Three Common Bicycle Accident-Related Head Injuries
Of all the bicycle helmet laws in the country, California has one of the most stringent ones. All bicyclists under 17 must wear protective headgear. Thin plastic or Styrofoam bicycle helmets, which somewhat resemble egg crates in terms of composition, offer some protection in very low-speed bicycle accidents, such as a rider hitting a curb and falling on the grass. But these helmets do basically nothing to prevent the three most common bicycle accident-related head injuries.
All three kinds of head injuries are normally permanent. Sometimes, a combination of medication and physical therapy allows victims to lead somewhat normal lives. But in most other cases, the damage is too extreme. As a result, a Carlsbad personal injury lawyer can normally obtain substantial compensation in these matters. This compensation usually includes money for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering.
PTSD
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a physical brain injury that’s caused by extreme stress. Such stress changes the brain’s chemical composition.
Extreme stress, like the unbelievable fright of a high-speed bicycle crash, enlarges the amygdala. This part of the brain controls emotional responses. This expansion squeezes the hippocampus (logical responses) smaller.
Think of a cowboy (hippocampus) riding a wild horse (amygdala). If the cowboy holds the reins tightly and guides the horse firmly, the animal remains under control. But if the cowboy’s grip loosens, the horse runs wild. “Wild horse” PTSD causes symptoms like:
- Nightmares,
- Flashbacks,
- Anger,
- Depression, and
- Hypervigilance.
Sometimes, PTSD victims respond effectively to treatment and therapy. However, since PTSD has a chemical cause, it usually has a chemical solution.
Regrettably, many PTSD victims self-medicate with substances, usually alcohol and/or drugs. This self-medication often dulls the senses and works in the short term. However, the long-term effects make PTSD much more difficult, and much more expensive, to treat.
sTBI
The motion of a fall off a bicycle and a hard landing on the ground usually causes a Severe Traumatic Brain Injury. Imagine putting a golf ball in a mayonnaise jar, filling the jar with water, and then throwing the jar on the sofa. That’s basically what happens to the brain (golf ball), skull (mayonnaise jar), and cerebrospinal fluid (water) when it hits a bicycle helmet (sofa) during a bicycle crash.
Broken golf balls can be replaced, but broken brains are irreplaceable. At best, physical therapists can train uninjured parts of the brain to assume lost functions.
These permanent injuries usually mean lifelong medical bills. So, before a Carlsbad personal injury lawyer settles a bicycle accident matter, an attorney must accurately determine the amount of future medical costs. Unless that happens, the victim may be financially responsible for them.
mTBI
A moderate traumatic brain injury is a concussion. By themselves, concussions usually aren’t serious. The damage, while permanent, is, well, moderate.
However, if the victim had sustained a similar head injury in the past, a subsequent mTBI could cause CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy). This progressive, degenerative disease is usually fatal. CTE is normally associated with athletes. But any mTBI could be the straw that broke the camel’s back for any person.
Usually, a Carlsbad personal injury lawyer can obtain maximum compensation in these cases. Insurance companies cannot use victims’ medical histories against them, at least in most cases.
Work With a Dedicated San Diego County Lawyer
Injury victims are entitled to substantial compensation. For a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Carlsbad, contact the Pursley Law Firm. The sooner you reach out to us, the sooner we start working for you.
Source:
iihs.org/topics/pedestrians-and-bicyclists/bicycle-helmet-use-laws-table
