Motorcycle accidents can expose motorcyclists to significant injury risk, as they can receive blunt force trauma from larger vehicles. For the most part, their body is left exposed to the impact of another vehicle, leading to them suffering injuries like spinal cord injuries, bone fractures, and knee injuries. However, a motorcyclist can protect themselves from the impact of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) by wearing a helmet.
While a helmet cannot guarantee a motorcyclist doesn’t suffer a TBI, it can help to protect the brain from suffering damage that can lead to a TBI. These severe brain injuries can lead to vision, memory, concentration, and cognitive functioning issues. Wearing a helmet could be the difference between coming away from a motorcycle accident with minor injuries or suffering a traumatic brain injury that can negatively impact a person throughout their life.
Why Should Motorcyclists Wear Protective Gear?
A motorcycle accident can expose a motorcyclist’s body to significant impact. The damage to the bones, tendons, ligaments, etc., can lead to severe motorcycle accident injuries. These injuries can lead to expensive economic damages, such as medical bills, lost wages, and lost earning potential.
The best way for a motorcyclist to avoid suffering a severe injury from a motorcycle accident is to wear protective gear, such as heavy-duty clothing, eye protection, and a helmet. Motorcyclists cannot control a negligent driver that causes a motorcycle accident through aggressive driving. Still, they can control wearing their gear to keep them safe from significant impact during the crash.
The Dangers of Traumatic Brain Injuries
One of the severe injuries a motorcycle accident victim can suffer is a traumatic brain injury (TBI). This occurs when blunt force trauma damages the brain, ordinarily when the brain collides with the skull. A TBI can lead to physical symptoms like headaches, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. It can also affect how your brain functions and lead to sensory problems, light and sound sensitivity, memory problems, mood swings, and feelings of depression and anxiety.
A motorcycle accident can expose a motorcyclist to blunt force head trauma that can cause a traumatic brain injury. Motorcyclists can wear helmets to protect themselves from head trauma that can lead to a TBI. Failing to do so can increase the danger of a motorcycle accident and expose a motorcyclist to the risk of suffering the following TBIs.
Concussions Caused by Motorcycle Accidents
One of the most common types of TBIs is a concussion, which is when a blow to the head causes the brain to move back and forth. The impact of a motorcycle accident, either a strike from another vehicle or falling off a motorcycle onto the hard ground, can cause violent shaking in the upper body that can cause a concussion.
A concussion can cause a person to momentarily lose consciousness after the head trauma leads to the brain shaking. More severe concussions can lead to someone losing consciousness for a long time, possibly needing emergency assistance to avoid severe health complications. Some symptoms associated with concussions include headaches, ringing ears, blurry vision, confusion, and amnesia.
Motorcycle Accidents Can Cause Hematomas
The damage to the brain caused by a motorcycle accident can also cause the brain to bleed, otherwise known as a hematoma. A blood vessel can burst, resulting in a pool of blood collecting in the brain tissue or underneath the skull. This pool of blood can pressure the brain and cause major damage. Some symptoms of a hematoma include headaches, slurred speech, loss of consciousness, and paralysis.
Motorcycle accident victims can suffer an epidural hematoma when the middle meningeal artery tears. Without proper medical care, this type of hematoma can be fatal. They can also suffer a subdural hematoma when multiple blood vessels inside the brain tear and cause overwhelming pressure from a significant build-up of blood in the brain.
Coup-Contrecoup Brain Injury Caused by a Motorcycle Accident
Coup-contrecoup brain injuries are types of TBIs that occur when the head shakes violently from a motorcycle accident impact. The brain shakes inside the skull and receives damage from impact after colliding with the skull. Coup-contrecoup injuries are not just one type of TBI but a classification for multiple types of TBIs.
The following are coup-contrecoup injuries you can suffer during a motorcycle accident:
- Coup brain injury: This is when the brain receives damage directly below the site of impact of the head trauma. This mild type of brain injury can result in bruising, swelling, and headaches.
- Contrecoup brain injury: During a motorcycle accident, the brain can receive damage directly from a blow and colliding with the opposite side of the skull. A contrecoup brain injury occurs when the brain shakes and hits the back of the skull, resulting in two impacts that can damage the brain.
- Coup-contrecoup brain injury: This is a combination of the above two TBIs that results in damage below the impact site and on the opposite side of the skull.
Why Should a Motorcycle Accident Victim Hire a Lawyer?
Motorcycle accident victims that suffer severe injuries can experience financial losses regarding their medical expenses, lost wages, and quality of life changes. They could file a motorcycle accident claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company if the party caused the accident through negligent or reckless behavior.
Motorcycle accident victims should hire a motorcycle accident lawyer to handle the process. They can collaborate on the best way to handle the motorcycle accident claim to combine the lawyer’s experience with the specific information pertinent to the victim’s case. An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer can help a victim determine the value of their claim, gather evidence, speak to witnesses, and negotiate a fair settlement.
Contact The Russo Firm for Help With Your Motorcycle Accident Claim
The motorcycle accident lawyers at The Russo Firm can help you pursue compensatory damages should you suffer a traumatic brain injury during a motorcycle accident. A helmet can cushion you from a TBI but does not guarantee you will avoid severe injury.
If you do suffer a severe TBI from a motorcycle accident, our experienced motorcycle accident lawyers can help craft a legal counsel plan that can put you in the best position to recover compensation for your economic and non-economic damages. Contact us for a free motorcycle accident consultation at (561) 270-0913 or leave a message on our online contact page.
