Florida Head-On Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle Accident Injury Claims for Head-on Accidents
The risk of being involved in a motorcycle accident in the state of Florida runs fairly high in comparison to the rest of the country. Thousands of accidents occur every year with thousands of riders experiencing severe and life-changing injuries. Motorcycle accidents tend to be especially dangerous when compared to other motor vehicle accidents due to how there is little to nothing between a motorcyclist and a collision. However, there are some types of motorcycle accidents that tend to be worse than others. The worst of these accidents tend to be head-on collisions.
What is a Head-On Collision?
A head-on collision can be defined as when two vehicles traveling in opposing directions meet and crash into each other with the front of their vehicles. Head-on collisions occur with cars, trucks, and many other types of vehicles in addition to motorcycles but it is when a motorcycle is involved that the injuries can be especially brutal. head-on collisions with motorcycles have the potential to cause worse injuries than many other accidents precisely because of the way the collision happens and how unprotected motorcyclists are. At best a motorcyclist will have a helmet and full set of protective padded clothing but this is not the case more often than most would hope.
When a motorcyclist gets involved in a head-on collision they are taking another vehicle's full speed in the collision in addition to the forces caused by their own speed. This makes the forces at play significantly more intense than those in a rear-end accident or sideswipe accident. Depending on the vehicle's size, a motorcyclist can either be thrown free of their motorcycle or they can end up having their body collide with the other vehicle. Should a motorcyclist be thrown free, they will go flying fairly high and far. There is a risk that when they come down they will hit something that can make the impact worse such as a static object or even another vehicle. Should they hit the other vehicle involved in the head-on collision with their body, it will suffer tremendous amounts of trauma due to the intense forces at play.
Head-On Collision Causes
Head-On Collision Injuries
Traumatic Brain Injuries
One of the most essential pieces of equipment for a motorcyclist is a helmet. It has been shown by study after study that wearing a proper motorcycle helmet can significantly reduce the chances of suffering a traumatic brain injury caused by an accident. Head-on collisions are so intense that they may even cause head injuries despite a motorcyclist wearing a helmet.
Traumatic brain injuries can be defined as when a person suffers damage to their brain because of a powerful force that acts upon the head or a violent jerking of the head. As a consequence of damage to the brain, traumatic brain injuries can cause debilitating symptoms relating to cognition. Common traumatic brain injuries include concussions, penetrating brain injuries, coup-contrecoup injuries, brain contusions, and diffuse axonal injuries.
Internal Injuries
Bikers that get involved in head-on collisions suffer massive physical trauma to their bodies which can result in internal injuries. These injuries vary depending on where the force of impact is concentrated. Internal organs can be damaged and rupture leading to internal bleeding among other health issues.
Road Rash
When motorcyclists hit the road at high speed they get what is called road rash or road burn. This injury occurs when the friction caused by hitting the road at high-speed shears away the skin and tissue of the body's surface and inflicts severe injury and disfigurement.
Biker's Arm
Sometimes bikers can suffer a collision and have their motorcycle fall on them. This can often happen to the upper limbs crushing them and causing what is called biker's arm. This injury can cause long-lasting damage to the limbs and can be extremely painful for a long period.
Spinal Cord Injuries
The trauma caused by a head-on motorcycle accident has the potential to hit a motorcyclist in the back. Trauma of this intensity inflicted on the back is likely to cause damage to the spine and spinal cord. While the spine acts as the main structural support for our skeletal system and body, the spinal cord acts as a relay for information to and from the bone to the organs and limbs of the body. The spinal cord is a spongy bundle of nerves that is encased by the vertebrae.
If the spinal cord suffers damage then it can inhibit the nervous system in extremely debilitating ways. Those that suffer damage to their spinal cords can end up with partial or total paralysis, loss of sensation in the limbs, incontinence, and a number of issues with abdominal organs. The spinal cord can be damaged when there is a fracture or malalignment of the vertebrae that either puts pressure on the spinal cord or tears it.
Seek an Experienced Florida Motorcycle Accident Attorney
If you or a loved one have suffered an injury as a result of a head-on motorcycle collision accident then you may be able to seek compensation for damages through legal means such as a motorcycle accident claim. Common damages that can be compensated through a motorcycle accident claim include medical expenses, lost wages, as well as pain and suffering caused by the accident and injuries. The personal injury attorneys of the Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA have decades of experience in negotiating and litigating motorcycle accident claims. They fight hard to protect Florida residents from injuries and ensure that they are fairly compensated when injuries do occur. Our experienced team has the legal expertise to ably handle your claim.
Motorcyclists who suffer injuries through no fault of their own deserve compensation to help them and their families rebuild their lives. At Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, we help motorcycle accident victims identify the parties who caused the accident and hold them legally and financially responsible. Don't delay. Call us for a free consultation and case evaluation at (727) 451-6900 or complete our online contact form.
Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA
800 North Belcher Road
Clearwater, FL 33765
727-451-6900
https://www.dolmanlaw.com/legal-services/motorcycle-accident-attorneys/
Matthew Dolman
Personal Injury Lawyer
This article was written and reviewed by Matthew Dolman. Matt has been a practicing civil trial, personal injury, products liability, and mass tort lawyer since 2004. He has successfully fought for more than 11,000 injured clients and acted as lead counsel in more than 1,000 lawsuits. Always on the cutting edge of personal injury law, Matt is actively engaged in complex legal matters, including Suboxone, AFFF, and Ozempic lawsuits. Matt is a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum for resolving individual cases in excess of $1 million and $2 million, respectively. He has also been selected by his colleagues as a Florida Superlawyer and as a member of Florida’s Legal Elite on multiple occasions. Further, Matt has been quoted in the media numerous times and is a sought-after speaker on a variety of legal issues and topics.
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