Northern California Motorcycle Accident Injury Lawyers
Northern California Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Every motorcycle accident has unique circumstances and can result in multiple types of injuries for an injured rider. Riders may experience a catastrophic head injury, spinal cord injury or orthopedic injury, which may require lengthy recovery time and extensive rehabilitation. More minor injuries such as lacerations, sprains, cuts, bruises, road rash, scrapes and strains may not require long recovery time, but if not treated properly, can lead to infection or disabilities. Sadly, there are many riders who do not walk away from the motorcycle accident scene. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2008, more than 5,000 riders lost their lives because of the negligent or reckless actions of a motorist.
The northern California motorcycle accident injury lawyers at Estey Bomberger understand that suffering an injury because of someone else's negligent actions, or worse, losing a loved one because of a preventable motorcycle accident, is a difficult experience. Our goal in every case is to help our clients recover the maximum compensation from whoever is responsible for their medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, or a family member's wrongful death in a motorcycle accident.
Head Injuries
A head injury is the number one cause of motorcycle rider fatalities and catastrophic injuries. While helmets greatly reduce the risk of sustaining a head injury, riders are still being treated for serious head injuries such as brain damage, concussions, skull fractures and hemorrhages. Head injuries are categorized as either open (skull has been pierced), or closed (skull is not broken), and may be localized in one specific area, or cover a wide area of the head depending on the severity of the impact. The likelihood of permanent disabilities is high for riders who suffer a head injury or traumatic brain injury. Speech or movement problems, mental handicap, cognitive loss and personality changes are just a few of the long-term effects of severe head injuries.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries, one of the most catastrophic injuries a motorcyclist may suffer in an accident, may cause permanent loss of limb movement and total or partial paralysis. Spinal injuries are diagnosed as either complete or incomplete injuries. If a spinal cord injury is a complete injury, the victim has lost all feeling and function below the neurological level. If the injury is diagnosed as an incomplete injury, the victim has some feeling and function below the affected area. In addition to loss of movement, victims may experience loss of sensation, loss of bowel or bladder control, changes in sexual function, intense pain, spasms and difficulty breathing.
Orthopedic Injuries
Orthopedic injuries refer to trauma to the skeletal system and associated muscles, joint and ligaments. Broken or fractured bones can be experienced anywhere on the body including the spine, neck, ribs, pelvis, legs, feet, arms, hands, face and skull. There are many ways that a bone can break but they are usually grouped into four categories: displaced, non-displaced, open or closed. Displaced refers to a bone that has snapped into two or more pieces, while non-displaced fractures crack the bone either partly, or all the way. An open bone fracture describes a break where the bone has pierced through the skin, while a closed bone fracture is the opposite, the bone breaks but does not puncture the skin. Severe bone fractures may lead to dangerous complications if not treated promptly. Complications may include infection and damage to blood vessels or nerves, which could require surgical amputation.
Aggressive Representation for Motorcycle Accident Victims
At Estey Bomberger, our northern California motorcycle accident injury attorneys will aggressively pursue the negligent or careless parties that are at fault for your injuries. Our law firm’s mission is to see justice served and that you are fully and fairly compensated. We do not charge any fees to discuss your case with an attorney and we can be reached 24 hours a day. Call (800) 890-6722 to learn what legal rights you have and how our law firm can help you protect them. All consultations are free; we are only paid if and when we recover money for you.