Ogden Motorcycle Accident Injury Attorneys

Motorcycle accidents carry a high risk of serious injury, and riders are at greater risk than passenger car drivers given their relative lack of protection. Ogden riders who are hurt in a crash may face internal injuries that are not immediately obvious, spinal cord damage with lasting complications, and an insurance company that is not truly on their side while pursuing a claim. Understanding these risks and knowing what to watch for can make a real difference in both recovery and the outcome of a case.

Be Aware of Internal Injury Signs After a Motorcycle Accident

Many motorcyclists are hospitalized each year for severe injuries that require surgery or intensive care. In some cases, riders suffer internal injuries, some of which might not be readily apparent, which is why it is important to know the signs.

Types of Internal Motorcycle Accident Injuries

Internal injuries are a common result of a motorcycle accident. Accident victims may experience internal bleeding in the abdomen, head, or other areas depending on the location of the injury. Blunt trauma or penetration can cause internal bleeding, and although any sign of internal bleeding warrants a trip to the hospital, sometimes the bleeding stops on its own without intervention. Severe or uncontrolled bleeding may require surgery. Some possible internal injuries include tears in the aorta or major blood vessels, tears or blunt trauma to organs such as the spleen or liver, bleeding around the lungs, and intracranial hemorrhage. This is just a small sample of the internal injuries a rider might sustain after being thrown from a bike, struck by a vehicle, or otherwise experiencing blunt trauma in a collision.

Internal Injury Signs to Know

In many cases, internal injury signs are obvious and severe, leaving little doubt that immediate medical care is needed. In other cases, however, the signs are more subtle, with no visible accompanying injury to alert the rider or bystanders to the seriousness of what happened. Any of the following symptoms might indicate an internal injury and warrant an emergency call or a trip to the nearest emergency room. Loss of consciousness or a severe headache may result from internal bleeding in the brain and requires immediate medical care. Swelling or pain in the abdomen can occur due to internal bleeding, and pain in this area may signal a more serious condition than an initial examination revealed. Discolored skin can result from internal bleeding seeping into the soft tissue beneath the skin's surface, which may point to a more serious internal injury. Light-headedness or fainting can result from internal blood loss, and any dizziness or fainting spell after a motorcycle accident should be examined to rule out an internal injury.

After receiving treatment for internal motorcycle accident injuries, an Ogden rider may need to enlist the help of an attorney to recover compensation, particularly if large medical bills, lost time from work, or a decreased ability to return to work resulted from the crash.

Motorcycle Accidents and Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries are one of the most serious types of injuries riders can sustain in a motorcycle accident. Motor vehicle accidents are the most common overall cause of spinal cord injury. Upon collision, a rider's vertebrae can become damaged, with one or more vertebrae crushed, compressed, or dislodged, causing injury to the spinal cord. In some instances, damaged ligaments or spinal discs can affect the spinal cord as well.

Types of Spinal Cord Injuries

There are two basic types of spinal cord injuries. A complete injury means the rider has experienced a total loss of sensation and movement below the site of the injury. An incomplete injury involves some loss of sensation and function, but not total loss, and there are varying degrees of severity. It can sometimes take weeks or months to determine exactly how much function a victim will regain. Research into motorcycle-related spinal cord injuries has found that isolated injuries to the spine occur in a substantial share of riders, multiple vertebral levels are frequently affected together, the thoracic spine is the most commonly injured region, the lumbar spine is also frequently affected, and a notable share of riders sustain injury to the cervical spine along with accompanying neurologic injury.

Complications That Spinal Cord Injury Victims Face

After a spinal cord injury, numerous changes in body function can lead to serious health complications, including blood clots, pressure sores, breathing difficulties, uncontrolled muscle movements, loss of bladder or bowel control, increased risk of urinary and kidney infections and bladder stones, blood pressure problems, susceptibility to lung problems and pneumonia, muscle atrophy, weight issues, sexual and reproductive function issues, and muscle, joint, and nerve pain.

The Dangers of Undiagnosed Vertebrae Fractures

Undiagnosed compression fractures can lead to serious long-term complications, including kyphosis, or curvature of the spine, which causes deformity, can compress organs, and leads to a host of additional health problems. Other complications include chronic pain, reduced physical function, impaired lung function, a decreased ability to perform daily activities, and depression, anxiety, and decreased enjoyment of life. If vertebral fractures are left untreated, painful symptoms tend to increase over time, eventually leading to disability. Compression fractures are often hairline and may not initially show up on x-rays, which means treatment can require persistence on the part of the patient. Anyone who suspects a compression fracture after a motorcycle accident should seek medical attention immediately.

Mental and Emotional Impact of Spinal Cord Injury

The physical complications of a spinal cord injury are only part of the picture. Many riders experience severe mental and emotional issues following such a serious injury. Research has found a marked increase in the likelihood of an emotional disorder among spinal injury victims, with a substantial share of patients ultimately experiencing mental health problems including depression, anxiety, clinical-level stress, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Riders who suffer a spinal cord injury in a motorcycle accident are often forced to deal with enormous medical expenses. New treatments are becoming available for spinal injury victims, but they can be very costly. If someone else was liable for the accident, an Ogden rider can work with an attorney to explore possible options for restitution.

What Insurers Don't Want You to Know

Insurance companies are some of the richest and most powerful corporations in the country. Each year they spend enormous sums attempting to reduce the rights and compensation available to hardworking people so they can maximize their own profit. What they do not control, however, are the judges and juries that ultimately decide the amount of compensation owed when someone has been hurt in a motorcycle accident or another type of personal injury accident.

The Insurance Company Is Legally Allowed to Mislead You

There is no law requiring the insurance company for the other side to tell you the truth or do anything that is in your best interests. This is why an insurance adjuster will sometimes act friendly and try to build trust, a routine that is especially common when injuries are serious. It is a mistake to trust an insurance adjuster, because their job is to pay as little money as possible. They are not required to treat you fairly, and adjusters who build a track record of paying less than a case is worth are often rewarded for it.

You Do Not Have to Give a Recorded Statement

An insurance adjuster will often claim that a recorded statement is required to evaluate a claim, but in reality there is no obligation to give the other side's insurance company a recorded statement. The reason they want one is so they can ask questions in a way that allows your answers to later be used against you, which is why credibility is extremely important in any injury case and exactly why an adjuster may try to damage it early on.

Their Final Offer Is Usually Not Their Best Offer

During negotiations, an insurance company will often claim that a particular number is its final offer, but in reality this is usually not their best offer. There is little to lose by proposing a counteroffer, since it is highly unlikely the insurance company will simply refuse to negotiate any further.

They Will Not Pay Your Medical Bills as You Incur Them

An adjuster may ask an injured rider to send medical bills to them, but this does not mean they will actually pay them as they arrive. This is often a strategy meant to pressure an injured person into settling for less once collection calls from creditors, hospitals, and doctors begin. It is generally best to have medical bills paid through health insurance or medical payments coverage, since it could otherwise be years before a case against the other side is resolved. If you have sustained a serious injury with potential lifelong effects, it is worth turning the matter over to an experienced injury attorney who deals with these tactics daily and can handle communication with the insurance company on your behalf.

Consulting a Ogden 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. 

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