What Damages Can You Seek After a Motorcycle Accident in Cerritos, CA?
Cerritos is one of the most beautiful cities in California and provides marvelous scenery to enjoy during a motorcycle ride. Sadly, when a motorcycle accident occurs, serious injuries are often the result and can be devastating. Motorcyclists who are lucky to survive such accidents may be left facing a lengthy and grueling recovery, struggling with a huge amount of medical bills, and wondering if their life will ever be whole again.
While filing a personal injury claim against the at-fault parties can’t make up for what you lost, the financial compensation that comes from such a claim or lawsuit can help cover medical care and other financial concerns. Experienced personal injury attorneys can The damages that an accident victim can collect for a motorcycle accident lawsuit can be divided into three fundamental categories: Economic Damages, Non-Economic Damages, and Punitive Damages.
Economic Damages in a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit
Some of the costs incurred by the victims of a motorcycle accident have a direct financial value, and it’s known as “Economic Damages.” These damages refer to expenses such as:
Medical Expenses
Medical care is a leading cause of financial difficulties in California. In addition to the expenses associated with growing medical treatment, victims of motorcycle accidents often face physical, emotional, and mental challenges that require ongoing medical treatment.
Medical expenses arising from a motorcycle accident may include but are not limited to the following:
- Ambulance fees
- Physical and/or cognitive therapy
- Consultations with a healthcare professional
- Accessories like heat pads or crutches
- Disfigurement
- Permanent disability
- In-home services
If your physician believes you’ll need additional medical care or therapy at the time your motorcycle accident claim is settled, your personal injury lawyer will have to calculate the potential expenses.
Lost Wages
Lost wage is another major cause of financial difficulties after a motorcycle accident. Recovery from injuries combined with mobility limitations that prevent you from going back to work may deprive you of the income required to take care of your family. Fortunately, you can be compensated for lost wages as part of the economic damages in a lawsuit. This also applies to the income you would have earned during the period you missed work.
Repair or Replacement of Your Damaged Motorcycle
In a motorcycle accident, the victim’s motorcycle is generally damaged. When the accident results in this type of damage, the victim can seek compensation through a property damage claim. Generally, this case is handled separately from a bodily injury claim. Property damage claims allow the victim of a motorcycle accident to recover the cost of repairing or replacing the bike from the at-fault parties.
Non-Economic Damages in a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit
When determining the right compensation for you after a motorcycle accident, it is essential to take into account all of your costs, including non-economic damages. Non-economic damages are categorized as intangible losses that are difficult to calculate. Rather, they are evaluated by a jury in a lawsuit. The victim of a motorcycle accident may be awarded non-economic damages such as:
Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering is legally defined as physical or mental distress for which a victim of a motorcycle accident may seek damages in a lawsuit. The damages are usually evaluated based on the kind of injury sustained, the degree of the pain suffered, and the scenario for any future pain that is associated with the injury.
Pain and suffering may also include emotional and/or mental damage such as stress, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder. However, to determine the compensation for pain and suffering, your attorney must present evidence of the severity of the injury.
Loss of Consortium
Loss of consortium refers to the impact of the motorcycle accident or injury on your relationship with your family. While nothing can replace having a good relationship with a loved one irreversibly changed by accident, financial compensation can help victims mend their lives and help them adjust to a new one. Victims of a motorcycle accident may seek a claim for loss of consortium damages for different family members such as spouses, children, and parents.
Punitive Damages in Motorcycle Accident Lawsuits
Punitive damages are the third form of damage that is available to the victim of a motorcycle accident. This form of damages is only awarded in limited circumstances where the action of the at-fault was found to be careless, intentional, or egregious. Punitive damages are not proposed to compensate the victim of the accident but rather to serve as punishment to the wrongdoer. Unlike other states, there is no cap on punitive damages in California motorcycle accident cases.
Legal Help From a Motorcycle Accident Attorney in Cerritos, CA
If you have been injured in a motorcycle crash in Cerritos, it is in your best interests to consult with an experienced and dedicated motorcycle accident lawyer as soon as you can. At Heritage Accident Lawyers, we represent victims of motorcycle accidents by providing them with compassionate legal advice and aggressive representation for their personal injury lawsuit. We won’t let the insurance company attempt to get you to settle for less than you deserve. motorcycle accident victims
More importantly, our personal injury lawyers will handle your motorcycle accident case on a contingent fee basis, so we won’t get paid until we get the maximum financial compensation for your injuries. Contact us today to schedule a free legal consultation with no obligation.