T-Bone Motorcycle Accident Attorneys in Indianapolis

a motorcycle crashed into the side of a car.

T-bone accidents happen when the front of a vehicle crashes into the side of another vehicle. If your motorcycle was broadsided by a car, truck, or another vehicle and you were injured as a result, you may be entitled to seek compensation for your injuries, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.

T-bone accidents often occur at intersections when a car or truck turns unexpectedly in front of an oncoming motorcycle and the motorcyclist hits the side of the vehicle.

Compared to automobile drivers, motorcyclists have little protection in the event of a side-impact crash. T-bone accidents are among the most dangerous types of collisions for motorcycle riders.

The experienced motorcycle injury attorneys at Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC are committed to helping those who have been hurt by the negligence of others. If you or a loved one has been harmed by another driver’s carelessness in a side-collision motorcycle accident, you should speak to a lawyer about your legal options.

The attorneys at Craig, Kelley & Faultless in Indianapolis want to help you seek full compensation to put the accident behind you and get back on your feet again.

Contact a T-bone motorcycle accident lawyer for a free consultation at (812) 220-3615. We’re ready to start on your case today.

How Common Are T-Bone Motorcycle Accidents?

Nationwide, nearly 5,000 motorcycle drivers died in crashes in 2018. Recent federal traffic data indicate that motorcyclists are about 28 times more likely to die in a crash than people in passenger cars. In Indiana, in 2018, 112 motorcycle operators and their passengers died in accidents, and over 1,900 were injured.

Statistics for T-bone motorcycle accidents are not easy to distinguish from other types of motorcycle crashes. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) published a report in 2018 that analyzed motorcycle crash data from 351 motorcycle crash investigations.

The four most common motorcycle accident scenarios are:

  •  a vehicle turning left in front of a motorcycle, causing a side-impact collision
  • a motorcycle falling on a road to avoid a crash
  • a motorcycle running off the road
  • sideswipe accidents.

A T-bone accident may involve a motorcycle hitting the side of a vehicle or a vehicle striking the side of a motorcycle in a perpendicular crash.

Two Reasons Why T-Bone Motorcycle Accidents Happen at Intersections

The reason that many accidents involve a vehicle turning left in front of a motorcycle is that a lot of drivers experience a psychological phenomenon called inattentional blindness. Researchers explain this by likening it to watching a movie with gladiators fighting in the ancient Roman colosseum.

While you are viewing the movie, a jet airplane flies over the stadium, and you don’t see the jet. Your attention is focused on what’s happening in the colosseum, and you do not notice unexpected things entering your visual field.

This is what happens when a driver is focused on the road. Drivers are waiting to make a turn and are attuned to seeing cars and trucks. They don’t expect to see a motorcycle. The motorcyclist often cannot stop in time when the car turns unexpectedly in front of the approaching motorcycle, and a collision occurs.

Another reason for motorcycle T-bone accidents at intersections is because of a motorcycle’s smaller size. It is more difficult to judge the speed and distance of a motorcycle approaching an intersection.

Drivers frequently misjudge the closing speed of a motorcycle as it approaches an intersection. If car and truck drivers would wait for the motorcycle to clear the intersection, fewer side-collision accidents would happen.

Common Factors in Side-Collision Motorcycle Accidents

Each crash is unique. The factors involved in the crash such as the speed of the vehicles and angle of impact play a large part in the nature and extent of injuries.

Many factors can contribute to motorcycle and car accident collisions:

  • Vehicle drivers fail to detect an approaching motorcycle in traffic or misjudge the motorcycle’s speed. The motorcyclist loses control while attempting to avoid a collision. This is one of the most common factors.
  • Human factors such as the motorcycle driver’s experience and judgment.
  • Environmental, roadway, and traffic conditions — such as weather, visibility, road conditions and road surfaces, lane widths, medians, and turning lane width.
  • Vehicle issues – mechanical problems, faulty tires, turn signals, brake lights.
  • Trip-related – origin, destination, length, miles traveled before the crash, road familiarity.
  • Training – type and level of rider training safety courses.
  • Protective equipment worn by motorcyclist– compliant helmets, leather jackets, gloves.

Regardless of the contributing factors, injuries from a T-bone motorcycle accident can range from scrapes and bruises to severe injuries involving broken bones and injury to internal organs.

Common Injuries in Side-Collision Motorcycle Accidents

A motorcyclist involved in a broadside collision may be thrown off the motorcycle onto the pavement. The list of possible injuries sustained in side-collision motorcycle accidents is lengthy.

Here are just a few of the injury types:

Regardless of the type of injury you have sustained in a motorcycle accident, you will likely have medical bills from hospitals, doctors, surgeons, and physical therapists. You may have bills for prescription medications, over-the-counter medicines, and medical supplies such as crutches, a cane, or a wheelchair. There likely will be damage to your motorcycle as well.

It is not uncommon for motorcyclists involved in accidents to become temporarily or permanently disabled after an accident. It is a hardship to lose income temporarily, but what if you can never work again? You may be experiencing terrible pain and suffering, disfigurement, depression, and more.

If you have been injured in a T-bone motorcycle accident in Indiana, you may be entitled to seek compensation from the motorist who caused the crash. You need a knowledgeable Indiana motorcycle accident lawyer on your side.

The attorneys at Craig, Kelley & Faultless are experienced at negotiating with insurance companies and have successfully represented numerous injured motorcyclists in Indiana.

Bias Against Motorcyclists

Failure of vehicle drivers to yield the right-of-way to motorcyclists at intersections is a common cause of car and motorcycle accidents. More often than not, these accidents are the fault of an automobile driver or truck driver.

Despite the statistics, some people, including law enforcement officers, insurance adjusters, and even some lawyers and judges, have a bias against motorcyclists. This bias can impact insurance claims and personal injury claims, whether settled out-of-court or at a trial.

Insurance adjusters are trained negotiators and will almost always make a lowball offer to limit the insurer’s liability. Adjusters want to settle the insurance claim quickly and minimize the amount of money their company has to pay you. This is especially true of motorcycle accidents because many insurance company adjusters will assume the accident was your fault.

If your case goes to court, some juries may be inclined to offer less money for a motorcycle driver’s pain and suffering. Again, this is because of bias against bikers. This is why you need help from the experienced motorcycle accident attorneys at Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC.

Contact an Experienced Indianapolis Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Our motorcycle accident attorneys at Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC have more than 20 years of experience representing broadside motorcycle accident victims and their families in Indianapolis and across the state of Indiana.

Our lawyers have the knowledge and determination to help you seek maximum compensation after a T-bone motorcycle accident.

We are aware of the bias that some insurance adjusters and others have against bikers. Our award-winning team will work diligently and tirelessly to overcome this bias and demand a fair settlement.

We will fight hard for your rights. We treat each client with genuine compassion and respect, and we will keep you informed of what is happening with your case.

Craig, Kelley & Faultless, LLC has offices in Batesville, Connersville, North Vernon, and Richmond. We handle cases across Indiana. Call us today at (812) 220-3615 to schedule a free, private consultation and case review.