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It’s not possible to calculate an “average” motorcycle accident settlement. How much you can collect depends on several unique factors, including what kind of injuries you suffered and how long those injuries will impact your life.
A Rutherfordton motorcycle accident lawyer in your area can help you determine how much financial compensation you should request after a motorcycle collision. If the insurance company resists paying you fairly, an attorney can help you fight for the money you deserve.
What Goes Into a Motorcycle Accident Settlement?
Your settlement—or your jury award, should your case go to trial—should include money for everything you lost because of the collision. You can either start creating a list of your financial losses immediately or hire a personal injury lawyer to help you do so.
Some common losses that you can seek compensation for include:
- Medical expenses: Unfortunately, medical care is very expensive, especially if you require surgery, physical therapy, or assistive devices. No matter what treatments you need, a settlement can cover all your medical bills.
- Property damage: Whether you can fix your motorcycle or you must replace it, you deserve compensation for that expense.
- Lost wages: Even a single lost paycheck is too much. A motorcycle accident injury lawyer can calculate how much money you lost so that your family does not have to struggle or give up their current quality of life.
- Pain and suffering: You experienced very distressing and catastrophic injuries that the liable party could have prevented if they had been more careful. You deserve compensation for your lost enjoyment of life, mental anguish, and other non-economic losses.
- Disability: A severe injury can affect you temporarily or permanently. Either way, it is a big inconvenience for which you should receive a fair settlement.
Punitive Damages and Motorcycle Accidents
The average motorcycle accident injury settlement does not include punitive damages. The court typically only awards these damages to victims of egregious negligence or malicious behavior. If you qualify for punitive damages, how much you could receive depends on your circumstances.
Wrongful Death Damages and Motorcycle Accidents
Unfortunately, too many fatal motorcycle accidents occur. For example, according to a report from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), the state saw over 200 motorcycle crash fatalities in 2022. Similarly, a South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS) report says 173 motorcycles were involved in deadly accidents in that state in 2021.
If you have recently lost your loved one in a motorbike collision, you can sue for wrongful death and ask for compensation related to the loss of your loved one’s income and companionship, as well as funeral costs and other expenses. Your lawyer can negotiate with the at-fault party’s insurance company on your behalf to achieve a fair settlement.
How to Calculate a Motorcycle Accident Settlement
The process of determining how much money you should ask for differs depending on the types of compensation you are seeking. You may be eligible for both economic and non-economic damages. For instance:
- If you want reimbursement for your medical costs, your motorcycle accident attorney can review your bills to determine how much you have spent. They can also talk to your doctor to learn how much additional money you will likely spend on treatments in the future due to the long-term consequences of your injuries.
- If you want reimbursement for the physical pain and emotional distress of your injuries, personal injury lawyers have developed several methods of “converting” such injuries into monetary terms.
- If you want reimbursement for the wages and job benefits your injuries have cost you, your attorney can look at past and present paystubs, talk to your employer, or ask a vocational rehabilitation expert.
- If you want reimbursement for the cost of fixing your motorcycle, you can have your lawyer review your mechanic bills.
Collecting Evidence to Calculate an Accident Settlement Amount
It is your motorcycle wreck attorney’s job to gather the strong evidence necessary to build your case. While you do not have to go out of your way to collect evidence on your own, it would be helpful if you could:
- Save all bills, receipts, and other paperwork related to the crash
- Give your lawyer any relevant pictures, such as photos of you or your motorcycle from before and/or after the collision
- Cooperate fully with your attorney by telling them everything you know about the crash and being honest about how your injuries have affected you
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Why You Should Seek a Motorcycle Accident Settlement
Pursuing a legal case for fair compensation is often stressful, but the benefits of doing so—namely, the money you receive after completing a successful case—can be enormously helpful after a traffic accident. You can use this money to:
- Pay off all present and future expenses related to the crash
- Make sure your family can continue with their current standard of living, even if you cannot work
- Reimburse you for all of the physical and mental strain you have gone through (and will continue to go through)
- Ensure that the at-fault party is held responsible for their actions and must make it up to you and your family
Getting Help With Your Pursuit of a Settlement
Only you can decide if it is worth it to hire a motorcycle accident attorney, but note that the legal process can take a very long time, during which you must also keep up with medical treatments and determine a new normal for yourself and your family.
By allowing your legal representative to handle your case, you ease the burden on your loved ones while still fighting for a just outcome.
Who Can Receive a Motorcycle Accident Settlement?
If someone else’s negligent behavior caused your motorcycle crash, you have the right to seek compensation from the responsible party. Your motorcycle accident attorney can work to identify who caused your crash and demand they pay for what they have taken from you.
Find Out How Much Your Motorcycle Accident Injury Claim Is Worth
At Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, our law firm is available 24/7 to respond to client questions and fight for a personalized, rather than an “average,” settlement that can help you pick up the pieces after a motorcycle accident. Contact us today to get a free case evaluation and learn how much your personal injury claim or lawsuit may be worth.
