When you’re involved in a motorcycle accident, one of the main concerns will be how to be fully compensated for the damages, especially if the other party involved was at fault. Knowing how much you’re entitled to is important because some motorcycle accidents are deadly and life-altering.
Factors that Determine a Motorcycle Accident Settlement in Virginia Beach
Your motorcycle lawyer in Virginia Beach will tell you that two main factors determine the value of your motorcycle accident claim: the extent of your injuries and the likelihood of a jury finding the defendant responsible for the accident. Determining the value of motorcycle accident damages is quite challenging because some losses and damages are hard to quantify.
For instance, some subjective damages like pain and emotional suffering are hard to evaluate. So, your attorney and other valuers will make their estimations based on the extent of your injuries, the kind of medical treatment you’ve had, the likelihood of suffering long-term effects, and the impact the accident will have on your life.
Therefore, physical and psychological suffering will only be estimated within the broader scope of the accident. If the accident leaves you with a permanent disability that prevents you from living a normal life and participating in physical activities like sports and domestic chores, your damages may be based on “loss of quality of life.”
These damages are likely to be higher in the eyes of the law than when the accident leaves you with a form of disability that doesn’t affect your livelihood. However, if the injuries prevent you from engaging in any income-generating activity and you have to live the rest of your life depending on other people, then your damages will be higher.
When you fail to agree with the defendant on the right amount of compensation, your case will end up in court where it’ll be determined by a jury. If your lawyer discovers that you don’t have enough evidence to prove that the defendant is responsible for the accident, they’ll advise you to settle the case out of court and accept the amount of compensation offered by the defendant.
The value of your damages diminishes when you lack enough evidence to prove your claim. Even if you’ve suffered life-altering damages, the defendant will be reluctant to settle. They’ll prefer to risk it at trial, especially when there’s no clear proof of who is at fault.
Likewise, you’ll be motivated to take your chance at trial if you have enough evidence to prove the defendant is at fault. However, you shouldn’t accept the settlement too soon, especially if the motorcycle accident has left you with serious injuries. Seek advice from a qualified and experienced personal injury attorney to know the options you have in order to pursue full compensation.
What Is the Average Motorcycle Accident Settlement in Virginia Beach?
As noted above, there isn’t a standardized amount of motorcycle accident settlement in Virginia Beach because there are many factors at play. Furthermore, no two motorcycle accident cases are the same–so, what you get as a settlement depends on the facts of your case.
Some motorcycle accident cases in Virginia Beach settle for $9,000 while others settle for more than $200,000. Although many websites claim to offer online calculators for motorcycle accident settlements in the area, the reality is that no online calculator can provide you with a truly illustrative estimate of your motor vehicle accident settlement.
Your settlement can only be accurately estimated by experienced personal injury attorneys who understand the important aspects of your accident and injuries to consider. So, talk to your motorcycle accident attorney in Virginia Beach for advice and a correct estimation of your settlement.
Your attorney also understands how to estimate the value of both economic and non-economic damages. The two categories of losses are important for determining the gross settlement because a serious motorcycle accident will cause physical and emotional suffering, as well as financial losses.
So, your final accident settlement should encompass both categories of damages. This is why you need a legal expert with in-depth knowledge of what should be included in the estimation to ensure that you’re compensated adequately.
Wondering what the most common injuries in motorcycle accidents are? Take a look at our recent post–once you understand common motorcycle accident injuries and how they’re likely to affect your life, you can confidently pursue the right amount of compensation with the help of Coastal Virginia Law.
