A motorcycle crash can leave you dealing with far more than the immediate cost of medical care. While you focus on healing, you may also worry about repairing your bike, replacing damaged riding gear, getting to work and managing lost income. Those added costs can make an already difficult situation even harder. Understanding the losses that may form part of your claim can help you account for the full effect of the accident.
Here are the main losses to consider after a motorcycle accident.
Motorcycle and riding gear damage
Damage to your motorcycle and protective gear can add substantial costs after a crash. Depending on the circumstances, you may have losses related to:
- Motorcycle repairs or replacement
- A damaged helmet, jacket, gloves or boots
- Towing and storage
- Loss of use while your motorcycle undergoes repairs
Keep receipts, repair estimates and photographs of the damage. These details can help document the property losses tied to the collision.
Lost income from missed work
Missing work because of your injuries can create a financial loss beyond your medical expenses. You may lose income when you cannot work during recovery, need time away for medical appointments or cannot perform your usual duties.
Keep records of your missed work and income, especially if your injuries affect your ability to return to your regular schedule. If your injuries reduce your earning ability over a longer period, that impact may also matter when evaluating your losses.
Pain and loss of enjoyment
Physical pain and the effects of your injuries can affect your daily life long after the motorcycle gets repaired. You may have difficulty returning to hobbies, exercising, spending time with family or handling activities you enjoyed before the crash.
Arizona law recognizes both economic and noneconomic losses arising from bodily injury. That means your losses do not necessarily end with expenses that come with a bill or receipt.
Other accident-related expenses
Smaller costs can also add up while you recover from a motorcycle crash. Depending on your circumstances, you may have expenses for:
- Transportation while you cannot use your motorcycle
- Household help you need because of your injuries
- Other reasonable out-of-pocket costs related to the accident
Keep receipts and other proof of these expenses so you can account for them when evaluating your claim.
Document the full impact of your crash
Your claim can involve more than the medical bills that arrive after a motorcycle accident. Keeping track of your property damage, lost income, out-of-pocket expenses and the ways your injuries affect your daily life can help you account for the full scope of your losses. An attorney can review those records with you and help determine which losses your claim may support.
