It only takes a split second for motorcycle accidents to occur, but the effects of the crash will haunt victims for a long time. The journey back to recovery can be a painful, emotionally draining, and financially difficult process.
It is not unusual for motorcycle accident victims to require physical therapy sessions for months, if not years, before they regain their fitness. In some cases, full recovery is not possible, and victims will have to suffer the consequences of the severe injuries they sustained for the rest of their lives.
Who will cover the medical expenses? When will they be able to get back to work? How long will the recovery process take? These are some of the questions that many motorcycle accident victims ask themselves as they lie in hospital after a bike crash.
In Cincinnati, the law requires the at-fault driver in any motorcycle or car accident to pay damages to the victims to cover lost wages, unexpected medical bills, physical therapy, property damage, chronic pain and suffering, and any other losses the victims can prove.
However, receiving fair compensation is not an easy process, especially when dealing with a determined insurance company. In most cases, victims will have to file a motorcycle accident claim, and for this, they will need experienced motorcycle accident lawyers.
Types of Injuries Sustained in a Motorcycle Crash
The difficulty of the healing process depends on the severity of the injuries sustained by the motorcycle accident victim. With minor injuries, victims can take just a few days to heal completely, and in some cases, they do not need to stay in the hospital or take time off work.
However, after suffering serious injuries, recovering from a motorcycle accident can take a very long time, and victims will have to shoulder the burden of lost wages and medical bills during the process.
The following are some of the common injuries that motorcycle riders sustain:
Bone fracture
Foot injuries
Spinal cord injuries
Nerve damage
Traumatic brain injury
Lacerations
Concussion
Sprains and strains
Whiplash
Internal bleeding
Severe road rash
Back, neck, and shoulder injuries
Burns
Delayed Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injuries
Of all the physical injuries that riders can sustain, the one that medical care providers are always on the lookout for is a traumatic head injury. This is a very serious injury to the brain that is not easy to diagnose because it can have delayed signs/symptoms.
It is easy for victims to walk away from a motorcycle accident thinking they have not been injured, only to collapse hours or days later because of trauma to the brain. This is why, whether victims feel injured or not, they need to seek medical attention before doing anything else.
When caught early, the recovery process and financial burden caused by a brain injury can be minimized. However, if victims do not get the treatment they need in time, such severe injuries can be fatal or, at the very least, cause lifelong disability.
Three Types of Recovery From a Motorcycle Accident
While a lot of focus is on the physical injuries caused by motorcycle accidents, this is not the only form of recovery that victims will need to go through. The effects of a motorcycle accident are far-reaching, and will often touch many aspects of the everyday life of the victim.
In the aftermath of a motorcycle accident, injured bikers will have to recover in the following ways:
Physical Recovery
Recovering from a motorcycle accident is possible but not always easy. Usually, the most immediate concern is the physical injuries that the biker would have sustained. With the right care, some of these injuries will heal properly, while other injuries will only be partially healed.
When faced with injuries that are taking too long to heal, or in some cases, injuries that may never heal at all, the personal injury claim becomes very complicated. It is difficult to determine the cost of medical expenses when full recovery has not yet been attained.
In such cases, the doctor will have to decide the best option regarding the recovery time/process. If the doctor feels that the patient has recovered as much as they are likely to ever recover, even though they may still be suffering from their injuries, maximum medical recovery (MMI) will be declared.
This will help determine what constitutes fair compensation because the cost of future medical expenses and the effect of living in pain for the rest of the victim's life will have to be considered.
Emotional Recovery
Besides the obvious physical stress that motorcycle accident victims endure, there are also emotional injuries that need to be considered. It is common, after a horrific crash, for victims to battle with depression and anxiety.
Victims have been known to become fearful of getting back onto a motorcycle as a result of almost losing their lives in a crash. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance abuse are also very common among motorcycle accident survivors.
Unfortunately, the emotional impact of suffering a motorcycle accident is often overshadowed by the physical recovery process. Depression and PTSD are both very serious and require treatment just like any other physical health disorder.
Financial Recovery
Victims of motorcycle accidents often have to deal with the double blow of medical bills and lost income at the same time. In cases where the motorcycle was also used for work purposes, property damage will have an even greater impact.
Full financial recovery is only possible if the victims can hire a good lawyer to represent them in the motorcycle accident claim. Luckily, with the right documentation, receipts, and medical reports, it is fairly easy for a good lawyer to determine the exact damages owed to their client.
Three Simple Recovery Steps for Motorcycle Accident Victims
To fully recover from a motorcycle accident, victims have to make sound decisions from the moment the accident occurs until the day they receive their compensation. Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys can also answer questions like, "Who is responsible for most motorcycle accidents?" The following steps are essential to this process:
Step 1: Seek Medical Treatment
The physical health and well-being of the victims is the most important thing. Before thinking about seeking compensation, victims need to do the following:
Seek medical care as soon as possible.
Follow the doctor's guidelines as closely as possible.
Develop a recovery plan and stick to the doctor's instructions.
Serious injuries may require multiple visits to the hospital and the victims must keep an accurate record and present this to their motorcycle accident lawyer.
Step 2: Contact the Insurance Company
The insurance company must be made aware of the motorcycle accident and the nature of the injuries sustained as soon as possible. At times, the insurance company may not wish to go through a lengthy trial and it will make a compensation offer to the victim.
In such cases, the victim needs to analyze all the available options and decide whether the compensation on the table is fair or not. An experienced lawyer can provide vital legal advice in this case.
Step 3: Hire a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Whether the personal injury claim goes to trial or not, victims of motorcycle accidents need to have strong legal representation throughout the process. A lawyer will map out the best way to recover compensation and help determine the amount of damages the victims are owed. Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys have more information on how much motorcycle accident settlements are.
Suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury or Other Motorcycle Accident Injuries? Five Tips To Boost the Recovery Process
While at-home remedies may be sufficient for minor injuries, such as muscle cramps, cuts, and bruises, severe injuries will require medications and a lot of dedication from the victims if they wish to fully recover from a motorcycle crash.
The following are five easy tips that all riders should remember to reduce their recovery time:
Reduce Stress
Constantly thinking about the financial strain and wages lost as a result of the motorcycle accident will only make the recovery process a lot more difficult because stress is not good for the body's well-being. Victims failing to cope with stress need to consider getting professional help before they hamper their recovery.
Drink Water
Experts say the average human being needs to drink at least eight glasses of water per day. This is very important during the recovery process because the body needs a lot of water to help heal itself. Drinking lots of water is, therefore, one of the most important things to remember.
Rest
The body needs sufficient rest to recover from a motorcycle accident. It is during sleep that broken bones and other injuries are taken care of by the body, which is why most doctors are quick to recommend bed rest for all victims.
Exercise
Depending on the severity of the injuries sustained, the doctor will recommend the type of exercise that the victim needs to do to speed up the recovery time.
Eat Healthy
Good food and a balanced diet will provide the necessary nutrients for the body to begin the process of rebuilding itself. Victims must follow their doctor's recommendations regarding what kind of food they need to eat.
A Good Motorcycle Accident Attorney Will Go to War for Victims
Motorcycle accident victims are entitled to fair compensation for the injuries suffered in a bike crash. With a good lawyer by their side, regaining full physical and mental health is not an impossible task.
Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys has helped victims of motorcycle accidents in Cincinnati, Ohio for many years. Victims can call our law firm and ask for a free consultation.
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