You do everything you can to protect yourself as a motorcycle rider in Indiana, including wearing protective gear, keeping up your riding skills, obeying traffic laws, and watching out for cars that don’t see you. However, there’s only so much you can do to keep yourself safe when other motorists are careless, reckless, or negligent.
If you are seriously injured in a motorcycle crash that was not your fault, it is essential that you establish who was at fault in order to hold them responsible for your losses. At Keller & Keller, not only do we represent motorcycle riders in injury cases, but we are also bikers ourselves. This gives us an edge when gathering evidence of fault and fighting insurance companies for the compensation you are owed. Learn how our experienced motorcycle accident lawyer team can help you determine who is liable for your case and ensure that you are fairly compensated in your injury claim.
Common Causes of Indiana Crashes With Motorcycles
Motorcycles are smaller than cars, and there are usually only a few on the road at any given time. Because of this, drivers of cars are often unaware of their presence and don’t allow them the safety buffer they need and deserve. Motorcycle riders are more vulnerable to accidents and injuries due to the nature of their vehicles. Still, that fact does not release drivers from the duty of care they have to all other motorists—including bikers.
Motorcycle riders can be seriously injured and even killed when drivers make bad decisions such as the following behind the wheel:
- Getting distracted. Crashes can happen in a split second. All it takes is glancing down at a phone, turning to deal with a child or pet in the back seat, adjusting the radio, or daydreaming for a motorcycle rider to pull into a car’s vicinity without the driver knowing it. If the driver changes lanes, makes a turn, or stops suddenly, they could cause a crash that could be deadly for the biker.
- Failing to yield. A driver might claim they didn’t see the motorcycle when they turned left at an intersection or merged onto a highway, but that is no excuse for failing to yield the right of way to the rider. Drivers have a duty to be extra attentive around motorcyclists.
- Changing lanes without looking. It is harder to see a motorcycle in a blind spot before changing lanes, which means drivers have to be very thorough before making this move. Cutting a biker off in a highway lane could cause a devastating crash.
- Speeding. Drivers traveling at high rates of speed have less time to react in order to avoid a crash with another vehicle. When that other vehicle is a motorcycle, this mistake could cause serious harm. A driver who is exceeding the legal speed limit at the time a crash occurs should be found at fault for the crash.
- Driving drunk. When drivers are impaired by alcohol or drugs, their senses are dulled, reaction times are slowed, and the lives of motorcycle riders sharing the road with them are put at increased risk. If a driver is found to be impaired after a crash with a bike, they should be held accountable for the damage they have caused.
In any crash where the driver of a car or truck acted in a negligent manner, the injured biker should not have to bear responsibility for their own medical bills, property damage, and lost wages. With an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer on your side, you can hold the driver liable and recover the damages you deserve to put your life back together.
A skilled Indiana motorcycle crash attorney will have the experience necessary to determine who was at fault in your crash and what your claim is worth—including potential future losses—to ensure that you are fully compensated for your losses. We go to bat for Indiana motorcycle riders, and we would be happy to evaluate your claim in a free initial consultation. Play it safe—talk to Keller & Keller in Indianapolis about how we can help you get what you deserve.
