Motorcycle accidents have the potential to cause far more serious injuries than other types of auto accidents. With little protection against a collision with a heavier, larger vehicle, motorcycle riders are often subjected to the brute force of a heavy impact. This can significantly increase the odds of sustaining a traumatic brain injury. With the legal advice of a Fort Worth motorcycle accident attorney, injury victims will be better prepared for the difficult claims process.
The Facts About Motorcycle Brain Injuries
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that motor vehicle accidents were the second-leading cause of traumatic brain injuries in the United States between 1997 and 2007. Only firearm accidents caused more traumatic brain injuries during that time. The CDC also reported that the number of deaths related to traumatic brain injuries was 2.4 times higher for men than women. This is consistent with previous data, which has also found the rate of death to be higher for men than women. Interestingly, the number of deaths related to traumatic brain injuries decreased significantly during this period for vehicle occupants, pedestrians and cyclists. Motorcycle riders, by contrast, saw a 133.1 percent increase in the number of deaths from traumatic brain injuries in the same time period.
In a study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers again noted that motorcycle crashes are associated with significant morbidity (injuries) and mortality (death) rates for both drivers and passengers. The study also noted that helmets have been shown to reduce fatalities and serious traumatic injuries in motorcycle accidents. One such prior study was reported by The Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery. There, researchers found that helmets provided comprehensive protection for all types and locations of head injuries. The study also disproved earlier theories that a helmet might cause injuries to other parts of the head or neck due to the mass it adds to the head area.
What Can Be Done to Prevent Traumatic Brain Injuries?
A study reported in Injury Prevention found that a new Italian mandatory helmet law, coupled with police enforcement of the law, was effective at preventing traumatic brain injuries in all age groups. The law was also associated with a dramatic increase in helmet use, from only 19.5 percent before the law was implemented to 97.5 percent after the law was in effect. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also reports that state laws across America which require universal motorcycle helmet use are effective at increasing actual helmet use.
Of course, it is up to individual riders to accept personal responsibility for both helmet use and safe riding habits. While this cannot prevent all potential sources of motor vehicle accidents, it can dramatically reduce both the risk of being involved in a crash and the severity of injuries which are sustained. When another driver is responsible for causing a motorcycle accident, he or she has a legal obligation to compensate the rider for injuries and financial losses incurred as a result of that accident. A Fort Worth motorcycle accident attorney can help riders assert their legal rights after any motorcycle accident.