Post-Motorcycle Accident: Signs of Head Trauma

Motorcycle accident victims are likely to suffer two collisions, both of which can cause head injuries. The first collision is with another vehicle. The second collision is with the hard ground. Motorcycle helmets may provide some protection, but riders can still suffer head trauma if the accident is forceful enough.

Some victims may experience immediate pain, while other victims may have delayed pain. If you’re in a motorcycle accident in Delaware, you should seek immediate medical care, typically by an emergency room doctor.

You should also contact our experienced motorcycle accident lawyers. We’ll review your medical care. In some cases, we may recommend our own neurologists and other physicians. Our Delaware motorcycle accident lawyers can seek compensation for all your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, vehicle damage, and all other damages.

How often do motorcycle riders wear helmets?

The National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS) found that 73.8 percent of riders and passengers wore a Department of Transportation (DOT)-compliant helmet in 2023. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), motorcycle helmets are “37% effective in preventing fatal injuries to motorcycle operators and 41% effective for motorcycle passengers.”

What are the different types of head injuries?

Motorcycle operators and riders can suffer different types of head injuries if they are in a motorcycle accident.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, head injuries can be either open or closed. Closed head injuries (most head injuries are closed) don’t break through your skull. With open head injuries, something pierces through your skull into your brain.

Head injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). TBIs range from mild to severe. They can cause physical, cognitive, and emotional difficulties. Victims may experience confusion, headaches, short-term mood changes, behavioral changes, and other consequences. Possible complications include bleeding of the brain, seizures, permanent disability, and a short life expectancy. TBIs can be life-threatening.
• Concussions. A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury that occurs when an accident victim’s brain moves or twists inside the skull. A concussion stretches and injures blood vessels and nerves in the brain.
• Skull fractures. A skull fracture is a bone break in your skull. Your skull surrounds your brain. Complications include bleeding in the brain tissue (an intracranial hemorrhage), brain damage, blood clots, infections, paralysis, seizures, and changes in your appearance.

Other types of head injuries include scalp cuts, hemorrhaging (uncontrolled bleeding), blood clots, and swelling.

What are the symptoms of head trauma?

The signs and symptoms of head trauma vary depending on the type of injury and the severity. Some of the common signs and symptoms of head trauma include the following:

Traumatic brain injury signs and symptoms

Mild TBI symptoms

These symptoms may appear immediately or over a few days. Mild TBI symptoms include:

• Physical difficulties may include nausea, dizziness, headaches, fatigue, sensitivity to light, and blurred vision.
• Memory/thinking difficulties may include confusion, difficulty concentrating, short-term memory loss, and grogginess.
• Social/emotional challenges may include anxiety, irritability, and nervousness.
• Sleep difficulties may include difficulty falling asleep, too little sleep, and too much sleep.

Moderate or severe TBI symptoms

These symptoms can be very serious. They may change with time. They include:

• Physical symptoms include being in a coma, passing out “for more than 30 minutes (moderate) or more than 24 hours (severe),” balance difficulties, weak legs and arms, hearing or vision difficulties, and sensory changes.
• Memory and thinking symptoms include difficulties thinking clearly, short-term memory loss, problems communicating, and feeling groggy.
• Social or emotional symptoms may include anxiety, depression, anger, irritability, impulsive behavior, and difficulty managing behavior.

Concussion signs and symptoms

Concussions cause chemical changes that “temporarily make your brain stop working as it should. Your brain will automatically redirect all its energy to healing itself after an injury. It will send signals to your body to get you to slow down and avoid activities.”

Concussion symptoms can affect your physical function, cognitive function, ability to sleep, and emotions. Some motorcycle accident victims may not experience symptoms for hours or even days. A few of the cognitive symptoms may include difficulty focusing, amnesia or short-term memory loss, confusion, and feeling like you’re not yourself.

Skull fracture signs and symptoms

The signs of a skull fracture may include:

• Changes in skin color (darkening or redness) at the injury site.
• Swelling, a lump, or a bump.
• Bruising around the injury, your eyes, or behind your ears.
• Clear fluid (cerebrospinal fluid) leaks from your nose or ears.
• Blood that drains from the wound, an eye, or an ear.

Skull fracture symptoms include pain at the injury site.

The following symptoms may occur if the injury affects your brain:

• Confusion
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Slurred speech
• Loss of vision
• Loss of sensation
• Coordination difficulties
• Tiredness

How is head trauma diagnosed?

The diagnostic tools for head injuries include:

• A neurological exam
• MRI scans and CT scans
• Blood tests
• A concussion test

The timing of these tests may vary.

How much is a motorcycle accident that causes head trauma worth in Delaware?

At Silverman, McDonald & Friedman, Attorneys at Law, we work with your doctors to verify what types of injuries you have, the full range of medical care you will need, how your injuries are affecting every part of your life, and the severity of your pain and suffering.

We demand compensation for all your current and future damages, including:

• Medical bills of every type from neurologists, neurosurgeons, ER doctors, hospitals, rehabilitative therapists, life planners, and all other types of medical service providers.
• Lost wages, business income, and benefits for as long as you can’t work, which may be for your lifetime.
• Your daily physical pain and emotional suffering
• The loss of cognitive function
• The inability to enjoy life’s pleasures
• Any scarring or disfigurement
• The loss of consortium (marital enjoyment)

What are Delaware’s laws on motorcycle helmet usage?

Delaware requires that motorcycle riders comply with the following laws:

• Operators and passengers under age 19 must wear an approved helmet and eye protection.
• Riders of any age must wear an approved helmet and eye protection for the first two years after they receive a motorcycle endorsement.
• Riders age 19 and older are generally not required to wear a helmet, unless they are within the first two years after receiving a motorcycle endorsement.

Speak with our Delaware motorcycle accident lawyers now.

At Silverman, McDonald & Friedman, Attorneys at Law, we’re ready to fight for your future. We hold car, truck, and other motorcycle drivers accountable when they cause motorcycle accident injuries of any type, including head trauma. Please call us or use our contact form to schedule a free consultation. We represent motorcycle accident victims on a contingency fee basis.