NJ Motorcycle Accident Arm Injury Lawyer

Proudly serving all of New Jersey

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ACCIDENT CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE BRACHIAL PLEXUS – “BIKER’S ARM”

Motorcycle accidents almost always result in some sort of injury to the rider, because bikes don’t have the seatbelts, airbags, and the steel shell that protects riders of automobiles. Injuries suffered by motorcycle riders in accidents can range from minor scrapes and bruises to major, life altering, and even fatal injuries. One non fatal injury motorcycle riders often suffer in accidents is “biker’s arm” or “rider’s arm.” This occurs when a rider instinctually attempts to break their fall using their arms. This can result in severe injury to hands, wrists, elbows, arms, and shoulders.

If you have suffered a biker’s arm injury or any other type of injury from a motorcycle accident, you are likely going to face mounting medical bills and lost wages from missed work. To pursue compensation for these costs and other damages, it is vital that you seek the representation of an experienced motorcycle accident attorney. Lependorf & Silverstein, P.C. has been successfully representing New Jersey accident victims for over 25 years. Let our New Jersey motorcycle injury attorneys handle your claim and help get you the settlement you deserve. Call our offices today for a free consultation, at (609) 240-0040.

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WHAT IS BIKER’S ARM?

Biker’s arm is caused by damage to the Brachial Plexus, a network of nerves in the upper arm and shoulder that transmits signals from the spine throughout the arm and hand. These signals tell the arm muscles to contract or relax, and control the arm’s movements. Brachial Plexus injuries can affect our ability to grasp things with our hands, lift with our arms, even our ability to write or type.

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SYMPTOMS OF BIKER’S ARM

As a result of a biker’s arm injury (Brachial Plexus injury), a victim can lose all or some of their arm’s function. The following symptoms are characteristic of biker’s arm injuries:

• Good to moderate use of the fingers, but limited or no control over the movement of the elbow and shoulder.
• Good to moderate use of the arm, but little or no control over the functioning of the fingers.
• Complete paralysis and flaccidity of the entire arm.
• Biker’s arm injuries can be temporary or permanent. Sometimes a patient’s symptoms will improve through extensive physical therapy, many times they do not respond at all.

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COMPENSATION FOR A BIKER’S ARM INJURY

As you can imagine, partial or complete loss of function in one or both arms could seriously affect the rest of your life. One only has to imagine living through a day without being able to dial a phone, drive a car, or easily feed themselves. Depending on the severity and extent of your biker’s arm injury, you may be entitled to compensation for any of the following damages:

• Medical bills.
• Costs of future medical treatments related to your injury: nerve injuries often require multiple surgeries in an attempt to improve a patient’s condition.
• Cost of years of extensive physical therapy and rehabilitation.
• Pain and suffering: nerve injuries often result in severe, chronic pain that may not be alleviated by regular painkillers like aspirin, ibuprofen, and other analgesics.
• Permanent injury and disability.
• Partial or complete paralysis.
• Cost of household and vehicle modifications: depending on the degree to which you’ve lost use of your limb or limbs, certain modifications may be necessary for you to live independently. These can include foot operated door and cabinet latches, and light switches.
• Lost wages: imagine how loss of arm function could affect your ability to do most jobs.
• Loss of career or earning capacity: if you use your arms in your occupation, you may be unemployable in your chosen career.
• Reduced earning capacity: Even if you can continue to work in your field, you may not be able to perform all the tasks you once did, thus reducing the amount of income you may be able to earn.
• Costs of in home care: paralysis of the arms can inhibit one’s ability to perform some of the most mundane personal tasks, such as bathing or preparing food. In such cases in home care may be needed.
• Hedonic damages: hedonic damages are award for a person’s loss of joy of life. For instance, the ability to ever ride a motorcycle again, or to play tennis, or to hold a child could all contribute to a victim’s loss of joy of life.
• Punitive damages: depending on the egregiousness of the at fault party, a judge or jury may award damages to a victim as a way of punishing them for their actions.

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LEPENDORF & SILVERSTEIN, P.C. PROVIDES FREE, INITIAL CONSULTATIONS

If you’ve suffered a biker’s arm injury, your life may be forever impacted. To get compensation worthy of your injuries, it is important to be represented by a qualified and knowledgeable NJ motorcycle accident lawyer. Lependorf & Silverstein, P.C. can help you secure the settlement you justly deserve by calling (609) 240-0040.

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