Traumatic Injuries from Motorcycle Crashes

Motorcyclists say one of the reasons they enjoy riding is the freedom of riding in the open without being in an enclosed vehicle. Unfortunately, this is also one of the reasons that place motorcyclists at a high risk of suffering severe injuries in a crash because of the lack of protection as compared to occupants of passenger cars.

Many accidents involving motorcycles result in serious injuries, including brain injuries, and often require hospitalization and extensive treatment. In some cases, the injuries from a motorcycle accident can have severe lifelong effects.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 5,014 motorcyclists killed in the United States in 2019, which accounted for 14 percent of traffic fatalities. The number of motorcyclist fatalities that year represented a slight decrease in the number of motorcycle fatalities from the previous year, which was 5,038 fatalities.

NHTSA data also shows that motorcyclists are about 16 times more likely to suffer fatal injuries in a crash than those riding in a passenger vehicle. According to the same NHTSA report, motorcyclists also are four times more likely to suffer injuries compared to regular passenger car occupants. Of the injuries suffered by motorcyclists in accidents, head injury is the most serious and leading cause of death or disability, especially for those not wearing helmets when riding.

Any motorcyclist or passenger who sustains injuries in a crash should discuss their rights with a Tulsa, OK motorcycle accident law firm right away.

Consequences of a Head Injury from a Motorcycle Crash

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are common following an accident involving a motorcyclist. TBIs can be relatively minor brain injuries like a mild concussion, or they can be more severe injuries that may leave a person seriously and more permanently impaired and require full-time care.

A TBI is categorized depending on symptoms as mild, moderate, or severe. A mild TBI typically includes the following symptoms:

1. A brief and minor loss of consciousness in some cases.
2. Confusion
3. Headache
4. Dizziness
5. Lightheadedness
6. Ringing in the ears
7. Blurred vision or tired eyes
8. Bad taste in the mouth
9. Fatigue
10. Cognitive and behavioral or mood changes
11. The trouble with memory, concentration, attention, or thinking

In moderate TBI, the victim has the same symptoms as above but also any of the following:

1. A worsening headache
2. Convulsions or seizures
3. Repeated vomiting or nausea
4. Long sleep without being able to wake up
5. Slurred speech
6. Dilation of one pupil
7. Weakness in the arms or legs
8. Increased confusion, restlessness, or agitation

TBI is severe if the victim slips into a coma lasting days, weeks, or longer, and the effects of this severity of injury are often permanent.

Treatment for a Head Injury from a Motorcycle Accident

How TBI is treated depends on many factors, including the severity and location of the brain injury. For mild TBI, getting rest is often the best treatment. Seek medical attention and follow instructions given by your doctors. For moderate to severe TBI, you will need to be stabilized first by medical professionals who will also provide further guidance as to treatment.

Seeking Compensation for TBI

If you have suffered TBI in Oklahoma due to the fault of another, you may be entitled to financial compensation that you can obtain by going through a legal process that starts with filing a claim against the at-fault party, or if necessary, filing a  lawsuit. Pursuing a civil claim for your injuries can help put you in the same financial position you would have been if the accident that caused your TBI did not occur. This financial compensation is known as “damages.” In Oklahoma, victims of accidents due to someone else’s negligence are entitled to two types of compensation: economic and non-economic damages.

Economic Damages. This is financial compensation for the money you have expended or will expend in seeking and obtaining medical treatment and all other costs and expenses related to your injury. Economic damages also include your lost wages from not being able to work, therapy costs, and so on.

Non-economic Damages. This is financial compensation for things you have suffered that cannot be documented as those you have actually paid and have proven such as medical bills or lost income you can easily prove with documentation. Rather, non-economic damages are unmeasurable but real things like physical pain and suffering, disfigurement, mental suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and other subjective conditions.

Speak with a Tulsa, OK Motorcycle Accident Attorney Today

If you have been a victim of a motorcycle accident in which you have suffered a traumatic injury, Wandres Law, PC, can help. Please contact us today for a free consultation.