Noblesville is a thriving community where the population is growing and business is booming. It may have a steadily increasing population, but Hamilton County still offers some great small-town vibes.
Motorcyclists are in Noblesville every day. In addition to the motorcyclists who live in Hamilton County, there are also commuters, long-distance road trippers on their way through Indiana, and people enjoying the perfect day for a ride.
Unfortunately, every year, there are also motorcycle accidents in Noblesville. Whether you are riding on a country road, a city street, or a highway, a motorcycle crash can change your life. In just a split second, you may go from being physically healthy and strong to being injured, in pain, and possibly even permanently disabled.
In addition to the physical toll that a motorcycle crash can have, there are also new financial burdens that come with an accident, including medical expenses, lost income from missed work, and property damage.
If your motorcycle crash was caused by someone else’s negligence, you deserve to have an ally who will support and guide you through the legal process. At Yosha Law, our experienced team of compassionate and empathetic attorneys is ready to protect your rights and help you get the compensation you are owed.
- Facts about motorcycle accidents in Noblesville, Indiana
- Common motorcycle accident injuries
- Do you need a Noblesville motorcycle accident lawyer?
- Determining liability after a motorcycle accident
- Filing a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Noblesville: What You Need to Know
- Noblesville Motorcycle Accident FAQ
- Contact Yosha Law Firm for a Free Evaluation of Your Noblesville Motorcycle Accident Case
Facts about motorcycle accidents in Noblesville, Indiana
More than one hundred motorcyclists are killed annually on Indiana’s roads. Anyone who rides a motorcycle knows that almost anything can cause an accident, including operator error, faulty equipment, bad roads, inclement weather, and the negligence of other drivers on the road.
Noblesville’s motorcyclists are at risk from:
- Distracted drivers
- Impaired/intoxicated drivers
- Road rage incidents
- Drivers not checking blind spots
- Fatigued/drowsy drivers
- Failure to yield right-of-way
- Speeding vehicles
- Poor road conditions/potholes
- Lack of barriers/guardrails
Although accidents are sometimes unpreventable, human error and even negligence are often contributing factors. A Noblesville motorcycle accident attorney can help you navigate the complex legal process that takes place after a crash involving negligence.
Common motorcycle accident injuries
Everyone who owns a motorcycle knows that there are increased risks that come with getting on the bike. It’s important to take protective measures, like wearing a helmet and protective gear, but even a well-protected rider can still get hurt.
We often see these injuries in our Noblesville clients:
- Soft tissue damage
- Broken bones
- Facial injuries
- Hematomas
- Sprains
- Hand and finger injuries
- Leg injuries
- Road rash
- Paralysis
- Skull fractures
- Spinal cord injuries
- Burns
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
You are likely to have more than one type of injury after a motorcycle accident, causing you to miss work, suffer through expensive and painful medical treatments, and possibly even experience permanent disability.
Do you need a Noblesville motorcycle accident lawyer?
After a motorcycle crash, you need to use all of your energy to focus on healing from your injuries. Unfortunately, many accident victims have to divide their attention between their physical recovery and the financial stress caused by the crash.
One of the biggest challenges of getting your life back on track after an accident is dealing with the legal aftermath. All of the paperwork, receipts, negotiations, phone calls, and meetings can be overwhelming, especially if you’re stressing about missed work and lost wages.
Some of the problems our Noblesville clients report to us include:
- Feeling like the insurance company isn’t being fair
- Getting a settlement offer that is way too low to cover your actual expenses
- Difficulty collecting evidence to prove who was at fault
- Struggling to stay on top of medical bills
These are just some of the reasons why you should retain the services of a Noblesville personal injury attorney who specializes in motorcycle accident claims.
Whether you have already filed an insurance claim or not, an attorney can negotiate on your behalf to get an appropriate settlement for your losses. Motorcycle accident attorneys know how to calculate the damages that you have suffered, including both monetary and non-monetary losses.
Yosha Law Firm: Noblesville’s leading motorcycle accident lawyers
We help our clients recoup their losses and get on the path to recovery. We understand that you may be feeling overwhelmed after your accident, and you’re not sure where to turn.
The attorneys at Yosha Law Firm can:
- Examine your case to determine its merits
- Explain your legal options
- Help you determine what damages you should seek
- File time-sensitive legal documents on your behalf
- Gather legal evidence from the scene of the accident
- Hire expert witnesses to testify on your behalf
- Negotiate with other parties’ legal teams
- Fight for you in court if a settlement can’t be reached
Determining liability after a motorcycle accident
Like other personal injury cases, a motorcycle accident claim is dependent on proving negligence. Negligent parties can be held liable by the civil justice system, but first you have to prove that one or more parties were responsible for the crash.
