While riding a motorcycle can be a fun and safe activity when you know how to handle the bike properly, you cannot always count on the actions of other drivers. Motorcycle riders are disproportionately represented in fatal traffic accidents. In 2020, over 5,000 motorcyclists were killed due to being injured in an accident.
If you or someone you know is already dealing with a brain injury from a motorcycle accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you need to be prepared to consult with a qualified motorcycle accident lawyer in Liberty, MO.
The legal team at Aramjoo Law Firm Personal Injury Lawyers will support and assist you with each step of your injury claim from filing to settlement or trial. Call us today to set up a time to discuss your case.
Why Are Motorcyclists At Risk of Head Injuries?
Any vehicle passenger or driver faces the risk of potential head injuries in an accident, but motorcyclists do not have the same protections as people inside traditional cars or trucks.
Even when wearing a helmet, a motorcyclist can be thrown from the bike in such a way that causes severe head injuries, like a concussion or a coup-contrecoup brain injury. Motorcyclists may suffer catastrophic or permanent disabilities and injuries due to another person’s actions.
What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
Traumatic brain injuries can occur when you strike your head on a highway, roadway or potentially any other surface. Traumatic brain injuries encompass a range of different types of medical conditions. More mild incidents are classified as concussions, but others may be more devastating injuries that require long-term care.
Traumatic brain injuries are categorized into mild, moderate, or severe. With a moderate TBI, a patient loses consciousness for up to a few hours and may experience symptoms like disorientation, behavioral, physical, and cognitive impairments, and confusion. More serious traumatic brain injuries may cause loss of consciousness for days or weeks. Loss of basic functions is one of the most common problems reported by survivors of a brain injury.
Brain injuries frequently require long-term medical treatment and may affect every aspect of the victim’s life.
Preventing Head Injuries on a Motorcycle
A motorcyclist should always wear a helmet to help prevent severe head injuries. Motorcyclists wearing helmets face a reduced risk of brain or head injuries in an accident. If you were not wearing a helmet, you may still be eligible to recover compensation for your injuries.
What are the most common causes of motorcycle accidents?
Motorcycle accidents and resulting traumatic brain injuries can be caused by factors like distracted driving, speeding, driver failure to check blind spots, intoxication, and dangerous road conditions. Unfortunately, because motorcycles are smaller, not all drivers of traditional vehicles pay attention and share the road safely with motorcyclists.
What are the most common brain injury consequences?
Temporary symptoms may be associated with a mild brain injury, but many severe motorcycle accidents cause long-term health consequences, substantial financial losses, and severe pain for a victim.
Some of the most common outcomes of head injuries associated with motorcycle accidents include:
- Chronic pain
- Mental anguish
- Costly medical bills
- Permanent brain damage
- Cognitive issues
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Changes in personality
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Missed school or work time
A brain injury victim may suffer these consequences for many years or their entire life, depending on the severity of the accident.
What kinds of compensation are available in a motorcycle brain injury claim?
Head injuries are some of the most expensive injuries in motorcycle accidents. Extended leave at work, loss of future earning potential, costly and ongoing medical treatments, and other financial issues can devastate your entire family.
Working with the right motorcycle accident brain injury lawyer can help you to recover compensation for things like pain and suffering, lost income, loss of quality of life, disability, medical bills, wrongful death, or property damage.
Who is liable for a brain injury?
One of the most important components of recovering compensation in a motorcycle accident claim is determining who is responsible for your brain injury. This may require a comprehensive investigation carried out by an attorney.
More than one entity may be responsible for your injuries, and frequently liable parties include pedestrians, other motorcycle riders, passenger vehicle drivers, truck drivers, or even the local government.
You may need to prove negligence by gathering evidence quickly, including expert testimony, medical records, photos of injuries, witness accounts, accident scene documentation, surveillance footage, and police reports.
What is a Fair Settlement for a TBI in a Motorcycle Crash?
Many factors will influence the settlement level for a TBI motorcycle crash. Settlement refers to the process of resolving your head injury claim outside of court.
The other side may present you with a settlement offer, at which point you need to review it with your lawyer to determine if it’s fair compensation given the severity of your injuries and necessary future treatment. There is no average settlement amount since each case is unique.
The following factors will influence settlement amounts for TBI:
- The insurance policies involved
- The severity of the injury
- Who is responsible for the accident
- Whether the victim can return to a normal work position
- Whether mental trauma, disfigurement, or pain and suffering apply
Most brain injuries cost in the tens or hundreds of thousands because of the long-term treatment required. Plenty of victims never fully recover from the incident, and their claims must be adjusted to consider the future impacts of this accident.
The only way to get a better sense of your possible damages is to hire a lawyer.
Reach Out to a Motorcycle Accident Brain Injury Lawyer in Liberty, MO
A motorcycle rider should not be held responsible for injuries caused by another person’s negligent or reckless behavior. If you’re working through the steps to file your head injury claim, hire a motorcycle accident brain injury lawyer in Liberty now.
The attorneys at Aramjoo Law Firm Personal Injury Lawyers understand the complex factors involved in head injury damage recovery and will fight for you. Schedule an initial consultation to talk through your available options.