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Common Head Injuries in Virginia Motorcycle Accidents: Signs & Symptoms

If you were ever in a bicycle accident when you were young, you know how much damage the impact can cause. Without the protection of a car around you, there's nothing to come between the sidewalk and your skin-or the road and your head.

Motorcyclists are prone to head injuries in Virginia for just this reason. They have all the risks of bicycling-plus the added weight and speed of an engine hurtling them along. Even if a rider is wearing his helmet in a DC motorcycle accident, the odds of head injury are still much higher than for ordinary motorists.

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After a Virginia motorcycle crash, you doctor should check for any symptoms of brain injury, including:

• Forgetfulness or memory loss
• Headaches, vision problems, or light sensitivity
• Disorientation or difficulty concentrating
• Nausea or dizziness
• Seizures
• Constant ringing in the ears
• Behavioral changes, such as irritability, depression or insomnia

So how could your doctor miss these signs of head injury? Perhaps he assumed your symptoms were related to the emotional trauma of the accident, rather than any damage to the brain. Shock and stress could certainly cause insomnia, and victims are naturally distracted or confused after an accident.

The best way to ensure that there has been no damage to your brain is to have a CT, MRI or other diagnostic scan following your motorcycle accident. Your doctor should order immediate testing, and check up on your condition regularly in the weeks following the accident. If he failed to perform any of these actions, he may be guilty of negligence.

DC motorcycle accident victims can suffer a variety of head injuries, ranging from mild to potentially fatal:

• Contusions, or brain "bruises." This occurs when the brain swells due to bleeding in the small blood vessels under the skull.
• Concussion. Concussions are common after head trauma, and usually include a momentary loss of consciousness. Victims should be kept awake after concussion to avoid the risk of coma.
• Hematomas. Usually visible as a bump on the head in the weeks following an accident, a hematoma is a blood clot cause by cranial bleeding.
• Fractured Skulls. Often a result of high impact and an un-helmeted rider, a fracture can cause skull fragments to burrow into the brain causing bleeding-and sometimes irreparable tissue damage.

As experienced Fairfax motorcycle accident attorneys, we realize the overwhelming pain and anxiety of a serious accident. That's why we hold both doctors and drivers responsible for their mistakes-getting you the compensation you need to heal. Call Shevlin Smith today at (703) 591-0067 to get help from a trusted Virginia accident attorney.

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