There is no accurate way to determine the value of a motorcycle accident claim, without investigating all of the circumstances involved in the motorcycle crash and the resulting damages. No experienced personal injury attorney will contest this. That is, rather than simply “guesstimating” how your motorcycle accident claim is worth. In order to calculate the worth of a motorcycle accident claim, all factors must be taken into account. In other words, your attorney must not only investigate liability issues when looking at your motorcycle accident claim, but must also investigate the financial, emotional, and physical losses you have incurred as a result of a motorcycle accident in San Fransisco.
Furthermore, to maximize your recovery, your attorney must discuss the case with your doctors, as well as any other treating physicians in order to gather evidence and prove that you are entitled to compensation for all of your losses. When it comes to recovering damages after a motorcycle accident in San Francisco, here is what you can be compensated for.
Common Recoverable Damages After a Motorcycle Accident in San Francisco
Motorcycle accidents can severely impact the lives of injury victims as they try to recover from physical injuries and financial expenses, which is why retaining a personal injury lawyer to handle all aspects of a personal injury claim is an important consideration. This becomes more significant when a fatality occurs and a wrongful death lawsuit is pursued.
Motorcycle accident claims typically include these common recoverable damages:
Past and Future Medical Expenses
You are entitled to be reimbursed for all of the medical expenses you have accrued in order to treat your motorcycle accident injuries. In addition, if you must have future medical treatments, you are entitled to claim an amount for the cost of future medical bills for things such as:
- Continuing physical therapy
- Future surgeries
- Long-term personal care, like a live-in nurse/aid
- Ongoing medical care for permanent medical conditions
Past and Future Lost Wages
If you are unable to return to work due to your injuries, you are entitled to claim future lost wages in addition to any wages that you lost from missing work as a result of the motor vehicle accident. This may also include the loss of any benefits that you may have been entitled to receive had you been able to work.
Loss of Earning Capacity
If you were seriously injured in a motorcycle accident and your injuries interfere with your ability to perform the same daily tasks at work or you are unable to earn the same wages, you can claim an amount for loss of earning capacity. In most cases, a financial expert will be utilized to calculate the value of this claim.
Property Damage
Compensation for damage to your motorcycle will depend on the type of insurance coverage the at-fault party has, your own collision coverage (if you have any), and whether or not the bike is a total loss.
In most cases, you will negotiate with your own insurance company for repairs or total loss of your motorcycle under any collision/comprehensive coverage you may have purchased. If you don’t have your own insurance to cover the damage to your motorcycle, your only choice may be to file a property damage claim with the at-fault party’s insurance carrier.
Other Out-of-Pocket Losses After a Motorcycle Accident in San Francisco
You may also be able to recover compensation for other out-of-pocket expenses related to the motorcycle accident and your injuries, such as expenses associated with the following:
- Doctor visits, medical treatment, and over-the-counter medications
- Medical aids, such as crutches, wheelchairs, and slings
- The cost to pay someone to perform household chores that you can no longer perform
- Fees for expert witnesses whose testimonies support your case
- Court filing fees
- Burial or funerals costs if the motorcycle accident resulted in the wrongful death of a family member
Non-financial Losses
Non-financial losses are those that you suffered as a result of an accident that is related to emotional and physical distress. These may include an accident victim’s physical pain and suffering, emotional anguish, post-traumatic distress (PTSD), loss of consortium, loss of enjoyment of life, and punitive damages if applicable.
Documenting Damages After a Motorcycle Accident in San Francisco
If you sustained serious injuries in a motorcycle accident involving a negligent driver of another motor vehicle, it’s best to work with a motorcycle accident lawyer to increase your chances of winning your case. And to help your attorney build your motorcycle accident claim, you should keep receipts for all out-of-pocket expenses incurred as a result of your accident. It is also helpful to keep a journal that details your pain level each day, as well as the emotional and physical distress you experience due to the accident. This will help your attorney see just how much the motorcycle accident has impacted your daily life.
