Motorcycle accidents are often deadly to riders. When involved in a crash with another motorist, it is the motorcyclist who typically suffers the worst injuries. Without the steel cage of an automobile around one’s body, motorcyclists are vulnerable. When hit in an accident, they are often thrown several feet to further collide with the pavement, other cars or objects, guardrails, trees, and more. The impact of collision can have very serious consequences and can often lead to fatality.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), only three percent of all registered vehicles in the U.S. are motorcycles. Yet these same motorcycles account for 14 percent of traffic deaths in the country. Motorcyclists are likely to die in accidents at a rate of 28 times more than those in passenger vehicles. The major cause of death in cases of motorcycle accident injuries is injury to the head and brain.
Injured in New Hampshire motorcycle accident? Contact Douglas, Leonard & Garvey, P.C. at (603) 288-1403 to talk to one of our skilled attorneys about your injury claim in a free case review.
Traumatic Brain Injury Leading to Death After Motorcycle Accidents
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is exactly what it sounds like: a trauma to the brain that causes damage. When a motorcyclist is involved in a collision, it can cause a violent blow to the head. Any type of bump, jolt, or blow to the head can lead to bleeding or inflammation of the brain. That type of injury is not something that an emergency technician can handle at the accident site. It requires hospitalization and often intensive care.
TBIs can range from mild to severe. Symptoms can be immediate or can be delayed which is why you should never discount a head injury. Even riders wearing helmets can suffer head injuries from the force of impact involved in an accident. Any type of head injury should be treated medically. These injuries can range from skull fractures to hemorrhages (bleeding around the brain) to tears in brain tissue, swelling of the brain, fluid building up around the brain, and concussions.
Symptoms of TBI can include:
- Losing consciousness
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Loss of memory
- Nausea
- Blurry or double vision
- Loss of hand-eye coordination
- Inability to balance
- Slurred speech
- Confusion
- Seizures
A TBI can lead to other health problems and disabilities long after the injury has occurred. These can include insomnia, irritability, aggression, depression, mood swings, anger, and other personality problems. Furthermore, a TBI can often result in a higher risk for a degenerative brain disease, such as Parkinson’s disease, dementia, or Alzheimer’s or lead to learning disabilities, inability to problem solve, plan, or organize.
As you can see, the after-effects of a head injury from a motorcycle accident can be devastating. These effects are both immediate and sometimes last for a lifetime requiring medical attention as well as therapies to assist the person’s functionality.
Our Capable Team of Trial Lawyers Can Help
If you have suffered injuries in a motorcycle accident or any other type of accident in which negligence or wrongdoing was involved, it is vital that you seek the help of a qualified attorney. At Douglas, Leonard & Garvey, P.C., we know how to aggressively handle personal injury claims. After all, we have been in practice doing just that since 1997. We are proud of the strong track record of results we have achieved that has led to many awards by legal industry organizations. Let us put to use our skills, knowledge, and resources to help you in the fight for fair and just compensation through an injury claim or lawsuit.
Reach out to us at (603) 288-1403 for your free consultation today.