If you are the victim of a motorcycle accident in Georgia, you may be wondering about your compensation options. Usually, neither side wants to go to trial in these types of cases.
The defendant does not want to spend the time or money on a full trial and risk a significant loss. You, as the victim, may wish to get compensation to cover your injuries and expenses as soon as possible. A motorcycle accident settlement is the best way to do so.
Here, we’ll discuss what factors impact the average motorcycle settlement. It’s always important to have an experienced attorney on your side, so if you have any questions about the value of your motorcycle accident claim, contact Pritchard Injury Firm.
Is There an Average Motorcycle Accident Settlement in Georgia?
Although it may be tempting to look for an average motorcycle accident settlement amount to figure out what your case may be worth, the truth is, there is no average. Each motorcycle accident is unique. Not only that, but the injured parties in these types of cases all also have unique life circumstances and injuries that they must deal with. Because of this, there are no average motorcycle accident settlements.
That said, the best way to get an idea of the value of your case is to contact an experienced motorcycle accident attorney. A lawyer who has handled these types of cases before will be able to talk with you about your unique circumstances and help assess what your case may be worth.
Certain factors may impact your motorcycle accident settlement, including the types of injuries you may have experienced.
Injuries Motorcycle Accident Settlements May Cover
If you are hurt in a motorcycle accident, you may be facing several types of injuries. The injuries that come from motorcycle accidents are often severe because of the direct contact with other vehicles and the open road. Motorcyclists may be more likely to be seriously injured than drivers of automobiles.
If you were in a motorcycle accident, you might be experiencing:
- Brain and head injuries,
- Broken bones,
- Nerve damage,
- Spinal injuries,
- Road rash,
- Burns,
- Facial injuries,
- Disfigurement,
- Limb amputations, or
- Paralysis.
Generally, the more serious your injuries, the higher your motorcycle accident compensation amount will be.
Besides physical injuries, you may also be suffering from emotional trauma, such as pain, suffering, and mental anguish.
There are additional factors that may impact the value of your case.
Factors That May Impact Your Motorcycle Accident Settlement
Each motorcycle accident case is unique. Therefore, each motorcycle accident is going to depend on specific facts and circumstances. However, there are certain factors that may impact your motorcycle accident settlement.
Your case may proceed all the way to a trial, or it may settle. You may be negotiating with the insurance company, rather than the other driver or drivers. Even if you are negotiating with other individuals, their attorneys will use the same benchmarks to value the case as a court or an insurance company would.
The goal of motorcycle accident compensation amounts is to put you in the position you would have been if the accident had not occurred. In practice, this is almost impossible to do, because you’ve suffered serious physical injuries and mental distress.
But, to value a motorcycle accident settlement, both the financial and non-financial losses you experienced can be quantified or estimated.
For economic expenses, you can usually receive damages to cover what you’ve already had to spend or what you may be reasonably expected to spend in the future. For example, economic damages may cover you for:
- Medical bills,
- Future expected medical bills,
- Lost wages,
- Lost ability to earn, or
- Property damage.
Non-economic expenses are those that may not be quantified as easily but are equally important. These may include:
- Pain and suffering,
- Emotional distress,
- Loss of companionship, or
- Loss of consortium.
An average motorcycle accident settlement will also depend on which party was at fault. The parties will need to show evidence to bolster their claims. If you have evidence that you weren’t at fault, this may entice the other party to offer more to avoid going to court.
Contact Pritchard Injury Firm
If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, contact Pritchard Injury Firm. We know what a difficult time this is. We’re happy to offer free consultations to talk about your case, as well as answer any questions you may have about what your case is worth.