Motorcycle Accidents Cause Brain Trauma Injury
Motorcycle Accidents Cause Brain Trauma Injury. A motor vehicle accident can occur at any time, and those involving motorcycles are particularly dangerous. Because a bike does not provide a protective metal frame in the same manner that a car does, injuries that stem from motorcycle accidents can be particularly severe. According to some of the statistics that have been published by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA):
- In 2013, close to 5,000 people were killed while riding motorcycles.
- In the same year, close to 90,000 people sustained traumatic injuries.
- On a per-mile-traveled scale, motorcyclists were killed at a rate that was 26-times that of car drivers.
- About a quarter of the people killed in 2013 in motorcycle accidents did not have a valid license.
- More than 25 percent of those who were killed riding a motorcycle had alcohol in their system at the time of the accident.
These statistics serve to highlight just how deadly a motorcycle accident can be. Because of how dangerous motorcycle accidents are, it is important to understand how people are killed so that these circumstances can be avoided at all costs.
Brain Injuries in a Motorcycle Accident
When people are involved in a motorcycle accident, their vehicle is often stopped short by the force of the impact. While the motorcycle will stop suddenly, the rider is often carried forward over the handlebars by the conservation of momentum. When this happens, riders can easily strike their head on the pavement. This impact can lead to serious head and brain injuries. These include:
- A skull fracture
- A cerebral contusion
- A brain bleed
- A cerebral herniation
All of these injuries can be deadly, and it is imperative for people to seek emergent treatment for any impact to the head or neck area in a motorcycle accident.
Emergent Treatment Following a Brain Bleed
The treatment of a diagnosed brain bleed should be handled on an emergent basis by a trained neurosurgeon. Once a brain bleed has been diagnosed, the extra liquid in the skull cavity will start to fill the empty space. This will lead to a dramatic increase in intracranial pressure which could lead to a cerebral herniation. To prevent this deadly complication, a trained neurosurgeon will drain the blood from the skull, stop the bleed, and possibly perform a craniotomy. While this might sound scary, it is often necessary to save someone’s life following a motorcycle accident.
A Helmet is a Must
To avoid such serious traumatic brain injuries, it is important for people to wear a helmet. By wearing a helmet, people can soften the impact between their skull and the pavement, which could prevent a skull fracture and a brain bleed from occurring. Unfortunately, many people are killed every year in tragedies involving motorcycles which could have been avoided if proper protection had been worn. For any family who has a loved one involved in a serious accident, it is a good idea to meet with a personal injury lawyer in Sacramento. An experienced lawyer understands how to review the circumstances surrounding an accident to ensure that no detail has been overlooked. You and your family may be entitled to financial compensation.
Watch YouTube Video: How to Fit a Motorcycle Helmet. Many people are wearing the wrong size helmet. This video provides a guide on how to find a helmet that will fit correctly.
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Sacramento Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Motorcycle Accident Lawyer. Brain injuries in motorcycle accidents are deadly. If you or a family member has suffered serious injuries in a motorcycle crash, call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400. I would be happy to offer friendly, free advice.
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Motorcycle Accidents Cause Brain Trauma Injury: AutoAccident.com
Image Attribution: The image at the beginning of this page was seen first on Unsplash. The picture has been printed here with permission / Motorcycle Accidents Cause Brain Trauma Injury.
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