Suffering a Brain Injury After a Motorcycle Accident?

Brain Injury, Motorcycle Accident, Personal InjuriesNathan Hughey | 10/20/23

Motorcycle accidents are considered one of the most devastating accidents on the road, often resulting in catastrophic injuries, debilitating pain, and skyrocketing medical expenses.

If you have been in a motorcycle accident and suffered a brain injury, you may have many questions regarding what you need to do or who you need to call.

This blog post will cover some common questions and explain how a South Carolina motorcycle accident attorney can get you through this horrific ordeal.

Recognizing a Brain Injury Following a Motorcycle Accident

Brain Injury After a Motorcycle Accident

If you are one of the lucky few to walk away following a motorcycle crash, it does not mean you are in the clear just yet.

In fact, it can take weeks or months to realize that you suffered a brain injury in a motorcycle accident.

Many times, these injuries do not have any immediate symptoms. Even if you believe your head injuries are minor, you need to get examined by a doctor following your collision.

The more common symptoms of a brain injury often include:

  • Decreased consciousness
  • A headache that continues to get worse
  • Feeling weak or experiencing numbness in your legs, fingers, hands, or toes
  • Trouble with coordination or experiencing vertigo
  • A hard time speaking
  • Feeling nauseous or even vomiting

In situations where you or your loved ones notice any of the below symptoms.

You need to head to the hospital for immediate medical intervention:

  • Extreme neurological deficits such as lethargy, drowsiness, loss of vision, or muscle weakness
  • A significant alteration in mental state such as slow thinking, loss of consciousness, or not waking up from sleeping
  • Convulsions
  • Seizures
  • Loss of memory to the extent that you do not remember the day or what year it is
  • Any unusual behavior that is not typical for you

In addition to checking for any brain trauma, your doctor can write up their findings in their medical report. If you decide to bring a legal claim, this report could provide you with vital evidence. It could document the extent of your brain injury and help determine how it resulted from the motorcycle accident.

Understand the Financial Impact of Your Brain Injury and How You Can Fight for Damages

Brain injury accidents are one of the most expensive types of injuries. The medical treatments and care can result in an astronomical financial burden for the victim and their family.

Following a motorcycle crash, if you suffer a brain injury, you could face the following costs:

  • Medical treatments and expenses: If you were in a motorcycle crash, your medical costs may include emergency services such as an ambulance ride, overnight hospitalization, diagnostic tests to determine the extent of your injury, surgeries, pain medications, and continued treatments.
  • At-home nursing care: Depending on the extent of your damages, you may need long-term care, even when you are back home.
  • Rehabilitative services: Most individuals who suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI) not only lose brain function, but they require extensive help to regain their ability to perform simple tasks again. These rehabilitative services can include vocational therapy, physical therapy, behavioral therapy, and even speech therapy.
  • Lost income: Unfortunately, when a motorcyclist suffers a TBI, they may not work for a significant time. In certain circumstances, when the damages are extreme, these victims may never return to their job or profession. As a result, lost wages and lost earning capacity are among the most devastating financial impacts that a person can suffer following a brain injury.
  • Home modifications and medical equipment: For a motorcycle accident victim with a brain injury, it is not uncommon to require home modifications or medical equipment. The impact of trauma to the brain may require a wheelchair or a hospital-style bed. As a result, you would need to install a wheelchair ramp, safety features, handrails, and even extra alarms to protect your safety and make things more accessible because of an impairment.
  • Personal property damage and replacement services: Following a motorcycle crash, it is likely that you suffered significant personal property damages, including damage to your bike. But, because of the personal injury to your brain, you may need additional help around the house, including lawn care services, grocery shopping help, child care help, and cleaning services.

Expenses from a serious injury can add up quickly, especially if you suffered moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries.

When you are involved in an accident, contact an experienced motorcycle accident injury lawyer as soon as possible. An attorney can quickly get to work investigating your accident, reviewing your case, and helping you decide on the best course of action you need to pursue to collect maximum compensation.

Necessary Steps Following a Motorcycle Accident

Typically, following an injury from a motorcycle accident, you will need emergency medical treatment.

There are specific critical steps you can take following your motorcycle crash that can help protect your legal rights.

  • Gather evidence: After contacting 911, try to take as many pictures of the accident scene as you can. Include photos of your visible injuries, your bike, the cars involved in the crash, any skid marks on the road, weather conditions, and traffic signs near the crash scene.
  • Witness information: If anyone saw your accident, get their name and contact information. Their statements could provide you with vital evidence, helping you prove liability and damages.
  • Contact an experienced motorcycle accident attorney: In South Carolina, you only have three years to bring a personal injury lawsuit. However, as each case is unique, this time limit may vary. That is why you should not wait to contact a motorcycle accident attorney following your crash. The faster you call, the sooner these lawyers can start investigating the accident and figure out what happened and who is to blame for your injuries.

If you or a loved one suffered brain damage as a result of a motorcycle accident, do not delay. Contact an experienced motorcycle accident attorney today and let a lawyer fight for the compensation and justice you deserve.

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