Operating a motorcycle can be a fun and enjoyable pastime. However, if you are involved in an accident while riding a motorcycle, you can be in for a long recovery medically and financially.
If you are planning on filing an accident claim, there are a few factors that go into putting a dollar amount on your claim.
Determining Fault of Accident in Utah
If you were at fault and the accident can not be proven to be the other person’s, then your claim will not be worth much at all. In a case where you caused the accident, the other person involved doesn’t owe you anything. Being injured in an accident where the other driver was negligent will most likely put a high dollar amount on your claim.
There are instances where even though an accident was not your fault, you may have only suffered minor or no injuries at all, and this will end in a possible settlement amount, but it will be a lower value claim.If you are injured in a motorcycle accident and suffered injuries and the accident was your fault, you could still be awarded a settlement if the accident can not be proved to have been your fault.
Understanding Settlement Value in Utah
When you are injured in a motorcycle accident, and you file a claim or lawsuit, you will be offered a settlement amount. The settlement amount is going to be less than what you wanted, but it is guaranteed money. If you do not take the settlement amount offered to you, then you will go to trial.If you win your trial, you will get the most money for the claim, but if you lose, then you walk away with nothing. This is why some motorcycle accident victims choose to take the settlement value.
Exact Calculations and Pain and Suffering
Anytime you calculate damages in a motorcycle accident claim, you take into account two types of damages.
Exact calculation damages are items you can put an exact price on. Medical bills, lost wages, employment benefits, and other financial losses are exact calculations.
The damages you can not put a price on our pain and suffering. There are no specific guidelines in place to determine the cost of pain and suffering. A jury will be asked to look over the claim and use their best judgment and experience to determine this dollar amount.
Should I File a Motorcycle Claim in Utah?
If you are injured in a motorcycle accident, you should always file a claim. You want to protect yourself. You may not think you are injured right now, but you do not want the filing time to expire. Your injuries may not appear right after the accident but filing a claim will protect your rights in the long run.
Contact a Utah Personal Injury Lawyer
The court system is very complex, and an attorney is the only choice when it comes to helping you achieve the best outcome with your claim.
A motorcycle accident claim is hard to deal with because there are so many factors that weigh in on how to proceed from the beginning. At Feller & Wendt, our 70 years of combined experience guide you through the entire process as pain-free as possible. If you need help with your claim, please call (801) 499-5060 or feel free to fill out our contact form.
