United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Before you crash...let go off the handles, it's a traction injury!

Geert.

Don't get your arm caught in the bike. I crashed 100's of bikes. It's that ONE quirky crash that catches you.

You got that right Geert, let go of the bike...

My righty got stuck with it. No regrets though. I had my fun...

Rider training courses can teach you the basics. The best way to learn how to ride is on a dirt bike. Even the most experienced rider can learn something from an 80cc dirt bike. You can ride the machine out of control and still have control.

The same principles apply to street riding.

hi...i'd have to say the best way to avoid this kinda injury would be to not try to knock over telephone poles with your bike and shoulder. chainsaw much better...i agree with dennis, protective clothing. i was wearing helmet(got no scrathes on it), kevlar jacket(got a small scrape from barbwire on bicept). i have heard of a newer product that should be mandatory on a bike, i understand it is a vest airbag which deploys when the rider leaves the bike.

hi Francine i think that no matter what gear you have if its going to happen then thats the way its going to be.I am 18 an i hit o diesel tank at about 50 m/p/h and split a 400 pound helmut rite down the middle and broke the part that protects your jaw.i severed c5 c6 c7 and damaged c8 and t1.But if you do get good gear you mite just stop any serious injury depending on how fast you are going and what is infront of you.Accidents cant be prevented but if you feel safer with really expensive gear then i would suggest you get it.. kevin

The first step in learning to ride a motorcycle should be on the dirt and preferably before 15 when your bones are still flexible and forgiving. Radical manuvering is required periodically when drivers don't see you. You can't learn how to do these radical manuvers on the asphalt without injury to you and your bike. I used to slide my dirt bike down for fun. In the six years I rode a street bike I had about a dozen very close calls that would have ended in great physical injury or death had I not had the instinctive reflexes to avoid the accident. I had seen so many riders on the road who don't even know how to do a proper turn. They are prime candidates to die if someone pulls out in front of them. For the older rider, a riding school would be a good idea. You have to understand the physics of the bike and become one with it. My son is 15 and I am 43. We enjoy riding dirt bikes but I don't jump as high or slide down as much as when I was a teen since it hurts a lot more now. The bottom line in motorcycle safety is knowledge, skill, alertness, and good protective gear. --Louis

Fran, I got in my motorcycle accident on 10/04/02 after riding and avoiding multiple accidents for 4 years. I was traveling on the freeway and abruptly got cut off and tried to brake/move into the other lane, but I was too late. Slammed into the rear of SUV. I was just wearing a Helmet, jeans, T-shirt, gloves, and running shoes (Very hot day in Houston, TX that day, 97 degrees). I had severe road rash that hurt like hell and BPI injury that i am still seeing Doctors for. My right shoulder always aches and i get alot of sharp pains in my right upper arm. It has been over 2 months now and I still have a couple of open wounds, I took very good care of my wounds too. Well when i wreaked my upper right head and shoulder slammed on the ground at about 70mph, that is what most likely what caused my BPI. I feel very strongly that if I was wearing my riding jacket, I would have been in less pain, especially with the road rash. My word to you is that if you are going to ride. Please buy very good protection and don't try to cut any corners on your life. Trust me on this, my Aria helmet saved my life and my gloves saved 75% of my hands. That was the only protection I was wearing and worth every dime invested. Now i am trying to educate myself about my injury, so If anyone has any good information or theropy sugestion, please let me know. Good luck to all ya current riders. Please watch out for the cars that don't see you.

Patrick

Thanks to all for your continuous input on this topic. I am passing all of your posts on to my ex husband.
Thanks!!!!
-francine

hey francine
i had my accident 6/23/02 that fractured my arm [radius] dislocated the elbow and injured c4c5c6c7c8t1. some badly streched and partially evulsed. i was wearing a good full coverage helmet and compleat cordura suit with boots and leather gloves. i had lots of bruses but nothing to amount to anything beyond where i impacted the concrete and steel guardrail with my head shoulder and arm.i really feel that the full coverage helmet saved my life as it absorbed a 50 mph impact from the chin piece to the forehead that probably would have taken off a good deal of my face and knocked out that pudding i have between my ears.to close i will say that it is all important with full coverage helmet a must. there are lots of products to keep it comfortable including steel mesh armored jackets and pants that are comparable to tshirt and shorts, also full coverage flip front helmets with good venting for added comfort. feel free to e mail me about specific products and i can digress. david 'red' wilson