It’s common for victims of motorcycle accidents to assume that the amount of any personal injury award will reflect how guilty a person was. For example, if a car ran a red light and hit you on your motorcycle, and there were ten witnesses who agree you were not at fault then you deserve a higher payout, right? Wrong. In California, the amount of your settlement or jury award will reflect the following three types of damages.
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages and income
- Noneconomic damages
The most obvious type of damages a person is likely eligible for after a motorcycle accident is medical expenses. Bills are typically covered if they’re the result of the accident in which a driver was negligent. In the event you’re injured and you have medical coverage that pays the bills, you’re still eligible for the full medical cost. You could also be entitled to co-pays, prescription costs, and any necessary medical device you needed.
If you have a reasonable claim and don’t have insurance or a way to pay your medical bills, then you may be able to get assistance on a lien basis. This involves a doctor seeing you without upfront charge, but placing a lien that specifies they are to be paid out of any settlement.
If a person goes through a catastrophic injury and requires medical services in the future, or a lifetime of medical care, then they may be eligible for that as well. At Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas, we can work directly with an economist who can determine the monetary value of future care.
If you are injured in an accident that is someone else’s fault and you missed work – and there for lost wages – then this could be recoverable. Even if you were still paid but had to use sick time or personal time off from work, you can be compensated for that. If there is reason to believe that you will miss work in the future to tend to your injury, that we can also ask for that.
Another similar situation is one in which a person suffers from an injury that will prevent them from earning the living they did before the accident. If this is the case, then we’ll work with economic experts to get a fair estimate of what you’re entitled to.
Of course, there are some injuries that aren’t physical but can impact your life just as much. These damages can include loss of enjoyment of life, pain and suffering, disfigurement, anxiety, grief, emotional distress, emotional and physical impairment, and inconvenience. In order to be awarded noneconomic damages, we will be in touch with medical experts, physicians, etc. who can provide evidence about your current, past, and future noneconomic damages.
Now is the time to contact an attorney at Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas, we are happy to start off with a free legal consultation. If you decide to work with us, we’ll take your case on a contingency basis, which means you don’t pay a cent unless we win your case. Call us today at 909-982-0707 to begin the process.
