Motorcycle Accident Damages in Whitby & Oshawa
When a motorcycle accident occurs, many people only think about the physical injury to the rider. However, there are so many other types of damages that need to be considered when a motorcycle accident happens.
There are many types of damages that can happen, along with the settlements that occur. It is so important for everyone to understand road safety rules when it comes to riding a motorcycle when surrounded by large trucks and cars.
Many of those who love to ride motorcycles, love the freedom that it offers. They like feeling the wind on their face, along with getting better gas mileage when compared with a car or truck. However, those who ride motorcycles need to understand that they are taking a risk each time that they get on the road.
Statistically speaking, those who ride motorcycles are five times more likely to be injured in a motorcycle accident than those who are in passenger cars. Why is this?
Many times, motorcycle accidents are due to the fault of other drivers out there who simply do not know how to share the road with a motorcycle or when road conditions lead to a loss of control and a motorcycle is in the nearby vicinity.
What is Property Damage for a Motorcycle Accident?
Property damage is one of the types of damages that can happen when involved in a motorcycle accident. The motorcycle itself is the property that has been damaged.
And despite the fact that these are not as large as a passenger car, they can cost just as much, if not more to repair. This is especially true if the person were to be using a vintage motorcycle that takes a lot of time and energy to repair.
When these types of damages are seen, a person is offered a settlement in that they pay off the damage that has happened to the motorcycle. There may be no intent to repair the vehicle as they believe the motorcycle to be a total loss.
In this case, the person would receive a check and they could use this to buy a new motorcycle. However, for those who have a vintage or classic bike, they often opt to use this money to get started on the repairs and then have to pay for the rest out of their own pocket.
Medical Bills and Expenses
When a person is injured while riding a motorcycle, chances are they are going to have medical bills and expenses that are related to the accident. This is yet another damage that can be fought for on behalf of the rider.
Those who are suing are not only suing for the cost of their medical care directly after the accident or even the emergency medical rides that they had to use, they are also considering any future medical costs that they may have.
It is not uncommon for a victim of a motorcycle accident to have to undergo rounds of physical therapy in order to get back to one hundred percent.
Lost Wages
Lost wages are one of the main types of damages that can be sued for, along with the medical bills and medical related expenses. In this scenario, the driver is losing wages simply due to the accident that was not their fault.
When this is the case, the person who is responsible may have to pay for all or part of the lost wages so that the victim does not lose their quality of life. Also consider that the extent of the injuries could post to future lost wages due to this accident, which could be factored into this settlement as well.
Pain and Suffering
The pain and suffering that someone incurs when they are involved in a motorcycle accident is not easy to put a dollar amount on. However, it is there. The person may feel as though their entire life is gone, they may feel anger for the loss of a bike that they helped to restore and loved to ride.
They may even suffer from diminished joy in riding, something that they once may have loved to do, and it is all due to the motorcycle accident in which they were involved.
These types of damages are something that a personal injury attorney can help with. They will decide on a dollar amount that meets your pain and suffering.
Punitive Damages
This is a type of damage that many people are not familiar with, however, it can be vitally important to any motorcycle accident case. Punitive damages are defined as damages that are awarded for punishment. For example, if the other driver was driving under the influence of alcohol, then the victim could be awarded punitive damages since this person was being reckless.
This is a type of damage that is often used when the physical injuries are not as bad, yet if the accident had been worse, the injuries could have resulted in death or severe issues.
The person responsible was being negligent (reckless driving, under the influence and the like) in how they were driving, and the entire scenario could have been much worse. It is these types of cases, that punitive damages are asked for in order to give the victim everything that they deserve.
What is a Settlement?
When you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, you are going to be offered a settlement for the accident. This settlement is going to utilize the damages that you are asking for and give you a dollar amount for however much the insurance company thinks that your accident was worth.
In many cases, a motorcycle accident can result in a large settlement if the person was severely injured. However, be aware that in many cases, insurance companies do not have your best interest at heart when they are giving a settlement.
Instead, they may low ball this settlement to the point that it only pays for property damages and medical bills expenses. The pain and suffering or even punitive damages that you deserve are not taken into consideration.
Why You Need a Personal Injury Attorney
If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, you do not want to fall victim to a bad settlement for all the damages. In many cases, we have helped people realize that they should have more damages listed on their case than what they originally thought.
This is why you should work hand in hand with a personal injury attorney to file your case against the person who is responsible for your motorcycle accident.
Here at Conte Jaswal, we have the experience that you need on your side when fighting for motorcycle accident damages. We understand the pain, suffering, and expenses that you are going through and the property damage that you may have lost.
We want to fight to get you a fair settlement that will help your future, rather than harm it. We will fight for you to ensure that you get a fair settlement for motorcycle accidents.
Contact us today for a FREE Consultation.
