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Motorcycle accidents can be extremely painful, not just to yourself and your bike but to your wallet as well. Determining how much your motorcycle accident injury claim is worth can be a daunting process, but not to worry. Here is everything you need to consider to make the right estimate.
Liability
First things first, you need to determine who was at fault. This is extremely important, as this will affect your motorcycle accident injury claim compensation drastically. For instance, despite sustaining severe injuries, if it is established that you were the one at fault for the accident, you are most likely going to get compensated only a nominal sum. The same holds true if the other person involved in the accident was not negligent in any manner, or if there is no proof of his/her negligence.
Damages
It goes without saying that the more severe the damages incurred due to the motorcycle accident, the higher value of the motorcycle accident injury claim you will receive. There are several kinds of damages that you need to keep in mind –
Damages To Property
In the event of an accident, your motorcycle might be damaged. The cost of repairing the damages can be covered by your insurance. You can also cover the cost of obtaining a temporary means of transport, which you can use while your motorcycle is being repaired as part of your motorcycle accident injury claim.
Pain And Suffering
It is much more difficult to ascertain the pain and suffering that resulted due to the accident. However, the jury would determine this depending upon the extent of your injuries. This is why it is always advisable to seek medical attention as soon as possible after a motorcycle injury.
Medical Expenses
This is where seeking immediate medical attention will come in handy. Depending upon the extent of your injury, you might be treated at the emergency care unit or in the doctor’s office. Submit every single report of your medical care expenses to your insurance company, along with any future expenses that you might incur. These future expenses might include follow-up examinations and the cost of physiotherapy.
Lost Earnings
Getting an estimate of your lost earnings is simple. Just add up the wages and the benefits you lost out on when you were out of work due to your motorcycle injury.
Future Lost Earning Capacity
This might be tricky to calculate, and to do so, your lawyer might hire an economics specialist. While it is easy to calculate the wages a person might lose out on in the future, it is difficult to determine what that value would amount to the present value concept. An economist, therefore, would be able to calculate this for you.
What Does Motorcycle Insurance Cover?
Motorcycle insurance typically covers most of the costs incurred due to a motorcycle accident. However, insurance usually does not include lost wages, pain, and suffering as well as missed opportunities. Some may even have a cap on the amount that they can compensate you with. Sometimes, you might have to pay large deductibles before insurance coverage begins. A personal injury lawyer would be able to help you get the best deal possible out of your insurance claim.
Trial value
If your case goes to court, the amount you reasonably expect to win at trial is known as the trial value. Your lawyer can give you a rough estimate of your chances of winning the trial, and you can accordingly decide whether you want to finish this inside the court or go for a settlement outside.
Settlement Value
This value will typically be less than what you would expect to win at trial. However, it is better to go for a settlement if you feel like the chances of winning a trial are slim. So, how do you calculate the settlement value? Merely multiply your trial value with the percentage of your chances of winning. The amount that you will settle for will sometimes be significantly lesser than the trial value. However, settling outside of the court prevents you from taking a risk at the trial.
Insurance companies are always out to pay as little as possible, even if the degree of your suffering and damages is exceptionally high. This is where a lawyer comes into the picture and helps you understand the ins and outs of the motorcycle accident injury claim. We help you conduct a thorough investigation into your circumstances and allow you to plead your case in the best possible manner.
To learn more about motorcycle accident injury claims and how you can make the most out of them, contact us today.
