Traumatic Brain Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents in Florida

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are among the most life-altering injuries one can experience. The physical  trauma of a head injury can be overwhelming, and without financial compensation from the responsible party, supporting yourself and your family can become extremely challenging.

Fortunately, experienced Florida personal injury attorneys are here to assist you with your case. My Law Firm is dedicated to helping victims of traumatic brain injuries take action against those at fault. Contact the office of Attorney Gabriel J. Carrera at (954) 533-7593 to discuss your case with a member of our legal team today.

The Florida traumatic brain injury attorneys at our firm can help you with injuries such as:

• Concussions
• Brain Damage
• Coup-Contrecoup Injuries
• Memory Loss
• Diffuse Axonal Injuries
• Seizures
• Penetration Injuries
• Contusions
• Hematomas

Brain injuries can have a lasting impact on your personal and professional life. If you have been injured due to someone else’s negligence, you do not have to face the financial and emotional stress alone. For more  information about your legal options, contact an experienced attorney today.

Understanding Brain Injuries from Motorcycle Accidents

Although brain tissue can shift or change shape slightly without damage, the extreme forces involved in a motorcycle accident can cause significant injury. The brain can collide with the inside of the skull, rotate, or shift. Rapid changes in direction and movement of the head and body can damage brain cells and nerves.

If someone falls from a motorcycle and strikes the side of their head, often called the temple, a brain bleed can occur. If not identified quickly, it could be fatal. Sometimes, this injury is missed because symptoms may not appear immediately.

Types of Brain Injuries

Contusions

During a motorcycle accident, bikers who experience a direct impact to the head risk a contusion, which is bleeding on the brain. Large contusions that put pressure on the brain often require surgery.

A concussion is the most common type of TBI. While mild concussions may heal, many do not, and severe concussions can leave a motorcycle accident victim with lifelong difficulties. When a biker experiences a direct blow to the head or sudden movement during an accident, a concussion is likely. Concussions can cause permanent damage, but many also heal after months or years of treatment.

Coup-Contrecoup Injuries

A coup-contrecoup brain injury occurs when there are contusions on both sides of the brain. The force of impact causes a contusion upon hitting the skull, and the brain then slams into the opposite side, causing a second contusion.

Diffuse Axonal Injuries

Diffuse axonal injuries are common in high-speed traffic accidents. These injuries occur when the brain lags behind head movement, causing nerve tissue to tear. This tearing releases brain chemicals, causing further injury and potentially leading to permanent brain damage, coma, or a vegetative state.

Penetration Injuries

Penetration injuries occur when a sharp object breaks through the skull and enters the brain. These injuries are less common in motorcycle accidents but can happen when the head lands on something sharp or a fragment penetrates the skull.

Symptoms of Brain Injuries

If you walk away from a motorcycle accident, you may still have suffered a brain injury. Symptoms can take days or weeks to appear. Seek emergency medical attention if you notice symptoms such as:

• Worsening headache
• Weakness
• Numbness in limbs
• Coordination issues
• Vertigo
• Nausea and vomiting
• Slurred speech

Impact of Brain Injuries on Victims

Brain injuries can cause temporary or permanent complications. The CDC categorizes the
effects into four areas:

Challenges Affecting Thinking

After suffering a brain injury, some victims struggle with complications that impact their ability to think. Examples include difficulty learning new things and the inability to recall things from long-term or short-term memory. Brain injury victims also sometimes struggle with logical reasoning and might seem irrational at times. They can also have difficulty making decisions.

Challenges Affecting Sensations

Brain injuries can also impact a person's senses. After suffering a brain injury in a motorcycle accident, you might have experienced double vision or varying levels of blindness. Some TBI victims also feel  numbness throughout their body or might feel dull or excruciating pain. Other effects can include loss of taste, a continuous bitter or metallic taste in the mouth, hearing loss, and ringing in the ears.

Challenges Affecting Language

Depending on which part of the brain has been injured, those who suffer a TBI might also have difficulties with speech and language. Some victims might not be able to speak because they can’t form the words or they may no longer be able to read or write. A TBI can erase all of the things a person learned throughout their life related to language. Victims might also hear but not comprehend other people’s speech or struggle to understand even simple concepts. A brain injury can also impact expression to the extent that a victim might feel a certain way but be unable to express their feelings to doctors, family, and friends.

Challenges Affecting Emotions

If you’ve noticed you feel different or your loved one seems to have a different personality, it might be a result of a traumatic brain injury. Accidents can have a psychological impact, causing depression and anxiety due to the difficulty of coping with an injury, including financial and emotional stress. A brain injury can also cause a real chemical change in the brain, causing victims to act out of character, behave aggressively towards those they love, or display signs of anxiety or depression.

Living with a Brain Injury

Treatment depends on the severity of the injury. Concussions require rest and pain management. Severe injuries may need cognitive rehabilitation therapy to help victims regain function. CRT includes  personalized training to compensate for cognitive changes.

Financial Impact of a Brain Injury

Brain injuries are among the most expensive injuries. Financial burdens can include:

• Medical expenses (ambulance, hospitalization, diagnostic imaging, follow-up visits, surgery).
• Rehabilitation costs (physical, occupational, speech, and behavioral therapy).
• Long-term nursing care.
• Home modifications (wheelchair ramps, handrails, safety features).
• Replacement services (cleaning, lawn care, grocery shopping, childcare).
• Lost wages (time away from work, potential future lost wages).

If you have struggled with a brain injury after a motorcycle accident, you might be eligible to seek compensation for damages. Contact an experienced motorcycle accident attorney, Gabriel J. Carrera, at (954) 533-7593 to learn about your best course of action.