Riding a motorcycle can bring an inexpressible sense of freedom, but it comes with substantially higher risks than driving a car. Because you’re unprotected by a metal framework, seatbelts, and airbags, even a minor collision can result in serious injuries. But why does the lack of these features make motorcyclists prone to serious injury? The physics of motorcycle accidents can help explain.
THE FIRST LAW OF MOTION
Motorcyclists’ heightened vulnerability to injury can be explained by inertia. According to the law of inertia, an object in motion tends to stay in motion unless acted upon by an external force. If a car drives along a road and then crashes into a tree, the vehicle will abruptly stop. However, the car’s occupants will continue moving at the same rate as the car’s former speed until their trajectory is changed by an external force, such as a seatbelt.
By contrast, a biker in a motorcycle crash has no seatbelt or metal frame to arrest their motion. The external force stopping their trajectory will likely be the road or another heavy object, such as a tree or car. When the biker hits the object, they’ll either come to an abrupt stop or skid to a halt. Either way, the impact force and friction can result in severe injuries, from lacerations to fractures to traumatic brain injury.
COLLISION ENERGY TRANSFER
Motorcyclists are also more subject to injury because of a physics principle known as energy transfer. When one object collides with another, a transfer of energy occurs between the two. The faster or heavier the object, the more energy it can transfer. When a motorcyclist collides with the road, the road’s energy transfers to the motorcyclist. The motorcyclist, whose own energy is unlikely to affect the hard ground, thus absorbs a significant amount of the road’s energy, which can be forceful enough to break bones and cause other injuries.
EXPERIENCED NEW HAMPSHIRE PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS SERVING PORTSMOUTH, MANCHESTER, LONDONDERRY, NASHUA, AND BEYOND
If you have suffered a motorcycle accident injury, consult a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. Call the skilled personal injury attorneys of Tenn And Tenn, P.A. at 1-888-511-1010 today or contact us online for a free consultation. We are ready to help determine who was at fault and fight for your rights.