The average payout for a motorcycle accident is not known. This is not a statistic that we can reliably offer as no single database accounts for every motorcycle accident-related settlement and judgment in America.
Let’s say such a database existed—even so, knowing the average payout for motorcycle accident cases might not help you much. The average settlement value of a motorcycle accident case has no bearing on the value of your case. Instead of worrying about averages, allow a motorcycle accident attorney to calculate exactly how much money you deserve.
Why Motorcycle Accident Cases Can Vary Significantly in Value
Average settlement values have little use because each motorcycle accident case involves different facts, and each victim has different damages.
Some factors that may determine the value of your case include:
- Whether or not you share fault for the accident
- Whether you suffered disabling injuries, as caring for disabling injuries can cost astronomical sums
- Whether you have lost a loved one because of a fatal motorcycle accident
- The nature of your pain and suffering, which can be complex among motorcycle accident victims
- How severely your motorcycle was damaged during the collision
When you choose to hire a motorcycle accident lawyer, you don’t have to worry about calculating the value of your case. Your attorney and their team will evaluate the cost of each of your damages and seek compensation for those costs.
Specific Damages Motorcycle Accident Victims May Receive Money For
Injured riders often find their life in disarray, facing significant damages like:
Healthcare Expenses
You should not have to pay out of pocket for:
- Emergency medical transport
- Emergency department care
- Surgery
- Hospitalization
- Medications
- Any other medical services or items related to your motorcycle accident
Your lawyer will gather medical records, identify future medical care you need, and demand that liable parties cover all accident-related medical costs.
Pain and Suffering (and Related Mental Health Services)
Every motorcycle accident victim experiences some degree of psychological and emotional hardship.
A category of damages called pain and suffering accounts for several accident-related conditions, which can include:
- Physical pain (including chronic pain)
- Scarring
- Amputation and other types of disfigurement
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is a relatively common consequence of a traffic accident
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Difficulty sleeping
- Lost quality of life
Some injured motorcyclists may fear riding, which can deprive them of an activity they previously loved. Your lawyer will develop a complete understanding of the ways in which your accident has diminished your life.
Motorcycle Repairs and Other Property Expenses
Your attorney will include the cost of repairing or replacing your motorcycle in their case valuation. If your phone, clothing, or other property was damaged during the accident, your lawyer will calculate the cost of repairing or replacing that property.
Professional Damages
The average economic cost of traffic accidents ranges from tens of thousands (in cases of possible injury) to more than one million (in cases of wrongful death). These figures do not include the value of pain and suffering, which can be substantial among motorcycle accident victims.
Damages in Fatal Motorcycle Accident Cases
Motorcycle accident lawyers represent those who lose loved ones in fatal accidents, as these victims are often consumed with the grieving process.
If you lost a loved one because of injuries from a motorcycle accident, recoverable damages may include:
- The survivors’ pain and suffering
- The decedent’s pain and suffering
- Loss of the decedent’s income, work-related benefits, and household services
- Funeral costs
- Burial or cremation costs
- Loss of spousal companionship
- Other economic or non-economic damages caused by the wrongful death
A motorcycle accident victim requires personal attention, as damages are personal to each victim. A lawyer will compassionately review your damages and lead the fight for your financial recovery.
Why You May Hire a Lawyer to Calculate Your Case Value (and Seek a Fair Settlement)
Motorcycle accident lawyers play an essential role for the clients they serve.
Those injured in motorcycle accidents (and victims affected by fatal collisions) hire attorneys because:
- Motorcycle accidents can be intensely traumatic: One must never underestimate the psychological, emotional, and physical trauma motorcycle accident victims endure. Such trauma may leave you with severe symptoms that prevent you from managing the stress or demands of your case.
- Victims’ injuries require full attention: Your physical injuries may also place limitations on you, as the recovery process can feel like a full-time obligation. The truth is, you deserve to put your health first and prioritize recovery after your accident. Your case should not be a responsibility that stands in the way of your recovery.
- Law firms lend their experience and training to injured riders: Accident victims’ inexperience is a weakness that insurers and liable parties may exploit during the claims process. Your attorney will not lack experience, and their familiarity with claims and lawsuits may lead to the results you seek.
- Law firms have resources that you may not: A law firm may have a network of experts, financial backing, paralegals, and other resources that will benefit your case. Your attorney will include such services in their fee structure, which will require you to pay no out-of-pocket compensation to the firm.
- Every accident victim deserves protection: A lawyer will have your six, protecting your rights and your case from the moment they take over your case. Such protection is priceless, especially as you may be in a diminished capacity—psychologically, physically, emotionally, and financially.
You and your lawyer will form a team, with your lawyer serving the role of captain. Your attorney and their team will oversee case strategy and execute it to the best of their ability.
Motorcycle Accident Lawyers’ Contingency Fees Work for the Client
Motorcycle accident lawyers minimize the financial risk of hiring them to zero.
