Motorcycles are beloved for the freedom they offer, but that freedom comes at a cost. In an accident, there’s nothing to protect you from flying over the handlebars and onto the unforgiving pavement. Even if you wear a helmet, you could suffer a serious brain injury that haunts you for life.
If you’ve developed a brain injury from a motorcycle accident, here’s what you need to know from a motorcycle accident lawyer in Charlotte.
Symptoms of Brain Injuries in a Motorcycle Accident
Even mild brain injuries, such as concussions, can cause upsetting symptoms. These include:
- Headaches
- Drowsiness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Trouble sleeping
- Loss of balance
- Loss of consciousness
- Mood changes
- Memory loss
Serious brain injuries can be far worse. Many people who suffer severe head injuries from motorcycle accidents pass away soon after. Those fortunate enough to survive might have symptoms with long-term effects, such as:
- Seizures and convulsions
- Severe, persistent headaches
- Numbness and weakness in fingers and toes
- Slurred speech
- Profound confusion
- Personality changes
- Coma
These symptoms should convince you of the importance of proper safety when riding a motor vehicle. No matter how safely you ride, you can never predict the behavior of other drivers. Thankfully, if someone hits you, it’s possible to seek compensation from them.
Damages Available to Motorcycle Accident Victims
If you’ve suffered a brain injury from a motorcycle accident, you may be able to recover damages from the driver who hit you. You can seek compensation for:
- Any accident-related medical bills
- Lost wages due to taking time off work
- Loss of earning potential if you have to quit your job
- Property damage to your bike
- Pain and suffering because of your brain injury
- Wrongful death if you lost a loved one in the crash
Understanding North Carolina’s Negligence Doctrine
North Carolina is unusual for being one of only a few states to follow pure contributory negligence rules. This legal doctrine says you cannot recover damages if you’re even 1% at fault for the crash.
This is a big deal because insurance companies are inherently biased against motorcycle riders. They’re viewed as risky drivers, which means insurance adjusters might automatically assume you’re at fault for a crash.
A motorcycle accident lawyer can help you overcome this unfair bias and prove who’s truly responsible for your injuries.
Steps To Take After a Motorcycle Crash
Even if you think you have a slam-dunk case against the driver who hit you, you must proceed carefully to maximize compensation. Here’s what to do.
See a Doctor
Seeing a doctor is important after any accident, but especially so for motorcycle crashes. It probably won’t take much prompting to seek medical care if you have severe head pain. Even if you feel fine, it’s smart to visit the doctor anyway.
Immediately after a crash, you might be in shock, making it hard to tell how injured you are. Traumatic brain injury symptoms can be subtle. You might chalk your headache, nausea, and insomnia up to another cause. To be on the safe side, seek care as soon as you can.
Make a Police Report
In our state, you must make a police report if an accident involves more than $1,000 of property damage, serious injury, or death.
Gather Evidence of Liability
Because of North Carolina’s negligence rules, you’ll want to collect as much proof of your innocence as possible. Evidence that could prove the other driver’s fault includes:
- The police report
- Witness statements
- Photos of the accident scene
- Video footage
- Accident reconstructionist reports
- Medical records
- Black box data (if a truck hit you)
Contact the Insurance Company
Next, you must report the accident to the insurance company. Watch what you say when talking to insurance adjusters. As mentioned above, insurance companies often automatically assume you’re at fault for an accident. Never say anything they can misconstrue as an admission of guilt.
Hire a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
If you’d rather not face the insurance company alone, hiring a good motorcycle accident attorney is wise. Your lawyer can represent you in a trial if settlement negotiations fail.
Start the Motorcycle Accident Claims Process Today
Trying to find the best personal injury lawyer after suffering a brain injury from a motorcycle accident? If so, we’re glad you found us. Yale Haymond Law PLLC fights for your rights and charges no fees unless we win your case. Learn more about whiplash claims for an accident that is your fault.
For a free consultation with a motorcycle accident lawyer, call (704) 800-HELP.
