Riding a motorcycle down the open Indiana roads can feel like freedom. Unfortunately, too many drivers do not respect the rights of motorcyclists, and this can lead to accidents. Motorcycle crashes can cause catastrophic injuries that are more serious than your average accident. Often these injuries are permanent or fatal, leaving victims and survivors wondering what to do next.
Your accident could leave you hurting physically, emotionally, and financially. After a motorcycle accident, what steps should you take? How do you know if you are eligible for compensation? What happens if you can’t return to work? Lake County motorcycle accident lawyers can answer your questions and tell you about your legal options.
Dealing With the Aftermath of a Motorcycle Accident
As a result of your accident, you may find yourself with severe injuries, and may have medical bills and transportation issues with which to contend. The last responsibility you want to add to your burden is dealing with insurance companies.
After an accident, if you find yourself in need of legal counsel, it’s important to find a motorcycle accident attorney in Lake County who can empathize with–and fight for–you. We want to help you on your journey to healing and justice for your Lake County motorcycle accident. Below, you’ll find a guide covering vital information for the aftermath of your traumatic event.
Damages You May Be Entitled to After a Lake County Motorcycle Accident
The compensatory damages you could receive after a Lake County motorcycle accident will be based on the circumstances of your accident. However, weighing in factors like recovery time and the severity of your injuries could impact any legal path to justice you choose to pursue.
Some of the damages you might seek and you could find yourself entitled to include:
Medical Expenses
If you incur costs for anything from a doctor’s visit to medication, or, from a hospital stay to multiple procedures to heal your injuries.
Loss of Work and Wages
If your motorcycle accident results in a loss of work for you, and if you lose out on current or future wages due to your crash.
Property Damage and Loss of Transportation
If your motorcycle was damaged as a result of your accident, or, if you lose your main mode of transportation.
Pain and Suffering
This includes physical pain due to injury, mental anguish, loss of quality of life, loss of a loved one, or emotional duress.
Permanent Disability
If you experience an irreversible disability as a result of your accident. A motorcycle accident attorney in Lake County, IN, may be able to recover damages for you based on your future earnings potential if you become permanently disabled due to your injury.
How You Have to File a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Indiana
In Indiana, there is a statute of limitations on how long you have to file a case after an accident. State law, IC § 34-11-2-4 , gives you two years to file a lawsuit to seek compensation after a crash. In the immediate aftermath of your Lake County motorcycle accident, it’s vital that you seek legal consultation–even if you’re not sure if you will have a case.
A Lake County motorcycle accident attorney can help you determine the validity of your case. Contact a motorcycle accident lawyer quickly to help you understand the path of your potential case.
Indiana Motorcycle Accident FAQs
How much are most motorcycle accident settlements?
There is no average settlement for a motorcycle accident. In general, more serious injuries will result in higher damages and settlements or court awards. Some cases with less-serious injuries may settle in the thousands, while those that involve catastrophic injuries like amputations and traumatic brain injuries can settle for much more.
Only your motorcycle accident attorney can give you an accurate estimate of what you may be able to expect. We will review your damages and give you an explanation of your options.
Who is usually at fault in a vehicle motorcycle collision?
The driver of another vehicle, such as a car, a truck, or even a commercial vehicle, is more likely to be at-fault in a motorcycle wreck. In fact, many multi-vehicle crashes that involve motorcycles were caused by another driver who did not see the motorcycle. This is a common problem that often has devastating consequences for motorcycle riders and their loved ones.
Your motorcycle accident lawyer will use evidence like photos, witness accounts, and accident reports to prove fault in your claim.
What should you do after a motorcycle accident in Lake County?
After you’re involved in a motorcycle accident, it’s vital you take immediate steps. Follow these steps to protect yourself, treat any injuries, report to insurance companies, and to help you find an expert Lake County motorcycle accident attorney.
- If possible, pull your motorcycle to the side of the road
- Exchange insurance information with any other driver involved in your accident
- File a traffic accident report with the Lake County Sheriff
- See a doctor right away–even if your bruises and scrapes appear minor, it’s important you document any injuries. Medical procedures may also be required if over time, your injuries grow in severity.
- Contact a Lake County motorcycle accident attorney to explore any valid legal avenues available for you to take.
Lake County, Indiana, Motorcycle Accident Statistics
Whether you chose motorcycles as a hobby or as your preferred method of transportation, it’s important to know how safe Lake County roads are when you ride.
- Statewide, Indiana motorcycle accidents and fatalities increased from 2019 to 2020.
- The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) estimates motorcycles were involved in only 2% of all vehicle crashes, but accounted for 15% of traffic deaths.
- In Indiana, motorcycle collisions increased by 8% from 2,568 in 2019 to 2,778 in 2020. According to the 2019 Indiana Crash Fact Book, 69% of all motorcycle collisions occurred in daylight hours, while 49% of all fatal motorcycle crashes occurred before nightfall.
