Motorcycle Accidents

Published on: March 21, 2025

New Study Confirms Link Between Brain Injury and Dementia

Persons who have suffered a traumatic brain injury have a much higher risk of developing dementia down the road. A new study not only underscores this fact, but also determines that changes in vascular cells can affect the onset of dementia in persons who have suffered a brain injury. Traumatic brain injuries often occur in car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents and slip and falls.

For decades now, scientists have been aware that suffering a brain injury significantly increases the risk that a person will develop dementia or Alzheimer’s disease down the road. However, recent studies have identified the exact molecular mechanism behind the personal injury that can bring about dementia earlier. In this new study, scientists discovered that alterations to the vascular smooth muscle cells lead to an increase in the build-up of proteins called amyloid beta, which are strongly linked to Alzheimer’s disease. What the scientists found even more surprising is that even younger persons who are typically not at risk of dementia suffered a similar increased risk, supported by the vascular muscle cell changes following the brain injury. The researchers concluded that understanding the changes to the vascular cells is crucial to understanding how trauma can impact dementia risks and circumventing or mitigating those risks all together.

Brain injuries can result in a significant number of changes in a person’s mental and physical health. Even a moderate brain injury can result in cognitive challenges, memory problems, difficulties in concentration and attention, impaired motor skills and a number of other challenges that make it difficult for the person to live a normal life. All of these difficulties make it hard for the person to be productive or earn a living. Working even a routine job can become challenging. For example, motor coordination problems can manifest in a large number of brain injury victims, and these can significantly impact the victim’s earning potential if he is working in a manual job, or one that requires dexterity.

Published on: November 29, 2024

Naps can Improve Motor Learning after Brain Injury

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

New studies find that persons who have suffered traumatic brain injury and are undergoing rehabilitative motor skills therapy, may benefit from short naps after their therapy sessions. Traumatic brain injuries often occur from car accidents, motorcycle accidents, trucking accidents, slip and falls as well as due to construction site accidents.

The results of the study were published recently in the Journal of Sleep Research. The researchers focused on the role of short naps during rehabilitation therapy for persons who have suffered traumatic brain injury. Many persons with brain injury struggle with motor tasks after their personal injuries.

The study involved the participation of 32 subjects with a brain injury. The participants were required to take short naps of about 45 minutes duration after their therapy sessions. Their performance was monitored using a number of parameters including MRI imaging. The researchers found that there was enhanced performance after the participants napped, with improvements including quicker retrieval of learned sequences.

Published on: November 8, 2024

Strong Helmet Laws Can Prevent Motorcycle Accident Wrongful Deaths

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Thousands of motorcyclist lives could have been saved in motorcycle accidents over several decades if universal helmet laws had been in place in all U.S. states. Unfortunately, without these laws, many people were killed or suffered brain damage unnecessarily in motorcycle accidents.

A new study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety finds that as many as 11% of all motorcyclist and rider deaths over a period of close to 5 decades could possibly have been prevented if universal motorcycle helmet laws had been place in all states. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study, more than 22,000 motorcyclist lives could have been saved between 1976 and 2022 if all states had universal helmet laws. That means that about 11% of all motorcyclist wrongful deaths during this period of time could have been prevented.

Wearing a helmet can significantly help reduce a person’s chances of being killed in a motorcycle accident, just like seat belts can help save motorist lives in car accidents. In spite of that fact, all states have laws that require motorists and passengers to wear seat belts while driving, but only 17 states and the District of Columbia have laws requiring all motorcyclists and riders to wear helmets while riding.

Published on: October 24, 2024

Infrared Therapy Promises Quicker Recovery for Spinal Cord Injury Victims

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

New research focuses on the use of infrared light therapy to help reduce the impact of a spinal injury soon after it occurs.

Spinal cord personal injuries are some of the most devastating injuries, and often occur in auto accidents, motorcycle accidents and pedestrian and bicycle accidents. There is no complete cure for a spinal injury. However, millions of dollars are being invested in research into circumventing or limiting the impact of spinal cord personal injuries. Some of this research focuses on interventions that can limit damage during the early hours after the personal injury.

Recently, researchers using a grant by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health announced that they are in the process of testing an infrared tool that can help reduce the activity of mitochondria cells after an injury. According to the researchers, a lot of the long term impact of a spinal injury can be limited if interventions are made immediately or within a few hours after the injury. As soon as a spinal injury occurs, the mitochondria cells go into overdrive, creating large amounts of free radicals, and increasing cell damage in the area. According to the researchers, it is therefore important to limit the activity of the mitochondria soon after the spinal injury.

Published on: September 23, 2024

Lack of Insurance and Recovery after Spinal Cord Personal Injuries

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Uninsured or under-insured patients, who have suffered spinal cord injuries due to auto accident or other traumatic events, may be much more likely to be taken off life support.

A recent study measured the impact of insurance coverage on the survival and recovery of persons after a spinal cord injury. The study focused on more than 8,400 American adults who had suffered a spinal cord injury, and found that uninsured or under-insured patients were much more likely to be taken off life support much earlier than those with insurance.

Spinal cord injuries are often caused in auto accidents, trucking accidents and motorcycle accidents. These are not just devastating personal injuries with long-term consequences, but are also extremely expensive personal injuries to treat. The costs involved in treating spinal cord injuries can range between $95,000 to well above $1,000,000, depending on the complexity or level of the injury. Spinal cord injuries very often can result in paralysis, which in turn, can lead to a number of other effects on a person’s health.

