Motorcycle accidents can turn your life upside down, but determining the true value of your motorcycle accident case can help you regain control. Many accident victims are unsure how to calculate the compensation they deserve, and insurance companies often try to settle for less than what they deserve to receive.
Understanding how to determine the value of your motorcycle accident case can ensure you receive proper compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, and other damages.
As a motorcycle accident victim, you shouldn’t have to worry about the complexities of legal matters on your own. Working with an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer can ease your burden and help you secure the settlement you deserve. Let’s break down how to determine the value of your motorcycle accident case, what factors affect your compensation, and how to protect your claim.
What Goes Into Calculating Your Compensation?
Motorcycle accidents often result in severe injuries that impact every area of a victim’s life. Understanding the long-term effects of these injuries is key to calculating the full value of your motorcycle accident case.
Immediate and long-term medical expenses
One of the key factors in determining the value of your motorcycle accident case is the extent of your medical expenses. Injuries such as road rash, fractures, and head trauma are common in motorcycle crashes. While some may heal over time, others, such as traumatic brain injuries (TBI), can lead to lasting physical pain and emotional suffering.
Motorcycle accident victims often require surgeries, rehabilitation, and ongoing medical treatments, all of which affect the value of a motorcycle accident case. The more severe the injuries, the higher your settlement amount may be.
Remember to document all immediate treatments and any future medical care you require. Providing proof of these expenses is essential in building a strong settlement claim. That’s why it’s crucial to work with an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer who can ensure your compensation reflects the severity of your injuries.
Lost wages and loss of future earnings
Motorcycle accidents often result in time away from work, and the financial strain of lost wages can be overwhelming. In some cases, accident victims may lose the ability to work altogether due to severe injuries. The lost wages you suffer while recovering are an important part of determining the value of your motorcycle accident case.
If your ability to earn a living is affected long-term, this must be factored into your settlement amount. Compensation for lost wages includes not only the money you missed while recovering but also any loss of earning capacity in the future. An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer can help you calculate the full extent of these economic damages.
Pain and emotional trauma
Beyond physical injuries, some motorcycle crash victims frequently experience psychological effects like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. These emotional impacts can be long-lasting and significantly affect your daily life and relationships.
In determining the value of your motorcycle accident case, emotional suffering must be factored into the settlement negotiations. These non-economic damages are more challenging to calculate, but they are just as important.
Motorcycle accident victims deserve compensation for their emotional trauma. Whether it’s fear of riding again or difficulty processing the accident, the mental anguish caused by the crash is just as important as the physical injuries. Your lawyer can help prove how much these emotional damages have affected your life and secure fair compensation.
Property damage expenses
In addition to your medical bills and emotional suffering, property damage plays a role in determining the value of your motorcycle accident case. After a motorcycle crash, your bike may be severely damaged or totaled. Typically, you may be entitled to compensation for the repair or replacement of your motorcycle and any other personal property affected by the accident.
An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer will ensure the property damage aspect of your claim is thoroughly documented and considered in settlement offers.
Battling Insurance Companies and Fighting Biases Against Motorcyclists
Motorcycle accident victims sometimes face prejudice from insurance companies. An insurer might assume all motorcyclists are risk-takers and may try to blame the accident on the rider, even when the other driver is at fault. This bias can hurt your claim, leading to a lower settlement offer than you deserve.
It’s important to work with an experienced lawyer who understands how insurance companies determine the value of your claim and can fight back against these unfair stereotypes. Having an advocate on your side ensures that your rights as a motorcyclist are respected.
A Lawyer Can Help Maximize Your Insurance Settlement
Insurance companies often use tactics to reduce the value of your motorcycle accident case. They may offer a quick, lowball settlement that doesn’t fully account for your medical expenses, lost wages, and emotional suffering.
The long-term consequences of rushing into a settlement could leave you struggling to cover your expenses. Before accepting any settlement offer, consult an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer. Your lawyer will negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf, ensuring that every aspect of your claim is considered.
With strong legal representation, you can confidently reject lowball settlement offers and pursue the full value of your case. Your lawyer can help you determine whether the settlement is fair and if it covers all your current and future needs.
Mistakes That Can Lower the Value of Your Motorcycle Accident Case
Motorcyclists often ride with friends, so it’s natural for accident victims to want to talk about the crash with those close to them. However, it’s important to ask your friends not to discuss the accident on social media or with insurance companies. Anything posted online or shared with an insurance adjuster can hurt your case. Memories fade, and insurance adjusters are skilled at getting information that may be misconstrued.
If a friend is listed as a witness to the accident, the insurance company may contact them for a statement. It’s crucial to inform your friends that they’re not obligated to talk to the insurer. A contradictory testimony, even if unintentional, can call into question who was at fault and ultimately lower the settlement amount. Protect your claim by keeping conversations about the accident private and away from social media.
Another common mistake that some accident victims make is handling their motorcycle accident case without a lawyer. However, doing so can lead to costly mistakes. Insurance companies know how to manipulate the process, offering smaller settlements that don’t reflect the true value of your claim. Without an experienced lawyer by your side, you might miss out on the compensation you deserve.
Having a legal professional on your side gives you the best chance of securing proper compensation. Your lawyer will guide you through the legal matters, from gathering evidence to negotiating with the insurance company, and make sure your rights are protected.
Protect Your Rights and Secure the Compensation You Deserve
Motorcyclists face significant risks on the road despite making up only a small percentage of all vehicles. Although motorcycles accounted for only 3 percent of registered vehicles in the US, they tragically represented 14.6 percent of all traffic fatalities and 3.5 percent of injuries nationwide in 2022.
These alarming statistics highlight the dangers motorcyclists endure and emphasize the need for their rights to be aggressively defended, especially when determining the value of a personal injury accident claim.
At Kiley Law Group, we ensure your rights are protected. With the help of our experienced motorcycle accident lawyers, you can ensure that your medical bills, lost wages, and emotional suffering are all considered in your settlement offer. Don’t settle for less than you deserve.
If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, don’t let insurance companies undervalue your claim. Instead, contact our team today to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation. We’re here to fight for your rights so you can focus on healing. With our help, you can secure the compensation you need to move forward confidently.