To prove negligence, your attorney will demonstrate that the following four criteria are met:
- The other party had a duty of care to drive safely on the road and exercise caution
- The responsible party breached their duty of care through reckless or dangerous behavior
- The breach of care caused the victim’s injuries and losses
- Those injuries and losses caused damages to the victim
This is a nuanced process that is difficult to do without legal training and experience. A motorcycle crash lawyer will know how to investigate and then prove responsibility so that you are not trying to do it on your own.
Filing a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Noblesville: What You Need to Know
Your accident claim will be affected by several Indiana-specific laws.
- Statute of limitations: You only have 2 years from the date of the accident to file your claim. The earlier you file, the easier it is to collect evidence and prove liability.
- Motorcycle riders under the age of 18 are the only people required by Indiana state law to wear a helmet and protective eyewear while riding a motorcycle. That said, choosing not to wear safety gear may reduce your total compensation package, because the other side will argue that you contributed to your own injuries by failing to wear a helmet.
- Comparative negligence means that if you were partially at fault for the accident, your compensation may be reduced by the same percentage as your responsibility.
Noblesville Motorcycle Accident FAQ
Can I file a claim if I was partially responsible for the accident?
If a motorcyclist is 100% responsible for their accident, their only real option is to file a claim with their insurance company to recoup as much as possible. However, if you were only partially responsible for the accident, you may still be able to file a claim.
Indiana follows the rules of comparative negligence. As long as you were less than 50% responsible for the accident, you can file a claim against any party who was responsible. Sometimes, there are multiple parties involved in a claim, because there may be more than one individual who is responsible for the accident.
If you are unsure about who was responsible for the accident, speaking with an attorney can clarify things.
What should you do after an accident in Noblesville or Hamilton County?
In the moments after an accident, things can be really overwhelming and scary. You may not know if you are injured or the severity of your injuries. You are likely worried about the other people involved, and it’s possible that you may be suffering from shock or a head injury so that your thinking is cloudy.
To the best of your ability, follow these steps after an accident:
Here are the steps you should follow:
- If possible, move your vehicle to the side of the road. This will get you out of the flow of traffic.
- Exchange insurance and contact information with the other drivers involved. Do not admit fault when communicating.
- Contact the police to come to the scene and file a report. If you were unable to do this, first responders would have handled it.
- If you’re able, document the scene by taking photos and videos of your bike, injuries, and the other vehicles.
- Seek medical attention for any injuries, even if they seem minor. Get a diagnosis and document the treatment.
- You’ll need to file an insurance claim against the at-fault party’s insurer, but don’t accept any quick settlements before consulting your attorney.
- Maintain thorough records of all expenses resulting from your injuries. This documentation will strengthen your case.
What kind of compensation can a motorcycle victim collect?
A very common question we hear from our clients is, “How much compensation can I expect to collect?” That’s a great question and a valid one. Unfortunately, it is not something that can be answered easily.
Every accident is different, and compensation is affected by many different factors, including the severity of your injuries, the insurance coverage you have, the types of expenses you have incurred because of the accident, and the degree of responsibility each party bears.
You can check out our Yosha Law Firm success stories to learn more about some of our clients and how much we have gotten for them.
Common types of financial damages include:
- Lost wages from missed work
- Loss of future income if you’re unable to return to work
- Costs to repair or replace your motorcycle and gear
- Emergency medical treatment costs
- Rehabilitative therapies
- Prescription meds
- Surgical costs
- Funeral costs if your loved one was killed in an accident
Non-monetary damages may include:
- Pain and suffering
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Permanent disability
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Emotional distress
- Wrongful death
Contact Yosha Law Firm for a Free Evaluation of Your Noblesville Motorcycle Accident Case
You have a lot on your mind, and we would love to help alleviate some of your stress! When you work with a qualified, compassionate attorney from Yosha Law Firm, you get to focus on recovering from your injuries instead of worrying about financial struggles and medical bills.
Our Noblesville attorneys are ready to help. Getting compensation for your injuries and losses doesn’t change what happened, but it can give you the ability to heal. Let us protect your rights after a motorcycle accident!
Reach out to Yosha Law Firm to set up a free case consultation. We will learn about you, your accident, and how you can take the next steps toward justice. Contact us today for a free consultation.
