According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, there were 172 fatal motorcycle accidents in 2015 and another 2,986 motorcycle collisions statewide that caused injury.
Motorcyclists could hurt themselves in many different ways when they become involved in an accident. However, one very common type of injury sustained by motorcycle riders is a brain injury. Brain injuries account for 30 percent of all fatalities in North Carolina resulting from injury, and cause more than 1,800 annual deaths. Unfortunately, motorcyclists are especially susceptible to suffering a brain injury.
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) could occur when a motorcyclist is struck in the head by hitting the pavement when his motorcycle falls or when he is thrown from the motorcycle. A motorcyclist could also sustain a brain injury if he is struck in the head by debris or any other object.
Motorcyclists can reduce the chances of suffering a brain injury by wearing a helmet while they are riding their bike. However, whether a motorcycle rider was helmeted will not impact a motorcyclist’s claim for damages if a motorcycle crash victim wishes to pursue a claim for compensation after a crash.
If a motorcycle rider can prove another driver’s negligence or wrongdoing was the cause of a motorcycle collision, the rider can be compensated for accidents caused by the crash, including for any problems resulting from brain injury. A Charlotte motorcycle accident lawyer can help a motorcyclist to pursue a claim to obtain economic and non-financial damages resulting from the brain injury.