Serious motorcycle accidents often mean terrible consequences for riders and their families. A motorcycle accident’s physical, emotional, and financial effects tend to have a much greater impact compared to your average vehicle crash. And needless to say, it’s important for victims to understand their legal rights and know more about the calculation method for damages in order to cover their losses adequately.
However, if you have concerns regarding the claim filing process or damages after a motorcycle accident, our California motorcycle accident lawyers at Beckerman Anderson can give a complete review of how damages are determined in a motorcycle accident. Our staff considers a range of compensable elements, from economic to non-economic damages, to ensure that you get a fair, full settlement for your losses.
Motorcycle Crash Data in California
Of course, it goes without saying that motorcyclists are exposed to unique risks on the road.
According to SWITRS statistics from the California Highway Patrol for 2021, there were a total of 13,381 injury-causing and deadly motorcycle accidents in the state. Tragically, throughout California, 539 motorcyclists were killed in accidents in 2020 alone.
Unsurprisingly, Los Angeles County claimed the highest number of motorcycle accidents in the Golden State, with 2,803. Of those, there were 133 fatalities and 3,068 injuries reported. What’s more, 837, or roughly 30%, of those wounded in motorcycle accidents in Los Angeles County suffered serious injuries. In 2021, 942 injury-causing and fatal motorcycle accidents were recorded in Los Angeles, resulting in 53 fatalities and 346 serious injuries.
Besides a helmet and some riding gear, nothing much stands between a motorcycle rider and another vehicle or the pavement. This increases your chances of serious and life-changing injuries such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), road rash, bone fractures, and spinal cord injuries.
Potholes, gravel, and other road obstacles also pose a hazard to motorcycles, and distracted drivers often fail to notice and collide with motorcycles when changing lanes or turning. For instance, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that about 33% of multiple-vehicle motorcycle accidents are caused by other drivers turning in the direction of the motorcycle.
Calculating Damages After a Motorcycle Crash
Calculating damages in a motorcycle accident is a complex process that requires a thorough understanding of the various factors involved. Economic damages, such as medical costs and property damage, are easily quantified, whereas non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, are subjective and require formulas or multipliers to calculate.
Additionally, exemplary damages are sometimes awarded to punish offenders and discourage similar actions in the future. According to California personal injury law, negligent parties acting in a deliberate, fraudulent, or careless manner may be held liable for these damages. In the case of a motorcycle accident, this may refer to an aggressive motorist trying to force you off the road or someone driving under the influence of alcohol that caused the accident.
Damages could include lost wages, medical costs, property damage, and non-economic losses, such as pain and suffering.
Calculating Motorcycle Crash Damages in California
After a motorcycle accident, you can get fair compensation for your injuries by hiring an attorney. Typically, an experienced California legal team will utilize their knowledge of motorcycle injuries and California insurance law to calculate your total loss, including economic and non-economic losses.
You can prove the seriousness of your injuries with evidence, such as photographs and police reports, and negotiate with insurance companies to get the best possible compensation for your current and future losses.
When someone sustains a severe injury, such as a traumatic brain injury, paralysis or deformity, or a spinal cord injury, the healing process might be drawn out, and continuous care and rehabilitation may be required. For instance, it is projected that the total cost of treating a spinal cord injury sustained at the age of 26 will be approximately $2,500,000. If you have this information, you can determine your current and future medical costs if you suffer an injury that results in paraplegia.
Your legal team will use medical records, treatment processes, and test findings (such as those from an MRI) to determine the amount of your damages and illustrate why you are entitled to full compensation. This will be done by establishing the fact that you are entitled to full compensation. In the meantime, keeping a journal of your injuries, tracking your progress toward recovery, ensuring that you maintain the results of any evaluations, and obtaining testimonials from members of your family or friends are all fantastic ways to demonstrate how an accident has affected your life.
The nature of the injuries sustained, the length of time necessary for recovery, and the impact on your day-to-day activities will all play a role in determining how damages will be calculated and, ultimately, the amount that you will be awarded as a settlement. Your accident attorneys will negotiate a settlement with insurance companies using these factors as a basis for their discussions.
Contact a Motorcycle Accident Attorney in Orange County
Accidents involving motorcycles have the potential to be among the most lethal and disabling on the road. Multiple factors contribute to motorcycle accidents in Orange County, including busy highways, drivers distracted by their cell phones, dangerous weather conditions, and more.
Thankfully, here at Beckerman Anderson, our seasoned motorcycle accident lawyers are familiar with the problems motorcyclists confront on California roadways. And whether you were injured in an accident with many cars or a single-vehicle incident, we can help you pursue the compensation you are entitled to after a serious motorcycle accident has turned your life upside-down.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident in Costa Mesa or the neighboring regions of Orange County, do not hesitate to contact Beckerman Anderson for help. Our compassionate, caring lawyers, who specialize in defending victims of motorcycle accidents, will help you determine your next step forward, and we will fight for the compensation you are due.
We have a long history of helping injured motorcyclists achieve the justice they deserve, and we’re ready to assist you and yours today. Contact an Orange County-area motorcycle accident attorney for a free initial consultation at (949) 409-4299.
