Snellings Law PLLC Attorneys are Personal Injury Trial Lawyers
Scared to ride
after a motorcycle wreck?
What You Need to Know:
- Motorcycle Crashes are traumatizing and can affect a victim’s mental health.
- Motorcycle crash victims should get mental treatment after a crash.
- Seeking help from a mental health professional can help prove mental anguish in a motorcycle accident case.
Emotional Roadblocks After A Motorcycle Wreck
When I was younger, my friends and I used to race on our bicycles. During one such race, we were headed around one of those chain-link backstops. As we made the turn, my pedal caught in my friend’s front spokes, and I went flying—right into the backstop—face first. I had the chain link pattern in the form of scabs on the right side of my face for several weeks.
While I played it off to my friends as no big deal, I remember being nervous to get back on my bike. This was especially true when I was riding with my friends, and one got a little close. I am not sure I ever raced again on my bike, either. I can only imagine how much that fear is magnified for our clients who have been involved in a motorcycle crash.
The Hard Truth: Severity of Motorcycle Wrecks
There is rarely a minor motorcycle wreck. Motorcycles obviously provide much less protection against vehicles than the interior of a car. Cars have seatbelts, crumple zones, and more surface area to disperse the force of a crash. So, a car occupant is much better protected than a motorcyclist in a collision. In our experience, though, many motorcycle riders can avoid direct contact with vehicles. But the contact with the roadway or other obstacles is what causes catastrophic injuries, such as traumatic brain injury, for motorcycle crash victims. I cannot tell you how many of our motorcycle injury clients have made amazing riding moves to avoid a vehicle pulling out in front of them or into them. While they often avoid direct contact, they end up having to lay their bike down or end up crashing into another obstacle, injuring them.
Many people already know the severity of injuries in motorcycle accidents. However, many people don’t think about the psychological and emotional trauma that goes along with a motorcycle accident. Accidents can cause Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. This can mean even riding in a vehicle can be traumatizing for a victim, much less on a motorcycle. PTSD can mean crippling anxiety and fear when going on the road, but it can also mean emotionally draining flashbacks and memories of the wreck. Certain sights, noises, and smells can even triggered these symptoms, not just riding on a motorcycle or in a vehicle.
The Path to Healing: Medical Treatment After a Motorcycle Wreck
Motorcycle accident victims should seek immediate medical attention for their physical injuries after a motorcycle wreck. Also, we highly recommend seeking psychological attention as well. Although many of our motorcycle crash clients will first refuse to go to counseling, we have yet to have one seek counseling and regret it afterward. We get it—going to a counselor to talk through feelings is not at the top of many of our clients’ lists of things they want to do. However, not taking the opportunity to address mental trauma can lead to long-lasting effects. These effects are much worse than talking through them with a trained professional. A professional counselor (psychologist, psychotherapist, psychiatrist, licensed counselor, etc.) is trained to help people work through their problems and emotions, and they want nothing but the healing for their clients. There is no shame in seeking help for emotional and psychological issues. In fact, motorcycle accident victims should be applauded for seeking help.
If you are not familiar with mental anguish, watch Scott’s video.
Pursuing Peace: Mental Anguish Damages
Many different things that go into a personal injury claim and settlement. One key factor that influences motorcycle crash settlements is mental anguish. Mental anguish addresses how a victim’s mental health was affected by the accident, not the medical costs. Some people complain about mental anguish damages, but we know how real and devastating they can be. In fact, some of our most staunch tort reformer clients have changed their minds once they or their loved one has been through a traumatic psychological event.
We always advocate that our motorcycle accident clients who are feeling symptoms of mental trauma at the very least undergo an evaluation from a psychological health professional. If nothing else, they at least have documentation of their struggle. Then, adjusters can’t say it is some “made-up anguish.” It is also a step for these clients to see that the counseling process is not so scary. Also, it shows them that their symptoms are real and normal. Most of our clients suffer from anxiety and other psychological trauma after going through any type of crash, whether it be a motorcycle wreck, a car accident, a bicycle accident, a pedestrian accident, or any other type of event.
Snellings Law’s Fierce Motorcycle Attorneys Can Help Motorcycle Victims
If you or a loved one has been involved in a motorcycle accident, please do not neglect your mental health. As personal injury attorneys, we have seen what can happen to clients who refuse to treat that injury. It can cause havoc in your personal and family life. We would love to hear your story and see how we can help. Whether it be by answering questions or by serving as your attorneys, we are here for motorcycle accident victims.
At Snellings Law, we have over 30 years of combined trial experience, and our sole focus is helping personal injury victims. You can reach us on our website using the email form or the live chat feature. You can also give us a call using the call now button below or by dialing 214-387-0387.
