Breaking Down the High Costs of Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents cause significant economic losses for the United States. This is because when a motorcycle accident happens the likelihood that it will be catastrophic or deadly for those on the motorcycle is very high. A motorcyclist does not have robust surrounding protection like occupants of a car have. In a car, there is the vehicle’s metal structure and a wide variety of other safety features such as airbags positioned throughout.
Because of the severity of motorcycle accidents and the frequency with which they happen, there are several economic and noneconomic losses that the country suffers when motorcycle accidents occur.
If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in New Jersey or if you lost a loved one in a motorcycle crash, you need experienced legal guidance to help you recover financial compensation for your losses. The South Jersey motorcycle accident attorney at Monaco Law PC can evaluate your accident experience and help you with your injury claim.
Understanding the Totality of Costs From Motorcycle Accidents
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), every year there are tens of thousands of fatalities and many millions of nonfatal injuries from motor vehicle crashes like motorcycle accidents. In 2019 alone, crashes cost the country $340 billion.
Tangible costs that these accidents produce include:
- The cost of medical care to treat injuries from accidents. Medications, therapy, surgery, assistive devices, and more add to medical care costs.
- The inability to return to work and loss of productivity after a fatal motorcycle accident or nonfatal accident where severe injuries are suffered.
- Cost of personal care if injuries leave a victim unable to live independently.
- Legal costs and court expenses.
- Insurance costs.
- Administrative costs.
- The costs of emergency services like EMS or police arriving at an accident scene to help those involved.
- Costs to employers that lose employees.
When a motorcycle accident is deadly or when a crash leads to disabling injuries, then there are also intangible costs that the country endures, including:
- The victim who dies is deprived of living out the rest of their natural life.
- The physical pain of the injuries.
- Lifelong impairment.
- The emotional impact on the victim whose life was altered so drastically and the adverse effects on family and friends who lost a loved one.
- Decreased quality of life.
While lifetime economic costs, as reported by the NHTSA, were $340 billion in 2019, when taking in all of the tangible and intangible costs combined, that number jumps to $1.37 trillion. This is the complete cost of the total amount of societal harm that is suffered after accidents happen.
Speak to a New Jersey and Pennsylvania Motorcycle Accident Injury Attorney Today
Our South Jersey and Philadelphia motorcycle accident injury lawyer at Monaco Law PC offers free consultations to victims of motorcycle accidents in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. To schedule yours, please call (609) 277-3166 for our New Jersey office and (215) 546-3166 for our office in Pennsylvania.
We are a New Jersey and Pennsylvania personal injury law firm serving Atlantic County, Bucks County, Burlington County, Cape May County, Camden County, Chester County, Cumberland County, Delaware County, Gloucester County, Mercer County, Middlesex County, Montgomery County, Philadelphia, Ocean County, and Salem County.
Source:
crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813403
