Brain Injuries in a Motorcycle Accident

When a motorcycle rider gets involved in an accident, he or she could suffer a serious brain injury. Brain injury risk is high in motorcycle accidents due to the fact that riders are not strapped to the bike and may get ejected, possibly resulting in a blow to the head upon impact. If you or a loved one sustains a brain injury in a motorcycle accident, it is important to understand your rights.

Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents

A traumatic brain injury can be caused by anything that hits the head or skull, as well as an object penetrating or entering the brain. If the impact or trauma is severe enough, it can injure the brain’s tissues or cells. Brain injuries can significantly affect victims, as the brain is responsible for how an individual thinks, feels, processes, communicates and functions.

Common types of brain injuries in motorcycle accidents are:

• Concussion: a brain injury caused by blunt-force trauma, or the skull suffering a jolt or hit. This is the most common type of brain injury. A concussion can range from mild to severe and have lasting effects.

• Bruising: the brain could suffer an injury that causes it to bleed within the skull in a motorcycle crash, otherwise known as a hemorrhage. In turn, this can lead to bruising or cerebral contusion. If not spotted quickly, brain bleeds can be fatal due to a buildup of pressure inside of the skull.

• Coup-contrecoup injury: damage to one side of the brain due to the initial impact, as well as damage to the opposite side from it rebounding and striking the other side of the skull.

Any brain injury has the potential to be serious. According to brain injury attorneys in Los Angeles, common signs of a brain injury after a motorcycle accident are persistent headaches, confusion, dizziness, nausea, memory loss, blurred vision, sleep problems and loss of consciousness. Immediate medical attention is necessary for motorcycle crash victims to check for possible brain injuries.

Motorcycle Helmet Use and Brain Injuries

Motorcycle helmets are required for all motorcycle riders and passengers in the State of California (Vehicle Code § 27803). They are also highly recommended by safety experts for preventing serious and fatal brain injuries in motorcycle accidents. 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcyclists are about 22 times more likely to die in accidents compared to motor vehicle occupants per vehicle mile traveled. Wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of fatal brain injuries by around 37 percent.

Failing to wear a helmet is also important for legal reasons. In California, if a motorcyclist is not wearing a helmet at the time of an accident, this could affect how much an insurance company offers in a settlement.

How to Seek Fair Compensation for a Motorcycle Accident Brain Injury

Suffering a brain injury in a motorcycle collision has the potential to change your life forever. It is imperative to get the legal representation you need if you find yourself in this difficult and stressful position. A Los Angeles motorcycle accident attorney can help you take action to hold someone responsible and maximize your financial recovery.

Your specialized injury lawyer in Los Angeles can build your claim by searching for evidence of the other driver’s fault as well as documentation of your brain injury. This may include consulting with medical experts and neurologists about your injury and how it will affect your life. You can count on your lawyer to seek maximum compensation for your brain injury while you focus on recovering.For more information about motorcycle accident cases involving brain injuries, contact Rose, Klein & Marias, LLP for a free case evaluation with an experienced attorney.