St. Louis Catastrophic Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

Compensation After a Serious Motorcycle Injury

Suffering an injury in a motorcycle crash presents unimaginable challenges on a physical, psychological, and financial level. Motorcycle accidents can result in a wide range of injuries, from minor bumps and bruises to catastrophic injuries that cause permanent total disability or even death. The most catastrophic types of motorcycle accident injuries include traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is any injury that causes damage to the brain. A blow to the head, or an object, like broken glass, that pierces the skull, can both cause traumatic brain injuries.

A traumatic brain injury dramatically increases the average hospital costs for those who need in-patient treatment. According to a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the average motorcycle injury patient who suffered a TBI faced $31,979 in hospital charges, while the average motorcycle injury patient who had no head injury faced $2,461 in hospital charges.

After a person who has suffered a TBI leaves the hospital, the medical costs continue to rise. Follow-up appointments, medical equipment, rehabilitation, and therapy all impose additional costs, which medical insurance may or may not cover. A severe TBI can cause permanent disabilities, including paralysis, loss of muscle control, problems with memory or concentration, difficulty communicating, and severe headaches.

Approximately 22 percent of all non-fatal motorcycle accidents cause traumatic brain injuries, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A motorcycle helmet can help reduce the chance of a traumatic brain injury or the severity of a TBI if one does occur. The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that a motorcycle helmet can reduce the chance of a TBI by 37 percent.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries can also be catastrophic injuries resulting from a motorcycle accident. Spinal cord injuries include any damage to the spinal cord, the nerve bundle that runs from the brain through the bones of the spine.

Spinal cord injuries have the highest rate of hospital admissions after a motorcycle accident and the second-highest average hospital costs, according to the NHTSA. The average spinal cord injury patient faces bills of $29,495 for the hospital stay alone. Often, those who suffer spinal cord injuries in motorcycle crashes suffer other moderate or severe injuries as well, which add both to the hospital costs and to the length and cost of recovery.

Spinal cord injuries fall into one of two categories: “partial,” in which the spinal cord is damaged but not severed, and “total,” in which the spinal cord is severed. Partial spinal cord injuries can cause nerve pain, loss of feeling or movement, or problems with organ function. Total spinal cord injuries nearly always result in total paralysis of the area of the body below the place where the spinal cord was severed. In both cases, a severe spinal cord injury may result in total, permanent disability. All spinal cord injuries require follow-up care and rehabilitation, which add to the total burden of medical bills and other losses placed on a family after a motorcycle collision.

St. Louis Catastrophic Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Help Get Your Life Back on Track

Our experienced St. Louis motorcycle accident attorneys can help you and your family with every stage of dealing with a serious injury so that you can focus on healing. We can’t undo what you’ve suffered and we can’t eliminate the physical challenges ahead. However, we can help you get your life back on track by helping you resolve all legal matters and secure compensation, which will alleviate much stress and help you get the medical treatment and care you need. Call us today at (314) 322-8515 for a free and confidential case evaluation.