What Damages Can Be Recovered in a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit in Alabama

Did you or a loved one suffer a motorcycle accident in Alabama? If so, you might be dealing with significant pain and distress while trying to navigate the road to recovery. You may also be wrestling with mounting medical bills, lost income, and the mental anguish of being involved in such a traumatic event. The good news is that the law in Alabama gives you the right to seek compensation for these and other damages by filing a motorcycle accident lawsuit.

Stephen Thompson, a recognized personal injury lawyer based in Alabama, can help you make sense of the legal complexities surrounding your case. Over the years, Stephen has successfully represented numerous motorcycle accident victims and helped them secure the maximum compensation they deserve.

Types of Damages in a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit

Generally, there are three broad categories of damages you may claim in a motorcycle accident lawsuit - economic damages, non-economic damages, and punitive damages.

Economic Damages

Economic damages are the direct monetary losses you incur due to the accident. They usually involve out-of-pocket expenses and may include:

• Medical Expenses: These include hospitalization costs, diagnostic tests, surgeries, therapies, medications, medical equipment, future medical costs, etc.
• Lost Wages: If the accident has left you unable to work, for the moment or into the future, you may be reimbursed for lost wages and diminished earning capacity.
• Property Damage: The cost to repair or replace your motorcycle and any other damaged property can be refunded.

Non-Economic Damages

Unlike economic damages, non-economic damages can be harder to quantify as they do not involve direct financial loss. Instead, they cover the intangible impacts of your accident.

• Pain and Suffering: This pertains to physical pain, discomfort, and mental distress experienced due to the accident and recovery process.
• Emotional Distress: This includes anxiety, depression, loss of enjoyment in life, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), etc.
• Loss of Consortium: If the accident has negatively impacted your marital relations or parenting capabilities, you may be entitled to this form of compensation.

Punitive Damages

Alabama law allows for punitive damages in cases where the defendant’s behavior was exceptionally reckless or intentional. Unlike other types of damages that are meant to compensate the victim, punitive damages are designed to punish the offender and deter others from similar conduct.

Limitations in Alabama

In Alabama, there are specific laws you should be aware of when seeking damages for a motorcycle accident.

• Contributory Negligence: Alabama follows a strict contributory negligence rule which states that if you are found to be even 1% at fault for the accident, you may be barred from recovering any compensation
• Damage Caps: Alabama has a cap of $1.5 million on punitive damages or three times the total amount of compensatory damages, whichever is greater.

Securing your Compensation

Recovering the damages you deserve after a motorcycle accident requires proving the responsible party's negligence. In order to maximize compensation, it's crucial to identify all potential avenues of recovery and properly value your claim. This is extremely difficult and is best left to an experienced personal injury lawyer like Stephen Thompson who is well-versed with Alabama motorcycle accident laws and can effectively advocate on your behalf.

If you or a loved one were involved in a motorcycle accident in Alabama, waste no time and contact the law offices of Stephen Thompson today. Let Stephen do the legal work while you focus on your recovery. Reach out and let him help you obtain just compensation for your damages. 

Remember, the law is on your side, and with a seasoned lawyer like Stephen Thompson, you stand a better chance at a successful recovery after your motorcycle accident, both physically and financially.

Free Initial Strategy Session

All Initial Strategy Sessions are Free. If you would like to discuss your options, you are invited to fill out one of the Contact Forms. I will attempt to contact you if I think I can help you.

During your Initial Strategy Session, I will asist you in creating a strategy on how to best pursue your claim, whether it be the result of a Car Accident Claim, 18 Wheeler Injury, or, Alabama Workers' Compensation Claim. At your Initial Strategy Session, you will receive the following:

• First - I will listen to your story. You will have a chance to tell everything to someone who wants to hear what happened to you.
• Based on the information that you provide, I will give you my best advice on both what claims you have, and the next steps you should consider to proceed with your claim(s).
• If your claim is something that I think I can help you with, I will explain the services that I can provide for you, and what the next steps are that we should take. We will start working immediately.
• If your matter is something that I do not think I can help you with, then I will attempt to put you in contact with another lawyer that might be able to help you.
• Either way, what should happen is we will put to rest some of the unkowns that you may be experiencing. We will start to shed some light on what you can expect, and how to best pursue the benefits you deserve.

Don't delay getting the recovery you deserve! Contact us today for your free Strategy Session!