Attorneys Who Are Passionate About Protecting Cyclists’ Rights

Indiana summer is great time for motorcycle rides, something hundreds of thousands of people across our state enjoy. However, experiencing the joy of cycling does come with risks, particularly since motorcyclists have substantially less protection than the average vehicle if an accident occurs. When another driver or poor road conditions cause a crash, a knowledgeable motorcycle accident attorney in Indianapolis can help. Attorneys Don and Charlie of Ward & Ward Personal Injury Lawyers can help you determine if you have a case against another driver, an insurance company, a government agency or other parties.

Risk Factors for Motorcycle Riders

Generally, the risks for motorcyclists are higher than for drivers of most other motor vehicles. Other drivers often fail to consider a cyclist’s potential exposure to bodily injury due to lack of protection. Some people improperly harbor negative perceptions of bikers, making  them less tolerant of sharing the road. The number of accidents involving motorcycles in Indiana decreased by 5.9% between 2013 and 2014, although motorcycle collisions with fatalities increased by 8 percent. The following are some of the biggest risk factors for motorcycle riders:

• Gender. Male fatalities were up 7.8% between 2013 – 2014 while female fatalities were reduced by 11.8% during the same period of time.
• Age. The 2021 statistics from the US Department of Transportation show that motorcyclists ages 30-34 have more accidents annually than any other age group, including those over 65.
• Helmet. 38.4% of riders involved in collisions between the ages of 55 – 64 reported wearing helmets in 2014. Only 36.1% of those older than 64 reported wearing helmets. Fatalities were up an astounding 42.1% for those cyclists wearing helmets.
• Alcohol Impairment. In 2021 there were 5,636 total riders killed. Of those fatally injured, 29% (1,624 persons) tested positive for alcohol impairment—up 3% from 2020.

Motorcyclists and Jury Bias

One issue motorcycle riders have to overcome is inherent bias against them from other drivers, witnesses, law enforcement officials, attorneys, and courts. Whether they realize it or not, many people naturally want to blame the motorcyclist for an accident, because there’s a perception that they take unnecessary risks and are reckless. At Ward & Ward Personal Injury Lawyers, we know that’s not true. Even safe riders need to account for other drivers on the road. Taking every precaution possible can prevent an accident and demonstrate to others that motorcyclists in Indiana take safety seriously. Negative perceptions of cyclists are difficult to overcome, but a skilled personal injury lawyer can help keep the focus on the party at fault for an accident, performing thorough investigations and advocating for your rights at every turn.

Meet with an Experienced Indianapolis Motorcycle Accident Attorney to Get Started

Have you or a loved one been injured in a motorcycle accident? Don’t wait to call personal injury attorney, “Charlie Ward” at Ward & Ward Personal Injury Lawyers at 317-639-9501. We provide free initial consultations and are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for emergency situations. Our office is located on South Meridian Street near Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Motorcycle Accidents Lawyers Indianapolis, IN Explains 4 Risks of Riding a Motorcycle Motorcycle accidents lawyers Indianapolis, IN know that if you’re trading in four wheels for two, it’s important to know a little something about the very real risks of riding a motorcycle. Nobody ever thinks it will happen to them – but in the case of a motorcycle accident, you want to be as prepared as possible. Our lawyers here at Ward & Ward Personal Injury Lawyers have created a guide to help you, so take the time before your ride to give this a quick read.

Common Motorcycle Dangers

There are countless dangers to being on the road in general, but if you’re a motorcyclist then you have a few more to pay attention to. Blind Spots Cars are typically much bigger than motorcycles, which means there is a higher probability of you not being seen by the vehicles around you. Some vehicles have such large blind spots, they aren’t even able to see a normal sized sedan creeping up on either side of them. That makes you at a particularly high risk of being injured due to someone merging lanes without seeing you. It’s important to make yourself as visible as possible while riding a motorcycle and having your “in case of emergency” exit route planned at each moment.

