What Happens When the Insurance Company Totals Your Motorcycle?

When the insurance company totals your motorcycle, it determines that the cost of repair is too high to justify pursuing those repairs. Instead, the insurer categorizes the motorcycle as a total loss and (ideally) reimburses the rider for the cost of the damaged bike.

When your motorcycle is totaled, you must ensure that you get fair compensation for the bike’s true value. You should also seek fair compensation for all other damages resulting from the accident, and a motorcycle accident lawyer can seek a fair financial recovery for you.

What “Totaling” Means from an Insurance Perspective

When a motorcycle becomes damaged during a collision, an insurance company must determine if:

• The motorcycle can be repaired and be safe to ride again
• Damage to the motorcycle makes it inoperable or unsafe (even after repairs)
• The cost of repairing the motorcycle is worthwhile, considering the total value of the bike

An insurance company may designate a damaged motorcycle as totaled when:

• The bike is beyond repair
• The cost of repairing the bike is so high that it makes more sense to categorize it as a total loss (and reimburse the policyholder accordingly)

States have different statutes regarding how to determine if a bike is totaled. In Wisconsin, for example, a motorcycle is usually considered totaled when the cost of repairs exceeds 70 percent of the bike’s actual cash value.

Consider Hiring a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer to Seek Fair Compensation for Your Accident-Related Losses

If your motorcycle was totaled, you may have been in a serious collision. This can mean you:

• Are facing a long recovery period with many treatment demands
• Are coping with emotional and psychological struggles related to the accident
• Are unable to work as you normally do and are trying to get back to work as soon as possible
• Have very little time or energy to dedicate to an insurance claim or lawsuit

You should always consider the value of working with a motorcycle accident lawyer. Experienced attorneys:

• Understand the steps involved in completing insurance claims and lawsuits
• Have experience that allows them to navigate the challenges of motorcycle accident cases
• Have significant financial resources to invest in your case (including but not limited to hiring experts to contribute their services and opinions)
• Work with paralegals, investigators, and other support staff to resolve your case efficiently and professionally

We know that traffic accidents involving serious injuries often warrant six- and seven-figure financial recoveries. With a large financial recovery on the line, you should not hesitate to consult a proven attorney about your case.

Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Use Contingency Fees to Help Clients

Financial hardship may be among the greatest challenges you face right now. Motorcycle accident lawyers recognize this hardship and structure their fees to protect you from further financial stress.

A contingency fee structure means:

• You won’t pay a dime out of your pocket to hire a lawyer
• The law firm will receive a percentage of any compensation it secures for you
• The firm has a financial incentive to obtain as large a financial recovery as possible
• If the law firm doesn’t obtain the compensation you deserve, you owe the firm nothing

The contingency fee arrangement takes the financial cost of your case off you and places it on your law firm.

Additional Losses You May Seek Compensation for After a Motorcycle Accident

The cost of replacing your motorcycle may be only one facet of your personal injury case. Your attorney will identify all other harm that has come from the collision, which may include:

• Professional losses: If you lose income, earning power, promotions, bonuses, benefits, or other professional value because of the accident, your lawyer will value these damages accurately.
• Pain and suffering and related treatment: Accident victims often face physical pain, emotional anguish, psychological distress, scarring and disfigurement, sleep problems, and lost quality of life. Your attorney will value the cost of such damages and any treatment you need for pain and suffering.
• Medical expenses: Your legal team will total the cost of all accident-related medical expenses. Such services may include emergency care, surgeries, caregiver services, rehabilitation, and more.

Motorcycle accidents are also overrepresented in fatal accident statistics. If you have lost a loved one due to the effects of a motorcycle collision, your recoverable damages may include:

• Loss of the decedent’s financial support (which may include income and household contributions)
• Loss of spousal companionship and other non-economic benefits provided by the decedent
• Funeral costs (and burial or cremation costs)
• Pain and suffering

These are only a few examples of the many types of harm motorcycle accident victims suffer. Your legal team will create a detailed accounting of your damages and work to hold liable parties responsible for those damages.

How Your Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Will Build Your Case

Your attorney will lead your case from start to finish, with their responsibilities including:

• Collecting evidence
• Documenting your damages
• Calculating a fair settlement value
• Negotiating a settlement
• Handling any necessary lawsuit and trial

Don’t handle an important motorcycle accident case without the support of an attorney. Let a legal team watch your back and fight for all the compensation you deserve.

Hire Your Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today, and Don’t Wait

Let your legal team of personal injury attorneys gather evidence as soon as possible and file your case before any statutes of limitations expire. Hire your lawyer as soon as possible.

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