What Damages Can You Recover From a Motorcycle Accident?
February 15, 2024 | Personal Injury
Motorcycle accident victims are much more susceptible to sustaining severe injuries in the event they collide with another vehicle, a fixed object, or are involved in a single-vehicle accident. In situations where another driver or entity caused a motorcycle accident victim to crash, the victim may be able to recover compensation for their losses. Typically, a successful insurance claim or lawsuit against another party can help the motorcyclist recover economic and noneconomic damages.
Economic Damages for a Motorcycle Collision
When a motorcycle collision happens, victims will typically begin to receive bills, receipts, invoices, and estimates related to the expenses caused by the incident. These calculable losses are referred to as economic damages for a personal injury accident claim in Seattle. The economic losses typically revolve around a motorcycle accident victim’s:
- Emergency medical expenses
- Ongoing hospital or doctor costs
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation expenses
- Medical devices and prescription medication needs
- Lost income or loss of earning potential
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Property damage expenses
Non-Economic Damages for a Motorcycle Collision
Motorcycle accident victims in Washington may also experience a range of losses that are harder to calculate. These more immeasurable losses revolve around a motorcycle accident victim’s:
- Physical pain and suffering caused by the crash
- Emotional and psychological trauma
- Loss of enjoyment of life or loss of quality of life
Unfortunately, these types of losses are hard to quantify. The victim will not receive receipts or bills that properly denote these types of damages. However, there are specific ways to measure non-economic losses so that motorcycle accident victims can recover the compensation they need. One of these is called the “multiplier method,” which involves adding up all of the economic damages the motorcycle crash victim incurs. An attorney will take this total and multiply it by a set number (typically a number ranging from 2 to 5).
For example, let us suppose a motorcycle accident victim incurs a total of $150,000 in economic damages as a result of the collision. If an attorney used a multiplier of “3,” then the non-economic damages requested would equal $450,000. This would bring the total damages requested to $600,000 when combined with the economic damage total.
How Much is a Motorcycle Claim Worth?
There is no exact amount of competition motorcycle accident victims receive if their claim against another party is successful. Several factors can influence the total compensation amount, regardless of whether or not we are discussing an insurance settlement or a jury verdict award amount.
Some of the main factors that can influence how much compensation a motorcycle crash victim receives include the severity of their injuries, how long it takes to recover, and whether or not they are able to work during the recovery process. If they sustain any long-term disability, this can alter how much compensation they receive. Additionally, issues such as shared fault and insurance policy limitations can also affect how much compensation a person receives.
Your motorcycle accident lawyer may be able to give you a ballpark estimate about what you can expect from your motorcycle crash settlement. However, each claim is unique, and there is no guarantee of a definitive total.