What Is the Average Motorcycle Accident Settlement in Maryland?

There is no average motorcycle accident settlement in Maryland. Instead, a motorcycle accident lawyer can help you determine how much you are eligible for based on the following four factors:

• How much your injuries have already cost you
• How much your injuries are currently costing you
• How much your injuries are likely to cost you in the future

How Much Did Your Motorcycle Accident Cost You?

After getting in a Maryland motorcycle accident, one of the things you should do is take stock of how the collision changed your life. For example, you might have:

• Spent money on an ambulance and other emergency treatments
• Lost your motorcycle or another valuable object, such as your cell phone
• Lost money because you were unable to work while receiving treatments or convalescing
• Experienced physical pain from your injuries
• Suffered fear, anxiety, or emotional trauma in response to the accident

Addressing these issues should illustrate why there is no average motorcycle accident settlement in Maryland or anywhere else: everyone’s case is unique, so everyone requires different amounts of compensation for different things. 

How Your Motorcycle Accident Affects You Today

The motorcycle accident may be over and done with, but you are probably still dealing with its consequences. This is especially true for those in very serious accidents who:

• Are not finished with medical treatment at the time they file a claim
• Still experience physical and emotional symptoms of their injuries
• Have not yet resumed their former lifestyle (e.g., you need help getting dressed, or your doctor has not given you permission to start playing your favorite sport again)
• Have not yet returned to work on a full-time basis

It may be more difficult for you to accurately calculate a fair settlement amount if you are still undergoing treatment or waiting to go back to work. Nevertheless, it is possible for your lawyer to determine a fair amount by:

• Looking at your medical records
• Speaking with you about how the accident continues to affect you physically, psychologically, professionally, and socially
• Speaking to your loved ones and coworkers about how you and your life have changed post-accident

The money you get from a settlement or verdict could help you pay for your losses and help your family cope.

The Long-Term Consequences of Motorcycle Accidents

For some people, the motorcycle accident alters their lives permanently. For example, your doctor might tell you that:

• Your injury will never completely heal, leaving you with noticeable scar tissue, chronic symptoms, or a permanent disability.
• You will never be able to return to your old job, or you will have to cut back the number of hours you work.
• You must rely on assistive devices to get around, or you must renovate your home to accommodate your disability.
• You will need ongoing medical care for the rest of your life.
• You can never return to your pre-accident lifestyle, so you will have to adjust to allowing others to help you with certain tasks or give up hobbies you love.

Why sue for these damages now? Why not wait until you experience them and then ask the liable party to reimburse you? By law, you only have the right to sue for a particular accident once. You cannot recover some compensation now and then sue for more later as your needs change.

Your lawyer can establish the cost of your future losses by:

• Looking at paystubs and tax information to determine the changes to your income
• Using established legal formulas to figure out the value of your future (and current) physical and emotional suffering
• Speaking to economists and other experts who can confirm that you are unable to work and estimate how much you could have earned had you not been injured

Negotiating a Fair Motorcycle Accident Settlement

With your attorney’s help, you can be sure that you have accurately quantified all of your losses, including future medical care.

Once you know your case’s worth, it is time to confront the liable party. This could be a driver, an auto part manufacturer, the local government, or someone else. Your motorcycle accident attorney would fight relentlessly for your money by:

• Sending a letter that explains how much you want in compensation and why
• Speaking with the other parties over the phone, in person, or through other means
• Presenting evidence that proves the liable party’s fault
• Refusing to accept settlement offers that fail to meet your needs
• Reviewing the settlement agreement to make sure it is satisfactory

At no point would you have to talk to the at-fault party or their representatives alone. Your lawyer could represent you at or accompany you to all meetings.

When to Pursue a Motorcycle Accident Settlement

After any motorcycle accident, your first concern should be your health. Once you have received treatment, you will not want to waste any time exploring your legal options.

Why act promptly after a motorcycle crash? Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. Code § 5-101 only gives you three years from the accident date to file a case. To protect your right to seek fair compensation, get started on your case as soon as possible. Our legal team can determine how long you have to file a lawsuit and keep an eye on the clock during negotiations. 

Our Firm Can Determine What a Fair Motorcycle Accident Settlement Looks Like in Your Case

Adam Smallow Injury Lawyers wants you to know that while there is no average motorcycle accident settlement in Maryland, we can fight for whatever amount of damages you deserve. Contact us for a free consultation today. We can even recommend a good doctor if you still need treatment for your injuries.