Motorcycle accidents can result in very serious injuries—many are even more devastating than car accidents. In fact, according to the Insurance Information Institute, while passenger car fatalities in 2019 were around 9.42 per 100,000 registered vehicles, motorcycle fatalities were at 58.33 per 100,000 vehicles. That’s over six times as many fatalities for motorcyclists than there were for car passengers.
Because, as a motorcyclist, you are at greater risk of injury and death, you need a good lawyer to represent your interests. A Georgia motorcycle accident lawyer will know how to get you the settlement you deserve. Find out how much that number could be with this FAQ.
Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries
In order to understand motorcycle accident settlements, it’s important to know what injuries you could sustain in your crash. Common injuries that result from a motorcycle accident include:
- Road rash
- Head and brain injuries
- Limb injuries that lead to amputations
- Nerve damage
- Joint injuries
- Broken bones
While some of these can be avoided by following Georgia helmet laws, some injuries are unavoidable in a crash. Because the physical and mental injuries can be severe, the money damages that you can receive in a settlement may be higher than the average car accident. But, it will depend on the unique facts of your case.
What factors contribute to the amount of my motorcycle accident settlement?
Every case is different, but insurance companies, judges, and juries will value a claim based on the same categories of losses. Your money damages are designed to put you back in a place where you would be if the accident did not happen. That means that most of your costs are directly tied to your losses after a crash. But, some damages cannot be quantified, such as your physical and mental pain and suffering. You will usually get some amount of money for these as well—even though they don’t have a direct dollar amount tied to them.
Your settlement will depend on:
- Losses you have already suffered
- Damages that you may have in the future
- Evidence you can present to support your side of the case
- The at-fault party’s actions and financial resources
These factors vary a great deal from case to case, which means that predicting what a claim is worth is difficult.
What are the average settlement amounts for motorcycle cases in Georgia?
The “average” settlement for a motorcycle case is equally difficult to determine. But, insurance companies try to track settlements to predict how much insurance premiums should be and estimate what motorcycle lawsuits may cost overall as well.
The Jury Verdict Research, published by Thomson Reuters, indicated that the median motorcycle injury verdict from a jury between 1999 to 2006 was $73,700. But, upwards of 90% of cases settle before they go to a jury. That means that the average verdict may not be representative of what your settlement may actually be for your situation.
Some cases that result in severe injuries will settle long before trial for a much higher amount because an insurance company knows that the victim will be awarded high damages if the case proceeds to trial. Other cases may settle for smaller amounts because the injuries are not as serious or the evidence that the victim can present is not as strong.
In general, you are likely to recover more money if you have a motorcycle accident lawyer working for you.
Schedule a FREE Consultation for Your Motorcycle Claim Today
The best way to determine what your case may be worth is to talk to motorcycle accident attorneys John Foy & Associates about the specific facts of your circumstances. Whether your case is “average” is extremely difficult to predict without knowing all of the details of your case. Call us at 404-400-4000 or fill out the form to the right to get your free consultation today.
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