Why Motorcyclists and Cyclists Break Their Arms and Wrists
When a motorcycle or bicycle crash happens, your hands and arms are usually the first body parts to hit the ground. It is a natural reflex. You reach out to brace yourself as you fall. That instinct protects your head and torso, but it transfers the full force of impact through your wrist and arm bones.
Motorcyclists and cyclists have no metal frame, airbags, or seatbelts to absorb the crash. Their bodies take the full hit. That is why wrist and arm fractures are among the most common injuries in motorcycle and bicycle accidents in Chicago.
These injuries range from simple wrist cracks that heal in a few weeks to shattered elbows that require multiple surgeries and permanent hardware. The severity depends on the speed of the crash, the surface you land on, and how your body hits the ground.
Common Wrist Fractures from Cycling and Motorcycle Crashes
Distal Radius Fracture (Colles Fracture)
This is the most common wrist fracture. It happens when you fall on an outstretched hand. The radius bone in your forearm breaks near the wrist joint. The broken end of the bone tilts upward, creating a visible deformity sometimes called a “dinner fork” shape.
Simple Colles fractures may heal with a cast in six to eight weeks. Displaced fractures often require surgery with plates and screws to hold the bone in proper alignment.
Scaphoid Fracture
The scaphoid is a small bone on the thumb side of the wrist. It breaks frequently in falls on an outstretched hand. Scaphoid fractures are tricky because they often do not show up on initial X-rays. The fracture may only become visible on follow-up imaging two weeks later.
This matters because an untreated scaphoid fracture can develop a condition called avascular necrosis. The blood supply to part of the bone gets cut off, and the bone dies. This leads to chronic wrist pain, arthritis, and the need for complex surgery.
If you have wrist pain after a motorcycle or bicycle accident, insist on thorough follow-up even if the first X-ray looks normal.
Wrist Dislocation and Fracture-Dislocation
The wrist contains eight small carpal bones. A high-energy crash can dislocate these bones or fracture them while dislocating the joint. Perilunate and lunate dislocations are common in motorcycle crashes. They require surgery to realign the bones and repair torn ligaments.
These injuries frequently cause long-term stiffness and loss of grip strength even after successful treatment.
Common Arm Fractures from Motorcycle and Bicycle Accidents
Forearm Fractures (Radius and Ulna)
The forearm has two bones: the radius and the ulna. In a motorcycle or bicycle crash, one or both can break. A direct blow to the forearm (like hitting a car door or guardrail) is a common cause. Landing hard on an outstretched hand can also fracture the forearm higher up.
Forearm fractures in adults almost always require surgery. Doctors insert plates and screws along the bones to hold them in alignment while they heal. Without proper alignment, you may lose the ability to rotate your forearm (the motion used to turn a doorknob or use a screwdriver).
Elbow Fractures
The elbow is a complex joint where three bones meet: the humerus (upper arm), the radius, and the ulna. Elbow fractures from motorcycle crashes can involve any of these bones.
Olecranon fractures (the pointy bone at the back of the elbow) happen when the elbow strikes the ground directly. Radial head fractures occur when you land on an outstretched hand and the force drives the radius into the elbow joint.
Elbow fractures are particularly concerning because the elbow joint is prone to stiffness after injury. Even with good surgical repair, many patients lose some range of motion permanently. Physical therapy is critical but often painful and prolonged.
Humerus Fractures
The humerus is the bone in the upper arm. It can break in a motorcycle crash when the rider is thrown and lands on the shoulder or arm. A proximal humerus fracture (near the shoulder) is common in older riders. A mid-shaft fracture can damage the radial nerve, causing “wrist drop” where you cannot lift your hand at the wrist.
Complications from Wrist and Arm Fractures
Fractures to the wrist and arm can cause problems that extend well beyond the initial break.
- Nerve damage: Fractures near the wrist can damage the median nerve, leading to carpal tunnel syndrome. Fractures of the humerus can injure the radial nerve.
