What Damages Can I Recover After Being Hurt in a Motorcycle Accident?

An individual who is involved in a motorcycle accident is more likely to suffer catastrophic injuries because motorcycles do not have as much protection as other vehicles. They also weigh thousands of pounds less than even some of the smaller vehicles on the road. Catastrophic injuries usually cause long-term or permanent disabilities, which means that you may need medical care for the rest of your life. You can recover certain damages after a motorcycle accident.

Economic Damages

After a motorcycle accident, you can collect economic damages, sometimes referred to as special damages. These damages have a monetary value and could include:

Medical Expenses

Your medical expenses may not end a few weeks or months after an accident. Often, catastrophic damages require medical care for years or even the rest of your life. You could recover compensation for current and future medical expenses, including:

• Doctors’ appointments
• Follow-up appointments
• Surgeries
• Prescriptions
• Ambulatory aids, such as walkers, canes and wheelchairs
• Prescribed over-the-counter medications
• Medical equipment, such as oxygen
• Physical therapy appointments
• Cognitive therapy appointments
• Psychological therapy appointments
• Vocational therapy appointments

Personal Property

The at-fault driver is responsible for any personal property, including your motorcycle, that the accident damaged or destroyed.

Wages

In addition to recovering compensation for lost wages, you can also recover compensation for loss of future earning capacity. Even if your disabilities allow you to work part-time or in another job that pays less than your current job or profession, you could recover the difference in pay.

Death-Related Expenses

If you lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident, you could recover funeral, burial, and/or cremation expenses. You may also recover probate attorney’s fees and certain probate court costs.

Non-Economic Damages

When you suffer injuries because of another driver’s negligence, you could recover non-economic damages, which have no monetary value. Non-economic damages include:

• Pain and suffering, including emotional distress.
• Loss of quality of life.
• Loss of companionship and/or consortium.
• Inconvenience.

Contact Our Law Firm in Fishkill, NY

Maurer Law Firm, PLLC serves Fishkill and the surrounding areas in New York. To find out more about settling or litigating motorcycle accidents, speak with an attorney at Maurer Law Firm, PLLC. To schedule a case evaluation, please call 845-896-5295.