Motorcycle Accidents and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) By Zucker & Regev, P.C. on March 10, 2015

A motorcyclist aboard his motorcycle, wearing a helmet to avoid brain injury in the event of an accident All auto accidents have the potential to be dangerous, but motorcycle accidents are inherently more dangerous by nature than any other type of motor vehicle accident by simple virtue of the fact that motorcycles offer less external protection than any other type of motor vehicle. A relatively minor accident that the occupants of a car, truck, or van could easily walk away from could prove to be highly injurious or even fatal to a motorcyclist.

Fortunately, most experienced bikers are skilled and vigilant, and they wear protective gear to help minimize potential injuries in the event of an accident. The state of New York has gone a step further by taking part of the decision out of the hands of bikers, making motorcycle helmets mandatory for all motorcyclists, regardless of their age and level of experience. While bikers’ rights are indeed important, helmet laws truly are for the best; the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that motorcycle helmets saved 1,699 lives in 2012 alone. Another 781 lives would most likely have been saved if the motorcyclists who were killed in accidents had been wearing helmets.

Of course, while helmets do save lives, not all bikers who wear helmets are spared from injury when they are involved in accidents. Some motorcyclists still sustain serious head injuries, including traumatic brain injury (TBI). At The Law Office of Gary A. Zucker & Associates, P.C. in Brooklyn, motorcycle accidents and brain injury cases are handled with exceptional skill by our experienced personal injury attorneys. If you or someone you love has suffered a brain injury in a motorcycle accident, our lawyers will fight on your behalf for the compensation you deserve.

Types of Brain Injuries Commonly Sustained in Motorcycle Accidents

Brain injuries occurring from motorcycle accidents can range from mild to severe. The most common traumatic brain injuries suffered by bikers in motorcycle accidents include:

Concussion: This is the most common and least severe type of brain injury. However, while the brain is in the state of concussion, it is more vulnerable to further, more serious injury.
Contusion: This is a bruise on the brain. In most cases, contusions resolve on their own; however, severe contusions can cause herniation of the brain and eventually result in coma.
Diffuse axonal injury: When the brain is jolted violently within the skull, its nerve tissues can tear, causing its normal communication and chemical processes to become disrupted. This injury is marked by the loss of consciousness. In severe cases, permanent impairment and loss of function are probable. In most cases, some rehabilitation to regain normal function will be necessary.
Bleeding, swelling, blood clots, and other damage.

If you or someone you love has sustained a traumatic brain injury in a motorcycle accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for such losses and expenses as: