Motorcyclists are particularly susceptible to the impacts of drunk driving accidents. In addition to fatalities, drunk-driving motorcycle wrecks also contribute to severe injuries. Bikers face heightened risks of injury and fatality in traffic accidents due to the lack of protective features. Vehicles directly strike bikers in wrecks, which leaves the bikers particularly vulnerable in an accident.
When the other driver was intoxicated at the time of an accident, you may be entitled to compensation. A New Braunfels drunk driving motorcycle accident lawyer can help you explore your potential remedies after a wreck.
One of the ironies of drunk driving accidents is that intoxicated automobile drivers often receive less severe injuries than their victims. Alcohol is a depressant, which means the body is more relaxed—the lack of tensing up before an accident may reduce the severity of injuries.
Injuries from drunk driving accidents can be particularly severe, especially for motorcyclists. Some common injuries include traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), spinal injuries, broken bones, crush injuries, soft-tissue damage, internal injuries, and burns.
Among the most common and severe injuries in drunk driving accidents, TBIs can be life-altering—affecting memory, emotions, cognitive abilities, vision, hearing, and more. TBIs range in severity from mild concussions to moderate and severe TBIs, which can have a lifelong and substantial impact on the victim, change their ability to work, and turn family members into caregivers. Spinal injuries can have a similar impact. The spinal cord, a crucial part of the nervous system, transmits messages from the brain to the rest of the body. Damage to the spinal cord can result in paralysis.
Internal injuries—also known as organ damage—can be deceptive. They may not be apparent at the scene, but these injuries can be life-threatening and demand immediate medical attention. A victim should always get a thorough medical exam after a motorcycle wreck and—even if they seem fine at the scene—seek immediate care if they notice any unusual signs or symptoms like difficulty breathing, blood in the urine or stool, dark purple bruising, chills, weakness, fatigue, or low blood pressure. An attorney in New Braunfels can work to secure compensation for injuries caused by a drunk driving motorcycle accident.
Alcohol impacts people in several ways, and each one can affect how someone drives. The most important may be impaired judgment. Not only does impaired judgment make people more likely to drive drunk, but the drunker they get, it also leads to risk-taking behavior. Drunk drivers may speed up or take risks that they would not take while sober. They are also more likely to engage in distracted driving behavior.
Alcohol makes it more difficult to concentrate. Every aspect of safe driving demands a driver’s full attention. Alcohol and drugs impair a driver’s ability to concentrate and remain focused on the road. This lack of concentration can lead to unintended lane changes, improper speed control, failure to keep a safe distance from other vehicles or motorcycles, and difficulty in following traffic signals correctly.
Drunk people are less coordinated. That can translate into drivers swerving, not turning at the right location, and generally failing to control their vehicles. Combine that with impaired reaction time, which hinders a person’s ability to respond swiftly to sudden changes in traffic conditions, and a drunk driver could cause a severe collision with a motorcyclist in New Braunfels.
If you were injured in a collision with a drunk driver, you may be entitled to seek compensation for your injuries. Determining the value of your claim can be difficult. Damages should include more than economic factors like medical expenses; they should compensate you for intangible harm like pain and suffering.
A New Braunfels drunk driving motorcycle accident lawyer can help. Schedule a consultation to learn more.