With both the cities of Hamilton and Gary located in Lake County, motorcycles prove a popular method of transportation for many. In 2019, Gary led Lake County motorcycle accident numbers with 24. Hamilton’s numbers weren’t far away with 22 motorcycle accidents for the year.
The 2019 Indiana Traffic Safety Facts report listed 150 total motorcycle crashes in Indiana. ABATE offers motorcycle rider safety courses for any interested party, and can help you feel more secure as you hit the roads, but ultimately, you may have no control over your accident.
When you are hurt by another party’s negligence, a motorcycle accident attorney in Lake County can help you see that justice is served. What happened to you wasn’t your fault, and you shouldn’t get stuck with the bills.
Common Injuries in a Lake County Motorcycle Accident
In a Lake County motorcycle accident, you may find yourself dealing with severe injury. An impact with another vehicle could ruin your motorcycle and leave you with irreversible physical damage. According to the 2019 Indiana Traffic Safety Facts, a non-motorcycle driver was 60% more likely to be at fault in an accident than a motorcyclist.
A motorcycle accident could result in:
- Road rash
- Deep hematomas (bone bruising)
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Sprains or torn ligaments
- Bone fractures
- Spinal cord injuries (SCIs)
- Loss of limb
- Facial injuries
- Paralysis
You may feel lucky if you escape a motorcycle crash with only road rash. Nonetheless, you should still get examined by a doctor. Your road rash could become infected, or your injuries could worsen over time.
Remember, even minor injuries can lead to more severe conditions such as sepsis, and must be treated immediately after a collision. In case of obvious severe injuries, it’s vital you not only seek treatment, but contact a motorcycle accident lawyer
A personal injury attorney in Lake County who is willing to go the extra mile in your case may be the difference between compensatory justice and medical bills that leave you bankrupt.
Common Reasons for a Lake County Motorcycle Accident
The most common reasons for a motorcycle accident in Lake County, Indiana are universal. They include:
- Reckless driving: Speeding, illegal lane shifts, distracted driving
- Failure of a driver to yield the right of way to a motorcycle
- Driving under the influence
Not wearing a helmet can lead to fatal motorcycle wrecks. Although operators and passengers under 18 are required to wear a helmet by Indiana motorcycle laws, many older motorcycle operators and passengers chose not to.
A helmet can’t prevent an accident, but it could help in staving off Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and other head and facial injuries. In 2019, 65% of those involved in motorcycle collisions and 27% of motorcyclists killed in accidents weren’t wearing helmets.
How a Motorcycle Accident Attorney Can Assist You
In the immediate aftermath of your motorcycle accident, you may not have the time or the emotional and physical wherewithal to take on legal issues or paperwork. That’s why it’s important to find a fierce and empathetic motorcycle accident lawyer in Lake County to stand in your corner.
An expert Lake County motorcycle attorney can fight for you and relieve your extra burdens. Here are some of the ways we can help:
We Will Fight for Your Compensation
Compensatory damages can never make up for the loss you’ve experienced, but they could help you to feel that some level of justice has been served. A dedicated legal team can help you in your fight to heal and move forward after your accident. Dealing with an insurance company on your own can prove an insurmountable headache, but in the right legal hands, you could emerge victorious in your dealings.
We Will Give You Expert Legal Advice
After your Lake County motorcycle accident, If you choose to work with Yosha Law Firm, our lawyers will fight on your behalf. In your initial consultation, we will explain every aspect of your case, and support you through the legal process. We’ll explore what compensation may look like for you. The following are some of what our Lake County motorcycle attorneys can do for you:
- Explain the merits of your case so that you understand your options for recovering compensation
- Collect witness testimony that supports your account of how the accident happened
- Use legal resources to pour over evidence from your case, including (but not limited to): expert witnesses and forensic investigators
- Take your case to trial if we cannot settle out of court
What Our Clients Say About Our Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
Our motorcycle accident lawyers in Lake County are dedicated to our clients, and proud of the work we’ve done on their behalf. Here are some testimonials they’ve shared about our work:
“Yosha Law Firm law firm offers professionalism and generosity rarely seen these days. They were able to efficiently and expertly help me over the phone with a tense situation. I now have the confidence to proceed with my plan knowing that the law supports me in these actions. Thanks Yosha for everything!” – Ian E.
“Rich and the staff at Yosha Law Firm helped me immensely through a very troubling time. The compassion and understanding I received was more than I could have ever expected and I can not recommend them enough.” – Victoria C.
After you’ve experienced a Lake County motorcycle accident, we would love to help you, too.
Talk to a Lake County Motorcycle Accident Lawyer for Free
At Yosha Law Firm, we believe in fighting hard for individual cases. We don’t want anyone to have to face Goliath insurance corporations on their own. We focus on finding healing and justice for every person who seeks our counsel.
Your initial consultation with us remains free of charge, and we’ll be transparent about the merits we see in your potential case. We work on contingency–rather than paying us a retainer for leading you to deserved compensation, we only get paid if you get paid.
You deserve to find support in the aftermath of your Lake County motorcycle accident. Contact Yosha Law Firm by phone or online for a free consultation.
