Traumatic brain injuries after a motorcycle accident are incredibly common. Even those motorcycle riders who wear a motorcycle helmet frequently suffer concussions in motorcycle crashes. These injuries to the brain are devastating, and even mild concussions can result in neurological damage. If you have been suffered a concussion in a crash, you need a brain injury motorcycle accident lawyer on your side.
When a motorcycle accident occurs, the biker frequently strikes the pavement with extreme force. This jarring force frequently results in head injury. Our motorcycle accident lawyers have represented injured motorcyclists for thirty years. We have seen the effects of concussions and brain injuries sustained in a motorcycle crash. Let us help you get the compensation you rightfully deserve for your brain injury.
The Centers for Disease Control report that wearing a helmet reduces your risk of death in a motorcycle accident by 37 percent. Further, it reduces the head injury risk by 69 percent.
A traumatic brain injury is an injury to the brain. These injuries can range from mild concussions to life-threatening brain trauma. Even when motorcycle helmets are worn, brain injuries are all too common following motorcycle crashes and accidents.
Traumatic brain injuries can be especially devastating. Although minor cases heal relatively quickly, more severe brain injuries can result in lifelong impairments. In fact, recent studies by the National Institutes of Health have linked concussions to the development of Alzheimer’s disease years or even decades later.
How Many Motorcycle Accident Victims Have Head Injuries?
More than 80 percent of motorcycle accidents result in injury or death of the motorcyclist. Of those injured, many suffer head injuries. In fact, head injuries are the most prominent cause of death or injury after a motorcycle crash.
Brain injuries cannot be easily treated, like fractures. The brain can heal, and new neural connections can be made, but the repair takes time. The more extensive and severe the brain injury, the longer it will take.
Suffering a brain injury in a motorcycle accident comes with a level of trauma. It is frustrating to not be able to focus and think clearly. It can mean taking time off work to focus on healing, which can be extra stressful when medical bills are coming in the mail each day. Even minor head injuries can require time away from work.
Motorcycle accident victims commonly suffer from head injuries, even when wearing a helmet. If you have suffered a brain injury, be sure to follow up on all of your doctor’s instructions. Brain injury victims that adhere to medical guidelines may experience a better, fuller level of recovery.
During a stressful time like this, it can be difficult to think about how you will pay your medical bills. Let a motorcycle accident lawyer from the Law Firm of Kass & Moses handle the stress for you. We will give you the ability to focus on healing from your brain injuries from your motorcycle accident while we handle your personal injury claim. Since we specialize in motorcycle accident law, you can rest well knowing your case is in the hands of an experienced firm.
What to Do if You are Involved in a Motorcycle Crash
Any time you have a brain injury or concussion or have been in a motorcycle accident in which your head has made contact with any surface, you should see a physician as soon as possible. Even if a doctor has previously assessed you for a concussion, if you develop any signs of a concussion later, be sure to get help.
Head and brain injuries can be tricky. The effects of motorcycle accidents are not always clear right away. Sometimes you may feel alright initially, but in the hours or days following the crash, you may develop symptoms. That is because when a brain injury occurs, there can be swelling. As the swelling develops, the signs of the head injury become more pronounced.
Signs You May Have a Concussion:
- Headache or feeling of head pressure
- Dizziness or seeing stars
- Becoming unconscious
- Vomiting or nausea
- Confusion or amnesia, or being disoriented
- Slurred speech or trouble forming coherent sentences
- Clumsy gait
- Sound, light, and/or movement sensitivity
When assessing you, doctors will perform tests to see if you have a concussion as a result of your motorcycle crash. They will ask you basic questions to determine if your brain is working functionally. They may look at your pupils and have you perform some basic tasks.
These things will help them determine if you have damaged your brain and, if so, how severe that damage may be. If the doctor determines you have had a concussion or is unsure, he or she may want to have some imaging tests performed. These tests can check for swelling or bleeding inside the brain. They can help the doctor visualize any areas of damage.
Treatment for a Concussion
Treatment for concussions nearly always consists of complete rest. You will need to rest not just the body, but also the mind. This means that rest should occur in a dark, quiet room, without the television or radio on.
Of course, this means that it is impossible to work during this time. It is important to rest as symptoms will persist and the brain will not heal until you do. Never assume that a concussion is a mild injury. Even if you have a mild concussion, that is still an injury to the brain and should be treated seriously.
When your normal activities resume, you may notice you become tired more quickly than usual. You may need to go back to work on a part-time basis until you regain your strength and focus.
If your concussion was more severe, you may require ongoing occupational and physical therapies to help you regain health. In such cases, you will likely require an extended period of time away from work.
Incurring a concussion in a motorcycle accident means you will likely face large medical bills. Scans and tests performed at the hospital can easily exceed $10,000. And, since you need to miss work in order to regain your health, you likely have some degree of lost wages.
What is the Most Common Major Motorcycle Injury?
Traumatic brain injuries or concussions are the most common major motorcycle accident injury. The brain is very fragile and susceptible to injury. Our skulls generally do a great job protecting our brains from external injury, but when a crash occurs, the brain is jostled and disturbed, causing injury inside the protective shell of the skull.
The brain is soft and squishy, with veins running throughout. When damaged, any of those veins can bleed out, resulting in increased pressure and damage to brain cells. Most motorcyclists wear helmets to protect their head and neck in the event of a motorcycle accident, and they are quite effective. Still, even for motorcyclists wearing helmets, traumatic brain injuries are common.
