A rider can suffer a TBI in a motorcycle accident in several ways. One is blunt-force trauma from the rider’s head hitting something directly during the crash. It might be the ground if they are ejected from the bike, another vehicle, or a stationary item. Helmets can reduce the force of impact in these cases, though they cannot entirely prevent the chances of a TBI.
A second way a rider could sustain a brain injury during a motorcycle crash is from the sudden change in momentum from the collision itself. The brain is suspended within the skull, which means it can move semi-independently from it. When the skull comes to a sudden stop from crash-related deceleration, the brain continues forward on its trajectory for an instant before colliding with the inside of the skull, potentially causing an injury.
The third principal way a traumatic brain injury can happen during a motorcycle collision is if something penetrates the rider’s skull. A penetrating wound can cause massive damage to the tissues of the brain. If this happens, immediate medical attention is often necessary to prevent death or permanent side effects from the injury.