How Should I Handle Leg Swelling After a Motorcycle Accident?

Getting injured in a motorcycle crash can result in physical pain, emotional distress, and financial chaos. If you recently experienced leg swelling after a motorcycle accident, consult with a doctor as soon as possible to rule out a serious underlying injury. If another is responsible for the accident, they or their insurance company should pay for your medical bills and other damages, and not you. 

However, you do not need to struggle with getting what you deserve on your own.  
Morgan & Morgan’s experienced injury attorneys could handle all aspects of your motorcycle accident claim and fight tirelessly for maximum possible recovery on your behalf. Contact us today to determine your options in a free case review.

Causes for Leg Swelling After a Motorcycle Accident

Traumatic injuries to the leg, whether caused by a direct blow, penetrating injury, or the leg twisting abnormally, can potentially cause swelling and other symptoms. Leg swelling could also point to a severe injury, such as a life-threatening blood clot. Conditions that can cause your leg to swell include:

Bone Fractures

Fracturing the leg bone can be a common accident injury, especially in motorcycle crashes. Fractures can range in severity from a hairline fracture to a complete break that pierces the skin or a crushed bone. Symptoms of leg bone fractures can include leg swelling, bruising, pain, stiffness, and others.

Sprains and Strains

Sprains and strains occur when ligaments, muscles, or tendons are stretched, pulled, or torn. While strains and sprains are generally not serious injuries, they can be uncomfortable, painful, and require a long recovery. Leg swelling can be a symptom of a strain or sprain. Other symptoms can include pain, muscle spasms, and cramping.

Blood Clots

Leg swelling can occur due to a blood clot forming in a leg. Blood clots can potentially break away and travel through the body until they reach the lungs. In addition to leg swelling, an accident victim with a blood clot might experience:

• Pain in the chest
• Breathing difficulties and shortness of breath
• Dizziness and fainting
• Coughing up blood
• The swollen leg turning cool and pale

Bruising

If you bruised your leg significantly in a motorcycle accident, you could experience leg swelling. Bruising occurs when blood vessels underneath the skin burst or tear, causing the blood to leak into the surrounding tissue. More extensive bruising can cause lumps, swelling, and pain.

Swelling could also be a symptom of other leg injuries. While some of these conditions can be more serious than others, they could all cause you to lose work time and pay. You may also incur steep medical costs now and in the future. However, if another road user caused the accident, you could potentially sue and recover compensation for your injuries and financial damages. A motorcycle accident lawyer at Morgan & Morgan can advise you and help you move forward with a claim to recover what you deserve.

Other Common Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents

Individuals hurt in a motorcycle accident can suffer many other injuries in addition to leg swelling. Since motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable due to lacking the protection of an enclosed car, they typically suffer most injuries in accidents with other motor vehicles. Figures from the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) show that motorcyclists can be 29 times more likely than car occupants to die in a road accident. Significant motorcycle accident injuries include: 

• Road rash
• Head injuries
• Lacerations 
• Loss of limb(s)
• Internal organ damage
• Internal bleeding
• Spinal cord injury 

Damages You Could Collect for Motorcycle Accident Injuries 

If you suffer from a leg injury or other condition after an accident, and another is liable, you could recover various types of damages, such as: 

Economic Damages

• Medical expenses
• Future medical costs 
• Lost wages 
• Future lost earning potential
• Transportation costs
• Property damage 
• Costs for household assistance
• Out-of-pocket costs

Non-Economic Damages

• Pain and anguish 
• Loss of a limb or limbs
• Loss of life quality
• Disability
• Permanent scarring

Depending on your specific motorcycle accident and injuries, you could qualify for other or additional damages. 

Proving Another’s Responsibility for Your Motorcycle Accident

If you seek to recover compensation from the party that caused your accident, you will have to prove their negligence. Aggressive driving, violating road laws, texting while driving, and other risky driving behaviors can count as negligence. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), risky driving also includes: 

• Speeding
• Drive impaired (alcohol or drugs)
• Driving distracted 
• Ignoring traffic signs and signals
• Drive generally recklessly 

If you believe another caused your accident due to dangerous or inattentive driving behavior or for another reason, a motorcycle accident attorney can help prove your case. 

Your Next Steps After Discovering Leg Swelling 

If you experience leg swelling after a motorcycle accident, you might initially not think much of it and ignore the issue. However, swelling could point to a severe underlying injury that could cause wage loss, medical bills, and other expenses in due course. Therefore, you should consider taking the following steps to protect your health and legal rights as soon as possible after the accident.

See a Doctor 

If you are suffering from leg swelling after a motorcycle crash, get your injury assessed by a medical professional as soon as possible. This can help to address an underlying condition promptly. In addition, you will receive a medical report as evidence of your injuries and damages. If you later intend to pursue damages from the person responsible for your accident, a medical report will be essential evidence. 

Call a Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Once you have received the necessary medical treatment, consider speaking to a motorcycle accident lawyer about your options going forward. Morgan & Morgan offers free consultations that allow you to determine whether you have legal recourse against another party and could receive compensation. 

