This study was carried out for analysing the injury situation of legs in motorcycle accidents and to find possibilities for an optimized leg protection with constructional equipments on the machine.
Concerning this, each injury was analyzed with type of injury, localisation and severity AIS and correlated to the impact situation with impact direction, impulse angle, load and characteristics of kinematic behaviour. 258 motorcyclists collided to cars and injured on legs could be analyzed in detail.
In the study accidents with and without a fairing on the cycle used in todays praxis for aerodynamical aspects are analyzed. A benefit of leg protection could be established with fairings but a higher risk for head and thorax injuries would be expected.
The biomechanical mechanisms were analyzed in relation to impact angles and loads. The relative speed between cycle and car are responsible for the injury occurance. In the study the correlation of injury severity and relative impulse were pointed out. Especially foot injuries are frequent and these have an high importance for economical costs. The study describes these costs on the base of ICS.
In the study demands for efficient devices are discussed and accident situations described in which a special leg protector on the cycle could have the best benefit and how it looks like.