Suffering psychological trauma alongside physical injuries after a motorcycle accident is common among injured motorcyclists. It can have long-term effects on the victims, substantially decreasing their quality of life. Fortunately, the affected party may have grounds for recovering compensation.
Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys have extensive experience handling personal injury cases in Toledo, Ohio, and can hold the negligent parties accountable for the damages caused.
Those suffering from serious injuries along with the psychological effects of a motorcycle accident should contact the motorcycle accident attorneys at Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys to learn more about their legal rights.
The Types of Neurological Injuries Following a Motorcycle Accident
Many motorcycle accident victims who survive the collisions often suffer from neurological injuries, some of which include the following:
Traumatic Brain Injuries
When a motorcycle crashes into a motor vehicle, the impact of the accident can cause the rider to hit the ground, leading to catastrophic injuries.
If the motorcyclist hits their head, it can result in a traumatic brain injury, which can have long-term implications for the rider's health.
The impact of a motorcycle accident can shake the brain, causing severe damage to different parts of the organ. An injured victim suffering from a traumatic brain injury may experience life-changing symptoms, including the following:
Paralysis
Loss of movement
Difficulty in learning or concentrating
Behavioral or personality changes
Nerve Damage
The nerves in the neck and spine are responsible for sending signals from the brain to the rest of the body.
A motorcycle accident could result in nerve damage, which can affect the victim's motor functions. It can also lead to long-term symptoms, such as tingling sensations, weakness, and numbness.
Paralysis
A motorcycle accident may cause damage to the spinal cord, which is responsible for sending motor commands and sensory information from the brain to the body. The spinal cord also helps coordinate reflexes and provides structural support.
Even with the latest medical technology, treating spinal cord injuries can be challenging. Depending on the severity of the injury and the location of the impact, it could lead to paraplegia.
Psychological Trauma
Besides physical injuries, a motorcycle accident can lead to serious psychological trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, fear, anger, and other emotional problems. These can linger on for years and, in some cases, can last a lifetime.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after a Motorcycle Accident
PTSD is a mental health disorder that the victims can develop after witnessing or experiencing traumatic events, such as motorcycle accidents. It can completely flip the affected party's life around and adversely impact their quality of life.
Flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance, fear, and behavioral changes are some of the symptoms of PTSD. It's important to understand that not all motorcycle accident victims develop post-traumatic stress disorder.
The affected party must speak to an experienced mental health professional to begin treatment, which may include therapy, medication, and support groups.
Depression and Anxiety after a Motorcycle Accident
An injured victim may start to develop depression or anxiety after a motorcycle accident, which can affect their sleep patterns, appetite, behavior, personality, and relationships.
Depression can arise from a spinal cord injury and other types of physical injuries or the scarring and disfigurement from the motorcycle crash.
The victim may avoid contact with people around them or have suicidal thoughts. It's essential to treat the injuries first before tackling mental health problems.
Mental health professionals may recommend therapy and medication. They may also suggest other treatment options, such as relaxation techniques and stress management, to help the victim combat depression and anxiety following a motorcycle accident.
What Are the Psychological Effects of Motorcycle Accidents?
A motorcycle accident can be a traumatic experience for the injured victim and can significantly impact their mental health. The physical injury and sudden shock from the incident can trigger a number of emotional responses, including anxiety, fear, and anger.
Although the emotional responses arising from the aftermath of a motorcycle accident are natural, they can adversely impact the victim's life, affecting their daily routine and causing a disturbance to their mental state.
Motorcycle accident victims suffering from anxiety, for example, may have difficulty sleeping or concentrating. It can also trigger physical symptoms, such as shortness of breath and heart palpitations.
An injured victim who develops fear following their motorcycle accidents may experience a change in their behavior. They may avoid contact with others and experience helplessness or irritability.
Psychological trauma can make it difficult for the injured victim to carry out their daily routine. Fear following a motorcycle accident, for example, can make it difficult for the affected party to return to riding a motorcycle, even if they've completely recovered from their physical injuries.
Can the Injured Victims File a Motorcycle Accident Claim or Lawsuit for Their Psychological Trauma?
Under personal injury law in Ohio, motorcycle accident victims who suffer physical injuries due to another's negligence can pursue legal action to recover the damages for the psychological trauma they endure.
However, before they can recover compensation, the injured victim must provide evidence of their injuries, psychological trauma, and the other party's negligence. This may include medical records, psychiatric evaluations, photos of the injuries, and expert testimonies.
It's crucial for the injured victim to reach out to an experienced personal injury attorney to help gather the necessary evidence, build a strong case, and pursue compensatory damages for the physical injuries and deterioration of their mental health. They can also help answer questions like What is the most common motorcycle accident?
Motorcycle Accidents and Recovering Compensatory Damages
In Ohio, an injured victim can recover economic damages and non-economic losses following a motorcycle accident.
The economic damages can help compensate the affected party for the out-of-pocket expenses arising from medical bills (treatment costs, hospital bills, medication, therapy and rehabilitation fees, and other medical expenses), lost wages, and property damage.
Non-economic losses are a significant part of a personal injury case, and these types of damages help compensate the injured victim for the psychological trauma, emotional distress, depression, pain and suffering, and reduced quality of life.
Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys Can Help the Victims Who Are Suffering from Long-term Psychological Effects!
Those who are experiencing psychological effects after sustaining injuries following their motorcycle accidents in Toledo, Ohio, should call to schedule a free consultation with an experienced attorney. They can help explain if a motorcycle accident can change your personality.
The legal experts at Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys can help the injured victim by assessing their case and pursuing a personal injury claim against the negligent party to recover maximum compensation.
Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys are ready to go to war to protect the victim's rights and ensure swift justice!