Common Injuries and Damages Covered in Motorcycle Accident Lawsuits
Motorcycle riding comes with a thrill that is only matched by a few other forms of transportation, but it also carries significant risks. Despite motorcycles making up about 3% of registered vehicles in the U.S., they account for a startling 14% of all traffic fatalities yearly. This stark disproportion highlights every rider’s potential dangers when hitting the road.
Understanding what kind of injuries one can sustain and the damages often recovered through lawsuits can be crucial if you ever find yourself recovering from an accident. So, dive deeper as we explore common injuries and compensations related to motorcycle accidents.
Bodily and Personal Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents
When it comes to motorcycle crashes, injuries can range from visible bodily harm to more intangible yet profound personal consequences. Bodily injuries typically include physical damage like broken bones, road rashes, or spinal injuries that are immediately noticeable after an accident.
On the flip side, personal injuries cover a broader spectrum that includes not only these physical injuries but also psychological traumas such as depression or anxiety stemming from the event.
“While the fractures might mend, the invisible wounds of a motorcycle accident victim often run much deeper and require just as much attention during recovery. As such, healing fully encompasses both addressing visible injuries and giving due care to psychological health after such impactful experiences,” says Nevada motorcycle accident lawyer Leonard Stone of Shook & Stone Personal Injury & Disability.
Understanding Recoverable Damages in Motorcycle Accidents
Damages refer to the monetary compensation that a victim can claim due to losses or injuries sustained. These compensations are categorized mainly into economic, non-economic, and, in rarer cases, punitive damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages serve as a financial safety net, covering tangible losses with a direct cost. These can include medical bills, rehabilitation costs, lost wages from missed work, and damage to property like your motorcycle.
Calculating these expenses is quite straightforward: it involves summing up all out-of-pocket expenditures that stem from the accident. Documenting every expense related to the mishap and keeping receipts and detailed records is vital to maximize recovery. Securing maximum compensation for economic damages not only assists in physical recovery but also influences non-economic damages.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are compensation for losses that are not easily quantified. This category includes pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, or loss of companionship. In Nevada, these subjective impacts from an accident are recognized and can be claimed.
Their calculation often involves applying per diem or multiplier-based formulas. Per diem assigns a daily rate to your suffering until you reach maximum recovery. In contrast, the multiplier method uses a scale to multiply your economic damages by a number reflective of your pain severity.
Maximizing these damages heavily relies on conveying the profound personal impact through meticulous documentation and expert testimonies about how the injury disrupted your life.
Punitive Damages in Motorcycle Accidents
Punitive damages are not compensatory but rather aim to penalize the wrongdoer for egregious actions. Due to their nature, punitive damages are quite rare and are only considered under circumstances involving gross negligence or intentional harm.
For instance, if a motorist intentionally hits a motorcycle out of road rage or drives under heavy influence, the court could award punitive damages against them.
The input of a Nevada motorcycle accident lawyer becomes crucial in arguing effectively for fair compensation based on the circumstances of your case, so ensure you hire one when navigating a case, even while it is not a legal requirement.
Also Read: Types of Legal Fees in Personal Injury Cases
