Motorcycle accidents can cause severe injuries—even fatalities. If you got hurt in a motorbike collision or your loved one died as a result of one (and the wreck happened because of someone else’s carelessness), a skilled injury attorney could help you seek monetary damages.
You can call a Springfield motorcycle accident lawyer with The Kryder Law Group, LLC today for a free case review. There is no charge for the initial consultation.
You do not have to pay up-front legal fees to get our help. We take these cases on a contingency-fee-basis, which means that our payment comes out of the settlement proceeds or the award we win for you.
The Amount of Damages in a Springfield Motorbike Crash Claim
Understandably, everyone wants to know how much money they can get for their losses after getting hurt in a motorcycle crash. We cannot say how much compensation you might be able to pursue until we talk with you and investigate your motorcycle wreck.
Every case is different because everyone’s injuries, underlying medical conditions, and healing processes are unique. The amount you can go after will depend on the facts of your situation.
Here are some of the types of damages our Springfield motorcyclist accident attorneys have won for our motorcycle accident clients in the past:
Lost Wages
People often lose time from work after a collision until they recuperate enough to return to the job. If you missed paychecks because of the wreck, we can add that amount to your claim. This category can include lost wages, salary, self-employment, and other forms of regular income.
Diminished Earning Capacity
If your injuries caused you to have to take a lower-paying job or work fewer hours, we can go after the difference. If your previous work required you to stand for long periods, but you can no longer do so because of the pain from your injuries, you might have taken a job that pays less a year. The amount of diminished earnings you may earn now can be compensable.
Medical Costs
This category can include:
- Emergency treatment
- The ambulance ride itself
- Diagnostic testing
- Imaging studies
- Surgery
- Prescription drugs
- Pain management
- Physical therapy
We may be able to pursue other forms of compensation as well.
Rehabilitation Center
People who sustain life-changing injuries sometimes need to undergo extensive specialized treatment at a rehabilitation center, like a spinal cord damage facility. These costs can be extremely high, but we can include them in your claim.
Long-Term Care
Some people need daily assistance with medical treatments and personal care after sustaining catastrophic injuries. Facilities charge astronomical fees, which can be a part of your damages claim.
Intangible Losses
The previous categories are relatively simple to add up because those items have paper documentation of a person’s damages. Some of the harm caused by getting injured in a motorcycle accident does not come with bills or invoices, but we know how to calculate these non-economic losses for you. This category can include items like loss of the enjoyment of life, disfigurement, and pain and suffering (to name just a few).
We might also be able to seek additional compensation for the legal beneficiaries if your loved one died from motorcycle accident injuries. Depending on your situation, there might be other losses that a proactive motorcycle crash lawyer in Springfield can pursue.
Three Things to Do After a Motorcycle Collision
You might think that the value of an injury claim becomes set in stone at the time of the motorcycle accident, but in reality, there are things you can do to protect your right to recover monetary damages. The steps you should take will depend on your circumstances. You should always do what makes sense for your set of facts.
Here are three suggestions of things you might want to do after a motorcycle crash:
Get Medical Attention Immediately
Going straight to the emergency room, urgent care center, or doctor’s office (whichever is appropriate), protects your health and well-being. Infection can set in if wounds do not get proper medical care. Also, you might have hidden damage that does not show signs right away, for example:
- People have walked around for days without realizing that they have broken bones.
- Neck injuries, such as whiplash, can take a while to develop symptoms.
- A person can have a brain bleed from a traumatic brain injury that can become lethal if left untreated.
We will use your medical records to show that the wreck caused the harm you suffered. It is more challenging to establish that link if you do not go for medical attention right after the accident.
Consider Working with Legal Counsel at The Kryder Law Group, LLC
The insurance company has teams of claims adjusters, investigators, and lawyers all working hard to find a way to pay you less money than you deserve. If you work with a Springfield motorbike wreck attorney from the beginning, the at-fault party will have less opportunity to trip you up with sneaky tactics.
Complete Your Medical Treatment Before Settling Your Injury Claim
It can be tempting to accept a settlement offer from the insurer when you cannot go back to work yet, and the bills keep piling up higher and higher. You should complete your medical treatment before resolving your injury claim, however.
When you settle your case, the insurance company will make you sign some paperwork, including a waiver. The waiver takes away your right ever to go after the negligent party for more money from the accident. In other words, the insurer will never have to pay you additional compensation.
Imagine what could happen if you settle your case just before you finish your physical therapy, and on the follow-up appointment, your doctor says that you need surgery. The insurance company will not pay for the operation.
Your health insurance will not help because many policies usually exclude coverage for motor vehicle accidents. You will likely have to come up with the money out of your own funds. It is best to be patient and wait until your doctor releases you from treatment or decides that you have achieved as much healing as he or she expects.
Get in Touch with a Springfield Motorcycle Accident Attorney
At The Kryder Law Group, LLC, our mission is to help people who suffer severe injuries because of the carelessness of others. Call a Springfield motorcycle accident lawyer to get started. The initial consultation is free.
(312) 223-1700