Motorcycle accidents accounted for 8,254 accidents in Texas in 2019. With a total of 560,952 vehicle crashes in Texas that year, motorcycle accidents account for about 33% of all crashes. The median motorcycle injury verdict in the United States (after a personal injury trial) from 1999 to 2006 was $73,700. In 2018, the top verdict for a motorcycle case in the United States reached a settlement of $41,864,102 in California. The two most prominent in Texas that year were awarded $5,220,550 and $2,551,000.
Motorcycle accidents in Texas are becoming more and more common, and they can have severe consequences. Hundreds of Texans die every year, leaving their families and their communities suffering without them.
If you’ve been in a motorcycle accident, you are not alone. However, you are likely struggling to get by with bills piling up while you try to recover from your accident.
Determining The Cost of Your Losses in a Motorcycle Accident
Motorcycle accidents can be challenging to recover from not just physically but financially as well. As with any accident, there will be physical injury, property damage (your motorcycle, if nothing else), and emotional distress.
Motorcycle drivers are often seriously injured due to their higher level of exposure. This can end up taking a significant toll on you and your family, both physically, emotionally, and financially.
When determining the cost of your losses in a motorcycle accident, each of these factors is taken into account. One of the highest costs you’ll encounter is hospital and medical treatment.
According to data from the U.S. Department of Transportation, the average cost of hospital treatment for motorcycle riders without a helmet was between $15,000 and $30,000. With a helmet, costs ranged from $10,000 to $17,000.
The same report indicated that non-medical costs from motorcycle accidents came out to about $22.6 billion per year. That is comprehensive, but it indicates that the loss each person suffers after an accident is immeasurable.
A personal injury lawyer will gather evidence from medical records, medical bills, witness statements from the scene, police reports, and income loss to prove how much your case is worth what you deserve in compensation. Once your case’s value is determined, a motorcycle accident attorney will pursue a settlement from the at-fault party’s insurance.
Types Of Damages Awarded In Motorcycle Accident Claims
Damages being a sum of money claimed and awarded in a personal injury settlement. The damages awarded in a motorcycle accident include compensation for injuries and other losses that were suffered as a result of the accident. A personal injury lawyer dealing with your case will consider each of the areas in which you suffered loss or injury. They will then decide how much you can make a claim for as a result of your motorcycle accident.
Some of the most common types of damages you can be awarded are:
- Pain and Suffering and Mental Anguish
- Permanent injuries
- Medical Bills
- Emotional distress
- Loss of income
- Punitive Damages
- Wrongful Death
If you’ve been in a motorcycle accident near Fort Worth Texas and you want to see what you can receive in compensation, get in touch with a personal injury lawyer from Patterson Law Group. We will help you determine which of these damages you qualify for and how much you can recover from the other party in return for what you’ve suffered.
How Fault Is Determined in a Texas Motorcycle Accident
Every state has slightly different rules about how to determine who is at fault in a motorcycle accident.
In Texas, cases are judged based on a comparative fault standard. Texas’ comparative fault law allows courts to hold each party accountable for their percentage of fault for the accident.
If a person is determined to be 51% or more responsible for the accident, they will not be eligible to sue for compensation. However, if you are less than 50% at fault, you can sue.
It is not always clear who is responsible for motorcycle accidents. Often, the driver of a car is responsible for an accident because they failed to see the motorcyclist or exercise proper care when driving near one.
However, motorcycles are also more susceptible to road conditions or other foreign hazards on the roadways. In those cases, a motorcyclist might be able to sue a federal agency that failed to maintain care of the road properly.
Contact a personal injury lawyer to help determine who is at fault. Do not rely on the insurance companies to determine who is at fault in your motorcycle accident. Insurance companies don’t have your best interest in mind, they are trying to keep as much of their money as possible and give you as little as possible..
The Difference Between a Settlement Value Vs. Trial Value in a Motorcycle Accident Claim
There are two ways your personal injury claim can be settled if you’ve been in a motorcycle accident. An out of court settlement or a trial verdict.
Both of these options have pros and cons, and one of the most significant differences is in the monetary value of the case once it’s settled.
Settlements
- A settlement is an agreement between the drivers and their insurance companies that provides a specific value to the injured party.
- Settlements are private, and the decision is up to the parties involved rather than to a judge or jury.
- Settlements often take less time and money.
- Settlements often result in much lower payouts due to their compromising nature.
Trials
- A trial occurs when parties fail to settle.
- Your case is presented to a judge and jury.
- The jury and judge have the final say in who gets a payout and for what amount.
- Trials can be lengthy and costly.
- Trials usually result in much higher payouts because a lawyer knows precisely what the case is worth and can fight to get favorable results with supporting evidence.
File a Motorcycle Accident Claim with a Personal Injury Attorney to Get the Compensation You Deserve
If you’ve been involved in a motorcycle accident and have suffered from pain and distress, don’t try to take on the insurance companies yourself. One of the best decisions you can make is to discuss your case with a personal injury lawyer who will guide your steps as you seek the compensation you deserve.
At Patterson Law Group, we are devoted to getting justice for every client that comes to us. We have consistently seen great results and won hundreds of thousands of dollars in compensation for our clients.
If you’re worried about what a motorcycle accident is costing you, don’t hesitate to reach out. We offer free case reviews and will not take any money until we have won your case. Give us a call today for a free case evaluation to see how we can help you get your life back on track.
