Compensation for a motorcycle collision depends on various factors unique to the accident and the injured party. Therefore, the average settlement for motorcycle accidents can range widely based on the case’s circumstances.
Motorcycle riders are more vulnerable to injuries because bikes are less visible than cars and lack the protection of enclosed vehicles. They can suffer road rash, soft tissue injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and other wounds. A motorcycle accident lawyer can determine how much financial compensation you could recover from your accident.
What Is the Value of Your Motorcycle Accident Case?
Personal injury compensation cases usually cover economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are monetary expenses from a motorcycle accident, such as medical costs. In contrast, non-economic damages are intangible losses related to the crash’s physical, mental, and emotional pain and suffering.
Calculating Economic Compensation
Calculating your economic damages involves adding up your bills and receipts, but there is more to it than that. You also must ensure you fully understand the scope of your injuries and medical needs so that you obtain enough compensation to pay for all your ongoing and future treatment.
In addition, economic damages will vary for each person. For example, a 25-year-old with permanent disabilities will likely qualify for more compensation for future lost income than a person in their 50s or 60s. Someone with more responsibilities may recover more for replacement services like child care and home maintenance.
Factors that can influence your motorcycle accident settlement include:
- The severity of your injuries
- The extent of your medical treatment
- Your age at the time of your crash
- Your current income
- How much work you missed and whether you can return to your job
- Whether you will make a full physical recovery
- The insurance coverage available
Calculating Non-Economic Compensation
Non-economic damages are subjective and, therefore, more challenging to value. This is another reason it is difficult to determine average settlements for motorcycle accidents for injured riders.
Generally, professionals can use two methods can determine compensation for pain and suffering in motorcycle accident claims:
- The multiplier method. With this method, your economic damages are multiplied by a number between one and five. Your multiplier depends on how much your injuries interfere with your daily life and the extent of your physical pain, mental anguish, and emotional suffering.
- The per diem method. Under this method, each day of your suffering is assigned a dollar amount, often based on your income. Your settlement includes the compensation amount for each day from the time you sustained your injury until you fully recover.
Damages Included in a Michigan Motorcycle Crash Settlement
Specifically, an average settlement for a motorcycle accident in Michigan may include the following damages:
- Ambulance transportation
- Emergency medical care
- Surgeries
- Hospital stays
- Doctor’s office visits
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Medications and medical equipment
- Long-term nursing services
- Life care
- Lost income, earnings, and employment benefits
- Lost earning capacity
- Household services
- Scarring
- Disfigurement
- Disability
- Depression, stress, and anxiety
- Diminished quality of life
- Wrongful death compensation for a fatally injured loved one (e.g., funeral expenses, lost income, etc.)
Our personal injury attorney will listen to you, consider the unique circumstances of your case, and identify and pursue all your losses. We cannot know the average injury settlement for your motorcycle accident without learning much more about you. Still, we can promise to fight for the maximum amount of compensation possible.
Your Options for Seeking Motorcycle Collision Awards in Michigan
You can pursue compensation for a motorcycle wreck in Michigan in several ways:
- No-Fault insurance. Under Michigan’s No-Fault insurance system, most motorists must purchase personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. However, the law does not require motorcyclists to have PIP. However, you can seek medical damages with a PIP claim against the following parties if you suffered injuries in a car accident or truck accident:
- The owner of the vehicle
- The driver (if different from the owner and the owner does not have PIP)
- Your motor vehicle insurer or coverage you have through someone in your household (if there is no insurance available through the car or truck driver)
- The motorcycle owner’s motor vehicle insurer (if you are not the owner and you do not have vehicle insurance)
- Michigan Assigned Claims Plan (MACP). If you have no PIP coverage options, you can seek benefits through the MACP. If approved, you will submit a claim and be matched with one of six participating PIP providers that will pay for your medical care, rehabilitation, and recovery.
- Personal injury lawsuit. If your medical expenses exceed your PIP coverage, you may be able to seek compensation from an at-fault party with a liability claim or personal injury lawsuit. Acting against a liable party may allow you to secure non-economic damages not recoverable through PIP.
We can help you understand more about the above options and assist with seeking awards through every available channel.
How Long Do You Have to Pursue Your Claim?
You should start on your insurance claims right away. If you must take legal action to get a fair motorcycle accident settlement, Michigan Compiled Laws § 500.3145 allows one year to sue for No-Fault benefits. Michigan Compiled Laws § 600.5805 allows three years to sue for personal injury or wrongful death.
If you do not file your case within the statute of limitations, the court will likely bar you from pursuing damages.
Call Us Today for a Free Consultation After a Motorcycle Accident
If you or a loved one suffered harm in a motorcycle collision, a personal injury lawyer with our firm can seek compensation that helps you get back on your feet. We will protect your rights, prove you deserve compensation, and fight to ensure you and your family do not pay out of pocket for an accident you did not cause.
Christensen Law has more than three decades of legal experience we can put behind seeking a motorcycle accident settlement for you or your loved one. Call us today at 248-900-9000 for a free consultation. We serve personal injury clients on contingency.
