There are many reasons why someone might choose to ride a motorcycle in California, considering the state’s mild climate, winding roads, and picturesque landscapes. Of course, riding a motorcycle is also a thrilling, convenient, and relatively cheap way to get around. However, despite a motorcycle’s advantages, data suggests that motorcyclists are at a much higher risk of suffering a severe to fatal injury in an accident than passengers of four-wheel cars. The challenging effects of a devastating motorcycle crash—which can include catastrophic injuries, irreversible damage to your bike, and expensive medical bills—can be even more frustrating when you’re not at fault.
If you’re thinking about taking legal action against the negligent part after your motorcycle injury, it’s reasonable to consider how much your case might be worth. Unfortunately, however, there’s no concrete answer. The amount of compensation you’ll collect after your motorcycle injury case depends on several factors, including the cost of the economic and punitive damages, the strength of a plaintiff’s argument, the amount of available insurance, and what juries have awarded plaintiffs in similar cases.
What Factors Determine Your Motorcycle Accident Case’s Worth in California?
While each motorcycle accident case is unique, there are few factors that you can point to as you try to determine its worth. If you can prove the following, you’re likely entitled to compensation:
- The other motorist had a duty to drive safely
- They breached their legal duty by driving carelessly or recklessly
- There is a direct link between their breach of duty and the motorcycle accident from which you suffered injuries
Understanding exactly how much compensation is a different story. Breaking down the most common aspects that govern how much a motorcycle injury case is worth may be helpful. Here are a few to keep in mind:
The Plaintiff’s Damages
Some personal injury damages, like medical bills and lost wages, are concrete and easier to predict because they are mostly based on the exact amount the plaintiff demonstrates they have paid or lost. Other damages are harder to determine and include all costs related to intangible losses such as emotional trauma, PTSD, and psychological pain. A personal injury attorney—with the help of medical, psychological, and economic professionals—will be able to determine the amount of money you’re owed by the at-fault party for these types of non-economic damages.
Amount and Availability of Insurance
If a defendant has few other assets, a settlement will not exceed the liability limits of the defendant’s auto insurance. Jury verdicts can and do exceed insurance liability limits, but that doesn’t mean the plaintiff is able to collect the full amount of the verdict.
Likelihood the Defendant Will Be Found Liable
Of course, to receive any compensation at all, you must first have enough evidence to prove that the negligent party was at fault in a court of law. If you have little or no evidence substantiating that the defendant was at fault for your motorcycle accident injuries, the value of your case goes down considerably. Even if the potential damages are high, a defendant will be less willing to settle and more inclined to take their chances at trial when fault is in question.
A trusted personal injury attorney will best be able to provide you with an estimated value for your case after meeting with you one-on-one and discussing the specific circumstances surrounding your injury.
Contact a California Motorcycle Accident Attorney
If you’ve been injured in a motorcyclist accident as a result of someone else’s negligence, you’re probably experiencing feelings of stress, frustration, and physical pain. Fortunately, help is right around the corner. For legal assistance, reach out to the trusted lawyers at Adamson Ahdoot.
With more than 100 years of experience helping injured motorcycle accident victims, we are committed to keeping you informed throughout the legal process as you overcome this challenging time in your life. The team of highly skilled attorneys at our boutique law firm will be able to help you determine how much compensation you may be awarded based on the circumstances of your case.
At Adamson Ahdoot, we’ll give you the peace of mind you need by handling the details regarding your insurance company, the DMV, auto repairs, medical care, and everything in between. For a free consultation, give us a call at (877) 871-3265 or complete our contact form today.
