Iowa Falls Motorcycle Accident Injury Attorneys

Motorcycle injury attorneys serve as unwavering defenders for riders when tragedy strikes. With a focus on motorcycle accidents, they adeptly manage the legal landscape to ensure justice and compensation for the injured.

Types of Internal Motorcycle Accident Injuries

Internal injuries are a common result of a motorcycle accident. Accident victims may experience internal bleeding in the abdomen or head or other areas depending on the location of the injury. Blunt trauma or penetration can cause internal bleeding, and though any sign of internal bleeding warrants a trip to the hospital, sometimes the bleeding will stop on its own without intervention. Severe or uncontrolled bleeding may require surgery. Some possible internal motorcycle accident injuries include the following:

- Tears in the aorta, superior or inferior vena cava, or branches.
- Tears, cuts, or blunt trauma to organs such as the spleen or liver.
- Bleeding around the lungs.
- Intracranial hemorrhage.

This is just a small sample of internal injuries that motorcyclists might sustain after being thrown from the bike, run over by a vehicle, or otherwise experiencing blunt trauma in a collision.

Internal Injury Signs to Know

It’s important to be aware of some of the common internal injury signs. In many cases, the signs are obvious and severe, and there will be no doubt that the individual requires immediate medical care. However, in other cases, the signs are more subtle, and there is no visible accompanying injury that will alert bystanders or the victim of the seriousness of the injury.

Any of the following symptoms might be an internal injury sign and warrant a call to 911 from the accident scene or a trip to the nearest emergency room for examination:

- Loss of consciousness or headache: Pain in the skull or loss of consciousness may result from internal hemorrhaging in the brain. This is an emergency situation and requires immediate medical care.
- Swelling or pain in the abdomen: Swelling can occur due to blood in the abdomen when there is an internal injury. In addition, pain in this area may signal a more serious condition than the initial examination uncovered.
- Discolored skin: Internal bleeding can cause the skin to turn a deep purple as it seeps into the soft tissues beneath the skin’s surface. This may indicate that there is a more serious internal injury.
- Light-headedness or fainting: Blood loss that occurs internally can cause dizziness. Any type of fainting spell or feeling of dizziness requires an examination to rule out an internal injury after a motorcycle accident.

After receiving medical treatment for internal motorcycle accident injuries, you may need to enlist the help of an attorney to recover compensation for your motorcycle injuries. If you’ve experienced large medical bills, lost time at work, or decreased ability to return to work after your accident, an attorney can help. Call a lawyer to help you explore your options to seek reimbursement for your damages.

How Does Motorcycle Insurance Help Injured Riders in Iowa?

Insurance laws in Iowa require drivers to meet minimum liability coverage amounts. Minimum liability coverage amounts are:

- $20,000 bodily injury (for one person);
- $40,000 bodily injury (for more than one person); and
- $15,000 (property damage).

Motorcyclists are also required to meet this minimum liability coverage. In the event of an accident that another motorist caused, injured bikers may pursue a claim against that motorist’s liability coverage.

Importance of Insurance Coverage for Motorcyclists

Meeting the minimum required amounts is certainly helpful in the event a motorcyclist is at fault for an accident. For even better financial protection in the event the rider causes an accident and is liable for damages, many choose higher amounts of coverage. 

Of course, in the event another driver is liable for the accident, riders cannot recover from their own liability coverage. Instead, they’d rely on filing a claim against the other driver. But remember that even though insurance is required, not all drivers will carry it or their coverage may not be enough to pay for all damages. So some motorcyclists may instead rely on other coverage on their policy to provide them compensation for damages.

One option is to purchase medical payments coverage. This type of coverage is no-fault, which means that no matter who was responsible for the accident, it will provide coverage of medical costs. A benefit to medical payments is that if the insurance companies are taking a long time to assign blame in the accident or negotiations for a settlement have stalled, much of the medical bills can be taken care of right away.

Another type of coverage that might help motorcyclists in the event of an accident is uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. There’s no guarantee that the at-fault driver has insurance or his/her coverage is enough. That’s where this insurance kicks in. It could pay for medical bills, lost earnings, and other accident-related expenses.

How Insurance Coverage Can Impact a Motorcycle Accident Claim

Having enough coverage is critical for motorcyclists. Especially since these types of accidents are oftentimes catastrophic or the injuries require months of recovery. For some, a collision could result in permanent disability.

And there is always the risk that a motorcyclist is seriously injured in a hit and run. When a driver flees the scene of the accident, having uninsured motorist coverage can help pay for damages until (and if) the person is caught.

Emotional Trauma after a Motorcycle Accident

Motorcyclists are at risk for myriad injuries in the event of a motorcycle accident. This can range from soft tissue injuries and fractures to spinal cord and head injuries. In some cases – especially in cases of severe injuries – motorcyclists who were involved in an accident might suffer from emotional trauma in addition to their physical ailments. In such cases, Iowa motorcyclists pursuing a liability claim or lawsuit against a negligent driver can factor this emotional distress into the claim.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may develop following a traumatic event like a motorcycle accident. Once known as a condition that soldiers exposed to the battlefield might develop – and previously referred to as shellshock – the condition might manifest for a variety of reasons. According to the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH), PTSD symptoms are grouped into three categories:

- Re-experiencing: Flashbacks, nightmares, and thoughts about the incident.
- Avoidance: Avoiding certain events or actions, as well as emotional numbness, guilt and depression, difficulty remembering the event, and more.
- Hyperarousal: Easily startled, edginess, trouble sleeping, and intense episodes of anger.

Head Injuries and Depression

Head injuries are a major concern for motorcyclists in the event of an accident. That’s why most states have implemented motorcycle helmet laws (Iowa repealed its motorcycle helmet laws) and advocacy and safety groups recommend their use by all operators and passengers.

Various researchers have studied the association between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and depression. One study published in 2004 in the Archives of General Psychiatry found that one-third of study participants developed major depressive disorder within the first year after sustaining a TBI. The researchers concluded, “Major depressive disorder is a frequent complication of TBI…”

Another study published in 2002 in the Journal of Nursing Scholarship found, “Chronic stress was significantly and positively related to post-TBI depression.” This stress may be related to the recovery process and other mitigating factors after a serious injury.

Emotional Trauma in Personal Injury Cases

Your motorcycle accident claim will account for medical expenses related to physical injuries like head injuries, spinal cord injuries, and more. It may also account for emotional trauma after the accident.

Emotional trauma that may be included in the monetary damages awarded you after an Iowa motorcycle accident include:

- Mental health assessment;
- Counseling;
- Treatment; and
- Mental anguish.

Keep in mind, though, that failure to wear a helmet might reduce your settlement if you suffered head injuries. The insurance company or defendant might argue helmet use may have prevented or reduced severity of the injury. Talk to your attorney about how your helmet use may factor into your claim and whether it might have any bearing on emotional or noneconomic damages you might recover.

Consulting a Motorcycle Accident Attorney

The toll from severe motorcycle injuries can encompass substantial medical expenses and long-term care costs for victims and their families. Lost wages may compound matters, especially if employment becomes unrealistic for an extended period. Getting help from a motorcycle accident attorney allows the pursuit of comprehensive compensation, from financial damages and emotional distress such as pain and suffering.

Victims of these accidents should seek consultation with a motorcycle accident attorney, as damages may be extensive and recovery of compensation is important.

At Walker, Billingsley & Bair, our motorcycle accident attorneys can represent you in dealings with your insurance company, or when filing a personal injury claim. Set up your consultation now by calling 641-792-3595.