Without knowing the particular details and facts of your case, this is hard to know. Feel free to call us for a free consultation to discuss your case, and our Tacoma motorcycle accident lawyers can give you a range of the case’s value.
Factors Unique to Your Case Will Determine What You Can Recover After a Motorcycle Wreck
When you find yourself involved in a motorcycle accident, understanding the factors that can influence the value of your case is crucial. Here, our Tacoma personal injury attorneys will explore these factors in detail.
The Extent and Nature of Your Motorcycle Collision Injuries
The severity of your injuries is one of the most significant factors affecting the value of your case. Generally, more serious injuries lead to higher compensation due to increased medical costs, longer recovery times, and the potential for permanent disability or disfigurement.
Soft tissue injuries, such as bruises and sprains, are usually considered less serious than injuries like fractures, traumatic brain injuries, or spinal cord injuries. The latter can result in substantial settlements or awards because they often require extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation and can significantly impact your quality of life.
The Medical Care You Require
Directly tied to the severity of injuries are the medical expenses incurred. This includes not just the immediate medical bills post-accident but also projected future medical costs. Long-term rehabilitation, surgeries, medication, medical equipment, and any ongoing care necessary to manage your injuries contribute to the valuation of your case. This can total into the tens of thousands or even higher within days or weeks.
Documentation of these expenses is critical; detailed records and receipts can substantiate your claim for compensation.
Whether You Are Able to Work
If your motorcycle accident injuries prevent you from working, the lost wages during your recovery period are compensable. Typically more significant, however, is the loss of future earning capacity if your injuries limit your ability to work as you did before the accident.
This aspect considers your age, occupation, skills, and the extent of your injuries. Calculating lost future earning capacity can be complex and often requires expert testimony to accurately estimate.
Any Pain You Suffered
Compensation for pain and suffering covers the physical pain and emotional distress you experience due to your injuries. This factor is inherently subjective and varies greatly from case to case.
The more severe and long-lasting your injuries, the higher the compensation for pain and suffering can be.
The Accident’s Impact on Your Quality of Life
Your case’s value can also be influenced by how your injuries affect your daily life and your ability to engage in activities you enjoyed before the accident. This includes hobbies, exercise, and social activities.
If your injuries lead to permanent disability, the compensation can be significantly higher due to the profound impact on your quality of life.
Whether You Contributed to the Accident or Your Injuries
Washington State’s contributory fault law holds that if you are found partially at fault for the accident, the compensation you receive will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are deemed 20% at fault and your award is $100,000, you would receive $80,000. Understanding how your actions may have contributed to the accident is crucial in assessing the case’s worth.
Unfortunately, motorcycle riders are often blamed for accidents as insurance companies view them as reckless. Our team will fight to ensure you are not blamed for the motorcycle crash.
The Available Insurance Coverage
The available insurance coverage limits can also affect the value of your case. If the at-fault driver has insufficient insurance coverage or is uninsured, recovering full compensation for your injuries and damages can be challenging. Your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage can play a role here, but these policies also have limits that can cap the amount you can recover.
Available Evidence and Witnesses
The strength of your case often rests on the evidence you can provide and the credibility of witness testimonies. Detailed police reports, medical records, photographs of the accident scene and injuries, and statements from eyewitnesses can all support your claim for damages.
Numerous factors influence the worth of a motorcycle accident case. Understanding these factors can help motorcycle accident victims set realistic expectations and prepare effectively for the legal process. Remember, each case is unique, and these factors interplay differently, affecting the overall compensation you may receive.
For a free legal consultation with a Personal Injury Lawyer
What Damages Can I Recover After a Motorcycle Accident?
In the aftermath of a motorcycle accident, understanding what types of damages you can recover is essential for ensuring you’re fully compensated for your losses. Here’s a breakdown of the key categories of damages typically recoverable in a motorcycle injury claim.
Medical Bills
The cornerstone of most motorcycle accident claims is compensation for medical expenses.
This category covers all costs related to the treatment of your injuries, from emergency room visits and hospital stays to surgeries, medications, and physical therapy sessions.
It also includes future medical expenses for ongoing care, which is particularly important for injuries that require long-term or lifelong treatment. These types of injuries are common in motorcycle accidents.
Lost Wages
If your injuries prevent you from working, you can claim lost wages for the time you’re unable to earn an income.
This encompasses not only your missed salary but also other forms of compensation, such as:
- Bonuses
- Overtime
- Benefits
For those whose injuries impact their ability to return to their previous employment or reduce their earning capacity, compensation can also be sought for future lost wages.
Pain and Suffering
You can also recover pain and suffering for any pain and distress the accident caused. This non-economic damage is subjective and varies widely, but it’s crucial for addressing the mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and the physical discomfort and limitations caused by the accident.
Miscellaneous Accident-Related Expenses
Beyond the direct costs of medical treatment and lost income, you can also recover damages for miscellaneous expenses directly related to the accident. This can include:
- The cost of transportation to medical appointments
- Modifications to your home to accommodate a disability
- The repair or replacement of personal property damaged in the accident, including your motorcycle
Wrongful Death Damages
If you lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident, our team offers our sincere condolences. Our lawyers can help you seek justice and recover compensation for funeral expenses, lost support, and other economic and non-economic losses.
See What Your Motorcycle Accident Claim Is Worth
Understanding these categories of damages can help you grasp the full extent of compensation you’re entitled to following a motorcycle accident, allowing you to pursue a personal injury claim that reflects the true impact of the accident on your life.
Our motorcycle accident lawyers can help you establish what your case is worth. Give us a call today to get started with a free consultation. Jackman Law Firm handles personal injury claims with no upfront costs.
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