What is the Average Settlement from Motorcycle Accidents in California?

Expected Motorcycle Accident Payout in California

Being injured in a motorcycle accident can be a tragic experience. If you suffered injuries in a motorcycle accident due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. And you may be wondering what the average payout is for a motorcycle accident in California.

The short answer is that there really is no average settlement for a motorcycle accident because every case is unique and a variety of factors can impact your expected payout. Some factors that will affect your motorcycle accident settlement in California can include:

• Severity of injuries
• Liability and who was at fault
• Property damage
• Medical expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Negotiation skills of your attorney

Basics of Motorcycle Accidents

In fact, just falling off of one’s bike–regardless of speed or the impact from other objects–can result in bone fracture injuries, external injuries, and other harm.

When speed and the force of a 4,000+ pound vehicle are involved, the damages from a motorcycle accident can be especially catastrophic.

Motorcyclists are inherently exposed to certain dangers. When accidents occur, it is often the motorcyclist who is forced to endure the brunt of the impact. Based on preliminary data, the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) reports that more than 400 motorcyclists were killed in accidents in California in 2017 alone. Many more bikers suffered severe injuries in crashes.

Following an accident, injured motorcycle riders may have questions regarding the potential compensation they may be entitled to. Dealing with an accident is deeply challenging. Injured victims may need compensation for their medical bills, loss of earning, and pains.

If you’ve been involved in a motorcycle accident, you should contact an experienced motorcycle accident attorney to make sure you receive the most compensation for your injuries.

Christopher Cendana

2022-12-08

Would highly recommend The Beliz Law Firm to anyone and everyone! Michael was with us through our whole case and made sure we always knew what was going on and what to expect. It was like having a family member represent us. Thanks again, Michael!

tony meador

2019-06-28

A very honest Attorney that is very personable, knowledgeable and got good results

alan mai

2019-01-28

Eventhough they did not take my case they were very helpfull and pointing me in the right direction! thank you so much for being awsome!

J C

2018-04-05

Greatest personal injury attorney! Knowledgeable, fair, and patient. Strong work, with great results!

Alejandro Bustelo

2017-04-04

I was involved in a car accident last summer and Michael Beliz has really helped me out a lot. He came to my place and met with me on a weekend in order to sign the paperwork and he always makes sure I understand what the next step is. Not only that, he also goes the extra mile and I can tell he really wants to make sure I get the best possible deal. I definitely recommend the Beliz Law Firm if you need their type of services.

glenda rivera

2017-03-28

Michael Beliz is an exceptional attorney with excellent skills. He is professional, courteous and a compassionate lawyer I've met. Helping my mother getting through her ordeal was not I expected to be, she was relaxed and at ease. His communication ability with her is excellent. I am very pleased what he have done for my mom's case. I would highly recommend him. Michael Beliz is the name. Thank you! More power to you!!!

Jason Rogel

2016-12-03

The attention to detail, perseverance and dedication Michael Beliz puts into every case are what make him an amazing attorney with excellent results. I highly recommend the Beliz Law Firm to anyone seeking legal counsel for personal injury claims.

Jose Carrillo

2016-08-25

I have referred friends and family members to Michael Beliz, without hesitation. He has always done the best for them, and gotten them great settlements!

Michael Manlapeg

2016-08-08

I would highly recommend Michael Beliz as a personal injury attorney. He always follows through and is extremely attentive. Because of his knowledge, perseverance, and his ability to communicate effectively, I trust Michael to achieve the best possible outcome.

Eric Alspaugh

2016-08-05

Michael Beliz is an absolute expert in personal injury law. Michael understands his clients and their unique needs. Also, Michael is accessible and timely in correspondence. I trust Michael to take care of my family and friends!

At The Beliz Law Firm, our top-rated Long Beach motorcycle accident lawyer has the skills and experience to protect the rights and interests of injured victims. To find out more about your motorcycle accident claim, please contact our law firm today for a free consultation.

Consider some of the different factors, listed below, that affect the average motorcycle accident settlement.

Attorney Michael A. Beliz, Esq. can help you get the amount you deserve.

Factors that Impact a Motorcycle Accident Settlement in California

Liability

At the core of any motorcycle accident case is the liability. California is a fault-based auto insurance state. This means that the at-fault driver is liable for damages to other drivers or riders. Determining liability requires looking at the whole picture. One must examine traffic collision reports, photos, independent witness statements, and expert testimony.

Liability determines fault for each of the parties involved in the crash. As California operates under a comparative negligence standard, it can be assigned on a partial fault basis. The more facts you can prove against the other driver, the higher percentage of negligence is on that driver. The goal is to get the other driver to be 100 percent negligence for the crash. The higher the percentage, the greater the likelihood the other driver’s insurance company will want to resolve the case.

