional trauma can develop from both the violence of the crash and the stress of recovery afterward. Common causes include:

• The shock of the crash itself (fear, helplessness, or believing you might die or be seriously hurt)
• Painful injuries and medical treatment (hospital stays, surgery, rehab, and long recoveries can take a mental toll)
• Life disruption after the wreck (lost independence, missed work, financial stress, and limits on driving or riding can add to emotional strain)

Impacts of Trauma After Motorcycle Accidents

Emotional trauma can make it hard to feel normal again after a motorcycle wreck. You may feel nervous in traffic, avoid riding or driving, struggle to sleep, or feel overwhelmed even after your visible injuries start to heal.

These symptoms can affect work, relationships, daily routines, and your ability to keep up with medical treatment. Counseling, therapy, and other mental health care can also add to the overall cost of recovery.

You deserve to seek compensation for your pain and suffering after an accident. An attorney can help you collect evidence of your losses and present a serious case for compensation.

Indiana Motorcycle Accident Injuries Report

Indiana Motorcyclists Involved in Crashes by Injury Status

Source: Indiana Crash Facts 2023

Motorcycle Accident Injury FAQs

Free Legal Consultations for Motorcycle Accident Injury Victims

If you were hurt in a motorcycle wreck, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed—doctor visits, missed work, pain, and insurance calls can pile up fast. A free legal consultation can help you understand what steps make sense next and what evidence is worth saving (like photos, medical records, and witness info). The Ken Nunn Law Office offers a free case review for motorcycle accident injuries.

It also helps to talk with a lawyer sooner rather than later because deadlines may apply. In Indiana, most personal injury lawsuits must be started within 2 years of when the injury happened. And because Indiana uses a modified comparative fault system, fault can affect whether you can recover compensation and how much—so it’s important to protect the facts early.