Head Injury is Leading Cause of Death in New Mexico Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle riders in New Mexico know the thrill of riding with the wind. There is probably no greater rush you get than when you are riding down an open road in Albuquerque or Rio Rancho without a seat belt to restrict you or helmet to confine you. Even though motorcycle riding is fun, it can also turn deadly.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, motorcycle accidents have doubled within the last decade. This statistic is alarming because most motorcycle accidents result in severe injuries or death. Unfortunately, motorcyclists have a greater chance of dying than drivers of passenger vehicles because they are not wearing seat belts and often times are not wearing helmets. In addition, there is nothing besides their bodies to absorb the impact or soften the blow.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says that a motorcycle rider is about 15 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than a driver of an automobile, per mile driven. According to NHTSA’s research, head injuries are the leading cause of death to motorcyclists. Studies show that a rider without a helmet has a 40% higher chance of being involved in a fatal motorcycle crash than those wearing helmets.

New Mexico is not one of the 22 states that require all motorcyclists to wear helmets. In fact, the state only requires motorcycle operators 18 years old and younger to wear helmets. This is a heated issue as many believe helmets save lives and lessen the chance for brain injury.

Riding a motorcycle is considered risky, but riding without a helmet is dangerous. Riders without helmets in New Mexico, who survive a motorcycle crash, have a higher chance for brain injury. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can occur from a jolt or blow to the head in an Albuquerque motorcycle accident. When the brain is injured, it can leave a victim with a lifetime of physical, behavioral, cognitive, and emotional disabilities, or even death.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident and sustained a brain injury in New Mexico, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, hospital bills, loss of wages, and rehabilitation among others.

If you have been injured in a car or motorcycle accident in Albuquerque on Central Ave, Paseo del Norte Blvd, Coors Blvd, Menaul Blvd, Academy Road, I-25 and I-40, contact experienced New Mexico accident attorneys at the law firm of Keller & Keller today at (505) 938-2300 to get answers to your legal questions.

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