What Damages Can You Recover After Sustaining Serious Injuries in an Alpharetta Motorcycle Accident?
Serious injuries like back and neck injuries are common in motorcycle accidents. These injuries lead to substantial financial losses. If you have been hit by a bigger vehicle while riding a motorcycle and are suffering from a traumatic brain injury, you may be dealing with mounting medical bills. Thankfully, you can recover damages in the form of financial compensation by bringing a lawsuit against the party responsible for the accident.
A Ponton Law motorcycle accident lawyer can help you recover monetary losses after a motorcycle accident. If somebody else caused the collision, your attorney can identify the at-fault party and hold them accountable for what you have been suffering from.
Kinds of Damages in Motorcycle Accident Cases
Damages are expenses related to an injury sustained because of another party’s negligence. Filing a lawsuit against the at-fault motorist allows you to recover damages. Your lawyer will collect the necessary evidence to prove the fault of the other driver and your eligibility for compensation. Damages in your case are categorized into the following:
- Economic damages. Because these are tangible damages, proving them can be easy. For instance, medical bills can demonstrate your medical care cost. Economic damages that you can recover through an insurance claim or lawsuit include medical bills, lost wages, and diminished or lost earning capacity. Medical bills include prescriptions, surgical bills, transportation costs, and doctor’s visits. A serious injury can prevent you from going to work for a long time. By filing a lawsuit or insurance claim, you can recover lost wages. In addition, your inability to work will reduce your income. It can be impossible to return to your original job. This makes you eligible for compensation that covers such losses.
- Non-economic damages. These damages are subjective, which makes them hard to prove. Your attorney can put an accurate value on these damages including pain and suffering, emotional distress, disfigurement or scarring, and loss of consortium. Regardless of how the crash took place, you may be dealing with significant pain and suffering. Your lawyer can help secure the full compensation for the misery you have to experience because of your injuries.
Damages for loss of consortium can be recovered if your injuries resulted in the loss of an intimate or familial relationship. Emotional distress is compensation for the emotional and mental harm that the actions of the negligent party have caused. It can offer monetary compensation for things such as anxiety, humiliation, depression, or lost quality of life. Lastly, compensation for disfigurement or scarring can be awarded if you suffered permanent physical changes because of the accident, which affects your quality of life. How much compensation you may get for these damages will depend on the size and location of the disfigurement, its effect on you, and its visibility.
- Punitive damages. These damages are awarded to punish the at-fault party for their egregious behavior and prevent them from doing the same in the future. They are usually awarded in cases that involve intentional misconduct or when the defendant behaved dangerously or recklessly.
Your Possible Settlement
Your settlement amount will depend on different factors like the nature and extent of your injuries, how strong the evidence is, the damages you have incurred, and the parties involved. The insurance provider or attorney of the defendant will usually investigate the accident and weigh such factors to determine the settlement offer to make. Sometimes, past settlements or comparable cases may influence the offer you may get.
Consult with a skilled lawyer to know the possible value of your motorcycle accident case and settlement amount. Also, your attorney can inform you about how long the settlement process can take.