Motorcycles are a common mode of transportation across the country, especially in states where warm weather rules like Nevada. Unfortunately, those riders and passengers who are involved in motorcycle accidents are at a higher risk of serious injury or even death—even when wearing protective gear.
Such was the case in the tragic fatal motorcycle accident that happened on early Sunday morning in August in Nevada. According to the Las Vegas Review Journal, a 21-year-old man was speeding on a stolen motorcycle at around 4am on U.S. Highway 97 near Centennial Parkway. After braking heavily and being thrown off the bike, a good samaritan pulled over and was redirecting traffic away from the crash. Unfortunately, the motorcyclist was run over by an oncoming vehicle whose driver did not see the body on the ground. Law enforcement officials do not know if the victim died as a result of the crash or from being run over.
Aside from death, one of the most common injuries in a motorcycle accident is traumatic brain injury, commonly referred to as a TBI. Below are some facts on traumatic brain injuries.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
An injury to the brain that is the result of an accident, which commonly occurs with blunt force trauma to the skull, is referred to as a traumatic brain injury, or a TBI. This is considered a complex type of injury because the symptoms may vary from mild to severe, and a TBI is often difficult to diagnose because symptoms do not appear immediately. Individuals who suffer a TBI can experience changes in their cognitive function that affect all aspects of daily life and create a new “normal” for both the victim and his or her family members or loved ones. TBIs do not heal like other types of injuries; one unique aspect of a brain injury is that it is not uncommon, but rather common, for debilitating symptoms to appear days, weeks, or even months after the initial injury.
Brain Injury Statistics
The national Brain Injury Foundation has researched statistics behind traumatic brain injuries, and the numbers are alarming:
- Males are at twice the risk of females of incurring a traumatic brain injury;
- There are between 1.6 and 3.6 million sports-related brain injuries annually;
- Every year about 52,000 deaths are the result of a traumatic brain injury;
- For those ages 1 through 44, the leading cause of death or disability are traumatic brain injuries; and
- More than 25% of soldiers admitted to Walter Reed Army Medical Center received a diagnosis of traumatic brain injury.
Research indicates there are several leading causes of traumatic brain injuries – including motorcycles. Others include blunt force trauma to the head (hitting, or being hit by something), assaults, and falls. Moreover, it is believed that there are actually more cases of traumatic brain injury than is officially reported because victims often do not seek medical treatment for milder cases.
Nevada Personal Injury Lawyers
If you or someone you know has suffered a traumatic brain injury in a motorcycle accident or any other type of personal injury, contact the knowledgeable Nevada attorneys at H & P by calling (702) 879- 9555 today.
