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Atlanta, GA motorcycle accident lawyer support is critical after a serious crash. Whether you’ve been injured or are helping a family member, it’s important to understand the terminology commonly used in these cases. Clear knowledge of key legal and medical terms can make a difference when reviewing records, preparing for legal proceedings, or communicating with professionals. Below, we explain five terms that frequently come up in Atlanta motorcycle accident cases and how they apply.
Traumatic Brain Injury
A traumatic brain injury is one of the most severe injuries we encounter in motorcycle accident claims. It happens when a sudden impact causes damage to the brain, often during direct contact with the road, another vehicle, or debris. The force can result in temporary or permanent impairments, ranging from memory loss and speech difficulties to loss of motor skills. Mild TBIs might involve short-term confusion or headaches, while more serious cases include brain swelling, coma, or lasting neurological deficits.
These injuries are especially common among motorcyclists due to limited head protection, even when helmets are worn. Medical imaging like CT scans and MRIs are typically used to assess brain trauma. In legal cases, ongoing rehabilitation, reduced independence, and inability to work are considered when calculating long-term effects.
Lost Earning Capacity
Lost earning capacity refers to a decrease in someone’s future income potential after a disabling injury. This is different from wages missed while recovering. It focuses on how injuries from the accident affect the victim’s ability to return to their prior line of work—or work at all. For instance, a rider who previously worked in construction may no longer be able to lift heavy objects or stand for long periods due to a back injury.
Evaluating this impact requires documentation of employment history, medical restrictions, and analysis from vocational specialists. If someone is young and had a growing career ahead, this value can be significant. Estimating future lost income involves projecting earnings over time and calculating the reduction caused by physical or cognitive impairments from the accident.
Road Rash
Road rash is a type of friction wound caused when the skin rubs or scrapes across a rough surface, typically asphalt. Unlike minor scrapes, moderate to severe road rash can remove several layers of skin and expose underlying tissue. Riders who slide across the road surface during a crash often suffer from this injury on arms, legs, and back.
The severity can vary, but in more serious cases, victims may need skin grafts and months of wound care. Legal claims involving road rash often use photos, treatment logs, and specialist evaluations to show the extent of pain, scarring, and possible disfigurement. It’s one of the more graphic types of injuries in a motorcycle crash and can leave lasting physical and emotional effects.
Facial Fractures
Facial fractures are broken bones in areas like the nose, jaw, cheekbones, or around the eyes. These injuries usually result from the rider’s face striking a vehicle, the ground, or handlebars during the crash. Since helmets often do not protect the entire face, this type of trauma is common even when safety gear is used.
Symptoms include swelling, bleeding, trouble speaking or chewing, and in some cases, vision issues. Treatment can involve wires, plates, or surgery to restore the structure and function of the face. In personal injury cases, compensation for facial fractures often reflects not only the medical expenses but also how visible scarring or functional changes may impact the person’s personal and professional life.
Funeral Costs
In fatal crashes, surviving family members often face steep funeral and burial expenses. These include service fees, casket or cremation costs, transportation, and other related charges. In wrongful death claims, these costs are a recoverable category of compensation and are separate from other losses like lost future income or emotional impact.
Documentation usually includes invoices from funeral homes and proof of payment. It’s common for immediate family members to pursue compensation for these expenses, particularly when the deceased was a primary income provider or had dependents.
If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident or lost a loved one due to a collision, the legal process can feel overwhelming. We at Council & Associates, LLC are here to help you understand your rights and pursue the compensation available to you.
Call today to schedule a confidential consultation with our Atlanta, GA motorcycle accident lawyer team and take the first step toward moving forward.
