WHEN YOU’VE BEEN INJURED IN A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT, YOU NEED A LAWYER WHO GETS IT.

The actions you take immediately following an accident can significantly impact your compensation.

1. If Anyone is Injured, Call 911 Immediately. Report the crash to law enforcement and obtain the crash report details from the officer.
2. Document the Scene (if safe to do so). Take photos and videos of the vehicles, road conditions, and surroundings. Secure any footage from dash cams, GoPros, or similar devices.
3. Exchange Information. Take clear photos of drivers licenses or IDs, license plates, and insurance cards. Be sure to gather names and contact details of any witnesses.
4. Prioritize Your Health. Even if you don’t feel injured right away, seek medical evaluation to ensure your well-being. Options include ambulance transport if needed, emergency room care, and a visit to your primary care physician or a specialist.
5. Protect Your Rights. Reach out for legal advice as soon as possible—no matter how minor the accident may seem. We’re here to guide you.
6. Report the Incident to Your Insurance Company. If your car was towed, your insurer can assist with removal from the tow yard.
7. Avoid Potential Pitfalls. Do not speak to the other driver’s insurance company before consulting with an attorney. Their goal is to minimize payouts—ours is to protect you.

Following these steps helps protect your legal rights and creates a record of the accident and your injuries.

Want to keep this info close at hand? Download our printable card to keep in your wallet.

Recovering from a motorcycle accident isn’t just about healing from injuries. It’s also about securing the compensation you deserve. Injured riders in Indianapolis may be entitled to damages such as:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Property damage
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Even if a motorcyclist takes every safety precaution when riding on the road, accidents are still common in Indiana. Riders often face even more dangers than drivers. Some of these dangers include:

• Inattentive drivers
• Reckless drivers
• Speeding drivers
• Slippery roads
• Improper road maintenance
• Grass clippings on the roadway
• Loose dogs or other pets
• Dangerous or defective motorcycle parts

It is important that motorcyclists wear protective gear when riding and follow traffic laws accordingly because too often are they found in situations where they must protect themselves from a collision with another vehicle. Motorcycle accidents can occur for many reasons, including the negligence of a driver or third party.

Negligence of a driver

Unfortunately, most of the motorcycle accidents that occur could have been prevented if the driver of the other vehicle was simply paying attention. Often, drivers of a vehicle do not examine the roads for motorcycles and end of causing a collision. These accidents occur because the driver is not looking, is speeding, does not give indication of switching lanes, or does not give the motorcyclist enough space in a lane.

Negligence of a third party

Motorcyclists have to keep their eyes moving at all times on the road, including being aware of the conditions of the road. However, no one can see everything, and some items in the road are unavoidable.  For instance, a pothole may be no obstacle for a large vehicle, but it can be a serious risk for a motorcycle. It is the responsibility of local and federal governments to provide drivers with safe roadways.

Indiana has a statute of limitations of two years for personal injury claims. If you or a loved one are in a motorcycle accident, it’s important to act promptly.

A fault insurance system, like the one followed in Indiana, means that victims of motorcycle accidents must show that the other party was responsible for the accident to recover damages. In Indiana, the individual who causes a motorcycle accident is liable for any damages resulting from the incident, which reinforces the importance of determining fault early in accident claims.

The comparative negligence principle in Indiana states that a victim’s compensation can be reduced by their percentage of fault, with no recovery possible if the victim is over 50% responsible.

If a motorcyclist is determined to be over 50% at fault in a collision, they are barred from recovering any damages under Indiana’s comparative fault laws.

Insurance companies may utilize stereotypes about motorcyclists being reckless to shift blame and deny reasonable compensation, which necessitates strong evidence from victims to support their claims.

Motorcycle accident investigations typically involve gathering evidence, including the police report, witness statements and video from surveillance cameras and dash or helmet cameras. Photographs, too, are essential pieces of evidence, since they can show the aftermath of a wreck and help accident reconstruction experts determine how a wreck happened.

Hiring a motorcycle accident attorney increases your chances of securing a larger settlement.  According to the Insurance Research Council, people represented by an attorney receive settlements 3.5 times higher than those without representation.

Attorneys are skilled in navigating the complexities of the legal process, which helps ensure that motorcycle accident victims receive the maximum compensation for their injuries, pain, and suffering.

Here are some of the reasons to have an experienced motorcycle attorney at your back:

• You can take advantage of your lawyer’s experience in both the law and case strategies to deliver the best outcome for you
• Legal representation is crucial because any statements made to police or insurance providers can significantly impact your case later on.
• Motorcycle accident lawyers can manage negotiations with insurance companies, which often employ tactics to minimize their payouts to victims.
• Engaging a lawyer reduces the risk of making costly mistakes that could adversely affect the outcome of your case following a motorcycle accident.

Motorcycle accidents often result in severe injuries to the motorcyclist. Sometimes, a rider does not survive. In those situations, family members who are left behind often want to know how to seek justice.

In Indiana, the personal representative of the deceased motorcyclist’s estate can pursue a wrongful death claim on behalf of the estate. If the claim is successful, the estate can recover compensation for the deceased’s medical expenses, the value of their lost wages or services to their family, plus funeral and burial costs. However, the statute of limitations for an Indiana wrongful death, which controls how long someone has to file a personal injury claim, is only two years. That makes it critical to act quickly.

Yes. Because they make the road so slippery, grass clippings are incredibly dangerous for motorcyclists. However, many property owners disregard local safety laws and leave fresh-cut grass clippings in the street. You may be able to recover compensation if someone else’s lawn clippings contributed to your motorcycle crash.

Yes. Pet owners have an obligation to keep their animals from causing harm to other people. This includes more than just preventing dog bites. It also means not allowing their dogs to interfere with the path of riders.

An experienced motorcycle accident attorney assesses the facts of the case to establish liability, which may involve investigating multiple parties potentially responsible for the accident.

They utilize resources such as accident reconstruction specialists, expert witnesses, and surveillance footage to build a strong case and demonstrate fault. Motorcycle accident lawyers are skilled in negotiating with insurance companies, employing strategies to counteract tactics aimed at minimizing payouts to victims.

Given Indiana’s modified comparative fault rule, these attorneys help clients understand how partial fault may impact their compensation claims. The lawyers can seek comprehensive compensation for various damages, including medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering, ensuring all aspects of the victims losses are addressed.