Motorcyclists in Los Angeles face a heightened risk of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) due to the city’s heavy traffic and frequent accidents. Even with helmets, the lack of surrounding protection leaves riders vulnerable to severe head trauma during collisions. TBIs can lead to devastating physical, cognitive, and emotional consequences, often requiring extensive medical care and rehabilitation. If you’ve sustained a TBI due to the negligence of another party, you need a skilled legal team to fight for your right to compensation for your damages and losses.
At Salamati Law, we are committed to pursuing your case aggressively, strategically, and creatively. We have over 28 years of committed legal representation throughout the greater Los Angeles area, earning multi-million-dollar awards for our clients. Personal injury lawsuits are retained on a contingency fee agreement, and plaintiffs will pay no legal fees unless we recover damages on your behalf.
The Danger of TBIs After a Motorcycle Accident in Los Angeles
Cars provide safety measures such as airbags, seatbelts, and the surrounding frame to shield occupants. Motorcycles offer little protection in crashes, leaving riders especially vulnerable to severe impacts even in relatively low-speed collisions.
In California, motorcyclists accounted for 13 percent of all motor vehicle fatalities in 2021, with Los Angeles County reporting the highest number of motorcycle accident fatalities and serious injuries in the state. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) crash statistics indicate that 15% of helmeted motorcyclists who were hospitalized suffered from TBIs, compared to 21% of unhelmeted bikers. These statistics underscore the critical importance of wearing a helmet to mitigate the risk of TBIs.
What are the Most Common Types of Brain Injuries?
As noted above, motorcycle accidents often result in severe head trauma, leaving riders vulnerable to brain injuries. The most common include the following:
- Concussions: A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury caused by a blow or jolt to the head, disrupting normal brain function temporarily
- Contusions (Brain Bruises): A brain contusion is a bruise on the brain tissue caused by a direct impact to the head, resulting in localized bleeding and swelling. A brain bleed after a motorcycle accident is dangerous and requires immediate medical attention.
- Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI): Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is a severe brain injury caused by rotational or shearing forces that stretch or tear the brain’s axons, disrupting communication between nerve cells.
- Hematomas (Brain Bleeding): A brain hematoma is a collection of blood outside the brain’s blood vessels, often caused by trauma, which can increase pressure on the brain and damage tissue.
- Coup-Contrecoup Injury: A coup-contrecoup injury occurs when the brain sustains damage at the site of impact (coup) and on the opposite side (contrecoup) due to the brain rebounding within the skull during a traumatic event.
Common Symptoms of a Post-Accident Brain Injury
One of the most deceptive aspects of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) is that symptoms might not appear immediately after the crash, sometimes taking days or even weeks to manifest. This delay can occur because the brain’s initial response to trauma—such as swelling, bleeding, or inflammation—may develop over time, gradually impairing brain function.
Here are some common symptoms:
- Persistent headaches or migraines
- Loss of consciousness or periods of disorientation
- Sensitivity to light and sound
- Slurred speech, confusion, or difficulty finding words
- Memory lapses or sudden mood swings
- Nausea, vomiting, or dizziness
- Fatigue or extreme drowsiness
Motorcycle accident victims may not recognize the severity of their injury right away, making it essential to seek medical evaluation after any head trauma, even if symptoms are not immediately apparent.
Challenges in Recovery and Ongoing Care
For many TBI victims, recovery often requires a combination of medical interventions, such as inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, physical and cognitive therapies, and specialized treatments to address speech, motor skills, and emotional well-being.
For some, recovery extends far beyond traditional therapeutic settings. They may require home health support services to assist with daily activities, monitor progress, and ensure a safe living environment. These services are costly; many individuals may require them for years—or a lifetime.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimated that the economic cost of TBIs is around $76.5 billion, “including $11.5 billion in direct medical costs and $64.8 billion in indirect costs, e.g., lost wages, lost productivity, and nonmedical expenditures.” This underscores the importance of pursuing a legal claim to help alleviate the financial burden for motorcycle accident victims and ensure they get the care they need.
Potential Compensation for a Motorcycle Accident TBI
If you were hurt in a motorcycle crash that resulted in a TBI, you may be entitled to compensation for your economic and non-economic damages, including:
- Medical bills
- Therapy costs
- Lost wages, future lost wages, benefits, or other forms of income
- Pain and suffering damages
- Ongoing care
- Loss of enjoyment of life and decreased quality of life
Securing this compensation can significantly impact your quality of life, providing a safety net to ensure continued access to the care and services you need.
How Salamati Law Can Help You
We understand that traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are far more complicated than typical personal injury claims. To get the best possible outcome, we take a thorough and strategic approach, addressing every detail of your case.
Trust our team at Salamati Law to leverage our considerable resources and skills to:
- Investigate the details of your motorcycle accident to determine liability and identify the responsible parties.
- Collect all relevant evidence, including accident scene photos, medical records, witness statements, surveillance footage, and police reports, to build a strong case.
- Consult with top medical and accident reconstruction experts in Los Angeles to fully assess the impact of your injury.
- Negotiate aggressively with insurance companies who often refuse to cooperate or undervalue claims, ensuring that you get a fair settlement.
When you work with a Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyer, you’re not only accessing the expertise of a personal injury attorney, but you’re also gaining access to our investigative network, medical experts, industry analysts, and paralegals. We build strong cases that often settle outside court in the shortest timeframe, although we’re willing to go to bat for you at trial if the other side tries to lowball an offer.
Schedule a Free Consultation with a Los Angeles TBI Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one has recently suffered a traumatic brain injury from a motorcycle accident, Salamati Law can help. Contact us today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. We will fight for your rights to recover compensation for your injuries. Since we work on a contingency basis, there are no legal fees unless we win.
Additional resources for motorcycle accidents and TBI Injuries:
- National Safety Council. Injury Facts: The Source for Safety Data. http://www.nsc.org/learn/safety-knowledge/Pages/injury-facts.aspx
- NHTSA, Motorcycle Helmet Use and Head and Facial Injuries, https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/811208
- National Safety Council. Motorcycle Safety Is a Two-Way Street. http://www.nsc.org/learn/safety-knowledge/Pages/Motorcycle-Safety.aspx
- U.S. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Motorcycle Safety Foundation. National Agenda for Motorcycle Safety, Table of Contents. https://one.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/motorcycle/00-NHT-212-motorcycle/toc.html
