Michigan Motorcycle Accidents and Traumatic Brain Injuries
April 30th 2012 by Larry Buckfire
Motorcyclists who hit their head against the pavement or another vehicle as the result of a collision are at risk for suffering traumatic brain injuries. A traumatic brain injury is an injury to the brain caused by some type of impact such as a fall or a car accident. Traumatic brain injury after a Michigan motorcycle accident may cause long-term physical, emotional and behavioral issues for the victim and his or her family. A brain injury can place significant emotional and financial burdens on the victim’s family. The cost of a traumatic brain injury can add up to millions of dollars over the victim’s lifetime. Motorcyclists are approximately 14 times more likely than occupants of passenger vehicles to die in a crash and three times as likely to be injured.
Safety advocates say that the best way to prevent a traumatic brain injury while riding a motorcycle is by wearing a Department of Transportation-approved helmet. Studies indicate that the risk of brain injury in hospitalized motorcyclists is nearly twice that for unhelmeted motorcyclists ant motorcyclists riding without helmets had acute care costs three times that of helmeted drivers. In the state of California where the helmet law was enacted in 1992, there was a 37.5 percent decrease in motorcycle crash fatalities just one year after that law was enacted. Those likely to sustain TBI-related impairments decreased by 34 percent.
Some of the other precautions motorcyclists can take before riding includes making sure the motorcycle is in good riding condition. It would also help to wear protective gear such as boots and gloves. Safe driving habits such as maintaining a safe distance between vehicles and defensive driving can also help prevent motorcycle accidents and serious injuries.
If you have suffered a head injury in a motorcycle accident, it is important to get immediate medical attention. The most common symptoms of a brain injury include loss of consciousness, confusion, dizziness and memory loss. If your traumatic brain injury was caused by someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing, an experienced Michigan motorcycle accident lawyer can help you better understand your legal rights and options.
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