Motorcycle riders lack the protection of an enclosed vehicle, so they suffer severe, often catastrophic injuries at a far higher rate than other motorists. Sadly, as per NHTSA data, more than 5,000 motorcyclists lose their lives and over 100,000 are injured on U.S. roads every year.
If you or a loved one suffered harm in a motorcycle collision, understanding the wide range of expenses these horrific accidents incur can add even more stress. You should hire a lawyer to get help calculating the damages and for the other invaluable legal services they offer.
This guide clarifies the types of motorcycle accident costs victims commonly face.
Emergency Medical Response and Transport
EMTs arriving at the scene provide lifesaving first-response medical treatment before rushing severely injured bikers to the hospital, often via air ambulance, due to the critical condition of the victims’ injuries. These emergency services come at a steep cost, with air transport alone averaging from $12,000 to $25,000 per trip in the U.S.
Hospital Treatment
Once stabilized at the hospital, injured motorcyclists require
- Extensive emergency surgical procedures
- Medications
- Imaging scans
- Medical supplies
- Inpatient hospitalization
Uninsured patients can face medical bills exceeding $100,000 in the first weeks after a bad motorcycle wreck.
Follow-Up Care
After discharge, there are still significant medical costs during the long road to maximum recovery. The following costs add up fast for victims:
- Ongoing doctor visits
- Medications
- Physical rehabilitation
- Assistive devices
- Follow-up surgeries
Motorcycle accidents often leave survivors with permanent disabilities requiring a lifetime of medical treatment.
Lost Income
Very few bikers who’re severely hurt in an accident can immediately return to work. For victims suffering long-term disability, motorcycle accidents may end their career.
Lost income over months or years plus reduced future earnings capacity are staggering expenses accident victims face. Calculating these damages accurately is complex.
Motorcycle Repair or Replacement
Motorcycles and their components sustain major damage in bad crashes. The rider’s motorcycle insurance collision coverage helps pay for repairs or replacement if the bike is totaled. However, deductibles still leave accident victims covering some costs out-of-pocket.
Pain and suffering
No dollar amount can compensate for the physical pain and emotional trauma of devastating motorcycle crash injuries. Monetary damages for pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and other hardships you endure are still owed by the negligent driver who caused the crash.
Wrongful Death Damages
When negligence turns fatal, the at-fault motorist must pay substantial financial damages and compensation to the deceased biker’s surviving family members. This includes
- Funeral costs
- Lost future earnings and benefits
- Loss of companionship
Legal Help for Maximum Recovery
This array of costs, lost income, disability, and pain quickly cause financial devastation for unprotected motorcycle accident victims and their families. Retaining a personal injury attorney levels the playing field. With legal representation, you can pursue all available avenues of compensation against negligent drivers and their insurance companies.
Experienced lawyers have successfully obtained millions for gravely injured bikers and wrongful death claimants. If a careless motorist changed your life, fight back. Call an attorney today for dedicated counsel and a tireless advocate on the long road to recovery ahead.