Addressing Catastrophic Injuries from a Cook County Motorcycle Accident

 Posted on June 30, 2022 in Motorcycle Accidents

As compared to individuals in a passenger vehicle, motorcyclists are significantly more likely to suffer severe and fatal injuries in a crash. Motorcycles do not protect crash victims the way that closed vehicles protect victims. Motorcycles are also smaller and less visible to other drivers, making them more likely to be involved in a collision. For these and other reasons, motorcyclists are 29 times more likely to be killed in a crash than other motorists. Sadly, motorcycle crash victims who do survive are often left with catastrophic injuries resulting in long-term disabilities.

Motorcycle Crash Injuries

Even the most responsible motorcyclist can be involved in a crash. Wearing a helmet and other protective gear can reduce the extent of injuries sustained in a crash, but protective equipment does not prevent every injury.

Some of the most common catastrophic injuries sustained in motorcycle wrecks include:

• Traumatic brain injuries – Blunt force trauma to the head or penetrating injuries can cause severe brain damage. Concussions, contusions, and hematomas are just some of the brain injuries that motorcyclists can suffer in a collision. Brain injuries can lead to chronic pain, seizures, memory loss, mood swings, and cognitive impairment.

• Spine injuries – Damage to the spine caused in a motorcycle crash has the potential to radically change the course of someone’s life. Spine injuries can lead to paraplegia, tetraplegia, quadriplegia, and other forms of paralysis. Some spine injury sufferers are eventually able to regain functioning and mobility while others are left permanently disabled.

• Severe broken bones and amputation injuries – Broken arms and legs caused in a motorcycle crash are often severe. Sometimes, an arm, leg, hand, or foot is too badly damaged to be saved and the limb must be amputated.

• Road rash – Like burns caused by heat, road rash is categorized as first-degree, second-degree, and third-degree injuries. Second and third-degree road rash can be extremely dangerous. The victim may require surgery and extensive ongoing medical care. Road rash can also lead to infection or a life-threatening condition called sepsis.

Legal Options After a Severe Motorcycle Crash

Motorcycle crash victims and their loved ones may be able to get financial compensation for their injuries. Compensation may be available for property damage, past and future medical bills, lost wages from missed work, and lost earning capacity caused by a disability. Crash victims may be entitled to financial compensation for non-financial harm including their physical pain and mental suffering.

Contact a Chicago Motorcycle Crash Lawyer

If you or someone you care about were severely harmed in a motorcycle crash, contact Schwartz Injury Law. Our Cook County personal injury attorneys can help you seek justice and financial reimbursement. Call us today at 708-888-2160 for a free consultation.

Source:

https://healthcare.utah.edu/healthfeed/postings/2021/12/traumatic-brain-injury-effects.php