Even motorcyclists who ride as responsibly and safely as possible are still at risk of getting severely or fatally hurt in a wreck caused entirely by another’s misconduct. If you recently lost a loved one in this way, you know how devastating and infuriating the entire experience can be. You may also already know how complicated the process of filing suit over an accident can be.
Fatal motorcycle accidents in Norristown can’t be overcome through money alone, but a civil lawsuit can help you recover for specific damages you’ll have to deal with now and in the future because of your unexpected loss. While you and your family focus on managing your grief and getting your lives back on track, you have help available from a winning motorcycle accident lawyer to demand fair financial compensation for the harm you’ve unfairly suffered.
Holding Someone Else at Fault for a Fatal Crash
In Norristown, you can seek civil compensation for the death of a family member after a motorcycle crash caused by another’s misconduct if you are the surviving spouse, child, or parent of the deceased person. In order to get a positive result from this sort of claim, you—or the personal representative for the deceased person’s estate, who may have to sue on your behalf—will need to prove the death happened because of a specific reckless or careless act.
This is what’s known as establishing negligence. What counts as a negligent act on the road can vary depending on the circumstances. In general, someone who causes a wreck by breaking a traffic law, letting their attention wander away from driving, or driving while drunk or high has violated the duty of care all drivers have to act responsibly and lawfully behind the wheel, which would then make them liable for any crash they cause through their behavior under the legal theory of negligence.
What Damages Can You Seek Payment For?
Unlike a typical motorcycle accident claim, where the person suing is the one who actually got hurt, a wrongful death claim based on a fatal Norristown motorcycle crash is meant to allow surviving family members to seek compensation for their own losses caused by their loved one’s death. This can include things like:
- Lost future financial support
- Lost love, companionship, and advice
- Lost consortium for a spouse
- Lost help around the house
- Emotional anguish
- Funeral, burial, and medical costs
If a court determines the defendant in your claim was extremely negligent or intentionally tried to cause harm, the court may also award punitive damages as a means of punishing the defendant for their actions, although it’s fairly rare for this to happen.
Talk to a Norristown Attorney About a Fatal Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit
No one deserves to have their life cut short because another person was being reckless or careless, let alone because they were actively breaking the law. Unfortunately, that exact scenario plays out every day, and it usually affects people and families who did nothing wrong.
Understanding and then enforcing your right to civil recovery could be key to protecting your family’s best interests and general well-being despite the loss you’ve suffered. Call Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers today to learn what our seasoned lawyers can do for you in the wake of a fatal motorcycle accident in Norristown.
