Let’s start off with some statistics:
- Motorcycles account for only 3% of all registered vehicles.
- Motorcycle accident fatalities account for 14% of all traffic fatalities.
- In 2021, 5,932 people lost their lives due to motorcycle accidents.
- Over 83,000 people suffered severe injuries due to motorcycle accidents in 2021.
Pretty horrifying, right?
Motorcycles are surely an adventurous way to travel. Safety is a bit of a question mark in this vehicle. If an accident happens, the motorcyclist will sustain severe losses. In the worst cases, they may die.
If you are lucky enough to survive a motorcycle crash, give a call to a motorcycle accident attorney from Cory Watson Attorneys or another law firm in the same league.
They will help you get back on your feet.
This blog post discusses the one crucial aspect of motorcycle accidents that most seem to ignore. Read on.
Losses a Motorcycle Accident Victim Sustains
There are two major types of losses victims sustain, which are:
- Non-Economic damages
- Economic damages
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages refer to the non-monetary losses of the victim. It deals with the emotional losses a victim will suffer. The following are some examples of non-economic losses:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental distress
- Disfigurement
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of quality of life
Economic Damages
Economic damages are the expenses the victim will incur due to the accident. Some of the economic damages are:
- Medical bills
- Property repair costs
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Home readjustments
Loss of Earning Capacity
This is a unique challenge that accident victims experience.
Well, the name makes it pretty clear what the damage is about.
An example for better understanding:
Brody loves to travel on his motorcycle. One day, he is hit by a drunk driver and loses both of his legs.
Unfortunately, Brody works in the construction field. It is obvious that Brody won’t be able to work now. He loses the ability to work.
This can hurt Brody and his family in the following ways:
- Financial strain: Let’s assume Brody is the sole breadwinner in his family. The family will experience a sudden disruption in funds. They will struggle to even buy essentials.
- Loss of quality of life: Of course, the family’s quality of life will significantly drop. They won’t be able to take a vacation and spend on things they enjoy.
- Emotional pain: Financial strain will surely cause emotional distress. You won’t understand the pain until you are in a situation where you can’t even buy essentials.
- Impact on Family Dynamics: All the above factors can split up people. Family members will fight with each other as the stress builds up.
No one would ever want to be in Brody’s situation. Now, Brody has only one option to get out of this really, really bad situation—filing a motorcycle accident claim.
Claiming Loss of Earning Capacity
A motorcycle accident lawyer can help victims file a claim and secure fair compensation for them.
Considerations to make when claiming compensation for the loss of earning capacity:
- The first thing to consider is the money you were earning before the accident.
- Next, the lawyer will consider the potential promotions you would have gotten if you had continued to work.
- The location has a role in determining the compensation for the loss of earning capacity. Different locations have different pay for the same job.
The lawyer will consider the aforementioned factors and demand that the at-fault party pay the compensation.
Final Thoughts
Losing the ability to earn is gut-wrenching. It will completely ruin a person’s life. If you are in a similar situation to Brody’s, just hire a lawyer. They know how to get you out of this horrifying situation and get your life back on track. You can focus on healing while the lawyer focuses on the battle with the at-fault party.