A serious motorcycle accident could injure you physically, but it could also lead to significant financial losses and emotional injuries. Filing a personal injury claim after a motorcycle accident might not restore you to your former self, but it could give you the financial stability you need to feel more comfortable in the difficult aftermath of a devastating crash. A successful motorcycle accident lawsuit could compensate you for many types of damages.
Medical Bills
Medical expenses are one of the highest costs most motorcyclists face after traffic collisions in Kansas City. Surgeries, therapies, rehabilitation, medications, medical devices, treatments, hospital stays, x-rays and specialists can lead to thousands of dollars in health care expenses. If the crash gave you a catastrophic or permanently debilitating injury, you and your family could be facing medical bills for life.
An injury lawsuit can demand a fair and full amount for your past and foreseeable future medical expenses related to the accident. If your health insurance already covered the bulk of your medical care, you may owe your insurance company a portion of your settlement or jury verdict after you win. A Kansas City motorcycle accident attorney can help you understand which part of your award you can keep after you win a serious injury claim in Missouri or Kansas.
Motorcycle Repairs or Replacement
Another hallmark of a motor vehicle accident claim is the costs of vehicle repairs. A collision can cause a total loss, meaning the costs of repairs are greater than the overall value of the motorcycle. You may have to replace, rather than repair, a totaled motorcycle. In other cases, you may be able to repair your bike – but it could cost hundreds to thousands of dollars. A motorcycle accident lawsuit could lead to the recovery of what it will cost to get your motorcycle back on the road, or else reimburse you for the full pre-crash value of your vehicle.
Lost Wages
Common motorcycle accident injuries include bone breaks, pulled muscles, traumatic brain injuries, back and neck injuries, organ injuries, lacerations, and severe road rash. As an injured victim, you may need to take a few days off work while you receive medical care. If you have serious or catastrophic injuries, you may have to miss work for weeks, months or the foreseeable future. You could demand compensation for your past lost wages as well as any lost capacity to earn if you have a long-term disability from a motorcycle crash.
Pain and Suffering
The Kansas City civil courts allow claimants to recover compensation for noneconomic (intangible) damages in addition to economic ones. Noneconomic damages can include physical pain, chronic pain, discomfort, lost quality of life, lost enjoyment of life, loss of consortium, mental anguish, emotional distress, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, nightmares and psychological trauma. Your Kansas City personal injury lawyer may use expert testimony or statements from your friends and family members to prove noneconomic damages.
Punitive Damages
Some, but not most, motorcycle accident lawsuits result in additional damages on top of compensatory relief, called punitive damages. A judge has the power to award punitive damages as he or she sees fit for cases involving gross negligence, maliciousness, fraud or intentional wrongdoing. Punitive damages punish the at-fault party.
What Is Your Claim Worth?
Bringing a motorcycle accident lawsuit against a driver or another party that caused your collision in Kansas City could give you the financial compensation you need to move forward. The value of your case will depend on factors such as the seriousness of your injuries and how long you will be living with symptoms or disabilities. In general, more severe injuries will result in higher compensatory awards. Work with a motorcycle accident attorney to calculate how much your case is worth. Then, your lawyer can build proven strategies to help you fight for maximum compensation. Contact us to learn more.