- Compartment syndrome: Swelling inside the forearm can cut off blood flow to muscles and nerves. This is a surgical emergency. If not treated quickly, it can result in permanent muscle damage or amputation.
- Malunion: If the bone heals in the wrong position, it can limit movement and cause chronic pain. Corrective surgery (osteotomy) may be needed.
- Nonunion: Some fractures fail to heal at all, especially scaphoid fractures with poor blood supply. Bone grafting surgery may be required.
- Post-traumatic arthritis: Fractures that extend into a joint increase the risk of developing arthritis in that joint over time.
- Chronic pain and stiffness: Many patients report ongoing pain and reduced range of motion months or years after the fracture.
Treatment Costs
The cost of treating a wrist or arm fracture from a motorcycle or bicycle accident depends on the severity.
A simple wrist fracture treated with a cast may cost $2,500 to $5,000 including the emergency room visit and follow-up X-rays. A fracture requiring surgery with plates and screws can cost $15,000 to $35,000 or more. Complex cases involving multiple surgeries, bone grafts, or treatment for complications like compartment syndrome can exceed $75,000.
Physical therapy adds to the cost. Most fracture patients need several months of therapy at $100 to $300 per session. If you need occupational therapy to relearn fine motor skills, the costs continue to climb.
Impact on Work and Daily Life
A broken wrist or arm affects almost everything you do. Writing, typing, cooking, driving, dressing yourself, lifting objects. All of these require functional use of your hands and arms.
If you work in a trade that requires manual labor, a wrist or arm fracture can keep you off the job for months. Even office workers may struggle to type or use a mouse. Musicians, surgeons, mechanics, and other professionals who depend on fine hand control may face career-altering consequences.
Lost wages add up quickly. If your fracture leads to permanent limitations, your future earning capacity may be reduced as well. These losses should be part of any injury claim.
Liability in Motorcycle and Bicycle Accident Cases
Most motorcycle and bicycle accidents in Chicago are caused by the negligence of motor vehicle drivers. Common causes include:
- Drivers failing to check blind spots before changing lanes
- Left-turn accidents where a driver turns in front of an oncoming motorcycle
- Drivers opening car doors into the path of a cyclist (“dooring”)
- Distracted driving
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Failing to yield the right of way
Illinois law treats motorcyclists and cyclists as legitimate road users with the same rights as car drivers. If a driver’s negligence caused your crash, you can seek full compensation for your injuries.
However, insurance companies often try to blame the motorcyclist or cyclist. They may argue you were speeding, lane splitting, or not wearing protective gear. An experienced attorney can counter these tactics and protect your rights.
Illinois follows modified comparative negligence. You can recover damages as long as you are not more than 50% at fault. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault.
Compensation You Can Seek
If you suffered a wrist or arm fracture in a motorcycle or bicycle accident caused by someone else, you can seek compensation for:
- Emergency medical treatment and surgery
- Physical and occupational therapy
- Future medical care, including hardware removal or corrective surgery
- Lost wages during recovery
- Reduced earning capacity if the injury limits your ability to work
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Cases involving surgery, permanent hardware, nerve damage, or career-ending injuries tend to have significantly higher values.
Protecting Your Claim
If you have been in a motorcycle or bicycle accident, take these steps to protect your legal rights:
- Get medical attention immediately, even if you think the injury is minor
- Follow up on all imaging and specialist referrals
- Keep records of all medical bills, prescriptions, and therapy sessions
- Document your injuries with photos throughout recovery
- Track all days missed from work
- Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company without consulting an attorney first
Get Legal Help Today
A broken wrist or arm from a motorcycle or bicycle accident can disrupt your life for months or years. The medical bills, lost income, and physical limitations are real. You deserve compensation when someone else caused your injury.
Call Phillips Law Offices at (312) 346-4262 or contact us online for a free consultation. We help injured motorcyclists and cyclists throughout Chicago recover the compensation they need to move forward.