Motorcyclists run a higher risk of suffering head injuries than passenger vehicle drivers in the event of an accident. Motorcycle accident head injury resulting in traumatic brain issues is frighteningly common. These injuries require extensive treatment, including hospitalization and long recovery periods after discharge.
For many victims of a brain injury, the lasting effects of the accident can follow them for years to come—even for life. It’s essential to know your rights as a motorcycle rider because when a motorcycle brain injury occurs, you may be entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering.
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What Happens to the Head During and After a Motorcycle Accident?
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) from a motorcycle accident can have severe immediate and lasting effects on a person’s life. Some primary and minor effects include concussion, confusion, and disorientation, while lasting effects can render someone dependent on long-term care.
These impairments occur due to the way the brain reacts to the injury. During a motorcycle accident injury, the brain gets jolted around inside the person’s skull. This movement can cause immediate bruising, bleeding, and even tearing in the brain.
While this initial damage can be debilitating, the post-crash period is when motorcycle accident injuries can become more serious. Motorcycle accident head injury can lead the brain to swell, pressing against the edges of the skull and causing further harm to previously uninjured parts of the brain. Failure to treat this issue promptly can result in serious damage or even death.
If you experience any mild to severe symptoms of the effects of motorcycle head injury, visit the emergency room immediately. TBI can be deceiving; victims often function relatively normally in the days after an accident, leading them to believe that they’re in the clear. However, some of the most damaging effects don’t occur until days after the event.
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Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury After a Motorcycle Crash
Confusion
Confusion is an immediate effect of TBI caused by loss of consciousness. Confused individuals experience a brief or prolonged period of altered mental acuity as they regain alertness and recover.
Disorientation
This refers to an altered mental state often grouped with confusion and delirium. A person suffering from delirium may not know their location, their identity, or the time and date. Some symptoms include
- Confusion
- Delusion
- Agitation
- Seeing hallucinations
Headache
Headaches can be deceiving, as most people experience mild to severe headaches from innocuous events. If you suffer from a consistent headache after a motorcycle accident head injury, visit the emergency room immediately.
Dizziness
Dizziness refers to when an injured person feels unsteady even while standing still. In more severe cases, the person may experience vertigo and lightheadedness.
Mood Changes or Impairments
If your mood changes rapidly after a TBI, it’s referred to as emotional lability. This could mean that your brain’s emotional and behavioral centers have been damaged. This is characterized by sudden outbursts of anger, crying, or laughing.
Impairments in Thinking, Moving, or Acting
Frontotemporal disorders (FTDs) can result in unusual behaviors, such as emotional problems, trouble communicating, completing work, or walking. These symptoms result from damage to the neurons in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain.
Long-Term Problems from Head Injury
A motorcycle accident victim suffering from a brain injury could face long-term impairments that may follow them for life. Some of these include:
- Loss of motor skills
- Trouble speaking
- Memory loss
- Seizures
- Inability to work
- Mood changes
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Anger
These are some of the myriad ways a motorcycle accident head injury can impact a victim’s life for years after the event. These symptoms interfere with the victim’s daily life and the lives of their close friends and family; it’s difficult for everyone who cares about the person to watch them struggle with injury setbacks.
Recovering from a Traumatic Accident
It can take a long while to recover from a TBI, as the brain is a complex structure. Rehabilitation speed depends on the victim and can take months or even years.
Often, TBI patients need hospitalization and rehab. This presents the victim with daunting medical costs that can become overwhelming. If your medical bills are getting out of control, speak to a brain injury lawyer to see how you may be able to recover financially.
Best Way to Prevent a Brain Injury
Wearing a helmet will save your life, and prevent TBI, more often than any other preventative method. The CDC reports that wearing helmets reduces the risk of head injury by 69% (compared to riders without helmets).
Learn Your Rights After Suffering a Head Injury from a Motorcycle Accident
Head injuries are no joke. Regardless of your situation, if you’ve recently experienced a motorcycle crash, visit the emergency room and tackle these issues before they become more damaging or even life-threatening.
If you have suffered a TBI from a motorcycle accident head injury, contact the professional attorneys at Brain Injury Law of Seattle by calling (425) 307-6001. You may be entitled to compensation that can help you more easily navigate the recovery journey. Contact our brain injury law firm today!