How to Find the Best Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Finding a motorcycle accident lawyer can be a great idea if you get hurt in a crash. An attorney could help fight for the compensation you deserve after getting seriously injured.  

Ask Around for Referrals

Asking friends, family, and coworkers for attorney referrals can be an excellent way to find a motorcycle attorney near you. Perhaps one of your motorcycle-riding friends can recommend a good attorney who has previously helped them with an accident. 

Research Lawyers Online

Browsing the internet can help to find motorcycle accident lawyers near you. You could do a simple Google search or find information about lawyers on your state’s bar association website.  

Once you have some potential names on your list, go ahead and schedule free consultations. A first consultation allows you to ask questions and get to know your potential attorney and law firm. 

Morgan & Morgan Fights for Motorcycle Accident Victims

If you are looking for legal advice and help after suffering an injury in a motorcycle accident, you could get America’s largest personal injury law firm on your side. We have helped injured individuals get their due for more than 30 years, recovering over $20 billion in damages. Our experienced motorcycle accident attorneys can walk you through your options and help you file a claim or lawsuit to fight for the compensation you need to go on with your life. 

A Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Can Help

Damages after a motorcycle crash can be sky-high for an injured rider. Victims that suffer permanent disabilities may never return to work or could face a reduced income for the rest of their lives. If this has happened to you or a loved one, and another driver is responsible, you need an advocate in your corner who can aggressively fight for the compensation you need. Ways in which our attorneys could help you include:

Negotiating With the Insurance Company

In many states, the at-fault party’s insurance is responsible for reimbursing you for your expenses and damages from a motorcycle accident. However, some insurers will try to get away with paying as little as possible and deny victims their rightful compensation.
Our motorcycle accident lawyers can stand up to unethical insurance companies on your behalf and negotiate hard for a fair settlement. 

Gathering Evidence to Prove Negligence

Having a seasoned attorney by your side can be essential for ensuring that no time-sensitive evidence “disappears,” especially if you are still recovering. Your attorney can collect the necessary evidence to build your case against the responsible party, including: 

• Traffic camera recordings
• Police accident reports
• Photographs and videos of the crash and accident scene
• Eyewitness statements 

Calculating Your Damages and Losses

If you do not know the worth of your case, you risk leaving money on the table. Having an experienced injury lawyer calculate and assess your damages and expected future expenses can provide you with leverage in settlement negotiations. 

Apart from the practical help and advice an attorney can offer victims, they can also offer emotional support. Knowing that you have a capable advocate on your side can help you relax and recover from your injuries. An attorney can handle the legal aspects of your case, leaving you free to prioritize your health.

Do I Need a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer for a Minor Crash?

Seeking legal advice after your motorcycle accident and injury can be advantageous, even if it turns out that you can handle your accident without a lawyer. However, having a tenacious motorcycle accident attorney by your side, fighting for the compensation you deserve, can be crucial when:

• You suffered significant or life-changing injuries 
• You have high medical costs, wage loss, and property damage
• The insurance company denies or minimizes your claim 
• Fault for the accident is unclear
• The at-fault party’s attorney alleges that you caused the accident

Most motorcycle accident lawyers work on a contingency basis, meaning they do not get paid unless they win and you receive a settlement. Therefore, most attorneys will tell you honestly whether you should hire legal representation or handle a case on your own.

How Much Time Do I Have for Filing a Lawsuit After a Motorcycle Crash?

How long you have for filing a personal injury case will depend on where you reside. The deadlines for filing a suit can differ drastically from one state to another. For example, in some states, you only have one short year to file a lawsuit, while in others, you could have four years or more. The time starts ticking on the day of your accident. Therefore, if you have suffered significant injuries and a lengthy recovery period, you could already be running out of time for filing a lawsuit and recovering compensation. 

Contacting an attorney as soon as possible after an accident can help determine your legal options and ensure you file a lawsuit in your state within the appropriate time frame.

How Much Does a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Cost?

Most motorcycle accident attorneys work on a “no win, no fee” agreement and do not charge any fees upfront. Instead, the attorney’s fee will be a percentage of your final settlement. If you lose the case, your attorney will not get paid at all. 
However, every law firm handles fees differently, and your attorney might ask you to front some miscellaneous costs out of your pocket, such as: 

Expert witness fees
Court filing fees
Deposition expenses
Mailing costs

Morgan & Morgan understands that motorcycle accident victims could be under immense financial pressure. Therefore, our fee is free, and you do not pay a dime until we win and you receive damages.

Our Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Can Help 

If you suffered an injury and leg swelling after a motorcycle accident, Morgan & Morgan could be by your side. We have helped injured motorcycle riders for decades and understand the issues and frustrations you could face after a crash. Our motivated and determined attorneys can look back on a successful track record, including a verdict of $47.5 million in damages for a motorcycle rider injured in a head-on collision. While every accident is unique and damages differ, we could fight hard for you too. Contact us now to determine for free whether you qualify for compensation.