One of the most popular questions many motorcycle accident victims have is: How much is my case worth? Unfortunately, we can never give a cut-and-dried answer to that question, because many factors affect the overall worth of a legal claim for damages, and (as we’ve said) every case is different.
As a general matter, the money damages a Philadelphia motorcycle accident victim may seek consist of two broad categories of compensation: economic and non-economic.
Economic damages, also referred to as special damages, consist of the real and tangible financial losses that a motorcycle accident victim suffers because of an injury, such as:
- Medical expenses, including current medical bills, rehab services, hospital stay, nursing care services, at-home care, and any future medical costs;
- Property damages, including repairs or the replacement costs to a motorcycle and any other personal property that was damaged as a result of the accident; and
- Lost wages and income, including any current and future, lost wages, as well as a crash victim’s reduced earning capacity.
Non-economic damages, also called general damages, reflect the subjective harm done by an accident and its resulting injuries, which can vary widely from person-to-person depending on the victim’s injuries, age, and general state of health, among other factors. These include:
- A victim’s physical pain and emotional suffering stemming from the injuries;
- A victim’s diminished quality of life resulting from the injuries, such as an inability to engage in favorite activities; and
- Harm done to a victim’s important personal relationships by the accident and injuries, such as how the injuries interfere with intimacy with a spouse.
In rare cases, victims of Philadelphia motorcycle crashes may also have the legal right to pursue so-called punitive damages, which a court may award when the conduct that led to a crash was particularly outrageous or reckless. Speak with an experienced Philly motorcycle accident injury lawyer to find out if you may seek punitive damages in your case.