A motorcycle accident can leave you with severe, catastrophic injuries that turn your life around in a fraction of a second.
As a victim, it’s possible to seek compensation for your losses through legal action.
However, you may not realize that many motorcycle crash claims are resolved through a negotiated agreement rather than a lawsuit. The process is very different from litigation, but there are still high stakes for your rights.
You can count on a Nashua motorcycle accident lawyer to provide details on the value of your claim, as there are numerous factors that determine the amount you could receive.
Read on for an overview on the average motorcycle accident settlement.
Compensation in a Motorcycle Crash Claim
Most motor vehicle collisions occur due to driver negligence, which means you need to prove that the other motorist was at fault.
Examples of negligent acts include speeding, improper lane changes, drunk driving, texting while driving, and many others. If successful in showing fault, you may be eligible to recover two types of monetary damages – both of which are key in determining the average settlement amount:
1. Economic Damages: These are your definable, sometimes out-of-pocket losses that result from your motorcycle accident injuries. They include medical costs, lost wages, and related costs.
2. Non-Economic Damages: Some losses are more difficult to put into concrete dollar figures, but you still endure hardship. In this category, your damages include pain, suffering, emotional distress, and related losses.
Filing a Claim for Damages
To recover monetary damages after a motorcycle crash, you’ll typically start by filing a claim with the responsible driver’s insurance company. Once you submit the necessary forms and paperwork, you’ll kick off settlement negotiations. The insurer’s claims adjuster will review your claim and communicate an offer to resolve it.
Unfortunately, the offer may not come close to what you expect as an average settlement. The insurance company may believe that your claim doesn’t align with what a jury would award in court.
In such a situation, you’ll need to file a motorcycle accident lawsuit to get the compensation you deserve.
Factors that Can Affect a Motorcycle Collision Settlement Amount
There are additional considerations that impact your claim for motorcycle accident injuries. For one, New Hampshire has a statute of limitations that allows you three years to file a lawsuit in court. In addition, the state goes by the rule of comparative negligence.
The average settlement amount for a motorcycle accident could be reduced if you’re partly at fault in the incident.
Contact an Experienced Nashua, NH Motorcycle Accident Attorney
As you can see, the average motorcycle accident settlement depends upon many, interconnected factors. By retaining an experienced lawyer, you’re in the best position to obtain a favorable outcome for your injury claim.
Not only do our attorneys have the experience to know the complexities a case can have, they have the expertise to help you understand your case and understand the potential for recovery. Our attorneys represent victims of construction accidents, medical malpractice, nursing home negligence, car accidents, and more.