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What Are the Long-Term Effects of Motorcycle Accidents?

Posted on behalf of Arnold Law Firm in
young man in a wheelchair looking off sadlyMotorcycle accidents often result in permanent injuries or death. A long-term injury or the loss of a loved one can leave long-lasting emotional and physical scars, as well as cause serious financial difficulties. If you were injured or lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident, call our Sacramento motorcycle collision attorneys today to discuss your claim. The call is free, and there are no upfront fees. Below, we discuss some of the effects motorcycle accident victims may feel for a long time after the initial incident.

What Are the Long-Term Physical Effects?

Motorcycles provide much less protection for riders compared to passenger vehicles. This makes it more likely that you will suffer a permanent injury if an accident occurs. Some of the most common injuries that may result from a motorcycle accident include the following: These types of injuries may result in permanent disabilities. For example, a spinal cord injury could result in full or partial paralysis. An individual’s life could be completely altered due to this type of injury. Victims may no longer be able to care for themselves without daily assistance. Disfiguring injuries, such as an amputation or severe burns, could also limit a person physically. A missing limb could make it more difficult to be independent. A burn injury could create physical limitations as well because as the skin heals, it shrinks, which results in a limited range of motion. Any injuries to the head, such as a skull fracture or TBI, could result in serious brain damage. This might affect a person’s ability to learn new things or remember past things. Although broken bones may heal, there are long-term effects that may be experienced as a result. For example, an individual who requires surgery due to a comminuted fracture may experience debilitating pain when the temperature drops or it is raining because of the metal implanted in the affected area.

What Are the Long-Term Psychological Effects?

When someone suffers a permanent injury that alters his or her life, there will be psychological consequences. For example, individuals who suffer from TBIs are more likely to become depressed. A person whose physical abilities are limited, making it difficult to participate in the things he or she once enjoyed, could also fall into a depressive state. Then there are the psychological effects on the person’s loved ones. For example, the victim’s sexual relationship with his or her partner may be affected. There is also an increased likelihood that the accident victim could develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from the accident itself. This could mean the individual never wants to ride a motorcycle again or becomes terrified at the idea of riding in the type of vehicle that caused the collision.

What Are the Long-Term Financial Effects?

All the physical and psychological effects of a motorcycle accident will likely result in financial difficulties. This is because of the costs of medical treatment for the injuries, both physical and emotional. It is also important to consider how the physical limitations of an individual may affect his or her ability to work. Someone who is paralyzed from the waist down may no longer be able to work in any capacity. If he or she was the primary income earner in a household, his or her family could be seriously financially impacted. Even an injury that only takes a person out of work for several months could mean the difference between financial security and insecurity, as most families live paycheck to paycheck. Accident cases may take months to resolve. That means medical debt will be piling up as victims struggle to make payments. If they cannot negotiate with their doctors or health insurance company to hold off on sending the bills to collections, their credit score could also be impacted.

Can These Long-Term Effects Be Compensated?

With help from an experienced attorney, motorcycle accident victims may be able to recover compensation for all these long-term effects caused by the crash. California is an at-fault state. This means that as the victim, you have the right to file an insurance claim with the driver who caused the collision. Your attorney may be able to negotiate a fair settlement or file a lawsuit to recover the compensation you need for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other long-term damages.

Call Us Today For Help

For decades, our experienced attorneys have helped accident victims recover the compensation they need for their damages. We have successfully secured millions on behalf of our clients. We offer a free legal consultation to determine what options may be available to you. If we validate your claim, and you choose to work with us, we do not charge you any hourly fees. We only get paid at the end of your case when we have successfully recovered compensation for you.

Call 916-777-7777 today to get started.

Settlement - $3,767,000

Truck Accident

A 20-year-old man who had been married for just 12 days left home on his way to work. He was driving on Pleasant Grove Road in Sutter County in the early morning when he came upon a slow-moving truck. As he pulled out to pass the truck, the truck driver turned left in front of him. The young man attempted to steer back into his lane but his vehicle struck an un-flagged piece of metal extending from the back of the truck. He died in the resulting crash.

Expert witnesses brought in by the Arnold Law Firm proved that the truck, owned and operated by a hauling firm, should never have been on the highway that morning. Specifically, the rear and side turn signals did not work and the rear-view mirror was in a poor state of adjustment at the time of the collision. As a result, the driver, who had failed to properly inspect the vehicle before setting out that morning, couldn’t see the young man’s vehicle as it attempted to pass.

The poor condition of the truck, its lack of maintenance and the manner in which it was operated were found to be substantial factors in causing the collision that killed the young man. The testimony also established that the man had been making a lawful pass at the lawful speed limit and acted reasonably when he attempted to avoid the collision.

The man’s 20-year-old widow was awarded $3,767,000.77, his parents were awarded $185,131 and the family was reimbursed $11,899 in funeral expenses. Though money is a poor substitute for a young man’s life, this verdict demonstrates that drivers who endanger the lives of others will be held accountable for their actions.