Kentucky Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

Motorcycle Helmets Brain Injury In Kentucky

In the six year period from 1995 to 2000, there were 5313 motorcycle crashes reported in Kentucky. There were 4916 injured and 185 motorcyclists killed as a result of these crashes (Kentucky Transportation Center 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000). Numerous studies across the United States have addressed the ability of motorcycle helmets to decrease morbidity and mortality associated with these events (Gabella, et al 1995; Kelly, et al 1991; Sarkar, et al 1995; Wagle, et al 1993). Until now, however, there have been no studies that analyzed Kentucky data in particular. This paper attempts to describe the relationship between motorcycle helmet use and traumatic brain injuries (TBI) in the state of Kentucky over the six year period from 1995 to 2000. The data included in this study are from the trauma registry of the University of Louisville Hospital, which is designated by the American College of Surgeons as a Level I Trauma Center. The University of Louisville trauma center serves a diverse population in urban, suburban, and rural areas of Kentucky.

Subjects were included in this study if they were the driver of a motorcycle that was involved in a crash. Motorcycle crashes were identified using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) external cause of injury codes (E-codes) (World Health Organization 1977). The E-codes E810.0-E819.9 designate traffic accidents, and E-codes E820.0-E825.9 designate non-traffic accidents. The digit after the decimal identifies the subject as a motorcycle driver or a motorcycle passenger (drivers=2, passengers=3).

In preparation for this study, all years of trauma registry data were compiled into a single data set. A total of 339 motorcycle drivers were then identified by E-code. When choosing variables to include in the study, those that were best reported and potentially related to TBI or patterns of motorcycle riding were included. These include age (four categories: !,20, 21-40, 41-60, 61+), gender (male=l, female=O), season of crash (January-March, April-June, July-September, October-December), traffic vs. non-traffic.

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