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Motorcycle Head Injuries and Concussions From a Britt Accident
There are a number of different types of head injuries a motorcyclist might sustain. A rider could suffer a relatively simple concussion that improves after a couple of days, or could end up in a coma with a traumatic brain injury. Many head injuries from a motorcycle accident are traumatic brain injuries, in which the brain violently moves around within the skull. Others are penetrating injuries, in which an object becomes embedded into the brain tissue.
Intracranial Hemorrhaging and Immediate Care
Intracranial hemorrhaging may occur when blood from the trauma pools in the brain and puts pressure on brain tissue, restricting blood flow. All of these conditions can be fatal if proper treatment is not administered immediately. Motorcycle accident victims require immediate care, and those who suffer serious injuries require long-term care and rehabilitation. This can create extensive medical bills that victims may pursue in an injury claim against an at-fault driver.
Long-Term Consequences of Motorcycle Head Injuries
Like any type of severe head trauma, the consequences of a motorcycle accident head injury can be long-term and life-altering. Victims of a brain injury may experience communication problems, cognitive limitations, trouble with mobility and balance, fine motor skill limitations, hearing and vision problems, lost feeling in parts of the body, and emotional and mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. The effects will vary greatly from one patient to the next, depending on several factors, including the type of head injury and severity of damage, which can determine both the short-term and long-term effects.
Helmets, Head Injuries, and Motorcycle Accident Claims
Iowa does not require motorcyclists to wear a helmet. But even though it is within a rider's rights not to wear one, not wearing a helmet might indicate contributory negligence for a resulting head injury. If a Britt rider suffered a leg injury instead, helmet use would not affect that injury or the resulting claim. But in the case of a head injury, the other party may argue that the decision not to wear a helmet contributed to the severity of the injury. If a motorcyclist is found contributory negligent, he or she would recover damages minus his or her own degree of negligence, and if that fault reaches more than 50 percent, he or she cannot recover damages at all. Proving the other party's liability is clearly important, and an attorney can collect and present evidence of the other driver's responsibility for the accident while addressing any allegations that helmet use worsened the injury and damages.
What Can an Attorney Do for Your Britt Motorcycle Accident Case?
Depending on the nature and severity of your injuries, you may or may not need an attorney for your case. Even so, it is always a good idea to at least consult with an experienced Iowa injury attorney and request information, such as a free book, that can help guide you through the process and help you avoid common, costly mistakes.
Choosing the Right Attorney
If you have not yet decided to hire an attorney, it is worth checking reviews on sites like Avvo and Google, since advertising personal injury or motorcycle accident services does not necessarily mean an attorney handles those cases well. Look for reviews from prior clients describing their experience, including the results they obtained, so you can feel confident about choosing the right attorney for your case. Keep in mind that reputable firms do not accept every client who calls, since not every case is the right fit for every firm, and focusing on the right clients often allows attorneys to deliver stronger results for those they do represent.
Tasks an Attorney Handles on Your Behalf
Every case is different, but an experienced Iowa motorcycle accident attorney generally handles a wide range of tasks, often on a contingency basis so there is no upfront risk to you. This can include educating clients about Iowa injury laws, gathering documentary evidence such as police accident reports, medical records, and bills, and hiring an investigator when necessary to interview and locate witnesses. Attorneys also collect other evidence, such as photographs of the vehicles and accident scene, and review legal issues like comparative fault and assumption of the risk.
An attorney communicates with your physicians to obtain written reports supporting your case, reviews your insurance policy for coverage that may help pay medical bills while your claim is pending, and evaluates the validity of any liens asserted by doctors, insurers, or employers. If a suit is filed, your attorney prepares you, witnesses, and healthcare providers for depositions, prepares a demand package in an attempt to settle the case, prepares for mediation, and if needed, takes the case through trial. Afterward, your attorney can review the verdict and advise you on whether there are good grounds for an appeal.
Who Should Pay Your Medical Bills After a Britt Motorcycle Accident?
In Iowa motorcycle accident cases, it is rare for the other driver's insurance company to make payments toward your medical bills as you incur them, even when their liability is obvious and they have already paid for your property damage. The other driver's insurance company is not required to make ongoing payments, and insurance companies routinely make payments only at the time of a final settlement when they can obtain a release. You should not expect the other driver's insurance company to pay your medical bills as they come in.
Options for Getting Your Bills Paid
Instead, there are several avenues a Britt rider can look to for payment while a claim is pending. These include your own health insurance from an employer benefits package, health insurance you have paid for personally, or health insurance obtained by a spouse or parent on your behalf. Medical payments insurance coverage on your own auto policy may also apply, and in some cases you may be able to receive this coverage both from the insurance company for the vehicle involved and from your own insurance company if you were not on your own vehicle. If you are not covered under an existing insurance plan, you may be eligible for coverage through HealthCare.gov or Medicaid. Personal funds can also be used if you are uninsured and able to pay medical bills as they are incurred.
If there are insufficient funds to pay doctors, hospitals, and other medical bills, an attorney's office can often help facilitate assignments in which the client authorizes the firm to pay the medical provider directly from any settlement or verdict. This will often satisfy the health provider, and many will wait until the time of settlement rather than pursue collection. Keep in mind that almost all insurance policies have a subrogation provision, which means they require reimbursement if you obtain money for your medical bills from another party or insurance company.
Suffered a Head Injury in a Britt Motorcycle Accident?
If you or a loved one suffered a severe head injury, it may not be in your best interest to accept the initial offer from the insurance company. Speak with Walker, Billingsley & Bair about your case and any offers you receive so we can help you collect the evidence you need and pursue fair compensation.
Consulting a Britt Motorcycle Accident Attorney
The toll from severe motorcycle injuries can encompass substantial medical expenses and long-term care costs for victims and their families. Lost wages may compound matters, especially if employment becomes unrealistic for an extended period. Getting help from a motorcycle accident attorney allows the pursuit of comprehensive compensation, from financial damages and emotional distress such as pain and suffering.
Victims of these accidents should seek consultation with a motorcycle accident attorney, as damages may be extensive and recovery of compensation is important.
At Walker, Billingsley & Bair, our motorcycle accident attorneys can represent you in dealings with your insurance company, or when filing a personal injury claim. Set up your consultation now by calling 641-792-3595.