When someone is hurt in a motorcycle accident, they probably worry about how much it will cost. Depending on the type of injury, you could have several different costs associated with it. In addition to medical bills, you could also have to pay for lost wages. Understanding all of these costs and how you can handle them is essential.
Financial Difficulties After a Motorcycle Crash
Financial hardship could be severe as a result of a motorcycle accident. It could lead to job loss and high medical expenses. Another possibility is depression or emotional trauma. These can interfere with your ability to work and enjoy life.
A lawyer should be contacted immediately if you or a loved one has been hurt in a motorcycle accident. Lampert and Walsh can help you get a fair settlement and resolve your case quickly.
The first expenses incurred after a motorcycle crash are often hospital and emergency room costs. These can add up to tens of thousands of dollars. In addition, out-of-pocket medical costs can accumulate as you are treated weekly at a medical facility.
If you are unable to work, you may have to seek monetary compensation for the cost of your missed work. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may require months or years of treatment.
Medical Costs
Motorcycle crashes can cause severe injuries and long-term medical expenses. In addition to the initial hospital bill, injured motorcycle riders often need follow-up treatments to address complications and prevent further health problems.
Traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries can result in severe disabilities. These injuries can cause breathing issues, impaired sensory perception, and memory loss. The long-term cost of these disabilities can exceed a million dollars.
Serious injury victims also have the potential to lose their ability to work. The cost of lost wages and other fees may be greater than medical treatment. Survivors of serious injuries often undergo months of rehabilitation to achieve full recovery.
Motorcyclists can suffer from various injuries, including broken bones, spinal cord damage, and amputation. Broken ribs, for example, are typical of a motorcycle crash. If the injured motorcyclist doesn’t have insurance, they may be faced with thousands of dollars in medical bills.
Lost Wages
A lost wages claim is a complex thing to pull off. You need to prove that you missed time from work and that you would have made money without being out of work.
The amount you are entitled to be determined by the length of time you have been out of work and the severity of your injury. In New York, the maximum compensation you are entitled to be two-thirds of your pre-accident earnings. Whether you’re an employer or a self-employed individual, you can file a claim for lost wages.
Generally speaking, you should receive at least $150 per week, with a payout that could reach up to two-thirds of your pre-accident salary. Getting the claim started requires a plethora of paperwork.
In addition to the usual paperwork, you must provide an accurate and detailed statement of lost wages. This may sound straightforward, but it can only prove elusive if you’re familiar with legal jargon.
Injuries to The Head, Lower Extremities, Upper Extremities, Thorax, Abdomen, Spine, And Pelvis
A motorcycle crash can cause injuries to the head, lower extremities, upper extremities, thorax, abdomen, spine, and pelvis. These injuries are complex and can vary in severity. Therefore, they require immediate treatment.
The first stage of the emergency assessment begins with a thorough physical examination of the patient. The EMS team assesses limb-deforming injuries and bleeding. They also consider the patient’s vital signs. This helps the hospital clinicians to focus on more likely injuries.
Once an injured person has been stabilized, orthopedic surgeons perform urgent interventions. Some of these may involve plates, screws, and external fixators. Pelvic injuries may require X-rays and CT scans.
Patients with spinal fractures need immediate emergency treatment. Fractures of the thoracic and lumbar spine can result in severe nerve damage. Spinal cord involvement can cause numbness, weakness, and bowel/bladder dysfunction.
The thoracic and lumbar spine are typically stabilized with metal rods. However, some fractures are unstable. When the vertebrae break or the disks slip, the soft underlying materials swell and pressure the spinal canal.