What Is the Average Settlement for a Motorcycle Accident in Louisiana?

What is the average settlement for a motorcycle accident in Louisiana? A victim of a motorcycle accident in Louisiana may file a claim for compensation for all losses. 

There is no valid average, considering there are thousands of accidents that occur every year with various degrees of resulting injuries. 

Consider some of the factors that contribute to the average settlement for a motorcycle accident when you speak with a New Orleans motorcycle accident lawyer.

The Severity of Your Injuries

Motorcycle accidents often result in serious and life-threatening injuries, often with victims spending weeks in the hospital recovering.

The more complex your injuries are, the more likely it is that you need extensive medical care and long rehabilitation. That increases medical costs. Examples of serious injuries commonly occurring in motorcycle accidents include:

• Traumatic brain injuries, including concussions or blows to the head, resulting in brain damage, and a New Orleans traumatic brain injury lawyer can help with your case
• Spinal cord injuries, including those with partial or full paralysis, nerve damage, or chronic pain development. Speak with a New Orleans spinal cord injury lawyer today
• Complex fractures, including crushing accidents and multiple bone breaks, requiring surgery
• Internal bleeding and organ damage
• Disfigurement
• Burns and road rash

The more complex your injuries are, or the more injuries you have, the higher the risks to your health and the more likely you are to need significant medical care.

This increases your settlement rights in a motorcycle accident. Victims may seek compensation for all related accident injuries, no matter their complexity.

The Loss of Life

Victims who lose their lives in an accident suffer the ultimate loss, resulting in a much higher level of compensation paid to the estate or the close family members.

If your loved one lost their life as a result of a motorcycle accident, you may be able to recover any damages associated with the accident that they would have received if they survived, as well as losses such as:

• Funeral costs and burial-related fees
• Loss of earning contributions to the family
• Loss of companionship
• Emotional trauma
• Physical pain and suffering
• Loss of support and guidance

These are some of the most devastating accidents, but the value of wrongful death claims is dependent on its own set of factors. That includes the victim’s health, age, earning capacity, education, and likely future. Of course, no amount of money will be enough to protect you from the pain and heartache of that loss of life.

Economic Losses Incurred During the Accident

These losses can be any type of out-of-pocket cost you have resulting directly from the accident. The value of each of these losses is dependent on the type of injuries you have and the level of care necessary.

However, economic losses in these cases often include:

• Emergency medical bills
• Hospitalizations and emergency care
• Rehabilitation in the hospital or facility
• In-home support and nursing
• Mental health therapy
• Modifications to your home for your injuries and mobility needs
• Modifications to your mode of transportation
• Losses related to missed time at work
• Missed bonuses and benefits at work
• Property damage to your motorcycle and any other belongings (either to repair or replace them)
• Out-of-pocket expenses related to your accident

These costs add up very quickly, and in every situation, their value depends on your ability to show proof of the cost to you. Most will have some type of documented proof of cost, such as medical bills that show the care received and the charges applied to you. Economic losses like these can include other documented losses related to your injury and accident.

Non-Economic Damages

Another factor contributing to the value of your motorcycle accident settlement is the extent of your non-economic losses. These have less of a specific value associated with them, but still carry a significant amount of financial loss. They are very real and calculated based on numerous factors.

Examples include:

• Pain and suffering, including physical discomfort and chronic pain
• Emotional distress, including the onset of fear, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety
• Loss of enjoyment of life, due to the inability to engage in activities as you once did
• Loss of consortium: Including changes to relationships with family or a spouse, including changes in companionship, intimacy, and support
• Inconvenience: A compensation to account for the disruption to your daily life and noted routine
• Disfigurement: Often resulting from permanent scarring that creates self-consciousness and embarrassment

Victims with any of these losses must demonstrate their direct link to the motorcycle accident and their impact on their day-to-day life. Your attorney will examine evidence that supports these types of claims, and then seek fair compensation for the losses we can demonstrate clearly.

Whether You Were At Fault

Victims of a motorcycle accident may hold some percentage of blame in the incident, and that can impact the value of your case. If you are not at fault, that means you can apply all of your losses directly to the at-fault party’s liability insurance.

However, in situations where you carry some fault, Louisiana’s modified comparative fault system applies.

Under this law, victims can still seek financial compensation from the at-fault party if they hold some of the fault, as long as they do not have more than 50% of the fault attributed to them. If the court or insurance company shows you are 51% at fault or more, this means you cannot seek any compensation in the case at all. Your recovery is nothing.

If you hold under 50% of fault, your compensation recovery drops by the percentage of fault you have. This means it is very important for your attorney to work to reduce the amount of fault you face whenever possible. Otherwise, it will drastically influence how much compensation you recover.

Seek the Guidance of a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Louisiana

If you are suffering due to the negligence of another person, business, or city, turn to Scott Vicknair Injury Lawyers. 

Let our motorcycle accident lawyers in New Orleans work to build a claim that incorporates all of the losses you are experiencing to the fullest level allowed so you can obtain a proper settlement for your motorcycle accident.