If you enjoy motorcycle riding in Virginia, you are probably familiar with the helmet law debate. Should helmets be mandatory, or should people be free to wear them only if they want to? While this can be an engaging debate, what often gets missed in the discussion is how motorcycle accidents can result in serious head trauma—even with helmet use.
Because motorcycle riders are not protected by a ‘steel cage’ while riding, any accident they are involved in tends to result in more injuries and fatalities than a similar accident for a car or truck driver. In addition, collisions that result in a fall from the bike can be especially damaging. One of the most serious injuries that a motorcycle rider can sustain is a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
What is a traumatic brain injury?
Very simply put, a traumatic brain injury—often abbreviated TBI—results from a blow to the head that disrupts the brain’s normal function. Brain injuries can be temporary or long-lasting, and can result in a moment of mental confusion or a lifetime of suffering. TBIs are often complex, and can be associated with a wide array of symptoms and disabilities.
What are the symptoms of a brain injury?
- Mild TBI: brief loss of consciousness, headache, confusion, lightheadedness, ringing in the ears, dizziness, blurred vision, fatigue or lethargy, a change in sleep patterns, behavioral or mood changes, and trouble with memory, concentration, attention, or thinking.
- Moderate or severe TBI: In addition to above, the victim may also experience worsening headaches or headaches that do not go away, repeated vomiting, continued nausea, convulsions or seizures, an inability to awaken from sleep, dilation of one or both pupils of the eyes, slurred speech, weakness or numbness in the extremities, loss of coordination, and increased confusion, restlessness, or agitation.
What is the impact of a brain injury?
If you suffer from a brain injury as a result of an accident, your cognitive functions, physical abilities, and emotional functioning could be affected. The effect of a brain injury on your life can be wide-ranging, impacting your home life, your professional abilities, and could result in the need for serious medical attention or even life-long therapy. Worst case, brain injuries can result in serious disability or even death.
Brain injury and motorcycle accident facts
- Brain injuries are the leading cause of death in motorcycle accidents
- If you don’t wear a helmet, you are 40% more likely to suffer a fatal brain injury in a crash
- If you don’t wear a helmet, you are 15% more likely to suffer a non-fatal brain injury in a crash
Nearly half of all motorcycle accident victims lack private health insurance. If you’re one of them, this means that head injuries from a motorcycle could be devastating for you and your family.
If you or someone you love has been involved in a serious motorcycle accident in the Norfolk or Virginia Beach area, it is in your best interest to speak with an attorney who can make sure you receive the compensation you deserve. Please contact the personal injury attorneys at Tavss Fletcher to discuss your motorcycle accident injury case for no fee and absolutely no obligation.