You have the right to receive fair compensation for any damage sustained during the accident, particularly if you are not at fault. This applies to whether you were driving the motorcycle, a passenger on the motorcycle, or someone hit by a motorcycle.

Damages are the harm caused to your property and the injuries you sustained in the incident. Damages can either present or future. What does this mean?

‘Present damages’ refers to the amount of money that the incident has cost you so far. For example, your wages for any time you were unable to work due to the accident. It can also be the cost of fixing your vehicle.

‘Future damages,’ refer to the expected amount of money or compensation you’ll need to recover from the incident. For example, present damages would be what you have spent on hospital bills. Future damages would be the cost of future medical treatment or medication you need in relation to the injuries you incurred.

In the state of California, you have two years from the date of the motorcycle accident to file a lawsuit. After this period, the statute of limitations prevent victims from filing a lawsuit . You don’t want to file a lawsuit too soon after the incident either. Some injuries common to motorcycle accident take time to manifest. Receiving an early settlement that entails releasing the at-fault party might prohibit you from getting further compensation.

Some lawyers who deal with motorcycle accidents have free consultations, and work on a contingency basis. This means that you might not have to pay them an hourly rate, and that they will only receive payment if you win your case.