Brain Injuries in Poway Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle accidents that occur in Poway and throughout Southern California tend to involve more serious injuries than motor vehicle accidents alone. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), because motorcyclists “lack the protection of an enclosed vehicle,” they are more likely to sustain severe and fatal injuries in motorcycle crashes. The data support that information, as the IIHS and HLDI explain. For every mile traveled, “the number of deaths on motorcycles was nearly 22 times the number in cars.” The most serious type of injury that motorcyclists experience is a traumatic brain injury. Data from the NHTSA suggests that helmets can prevent about two-thirds of all brain injuries among motorcyclists and about one-third of all deaths.

What are some of the factors that affect motorcyclist brain injuries? A recent study published in the journal Scientific Reports discusses various factors that play key roles in the occurrence of brain injuries among motorcyclists and their severity.

If you have questions about a Poway motorcycle accident case, call North County Injury Lawyers for a free confidential consultation. North County Injury Lawyers was recently voted “Best Personal Injury Law Firm” in North County San Diego.

Assessing Head Injuries in Collisions Involving Motorcycles and Motor Vehicles

The recent study in Scientific Reports expressly considered factors that influence the rate and severity of traumatic brain injuries in motorcycle crashes also involving motor vehicles.

One of the primary issues the study addressed is speed. The researchers determined that the speed of a motor vehicle that collides with a motorcycle significantly influences the likelihood and severity of the motorcyclist sustaining a brain injury. As the speed of a motor vehicle increases, the likelihood and severity of head trauma for the motorcyclist also increase. This proved to be true even when the motorcyclist was traveling at varying speeds. At the same time, a motorcycle traveling at a particularly high speed that collides with a high-speed motor vehicle results in the most severe head trauma.

The study also reported that the location of a collision and the collision angle — where the impact occurs on the motorcyclist — plays a major role in determining the likelihood and severity of a motorcyclist suffering a traumatic brain injury. In short, collision points and angles that result in a motor vehicle striking the motorcyclist in a forward position are most likely to result in head trauma.

Liability for a Crash Involving a Car and Motorcycle

Who is responsible for injuries in a Poway collision involving a motorcycle and an automobile? It depends on the circumstances. Either the vehicle driver or the motorcyclist — or sometimes both — can be responsible for a collision. Although a motorcyclist may be partially responsible for the severity of their injuries if they fail to wear a helmet, it is nonetheless important to hold the vehicle driver accountable if that driver caused the crash.

For motorcyclists who have sustained head injuries or other serious injuries in crashes involving motor vehicles, it is important to find out more about filing a claim. You may be able to obtain compensation through an insurance claim or a lawsuit. If you do want to move forward with a lawsuit, it is important to pay attention to the calendar. Your lawsuit will need to be filed within two years of the date of the accident under California law.

Contact Our Poway Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Today for Assistance

If you were recently injured in a motorcycle crash or if a loved one was killed in a collision, it is important to find out more about filing a claim for compensation. Motorcycle accidents can result in severe and debilitating injuries, and these crashes are often caused by another driver’s negligence. You may be able to hold that negligent driver accountable and obtain compensation to help cover your losses. An experienced Poway motorcycle accident injury lawyer can help. Contact North County Injury Lawyers today to discuss filing a motorcycle accident lawsuit in Southern California.