After a motorcycle accident, you may face medical bills, lost income, and damage to your bike. You may also have pain that makes daily life harder. If someone else caused the crash, you may be able to seek compensation for these losses.
There is no set amount that every motorcycle accident victim receives. The value of a claim depends on the facts of the crash and the harm you suffered. Serious injuries often lead to larger claims because they can require more medical care and cause greater changes to a person’s life.
What Types of Compensation Can I Recover?
Motorcycle accident compensation may cover both financial and personal losses. The types of damages available depend on your injuries and other facts about the crash.
Your claim may include compensation for:
- Medical bills and future medical care
- Lost wages and reduced ability to earn money
- Motorcycle repairs or replacement
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental and emotional distress
- Physical limits or disability
- Scarring or disfigurement
Under Texas law, recovery for medical or health care expenses is limited to amounts actually paid or incurred on the injured person’s behalf.
Keeping bills, receipts, medical records, and wage information can help show the value of your losses.
What Factors Affect the Value of a Motorcycle Accident Claim?
Every motorcycle accident is different. A person with a broken bone that heals in a few months may have a very different claim from someone who suffers a spinal cord or brain injury.
Important factors can include the seriousness of your injuries, the cost of treatment, whether you can return to work, and whether you will need future care. The amount of available insurance coverage can also affect how much compensation may be recovered.
Evidence matters as well. Police reports, photos, videos, witness statements, medical records, and other evidence may help show who caused the crash and how it affected you.
How Does Fault Affect Compensation in Texas?
Texas uses a proportionate responsibility system. This means your share of fault can affect the amount you recover.
Under Texas law, a person generally cannot recover damages if they are more than 50% responsible for the harm. If they are 50% or less responsible, their damages can be reduced by that percentage.
For example, suppose your damages total $100,000, but you are found 20% responsible for the accident. Your recovery could be reduced by 20%, leaving you with $80,000.
Because fault can have a major effect on compensation, evidence about how the crash happened can be important.
Why Motorcycle Accident Injuries Can Be Costly
Motorcyclists have little protection when they are hit by a car or thrown from a bike. A serious crash can cause broken bones, road rash, head injuries, back injuries, and other harm.
Some injuries may require surgery, physical therapy, or months away from work. Severe injuries can affect a person for years or even for life. A claim should therefore consider more than the bills that have already arrived.
Future medical costs, loss of earning capacity, and long-term pain may also need to be considered. Accepting a settlement too early could leave an injured rider responsible for costs that appear later.
How Can I Protect the Value of My Claim?
The steps you take after an accident can affect your case. Seek medical care and follow your doctor’s treatment plan. Keep copies of bills and records related to the crash.
Be careful when speaking with an insurance company. An insurer may ask for a recorded statement or offer a quick settlement. Before accepting an offer, it can help to understand the full value of your injuries and future needs.
A motorcycle accident attorney can investigate the crash, gather evidence, review your damages, and handle talks with insurance companies. If a fair settlement cannot be reached, filing a lawsuit may be an option.
Contact the Austin Motorcycle Accident Attorneys at McMinn Law Firm for Help Today
A motorcycle accident can leave you facing medical costs, missed work, pain, and uncertainty about the future. You do not have to figure out the claims process by yourself.
The Austin motorcycle accident attorneys at McMinn Law Firm can review what happened, explain your legal options, and help determine what compensation may be available to you. Our firm can also gather evidence and deal with insurance companies while you focus on your recovery.
If you were hurt in an Austin motorcycle crash caused by someone else, contact us today to schedule a free consultation and learn about your next steps.
We proudly serve clients throughout Austin, TX in Travis County, as well as Salt Lake City, UT in Salt Lake County.
McMinn Law Firm – Austin, TX Office
502 W 14th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 474-0222
McMinn Law Firm – Salt Lake City, UT Office
650 S 500 W Suite 290, Salt Lake City, UT 84104
(385) 462-7630
