Concussions and Motorcycle Accidents
Experienced attorney proudly serving New Mexico
Anytime you take your motorcycle for a ride on New Mexico roadways, it’s advisable to always wear a helmet. The protection that a well-designed motorcycle helmet gives riders can make a big different when it comes to preventing a serious head injury. But even helmets don’t guarantee that you won’t experience a less severe head injury, such as a concussion, in a motorcycle accident.
It’s not uncommon for motorists to fail to see motorcycles. Additionally, drivers who are distracted, impaired or driving recklessly pose a danger to motorcyclists who don’t have the protective frame of a motor vehicle. In the event of a crash, you need an experienced New Mexico motorcycle accident lawyer who understand the pain and suffering negligent drivers cause motorcyclists and their families.
For years, Albuquerque motorcycle accident attorney Andras Szantho has helped injured motorcyclists get back on their feet and knows how to use New Mexico’s complex legal system to maximize their compensation. Contact us today to learn more about your legal options.
What is a concussion?
A concussion is a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that affects functionality. While your brain is protected by a layer of gelatin, a blow to the head can cause your brain to hit the inner walls of your skull – resulting in a concussion. This type of head injury is usually temporary, but can last days, weeks or possibly longer. Some symptoms may be so subtle that crash victims might not even realize they have a concussion. Complications may not appear immediately but could manifest days after a crash. You or a loved one may even have a potentially life-threatening head injury and not know it.
The most common symptoms of a concussion are headaches, loss of memory (forgetting what caused the concussion), and confusion. Motorcyclists who suffer a concussion can also experience:
- Head pressure
- Loss of consciousness
- Brain fog
- Dizziness
- Ringing in ears
- Nausea and vomiting
- Slurred speech
- Delayed response time
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Sleep issues
The legal advocacy you need
While concussions seem like something you could just “walk off,” repeated trauma to the head could cause permanent brain damage. Furthermore, failure to seek medical attention for a concussion could result in prolonged or permanent complications. If your concussion is more severe, it may require months of treatment and cognitive therapy to fully recover. This can get expensive and may require you to miss time at work.
Don’t count on the negligent driver’s insurance company to compensate you for the full cost of your medical expenses, lost wages and suffering. They only care about protecting their bottom line and they’ll often take advantage of the common biases against motorcyclists to pin the blame on you. If you’re able to convince the insurance companies that your claim is legitimate, they may offer you a small settlement that only covers a portion of your losses.
Don’t fall for their tricks. Attorney Szantho can handle your case. He can investigate the cause of your crash and use the police report, witness accounts and your medical evaluation to build a strong claim. He knows how to negotiate with the insurance companies. And if they refuse to pay, he’s prepared to take your claim to trial.
Get the legal advocacy you need. Contact the Szantho Law Firm for a free case evaluation.