If fault is disputed or uncertain in your case, it is imperative that you consult with an experienced Long Beach motorcycle accident lawyer immediately. If you are unfairly assigned partial or total fault for an accident, it could take thousands of dollars out of your pocket. Before you can recover damage, you must prove liability.

Damages

In addition to liability, damages determine the value of your case. Damages are basically how badly is someone injured. With some limited exceptions, injured motorcyclists are entitled to recover financial compensation for their actual damages from the at-fault defendant. To get a maximum settlement offer, you must be able to prove the value of your damages with reliable supporting evidence. Several factors go into determining damages:

• Immediate/Past Medical Expenses: These include a wide variety of charges. Bills directly related to the accident are eligible. This includes on-scene treatment, an ambulance trip, emergency medical treatment, primary care physician bills, or any other related treatment.
• Future Medical Expenses: Motorcycle accidents cause serious injuries. Many of these serious injuries may need treatment in the future. Five, 10, or 20 plus years after the motorcycle crash you might still need treatment. However, there is a time limit for filing cases. Experts like doctors and life care planners help determine the necessary future treatment. Included could be surgeries, physical therapy, and medication, and treatment costs.
• Lost Wages: Injuries from a motorcycle accident may put you out of work. Whether it’s a few days, few months, or a permanent cut back in hours, lost wages are recoverable damages.
• Future Lost Wages and Earning Capacity: An injury may cause permanent wage loss. In this case, you can request compensation for lost future earnings. Loss of earning capacity is another thing you must consider. Perhaps you cannot perform duties that you were in training to perform. In this case, you are eligible for compensation.
• Pain and Suffering: These are damages where you cannot attach a bill to it. This is compensation for aches and pains; the difficulties of living life after an accident. A person should be compensated for the disruption of his or her quality of life. Though intangible, pain and suffering is cause for additional compensation.
• Punitive Damages: The Court reserves punitive damages for special cases where the defendant or the person that cause the collision needs to be punished for his or her actions. The classic example is for a driver, who is under the influence of alcohol, causes a crash.

Settlement Negotiations

Finally, it is important to remember that settlement negotiations are a dynamic and adversarial process. In California, most motorcycle accident claims are defended by large insurance carriers. Generally, these companies hire and train insurance adjusters to settle claims for the lowest amount possible. To get a full and fair settlement offer, you need an aggressive Long Beach motorcycle accident lawyer on your side.

Our law firm will carefully review the unique circumstances of your motorcycle accident in order to determine the appropriate settlement. All these elements come into play to determine what is the potential settlement for an injury case. Each case is different, and each of these factors comes into play before we determine the insurance settlement value.

By working with a California personal injury lawyer who knows all of the tactics and strategies used by insurers providers, you can be confident that you will be fully prepared to bring the strongest motorcycle accident claim.

Contact Our Long Beach, CA Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today

At The Beliz Law Firm, our compassionate Long Beach motorcycle accident attorney works tirelessly to protect the legal rights and financial interests of injured victims. If you or your loved one was seriously injured in a motorcycle crash in Southern California, you need top legal representation. For a free, no obligation review of your motorcycle accident claim, please do not hesitate to contact our legal team today.

Calculating Motorcycle Accident Damages

While there are both economic, noneconomic, and punitive damages that may be a part of your case, each of these damages types is calculated differently.

Economic damages

These damages refer to the actual economic losses a person suffers as a result of a motorcycle accident–like medical expenses, future medical expenses, property damage, and lost wages–described above. As such, these damages are calculated on an actual loss basis – if a person suffered $100,000 in economic losses, they are entitled to $100,000 in economic damages.

Noneconomic Damages

Noneconomic damages, such as pain and suffering, are much harder to calculate after an accident because they have no tangible or actual monetary value. There are two methods that often used for calculated noneconomic damages: the multiplier method and the per diem (or per day) method.

The per diem method assigns a daily rate to a person, which may be based on the actual amount of money a person earns per day.

For example, if a person earns $100 per day, their daily rate would be $100. Then, this number is multiplied by the number of days for which the victim experiences pain and suffering. So, if a person lived with pain and suffering for 100 days and their rate was $100, then their damages award would be $10,000.

The Multiplier Rate

On the other hand, assigns a number between one and five to a person based on the severity of their injuries. A person with extremely severe and permanent injuries would receive a five; a person with fewer serious or long-term injuries may receive a one, 1.5, or two.

Then, this number, called a multiplier, is multiplied by the value of a person’s economic losses. A person who suffered $200,000 in economic losses and has a multiplier of five would, therefore, be entitled to $1 million in noneconomic damages.

Get the Most Out of Your Motorcycle Accident Settlement – Contact Us Today

In addition to the various factors listed above, the amount of insurance available can also affect your settlement, as can who you have working on your case – a more experienced lawyer may be able to obtain a higher settlement offer.

At the law office of The Beliz Law Firm, our lawyers are ready to start working on your case today. Call us with any questions you have or request your free consultation now.