What Is Biker’s Arm?
Biker’s arm, also referred to as rider’s arm, is one of the most common injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. It refers to an injury impacting the nerves in your upper arm following a crash. Biker’s arm can occur when the motorcycle lands on your arm or when your arm bears the brunt of the impact with the road in an accident.
This injury can occur in just about any type of motorcycle accident. The severity of rider’s arm depends on the location and force of the impact. It often results in limited mobility and in severe cases, it can cause partial or full paralysis of the arm and hand.
What Nerves Are Damaged in Biker’s Arm?
What Nerves Are Damaged in Biker’s Arm?
A common instinct during a motorcycle accident is to stick your arm out to soften the fall. However, when your arm is outstretched at impact, it can result in damage to one or more of the following nerves:
- Radial nerve – This nerve controls the movement of muscles surrounding your triceps, as well as your ability to move your fingers, wrists and part of the hand.
- Ulnar nerve – This nerve, commonly referred to as “the musician’s nerve,” runs behind the elbow and controls the fine motor movements of your fingers.
- Median nerve – This nerve, commonly referred to as “the laborer’s nerve,” transmits signals to the muscles in the palm of your hand at the base of your thumb and to the front of your forearm.
Common Symptoms of Biker’s Arm
It often takes several weeks for biker’s arm symptoms to develop. If you used your arm to brace yourself during the accident or if the motorcycle landed on your arm, be on the lookout for the following symptoms:
- Tingling in the arm, hand or fingers
- Normal function in your arm and shoulder, but lack of control of the hand and fingers
- Normal function in your hand and fingers, but poor control or lack of sensation in the shoulder and upper arm
- Weakness or numbness in the arm, hand or fingers
- Burning or throbbing sensation in the arm, hand or fingers
- Total or partial arm paralysis
Seek medical treatment immediately if you experience any of these symptoms.
Treatment for Rider’s Arm
What Is Biker’s Arm?
Treatment for biker’s arm starts with diagnostic imaging such as an x-ray, MRI or CT scan to determine the location and extent of your nerve damage. Depending on the specifics of your injury, your treatment may include:
- Physical therapy
- Massage
- Pain medication
- Analgesics
- Chiropractic treatment
- Surgery
Treatment of nerve damage can often be complicated, and it can be difficult to predict the likelihood of a full recovery for a while. Often, full motion and sensory function may be restored once your nerves regenerate over time. However, in some cases, you may find that your injuries improve somewhat, but never heal completely. In severe situations, paralysis after biker’s arm may even be permanent.
When biker’s arm results in permanent disability, it may impact your ability to perform routine daily activities and even your ability to carry out your job responsibilities.
Pushchak Law Can Help After a Motorcycle Accident
If you’ve developed biker’s arm after a motorcycle accident caused by the negligence of another driver, Pushchak Law can help you recover compensation for your damages. Brian Pushchak has made motorcycle accidents a primary focus of his practice. This specialization gives him a more sophisticated understanding of motorcycle accident-specific injuries such as biker’s arm, and this will help ensure the full extent of your damages are accounted for in your compensation.
When you work with Pushchak Law, you’ll also benefit from our unique Informed Decisions Approach™ focused on ensuring you receive the best possible outcome to your case. This approach keeps you in control of the process at all times. Mr. Pushchak will provide you with all the information needed to understand your legal rights and options, and he’ll explain the most effective strategies to achieve your desired outcome. Mr. Pushchak is available to answer your questions anytime, and you will even have access to his personal contact information in case you need to reach him for updates on your case when he’s not in the office.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation. Pushchak Law serves clients in Denver and the surrounding areas of Colorado.
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