Signs of Head Trauma After a Motorcycle Accident

Imagine this: you are riding your motorcycle on a quiet street. Everything is going well. Then, a truck pulls out in front of you. This driver does not see you and collides directly with your motorcycle.

You sustain several broken bones, as well as a painful sprain. At first, everything seems manageable, but a few weeks after the accident, your head starts to feel off, and eventually, the pain becomes severe.

By understanding the signs of head trauma after a motorcycle accident and contacting a Nashville motorcycle accident lawyer, you may have an easier time pursuing damages for the injuries you experienced.

What is motorcycle accident-related head trauma?

Motorcycle accident-related head trauma is an injury to your skull, scalp, brain, and underlying tissue and blood vessels in the head that is caused by a motorcycle accident. For example, if you ride over a bump, are thrown from your motorcycle, and strike your head on the pavement, resulting in a concussion, this would likely be considered motorcycle accident-related head trauma.

Head injuries can also be referred to as brain injuries or traumatic brain injuries (TBI), depending on severity.

What are some of the different types of head trauma you can sustain from a motorcycle accident?

Some of the different types of head trauma you can sustain from a motorcycle accident include the following, along with examples of how each injury may occur:

• Cerebral hemorrhage: You hit your head on the side of a big truck and, after a few days, your brain starts to bleed. This leads to stroke-like symptoms and the need for emergency medical treatment.
• Brain contusion: You are thrown off your motorcycle by a sedan and hit your head on a tree a few feet away. Your brain tissue is bruised. Within one to three days, your brain swells up, causing a severe headache.
• Concussion: You are pushed onto the back of another car after being rear-ended. Everything feels fine at first. But a few days later, you develop a severe headache and have difficulty remembering certain things.
• Skull fracture: You hit your head after an RV backs into you. There is a lot of swelling and bruising around your head. And, you feel nauseous and confused.
• Penetrating TBI: You are pushed into a large car’s back window. The glass within this car penetrates your brain, forcing you to undergo emergency surgery.

Beyond the examples listed above, a motorcycle accident can also lead to other forms of head trauma.

What are the symptoms of head trauma after a motorcycle accident?

Head trauma can come with many different symptoms, including:

• Headaches
• Confusion
• Difficulty concentrating
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Memory problems
• Blurred vision
• Sensitivity to light
• Sensitivity to noise
• Fatigue/drowsiness
• Seizures/convulsions
• Feelings of weakness/numbness in your legs, arms, and face
• Difficulty walking/balancing yourself
• Slurred speech
• Significant mood changes
• Insomnia

None of these symptoms is definitive proof that you sustained head trauma. However, if these symptoms occur after a motorcycle accident, you may want to see a doctor and consult a lawyer.

What can a lawyer do to help you obtain damages for a motorcycle accident?

A lawyer can help you pursue damages for a motorcycle accident by doing the following:

• Proving that someone else’s negligence is what led to your motorcycle accident.
• Calculating the overall damages you sustained as a result of the accident.
• Negotiating with the at-fault party’s insurance, so that you can obtain the damages you need.
• Gathering evidence that supports the damages you are seeking.
• Presenting evidence to help support your claim.
• Taking your case to trial, if necessary.

Here is one example for each of the above:

• If you were in a motorcycle accident and want to obtain damages in Tennessee, you generally must be less than 50% at fault for the accident. Any damages you recover will also be reduced in proportion to your percentage of fault. A lawyer can help you prove this and, in doing so, demonstrate that the party responsible for your injury owed you a duty of care, that they breached, which led to you sustaining damages.
• If you sustained large medical bills, lost your job, and can no longer work in the same career, your lawyer can help you calculate the money you are owed due to these damages. This can help you obtain the funds you need, even for future expenses or damages, arising from the motorcycle accident you experienced.
• If you were in a motorcycle accident, and the other party has insurance that covers accidents, your lawyer can negotiate with this insurer. Doing so allows them to negotiate on your behalf, present evidence supporting your claim, and work toward a fair settlement.
• If you want damages for a motorcycle accident, you need evidence that supports your claim. A lawyer will help you gather this evidence, such as medical bills that demonstrate the money you owe, wage slips showing the money you have lost, and doctor testimony clarifying the seriousness of your injuries.
• If you have strong evidence but do not present it in a way that clearly supports the damages you are seeking, you may not recover the compensation you are requesting. A lawyer can present this evidence effectively and demonstrate that the damages sought are justified.
• If you are unable to agree on a settlement during negotiations, your lawyer can take the case to trial. Your lawyer can argue, in front of a judge and jury, that you are owed the damages you are asking for.

Every case is different and depends on the specific facts surrounding the head trauma you sustained.

Contact a Nashville motorcycle accident lawyer today

At Rocky McElhaney Law Firm, our Tennessee lawyers have helped many people pursue compensation for motorcycle accidents. Past outcomes do not guarantee similar results in future cases, but past case results are available for your review.

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to damages. Contact us today. We are ready to help you.