If you incur multiple injuries from a motorcycle accident in El Monte, you may receive compensation for the damages of the crash. However, you must prove the other party’s negligence to claim your settlement for multiple injuries.
Read on to learn how to claim your payout from an El Monte motorcycle accident caused by another driver’s negligence.
Can a Motorcycle Accident Cause Multiple Blunt Force Injuries?
What is a Blunt Force Injury?
Blunt force trauma, or non-penetrating trauma, is bodily injury caused by forceful impact or physical attack on an object. Generally, the following impacts may cause blunt force trauma:
- shearing (the sliding and stretching of organs and tissues against each other),
- acceleration and deceleration (the change in speed of a moving object), and
- crushing pressure.
A blunt force trauma can be categorized into four types of injuries, namely:
- Contusions or bruises appear when the veins and capillaries of the skin rupture.
- Abrasions happen when a rough surface or object strips away layers of the skin.
- Lacerations are uneven wounds resulting from the tearing of the skin.
- Fractures occur when the force causes the bones to break.
How Can A Motorcycle Accident Cause Multiple Blunt Force Injuries?
When you are riding a motorcycle and a car hits you, the accident may result in multiple blunt force injuries. This is because the acceleration and deceleration forces from the collision of these motor vehicles cause the body organs to slide against each other.
The most common body organs affected in a motorcycle accident are the following:
- spleen,
- liver,
- kidney,
- bladder,
- diaphragm,
- the large intestine, and
- small intestine.
Can a Blunt Force Trauma Cause Death?
Yes, an attack, fall, or other physical trauma to the body causes death. This is referred to as blunt trauma death. Head trauma and significant blood loss are the two most frequent reasons for blunt trauma injury-related deaths.
What is a Multiple Injury Claim?
If you sustain several blunt force injuries from an accident, you may file multiple injury claims to recover compensation for the damages.
Let’s say you were riding a motorcycle when a car suddenly hit you. You incur bone fractures and lacerations on your head. In such instances, you may pursue multiple injury claims against the driver.
When recovering for the damages of the crash, you will need to prove that another driver’s negligence caused the motorcycle accident. Essentially, negligence is established through these four elements:
- The driver has the responsibility to act cautiously to ensure the safety of other road users.
- The driver neglected that duty.
- The breach resulted in a motorcycle accident.
- The crash caused injuries and damages.
Once you justify the driver’s liability, you will be entitled to compensation.
What Evidence is Needed to Prove Multiple Injuries?
To receive compensation for the damages, you must have solid evidence to prove that you have sustained injuries and damages from the crash. Here is the following proof you may need when pursuing a settlement.
Police Report
An accident report provided by the police can help establish the cause of the crash and how it happened. This document will note specific information about your motorcycle accident, such as:
- the name of the drivers involved,
- their home address, license number, and insurance provider,
- the vehicle plate number and type,
- time, date, and location of the accident,
- weather and road conditions during the crash,
- statements of the drivers and witnesses,
- diagram of the accident, and
- the police’s conclusion about the culprit of the collision.
If you are involved in an El Monte motorcycle accident, you may request a copy of the report through email to the Records & Identification Division of the local law enforcement agency or the California Highway Patrol.
When requesting a copy, you will need to pay a fee of $10-$20 to the department along with the following information:
- the accident’s time, place, and other details,
- the names of any parties involved,
- a waiver of release to your lawyer,
- auto accident report number, and
- the vehicle’s license plate.
Photos of the Accident Scene
Photos of the accident scene will be beneficial in providing details about the accident. In most cases, personal injury lawyers can determine the cause of the crash through pictures or videos of the accident.
One of the essential things to do when you are hit by a vehicle is to take photos of the accident scene, including the following details:
- The damages from the crash, such as vehicle scratches and bodily injuries,
- Surrounding conditions at the time of the accident,
- The other driver’s vehicle, and
- Additional details of the collision, such as skid marks and debris.
