Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC is an Indianapolis law firm that helps people hurt in motorcycle accidents that someone else caused. Our experienced attorneys know what you are going through after a motorcycle crash. We want to help you rebuild your life by seeking the compensation you need for your losses.
We have stood up for injured people in Indianapolis and across Indiana for over 30 years, delivering life-changing results through strong representation and tireless effort. We want to put our experience to work for you in your Indianapolis motorcycle accident claim.
Contact us today for a free consultation with a motorcycle accident lawyer in Indianapolis. We are ready to analyze your case and explain your best legal options for seeking the money you need for your future.
How Much Is Your Indianapolis Motorcycle Accident Claim Worth?
Every motorcycle accident claim is different, and your compensation depends on factors specific to your situation, such as the severity of your injuries, the amount of insurance coverage available, and your attorney’s skill and effort.
Types of compensation for motorcycle crash injuries can include money for:
- Your medical expenses, including emergency treatment, prescription drugs, hospital stays, doctor’s visits, physical therapy, and future treatment you may need
- Your lost income and reduced future earnings, including lost bonuses or commissions
- Your physical pain and suffering
- Your emotional distress and reduced quality of life
- The cost to repair or replace your motorcycle and other damaged property
How Indiana Law Affects Motorcycle Accident Claims
Indiana is a tort state for motorcycle accident claims. That means whoever causes a collision is legally and financially responsible for the resulting injuries and related losses. But how do you determine who is liable for the crash?
Most Indiana motorcycle accident cases are based on negligence – that is, a party’s failure to take sufficient care given the circumstances. In other words, the legally responsible party is whoever’s careless actions led to the collision. For example, if a distracted driver hits you while changing lanes, their carelessness likely makes them at fault for your injuries and legally responsible for their consequences.
Some motorcycle accident cases involve the concept of comparative negligence. Comparative negligence applies when the party seeking compensation is also partially to blame for causing the accident.
Under Indiana law, a trial court hearing a personal injury case can apportion fault among the parties to blame for the crash. Any percentage of fault on the part of the injured party will reduce their compensation. Furthermore, the court cannot award compensation to an injured party whose share of fault is greater than 50 percent.
So, for example, an injured party found to be 15 percent at fault in a motorcycle accident case worth $10,000 would instead receive $8,500 – that is, 85 percent of $10,000. The comparative negligence rule underscores the importance of getting help from our experienced motorcycle accident attorneys who know how to fight insurance companies when they try to shift the blame.Indiana law also sets hard deadlines for motorcycle accident claims. In general, the Indiana personal injury statute of limitations gives you two years from the crash date to file a lawsuit. While certain circumstances could extend or shorten this deadline, it is best to act quickly to assert your rights. If you do not, you could be time-barred from recovering the compensation you otherwise deserve.
How Do You Prove Fault in a Motorcycle Accident Case?
Proving that someone else is at fault in a motorcycle collision requires strong evidence, such as the following:
- Videos from surveillance cameras, dashcams, or traffic cameras showing the accident as it occurs
- Eyewitness accounts from people who saw what happened
- Photos of the accident scene to illustrate how the accident occurred
- Physical evidence from the accident scene, such as skid marks and debris
- Post-accident vehicle inspections
- Expert testimony to explain complex scientific concepts or recreate the collision
What Should I Do When Dealing with Insurance After a Motorcycle Crash in Indianapolis?
Most Indiana motorcycle claims do not go to trial. Instead, successful claims usually end in a settlement with the at-fault party’s insurance provider. However, while insurance adjusters might try to sound like they are on your side, their goal is to minimize what the company pays out. They can be ruthless in their efforts to protect their employer’s profits.
One of the most significant benefits of getting legal help is that you will have an experienced professional to deal with the insurance companies for you throughout the legal process. You can help your lawyer by keeping the following tips in mind:
- Save documents like your medical bills, proof of lost income, and vehicle repair estimates to prove the harm you have suffered.
- Never give a recorded statement to an insurance company without talking to your lawyer first. Insurance adjusters can twist your words and use them against you.
- Do not accept an initial settlement offer without advice from an attorney. Talk to your motorcycle accident injury lawyer and make sure you fully understand your losses before signing anything.
Our Indianapolis t-bone motorcycle accident lawyers can push back against lowball settlement offers by using the threat of a lawsuit as leverage to seek a better deal. We will be fully prepared to go to court if the insurer refuses to make you a fair offer.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Indiana?
Among the most common causes of motorcycle accidents in Indiana are:
- Distracted, intoxicated, speeding, or fatigued drivers
- Drivers making left turns into the path of oncoming motorcycles
- Drivers following too closely behind motorcyclists
- Drivers changing lanes without checking for nearby motorcycles
- Motorists not sharing the road with motorcyclists
- Mechanical defects and component failures
- Potholes and other road hazards resulting from poor road maintenance
What Types of Injuries Happen in Motorcycle Crashes?
Motorcycle riders do not have as much protection in a crash as people in enclosed vehicles. That means motorcycle accident victims are more likely to sustain serious injuries, such as:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Broken bones
- Road rash
- Joint damage
- Back and neck injuries
- Severed or crushed limbs
- Internal bleeding
- Internal organ damage
Our Indianapolis Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Will Investigate Your Case
As a larger personal injury law firm, we have the resources to devote to your case to see it through to completion. We will investigate your case thoroughly because having a firm command of the facts is the best way to negotiate from a position of strength.
We will move quickly to find eyewitnesses and preserve evidence before it is lost. We often seek the cell phone records of the at-fault driver to determine if the driver was distracted by talking on the phone or sending text messages at the time of the crash. We work hard to identify all the potentially liable parties in an accident. That broadens the pool of insurance funds available to provide compensation to the injured motorcyclist.
How Our Indianapolis Motorcycle Accident Injury Lawyers Can Help You
Your job after a crash is to rest and heal. Our job is to offer sound legal advice and pursue your claims on your behalf. Our experienced personal injury attorneys can investigate the crash, collect evidence, document your injuries, and deal with the insurers. As we do so, we will also prepare your claim for trial in case the insurers will not offer a fair deal. Contact Craig, Kelley & Faultless now for a free consultation with our experienced Indiana motorcycle accident attorneys.
