Riding a motorcycle can be an incredibly rewarding experience, but it can also result in accidents that cause serious injuries when other drivers on the road are not careful. When you are injured in a motorcycle accident, you could be facing a lengthy recovery period and need to pay expensive medical treatment costs.
In serious situations like that, our lawyers can help. We can fight hard for you in court to make sure that you get the best chance possible at getting what you need from the defendant in a motorcycle accident lawsuit.
For free case analyses, call our motorcycle accident lawyers from Howe Law at the number (844) 876-4357.
Injuries You Can Get from Motorcycle Accidents in Johnson City, TN
Motorcycle accidents can result in a lot of different injuries. No matter how serious or minute your injuries are, you always have a right to file a lawsuit if you were injured because of someone else’s actions.
Head Injuries
Head injuries are frequent in motorcycle accidents, even if the rider is wearing a helmet. These injuries could range from minor bruising to more serious conditions like a concussion or more serious traumatic brain injury. The side-effects of head injuries are not to be taken lightly, so it is important that you seek medical attention after a motorcycle accident, even if you feel you are fine.
Broken Bones
A broken arm, leg, or other bone can easily happen during a motorcycle accident. The rider can get trapped under their bike, or they could go flying off of the seat and hit the road hard. Broken bones will almost certainly require a case to heal, and you will need to regain strength in the affected area after the case is removed.
Bruises and Abrasions
Bruising happens when blood vessels are crushed underneath the skin, resulting in a black, blue, or red discoloration on the surface as well as pain. Bruises can happen from any hard impact, like in a motorcycle accident. Abrasions can happen for the same reason but generally are the result of high amounts of friction like a rider skidding across the pavement.
Damages from Motorcycle Accident Lawsuits in Johnson City, TN
When you are successful in court, you are awarded damages for your injuries. While you get one award of damages from the court, your damages are broken down into categories when you file your lawsuit so that the court can better understand why you are asking for a certain amount. The three main categories of damages are economic, non-economic, and punitive damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are probably the easiest damages to explain. They are awarded for things that have ascertainable monetary value. For example, any hospital bills for surgery, medication, physical therapy, or other treatment will fall under the umbrella of economic damages.
You can also get economic damages for lost wages because you missed time at work. For example, if you had to take months off of your job because you were recovering from your injuries, you can ask for the money you would have earned in that time as compensatory damages from the defendant. Additionally, you can get economic damages if you have to switch jobs or quit working entirely. If you had to take a job that was less well-paying because of your injuries, you could get damages equal to the difference in pay, or if you had to stop working altogether, you could get damages based on your projected future earnings.
Finally, any property damage will fall under economic damages. If your motorcycle was totaled and insurance will not pay for a replacement, that could factor into your damages.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are more abstract than economic damages. This will include things that cannot necessarily be quantified by a receipt or bill. One of the things most commonly asked for non-economic damages is compensation for pain and suffering. For example, if you are hit by a car while riding your motorcycle, go to the hospital, undergo surgery, and then have to take pain medication in order to not be in agony while you recover, you will be asking for economic damages for the cost of surgery, transport to the hospital, and the cost of medication. Your non-economic damages, on the other hand, would include the value of the actual pain you experienced during the whole ordeal.
You can also get non-economic damages for something called lost quality of life. For example, if your injuries are such that you cannot lift your arms above a certain point and, as such, cannot do certain activities, that could factor into your financial compensation.
Punitive Damages
Thus far, we have talked about what can be called “compensatory damages.” Therese are damages designed to, as the name would suggest, compensate you for losses you have sustained. On the other hand, punitive damages punish the defendant when they act in an especially bad way. You need to prove specific things in order to be able to get an award of punitive damages, and courts do not award them unless the defendant has done something particularly egregious. If you are seeking punitive damages, speak with our lawyers about your situation so we can help.
The Perception of Motorcyclists in Johnson City, TN
There is an unfair perception of people who ride motorcycles as careless risk-takers. Sometimes, this perception can make its way into the way your motorcycle accident lawsuit plays out, despite the fact that many motorcycle riders are responsible, safety-conscious individuals. We will make sure that you are not characterized unfairly by the court and that your case is taken seriously.
Talk to Our Johnson City, TN Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Today
Discuss your case with Howe Law’s motorcycle accident lawyers by calling (844) 876-4357.