Unfortunately, there are instances where the victim is too injured to gather evidence at the accident scene. If this happens to you, hiring a personal injury lawyer is the best option to collect solid evidence. They have the resources to examine the location of your El Monte motorcycle accident and gather proof to support your claim.
Doctor’s Diagnosis and Other Medical Records
In any accident, the first thing you need to do is seek medical attention for your injuries. Your doctor’s diagnosis can prove that you have multiple blunt force injuries caused by the motorcycle accident.
Moreover, a medical record has legal implications that can help you seek settlement for multiple injuries, such as:
- It gives an overview of the victim’s medical background.
- It presents the cause of the damage.
- It documents treatments, rehabilitation, and any medical procedures necessary to heal the victim’s injuries.
- It provides proof for the reimbursement of services, if required.
Your medical records can also aid in calculating the total settlement for your multiple blunt force injuries.
Suppose you are experiencing emotional distress, anguish, or any mental problems from the El Monte motorcycle accident. In that case, you may have them checked by an appropriate doctor and include them in your compensation. In this way, you will be able to maximize your payout.
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What Damages Can I Include in a Multiple Injury Claim?
Your compensation typically depends on the damages you incurred in the accident. These damages include the following:
Economic damages are financial or monetary losses from the crash. This may be in the form of the following:
- medical bills,
- lost wages,
- vehicle repair or replacement costs,
- future loss of income,
- out-of-pocket expenses, and
- burial and funeral expenses (in the case of a wrongful death).
You may also include non-economic damages. These are non-monetary losses or emotional and psychological effects of the collision, such as the following:
- pain and suffering,
- emotional distress,
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder,
- loss of life enjoyment, and
- loss of love and companionship.
When including non-economic damages in your settlement for multiple injuries, your accident attorney can quantify and compute them to maximize your payout.
In addition, they can also investigate your case and determine if you are qualified for punitive damages. Punitive damage is a cost awarded to the victim to punish the at-fault party if the court deems their actions malicious or unjust.
How is a Settlement for Multiple Injuries Calculated?
Similar to any other personal injury case, the value of your compensation depends on the damages of the crash. Generally, personal injury lawyers examine these factors when calculating payouts:
- the insurance policy of the driver responsible for the motorcycle accident,
- physical injuries,
- property damages,
- ability to work, and
- pain and suffering.
This is why it is essential to hire an accident attorney to exhaust all possible damages to cover when computing the total settlement for multiple injuries.
Will My Payout Increase If I Have Multiple Injuries?
In general, a compensation amount depends on the severity of the damages. This means that legal experts will examine the nature of your injury and how long it will affect you.
For example, the first accident is a truck hitting a motorcycle rider, resulting in a permanent disability. Meanwhile, another crash occurs involving a bicyclist and motorcyclist, where the biker suffers from lacerations and minor fractures. Which one has a higher compensation value?
While the first victim suffers from one disability, it is more severe than the latter. This means that the initial accident will more likely have a higher compensation than the bicycle crash.
How Can an El Monte Motorcycle Lawyer Accident Help Me?
Dealing with an accident claim may be challenging, especially if you have multiple blunt force injuries from a motorcycle crash. There are also instances where blunt trauma escalates to internal organ damage or even death.
Additionally, the other driver’s insurance company may deny your claim if you fail to follow the treatment plan for your injuries. They may insist that your injuries aren’t as severe as you claim or weren’t caused by the motorcycle accident.
This is why it is best to contact an El Monte Motorcycle Accident Lawyer to handle your case while you focus on your health recovery. They can also aid in examining the severity of your injuries and providing the proper treatment by connecting you with the appropriate doctors.
Aside from these, an accident attorney can:
- Gather evidence to support your claim,
- Prove liability.
- Calculate the total damages.
- Meet legal deadlines.
- Communicate with the insurance company.
- Proceed to trial if needed.
Jacoby & Meyers has competent El Monte accident lawyers with expertise in multiple injury claims from motorcycle crashes. We serve accident victims in California by providing quality and winning legal services. Contact us at 800-992-2222 for a free consultation!