As a motorcycle accident lawyer, I have seen the effects of traumatic brain injuries firsthand. That is why I work so hard for each and every motorcycle accident victim I represent. A brain injury claim is complex, and I will strive to get you the compensation you deserve for your pain and suffering.
What Happens to the Brain in a Motorcycle Crash?
In a motorcycle crash, the brain is jostled about inside the skull. The force of impact can cause the brain to suffer injuries, just like any other part of the body. The brain can bleed, bruise, or even swell. Since there is little space for the brain to swell up from the injury, that can lead to pressure on the brain and further exacerbate injuries.
Brain bleeding can disrupt areas of the brain and lead to cell death. This then leads to disabilities of the areas controlled by the damaged brain tissue. Motorcycle accident victims often report changes in mood, reactions to loved ones, and focus. These all are things that can be caused by traumatic brain injuries.
Motorcycle accidents that result in concussions are especially upsetting.
What Are the Different Levels of Severity of Traumatic Brain Injuries?
Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Mild brain injury is more commonly referred to as a concussion. The symptoms associated with mild TBI are less extreme as the symptoms of more severe brain injury. That does not mean, however, that a concussion is a mild injury. Any brain injury is serious, even a minor one.
Signs of a mild brain injury include either no lapse of consciousness or one that only lasts seconds, headaches, and some confusion. You may also notice that you feel tired, dizzy, or that your thinking is foggy. Your memory may seem a bit confused. Early on, you may feel nauseous or may vomit.
The confusion you feel may make it difficult for you to realize that you have a problem and have been injured. This is one reason we believe every motorcyclist involved in an accident should receive medical treatment.
There are some danger signs you should be aware of if you suffer a concussion. Some signs include a headache that won’t go away or gets worse, repeated vomiting, slurred speech, and one pupil that is more dilated than the other. If you suffer any head injury, no matter how mild, seek medical attention right away.
Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury
A loss of consciousness for several minutes to as much as several hours is the hallmark sign of a moderate traumatic brain injury. Other signs include dilation of one or even both pupils, a headache that worsens or does not go away, seizures, the inability to rouse from sleep, and amnesia. The amnesia can last up to a week. Even in these cases with pronounced symptoms, remember that brain imaging may still appear normal.
While most people are able to recover from moderate traumatic brain injury, they often experience some ongoing issues like trouble managing their emotions. They may not be able to focus or concentrate as well. They may be troubled by periodic headaches.
Severe Traumatic Brain Injury
Severe traumatic brain injury usually results in a lapse of consciousness greater than 24 hours. Other symptoms include a severe, unrelenting headache, loss of vision in one eye or even in both eyes, slurred speech, nausea and vomiting that continue without abatement, and seizures.
The only person who can diagnose a severe brain injury is a physician. In cases of severe TBI after a motorcycle accident, the biker will be transported to the emergency room via ambulance. This is critical as seconds can make a difference, especially if pressure is building up on the brain due to bleeding or swelling.
Even though severe TBI may seem dire, a study found that 28 percent of severe TBI victims recovered fully within a five year period. An additional 79 percent are able to live independently with only minor assistance. Still, people who have experienced a severe traumatic brain injury face an uphill struggle. Recovery, even in the best of cases, is long and hard.
Why You Need a Brain Injury Motorcycle Accident Lawyer On Your Side
It is critical to call a Kass & Moses motorcycle accident lawyer immediately when you are in a crash. With over 25 years of experience representing injured bikers, we understand concussions well. We work hard to help you get the maximum compensation you are entitled to under the law.
Contact us today and let a motorcycle accident lawyer with our firm help get back on the road to health. With one phone call you will start your case in motion. We will provide a free case evaluation and provide guidance based on your crash. We will handle your motorcycle accident claim professionally, ever step of the way.
What are Brain Injuries Referred to as “The Silent Epidemic”?
Brain injuries are often referred to as “The Silent Epidemic.” This is due to the fact that it is difficult to prove many brain injuries. After all, brain injured victims can often walk, talk, and appear on the outside just like anyone else. The effects of so-called mild traumatic brain injuries can be overlooked, at least initially.
Many feel that the number of people suffering from traumatic brain injuries each year is grossly underestimated. Far too often, victims of concussions will ignore their symptoms and “wait it out,” hoping they will feel better in time. This can be a dangerous mistake.
Neurologists agree you should never ignore a concussion. If you have a headache, confusion, dizziness, disorientation, or nausea after your motorcycle accident, you need to seek help immediately. CT scans, MRIs, doppler ultrasound, and more complex tests like videonystagmography may be performed. These tests can determine areas of the brain that are damaged, bruised, or bleeding.
As a motorcycle accident lawyer, I have represented countless motorcycle accident victims who have suffered concussions and TBI. I have seen how often the effects carry on, far longer than doctors anticipate. The truth is that although doctors can try to predict how long your symptoms may last, head injuries are notoriously unpredictable.
If you have been hurt, especially if you have suffered a brain injury, you need an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer on your side. We take cases nationwide, and we can help you. Contact us today at 1-800-MOTORCYCLE for a free case evaluation.
We work on a contingency fee basis, so we do not get paid until you have received compensation for your case. If you have suffered serious injury or have a wrongful death claim, it would be incredibly unwise to go it alone. You need quality representation. Our motorcycle lawyers have represented injured bikers for over three decades. We know the law, and we know the needs of bikers. It would be our honor to represent you.