Thanks to contingency fees, motorcycle accident victims can:
- Hire any lawyer who will accept their case without paying any out-of-pocket cost
- Allow the law firm to cover all case-related costs (including expert fees, the cost of reconstructing the accident, and other expenses)
- Know that the law firm will only receive its fee if the case is successful
A contingency fee means the law firm’s fee comes from any settlement or judgment the law firm secures. This way, the attorney has every motivation to achieve positive results for the motorcycle accident victim.
How Attorneys Seek Compensation for Motorcycle Accident Victims
Your lawyer will oversee every detail (including the smallest ones) of your case. Lawyers who represent injured riders usually seek compensation by:
Evaluating and Documenting the Client’s Damages
Your lawyer will immediately begin learning about your damages and speaking with you and your doctors while conducting their investigation.
They will gather all documentation proving the nature of your damages, which may include:
- CT scans, MRIs, X-rays, and any other medical images of your injuries
- Photographs of visible injuries and disfigurement
- Medical records and bills
- Employment records indicating your pre-accident income
- Doctors’ and mental health experts’ diagnoses of injuries and mental health conditions
- Invoices for bike repairs, property replacement, temporary transportation, and other accident-related expenses
Your attorney may have connections with automotive repair professionals, doctors, and other experts who can help evaluate your damages.
Calculating the Financial Value of the Client’s Damages
Your lawyer will not worry about average settlements in other motorcycle accident cases. Instead, they will calculate the exact financial value of your damages, which will tell them how much money to demand from liable parties.
Securing All Evidence of Negligence
Winning your case will require your lawyer to:
- Identify the cause of the motorcycle accident
- Determine who is financially liable for your damages
- Secure all proof of negligence, which can include video footage, photographs, witness accounts, and expert testimony
Lawyers conduct in-depth investigations to ensure they build the strongest case possible.
Negotiating a Settlement
Your attorney will use evidence of negligence and documentation of your damages during settlement negotiations.
Your lawyer may seek compensation from:
- Your insurance company
- The at-fault party’s insurance company
- The parties who caused your accident (if you file a lawsuit)
If your case goes to trial, your lawyer will seek a jury to award you a fair award.
Taking the Case to Trial When Appropriate
If insurers or those who caused your accident are unwilling to extend a fair settlement, your lawyer may take your case to trial. It is your case, so your lawyer will discuss the need for trial if your case reaches that point.
Managing Every Other Aspect of the Claim or Lawsuit
Insurance claims and lawsuits are complex processes with many moving parts. Your lawyer will take these processes on for you, handling everything from communications to paperwork and settlement negotiations.
Why Motorcycle Accident Cases Often Involve Large Payouts
Motorcyclists take a risk every time they get on the bike. Motorcycles lack the metal cage, airbags, and other safety mechanisms that cars, trucks, and SUVs have. This means that when someone hits a motorcyclist, they place the biker at extreme risk of injury and death.
Motorcycle accident victims often involve large payouts because:
- Riders often suffer severe, even disabling, injuries when involved in a crash
- Motorcyclists die at a higher rate than other accident victims
- Motorcycles are often totally damaged during accidents, requiring replacement of the bike
Attorneys are familiar with the costs that motorcycle accident victims face. Your attorney will account for your damages and fight for the financial recovery you deserve.
What If I Lead My Own Motorcycle Accident Case?
Whether you are an injured rider or someone who has lost a loved one because of a fatal accident, handling your own case can be a risky choice for several reasons.
Those who handle motorcycle crash cases without a lawyer may:
- Face great psychological hardship: Motorcycle accident cases require attorneys to delve into the details of the accident. You may find such details distressing, especially if you have post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, or anxiety.
- Compromise their recovery: Your recovery is a commitment. If you are not fully committed to recovery because you are divided between your health and your case, there may be severe physical consequences.
- Have difficulty learning the steps of their case: Many injured riders and victims of wrongful death are unfamiliar with insurance claims and lawsuits. Inexperience can be a serious impediment to your case.
- Be at constant risk of rights violations: Insurance companies may try to pay you as little money as possible. If you misspeak or make any other errors while interacting with insurance representatives, the insurance company may use such mistakes to undermine your case. A lawyer will deal with insurers for you, minimizing the risk of a costly error.
Perhaps most importantly, your inexperience and limitations may prevent you from putting forth a winning case. This can mean you face a large financial burden if you fail to secure a fair settlement.
What to Look for in Your Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
You may be wondering which motorcycle accident lawyer to hire.
Start your search by considering a few basic criteria, which include:
- The law firm’s reviews: Former clients can give you an inside look at how a law firm treats its clients. Give proper attention to positive and negative reviews, as those reviews may help guide you toward the right law firm for your case.
- The law firm’s results: Actively seek a law firm with an extensive history of winning motorcycle accidents.
- The lawyer who will lead your case: You can ask the law firm which attorney will lead your case. You may then consider the lawyer’s experience and reviews to determine if they fit your case.
- The law firm’s performance during your consultation: Complete your free consultation, a standard offering among motorcycle accident lawyers. Ask the important questions and see whether the law firm is transparent and compassionate.
The more information you collect about prospective law firms, the more informed your choice of a injury lawyer in Cape Girardeau.
Do not wait to start your search, as your lawyer may face a filing deadline for your motorcycle accident case.