As a motorcyclist, you are more vulnerable to serious injuries compared to vehicle drivers. The simple truth of the matter is, you do not have the same level of protection even if you wear the best gear and helmet currently on the market. Because you don’t have a metal shield encompassing you like a car driver does, this means your body will absorb the entirety of the impact in the event of a collision. What you need to know about motorcycle accidents is that some injuries will be obvious, and others may sneak up on you.
What injuries may not be obvious right away?
Brain injuries and internal bleeding are two types of injuries that may not show symptoms right after the accident. The symptoms associated with brain injuries may not start to show until hours, days, or perhaps even weeks later. With internal bleeding, we may not notice something is wrong until we experience extreme abdominal pain and bruising. Here are examples of the kind of brain injuries that victims of motorcycle accidents may undergo:
- Concussion: concussions can be mild, moderate, or severe. Symptoms usually include nausea, headaches, trouble with speech, and dizziness.
- Hematoma: clotting of blood outside the blood vessels can be very serious if it happens in the brain. This clotting can build up pressure in the skull, causing loss of consciousness and brain damage.
- Hemorrhage: uncontrolled bleeding either in the space around the brain (subarachnoid hemorrhage) or within the brain tissue (intracerebral hemorrhage).
- Skull fracture: even though the skull is particularly strong, it can still get broken if it sustains too much sudden force. If the skull is fractured, there’s a high chance the brain sustained damage too.
- Edema: a brain injury that leads to swelling of surrounding tissue. As the brain swells, it has nowhere to go, so pressure builds up in the brain resulting in a situation that requires immediate medical attention.
- Diffuse Axonal Injury: injury to the brain which causes damage to brain cells. Anyone with this injury is at risk for irreversible brain damage or death.
If and when symptoms do become noticeable, what should I watch out for?
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It is strongly advised that anyone in a motorcycle accident goes to the doctor the very same day, whether or not they are experiencing symptoms. When in doubt, it’s better to call 911 for help than risk succumbing to a very severe head injury or other internal damage. Don’t hesitate to call for assistance if you don’t feel capable of getting yourself to the hospital on your own. Never risk your well-being if you are unsure of the state of your health after as serious of an accident as motorcycle collisions. If and when symptoms do arise, they can take on the following:
- Lightheadedness
- Headache
- Mild confusion
- Nausea and vomiting
- Temporary ringing in ears
- Dizziness
- Loss of consciousness
- Coordination problems
- Inability to focus eyes
- Odd eye movements
- Muscle control loss
- Mood or personality changes
- Clear fluid leaking from ears or nose
If you or someone you know has been involved in a motorcycle accident, call a skilled motorcycle accident lawyer, like a motorcycle accident lawyer in Salt Lake City, UT, as soon as possible to see if you have a case.
Thanks to Rasmussen & Miner for their insight into what people should know about the dangers of motorcycle accidents.
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