Published on: August 15, 2024

Gear Up to Prevent Motorcycle Accident Injuries

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

As the year’s peak motorcycling season descends on us, it is important for motorcyclists to evaluate all of their gear and make sure that everything is in prime condition to prevent personal injuries in an auto accident. Keeping the gear in good condition is an important safety measure.

The summer months are the busiest motorcycling days of the year, and Georgia roads are likely to see an increase in the number of motorcycles over the next few weeks. While motorists in cars and trucks enjoy plenty of protection in the form of seatbelts and airbag systems as well as crash avoidance tech, motorcyclists are not as lucky. They must depend on sturdy and well -fitting helmets, and high quality motorcycle gear to reduce their risk of injuries in an accident. While motorcycles on their own have become safer over the past few years with new technology, motorcyclists are ultimately responsible for reducing the severity and number of personal injuries they suffer in an auto accident through the kind of clothing and gear that they wear.

Wearing a helmet is the single most important thing you can do to reduce your risk of suffering head injuries in the event of an auto accident. The state of Georgia recognizes the importance of helmets in preventing head injuries in an accident, and requires all motorcyclists, including passengers, to wear helmets. Georgia helmet laws are not restricted to passengers or motorcyclists below a certain age. No matter what your age or experience levels, you must wear a helmet when you are out riding in Georgia. Those laws, on their own, significantly reduce the number of motorcycle accident – related head injuries that occur in Georgia every year.

Published on: July 12, 2024

Motorcycle Accident Deaths Reached Record Numbers in 2022

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

The number of people being killed in motorcycle accidents reached record numbers in 2022 with more than 6,000 lives lost that year.

With so much of the focus on people being killed in pedestrian accidents or car accidents, it is easy to miss the fact that motorcyclists are losing their lives in large numbers in accidents too. In fact, in 2022, according to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 6,222 motorcyclists were killed in accidents. This is the highest number of motorcycle accident deaths on record. It is also a 23% increase on the number of deaths recorded in 2019.

Motorcycle wrongful deaths accounted for 15% of all traffic accident deaths recorded in 2019. The numbers recorded were also three times higher than the numbers in 1997. About 63% of all motorcycle accident fatalities occurred in accidents involving other vehicles, while 37% involved only the motorcycle.

Published on: June 5, 2024

Focus on Bicycle Accident Prevention This May

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

The month of May is being commemorated as National Bicycle Safety Month, an ideal time just before the year’s peak cycling season kicks off to remind bicyclists and motorists about the bicycle accident risks facing these vulnerable users.

In 2021, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 1105 fatalities involving bicycle accidents. More than 45,000 bicyclists were injured in these accidents. In the last ten years alone, there has been a 37 percent increase in the number of bicyclist deaths in auto accidents recorded across the country.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that there are 80 million bicycles in the United States. Bicyclists compete for space with motorists, creating conditions that are often most dangerous to the person riding the bicycle. Many of these accidents are preventable, and require an understanding of cyclist rights as well as the key motorist mistakes that may cost a bicyclist his safety or even his or her life.

Published on: May 6, 2024

Daylight Time Change May Impact Pedestrian Accident Rates

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

As daylight savings time changes go into effect and clocks are brought one hour forward, a new study finds that there may be some benefits to pedestrians and bicyclists as accidents involving these road users are reduced after the change. The same benefits, however, do not extend to motorists.

The effect of daylight savings time change has been analyzed by traffic safety experts several times in the past. In this most recent study, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety researchers analyzed traffic accident data from between 2010 and 2019. They further divided these accidents based on the hours around the time change – between 4:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. – and further divided these accidents based on whether these involved motorists or pedestrians and bicyclists.

The data found that the overall net effect of the time change was minimal, regardless of whether the accident involved pedestrians and bicyclists or occupants of a passenger vehicle. However, about 5 weeks after the fall time change went into effect, they found that there was an increase in the number of car accidents involving bicyclists and a drop in the number of auto accidents involving motorists. Conversely, when they analyzed the data from about 5 weeks after the spring time change went into effect, they found an increase in the number of auto accidents involving motorists and a drop in the number of accidents involving pedestrians and bicyclists.

Published on: April 19, 2024

Memory Problems After Brain Injury Linked to Processing Deficit

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Persons who have suffered a brain injury may find it difficult to recall memories or make new memories. This could possibly be a result of processing deficits as a result of a personal injury. Car accidents, slip and fall accidents and similar traumatic events may result in brain injuries which lead to a processing deficit.

A brain injury can result in a number of cognitive and intellectual impairments. The person may suffer from concentration problems, cognitive deficits and a lowered ability to understand and grasp basic concepts and ideas. One of the more troubling parts of life after a brain injury is limited memory function. The person may struggle to recall events, and even short term memory may be affected. According to new research, a brain injury can result in slowing down of processing times or a processing deficit which can, in turn, lead to memory dysfunction. The findings of the study are important when you consider the fact that as many as 50% of patients who have suffered a brain injury do suffer from some kind of memory dysfunction.

The researchers believe that rehabilitation after a brain injury can help with memory function to some extent. They believe that therapy, especially occupational therapy techniques used during rehabilitation must include techniques to speed up processing speed.