Hazardous Roads

This category encompasses a few different risks of riding a motorcycle. Firstly, there is almost always something lying in the road that hasn’t been blown off or removed yet. Things such as fallen tree limbs, trash, blown tires, and other types of debris can pose significant hazards to a motorcyclist. Traditional vehicles typically won’t have a problem with certain types of debris, whereas even the smallest bit of rubble can pose serious problems for a rider. On the other hand, bad roads themselves can create unsafe riding conditions as well. A small pothole might not be something to worry about in your SUV, but you wouldn’t want to hit one going 65 miles per hour on a motorcycle. It’s important to scan the road ahead of you in order to stay alert to any oncoming road hazards.

Less Overall Protection

Getting into an accident on a motorcycle presents a much more dangerous situation than doing so in a traditional vehicle. That’s because motorcycles don’t have the same safety features as a car would, such as seat-belts, air bags, and a giant metal cage surrounding the driver. That means motorcyclists need to be completely focused on riding as well as assessing their current riding situation at all times.

Hard On the Gas, Hard On the Brakes

Riding a motorcycle tends to encourage risky behavior, such as speeding. While speeding isn’t isolated to just motorcyclists, it absolutely presents a more prevalent danger. Moreover, there is quite a large difference in stability between a traditional vehicle and a motorcycle. Should a rider ever need to hit the brakes fast and hard, for instance, there would be a greater chance of wobbling, skidding, or crashing. Keeping your wits about you while riding a motorcycle and increasing your following distance are key factors in staying safe on the road. While doing your best to stay safe on the road is important, it’s not alway a guarantee. In the event that you’re in a motorcycle accident, it’s crucial to contact our experienced and reputable motorcycle accidents lawyers Indianapolis, IN. We will work to help you seek compensation for your injuries and get you back on the iron horse in no time.

When a Motorcyclist Is Hit by a DUI Motorist

Motorcyclists are vulnerable enough to negligent drivers, but when the other driver is driving under the influence (DUI) they may be at high risk for getting into an accident through no fault of their own. Our motorcycle accident lawyers at Ward & Ward Personal Injury Lawyers focuses a great deal on helping bikers who are victims of DUI motorist-caused collisions. Catastrophic injuries for motorcyclists are more common than many people realize, even among those who enjoy riding. If you were injured while on your bike and you have reason to believe it wasn’t your fault, our motorcycle accident lawyers in Indianapolis, IN may be able to help you collect a substantial settlement for your damages. Call us for a free case review to find out more.

What Is a DUI?

A DUI is a criminal offense and if a law enforcement officer believes that a driver is in violation of the law which requires less than a certain percentage of alcohol, narcotics, or marijuana in the bloodstream, they can be pulled over. The officer may request the driver to submit to a field test to determine if they are impaired. If an officer arrives at the scene of a collision and suspects that a driver was DUI, and if that driver is physically capable of doing so, the officer might perform a field sobriety test on that driver. However, the sad fact is that the damage by that driver is already done to the motorcyclist. In this scenario, our motorcycle accident lawyers can include positive results from any DUI tests in a claim against that driver to recover your damages.

Negligence

If it is proven that the passenger vehicle driver was drunk, that in itself is not enough to prove that the driver was 100% responsible for causing the accident and your resulting injuries. To definitively prove negligence, additional evidence may be necessary. No two accidents are exactly alike and so our Indianapolis, IN motorcycle accident lawyers will consider the factors that make your accident unique. In response to what is necessary to build a solid personal injury claim, your lawyer may pursue the following evidence:

• Eyewitness statements about how the crash occurred.
• Physical evidence at the accident scene such as skid marks, damaged curbs and signage, etc.
• Medical diagnosis of your injury and a medical professional’s opinion as to how you likely incurred your injury.

Recovery of Damages

If you were hit by a car while riding your motorcycle, or you were forced to lay it down or drive into an object such as a concrete barrier, it’s likely totaled and beyond repair. This type of damage falls under the category of property damage. It’s usually a straightforward process to file a property damage claim with the other driver’s insurance company once their negligence is established. What is more difficult, almost impossible in some cases, is to recover damages for your injuries. This is because the total dollar amount can be astronomical and insurance companies are notorious for trying to dodge their responsibility to pay out on a large claim. Our motorcycle accident lawyers can help you with this. If you would like to know more about how we can do this, and about the high dollar settlements we have negotiated for clients in the past, call our office without delay. Learn how motorcycle accidents lawyers Indianapolis, IN clients trust can make all the difference when it comes to recovering your damages.