3 Types of Brain Injuries Associated With Motorcycle Accidents
Riding a motorcycle exposes a person’s body in a lot more ways than inside a vehicle. Without car frames, seat belts, or airbags providing protection, the head of a person is more vulnerable to injury in a motorcycle accident. One of the main concerns in a motorcycle accident is a brain injury. A brain injury could dramatically change the way a person functions on a daily basis.
Learn about various brain injuries that come from motorcycle accidents and how those injuries could impact a person’s quality of life.
1. Traumatic Brain Injury
One general brain injury that can occur in a motorcycle accident is a traumatic brain injury. A key marker of the brain injury is a loss of consciousness. If a rider has passed out for any length of time, then a brain injury likely occurred.
Some of the mild forms include a concussion, but the amount of time a person is passed out for will likely relate to the severity of the brain injury. Along with the unconscious state, doctors will look for signs of post-traumatic amnesia. A rider may not remember the accident or recent events in their life.
Brain injury problems may appear in the days that follow an accident. More severe injuries could see problems extend for weeks or months. Someone who suffers brain damage could have trouble with everyday functions. Beyond memory, problems could include physical issues like walking or dizziness. A person may have trouble with focus and completing basic tasks.
A doctor may order a CAT scan or MRI to see the direct impact on the brain. Scans will highlight specific areas and showcase where problems have occurred.
2. Hydrocephalus
While a traumatic brain injury is a more general physical impact on the brain, a motorcycle accident victim could suffer from more specific injuries like a hydrocephalus. An accident could cause pressure on the skull and spine, which leads to fluid buildup in the brain. As fluid builds up and creates pressure, acute hydrocephalus occurs.
Hopefully, doctors are able to diagnose and treat the fluid buildup quickly after an accident. The longer the fluid applies pressure, the more brain damage can occur. Some of the more obvious signs of acute hydrocephalus include double vision, confusion, memory loss, and slower reactions to questions.
Physically, people with acute hydrocephalus may suffer from blurred vision, a lack of proper coordination, nausea, and chronic headaches. If acute hydrocephalus is discovered, then a person may need to undergo surgery to properly drain the fluid and reduce the extra pressure on the brain.
Even after the fluid drains, the brain damage could become permanent or take a lot of extra time to heal properly and recover.
3. Brain Hemorrhage
The fluid from hydrocephalus is different than if a blood vessel bursts in the brain and causes a hemorrhage. Also known as a brain bleed, a hemorrhage is an emergency situation where doctors must do everything they can to stop and contain the bleeding.
The severity of a brain hemorrhage all depends on where the injury occurs. Signs of a hemorrhage are similar to other brain injuries, so a complete exam and scans are necessary to discover the cause of the issue. At first, a person may not show any signs of a brain bleed, especially if the hemorrhage is small and slow.
A sign could take weeks to show up. This is why motorcycle crash victims should follow through with emergency room visits, doctor check-ups, and any scans that have been ordered. Stopping a brain bleed is essential to preventing long-term brain damage.
If you’ve suffered any form of brain injury due to a motorcycle accident, contact us at Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney to see what your legal options are when moving forward with a case.