Westfield Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Are you looking for a motorcycle accident lawyer in Westfield, IN?

At Ward & Ward Personal Injury Lawyers, we provide motorcycle accident representation from a firm with 37 years of practice and recognition from Martindale-Hubbell.

If you were hurt in a motorcycle crash in Westfield, the other driver’s insurer may already be suggesting that you share the blame. Riders often face bias, and the evidence gathered in the first weeks greatly influences the outcome of a case. Our founding attorneys have handled Indiana injury cases since 1954, and we take motorcycle claims on a contingency fee basis. A Westfield, IN motorcycle accident lawyer from our firm can explain how fault will be argued in your case and what your claim is worth. Reach out to arrange a free consultation.

Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Westfield, IN

A motorcycle accident lawyer represents riders and passengers injured by negligent drivers, along with families who lost someone in a crash. The work centers on proving how the collision happened, answering the insurer’s attempts to blame the rider, and valuing injuries that are often more severe than those in car crashes.

Indiana recorded 141 motorcyclist fatalities in 2023, up from 124 in 2022, according to Indiana crash facts from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. Nationally, the death rate for motorcyclists per registered vehicle was almost six times the rate for passenger car occupants in 2023, based on NHTSA motorcycle data. For a Westfield motorcycle accident attorney, those figures show how often a motorcycle crash produces catastrophic or fatal injuries.

Types of Motorcycle Accident Cases We Handle in Westfield

Many motorcycle crashes in Westfield involve a driver who failed to see the rider or misjudged the bike’s speed. The circumstances still differ from case to case, and each type of crash leaves its own evidence for a Westfield motorcycle accident lawyer to gather.

• Left-turn collisions. A driver turning left across the rider’s path can leave the rider no room to stop. We use intersection photos, sight lines, and witness accounts to show the rider had the right of way.

• Rear-end crashes. A rider stopped at a light or slowing for traffic has almost no protection when a car hits from behind. These impacts often throw the rider forward and cause spinal and wrist injuries.

• Lane-change and blind-spot accidents. Drivers merging on US 31 or State Road 32 sometimes move into a lane the motorcycle already occupies. Vehicle damage patterns usually show which vehicle moved.

• Intersection and roundabout crashes. Westfield’s growing number of roundabouts requires drivers to yield to traffic already circulating. Crashes also happen when another motorist signals a driver forward, and wave-on accidents can create liability for more than one person.

• Hit-and-run accidents. When the driver leaves the scene, the claim may proceed under your own policy. A claim after uninsured motorist crashes still requires proof of the other driver’s fault.

• Drunk driving crashes. An impaired driver can face criminal charges and a civil claim at the same time. The police investigation often provides evidence we can use.

• Road hazard crashes. Potholes, gravel, uneven pavement, and poorly marked construction zones affect motorcycles far more than cars. These claims may involve a contractor or a government entity, and they carry strict notice requirements.

• Truck accidents. A collision with a delivery truck or tractor-trailer can be fatal for a rider. These cases involve the trucking company’s insurer and its records.

• Spinal cord injuries. Riders are often thrown from the bike, and spinal cord damage can lead to paralysis. Lifetime care costs become a central part of the claim.

Why Choose Ward & Ward Personal Injury Lawyers as My Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Westfield, IN?

Recognized Motor Vehicle Trial Experience

Charles P. Ward has practiced Indiana injury law since 1989. The Motor Vehicle Trial Lawyers Association named him one of its Top 25 Trial Lawyers, and Best Lawyers recognizes him for plaintiffs’ personal injury litigation. He earned his law degree from Indiana University and his undergraduate degree, cum laude, from Butler University, and he is admitted to practice in the federal courts for both the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana.

Donald W. Ward was admitted to the Indiana Bar in 1954 after graduating from the University of Notre Dame law school. He is a Fellow of the Indiana College of Trial Lawyers, received the Sagamore of the Wabash in 2005, and earned a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association. Both attorneys handle motorcycle claims as part of our work as a personal injury lawyer in Westfield, IN.

No Fee Unless We Recover Compensation

We take motorcycle accident cases on a contingency basis, which means you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. Your first consultation is free. 

What Is Important to Understand About Motorcycle Accident Cases?

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Motorcycle Accident Cases

A motorcycle injury claim is a negligence claim. You must show that the other driver owed you a duty of reasonable care, failed to meet it, and caused your injuries and losses as a result.

Indiana follows a modified comparative fault system. A rider who is more than 50 percent at fault cannot recover, and a rider found partly at fault at 50 percent or less has the award reduced by that percentage, as set out in Indiana Code Title 34. Under Indiana’s comparative fault law, a rider found 20 percent at fault on a $200,000 claim would recover $160,000.

Recoverable damages include medical bills, future treatment, lost income, and reduced earning capacity. They also include non-economic damages such as pain, disfigurement from road rash, and the loss of activities you can no longer do. Head injuries deserve particular attention, because motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of traumatic brain injury deaths.

What Are Important Aspects of a Motorcycle Accident Case?

Several issues come up in most motorcycle claims. Preparing for them early strengthens the claim.

• The insurer will likely argue that the rider was speeding, lane-splitting, or hard to see, and these common insurance defenses need a factual answer.

• The motorcycle itself is evidence, so it should be photographed and preserved before it is repaired or sold.

• Helmet camera footage, nearby business video, and phone records can confirm what the rider saw and what the other driver was doing.

• Your own policy may provide additional coverage when the at-fault driver has little or no insurance.

What Should You Bring to Your Motorcycle Accident Consultation?

Bring as much of the following as you can. A Westfield, IN motorcycle accident lawyer can gather anything you are missing.

1. Bring the crash report number and any information the officer gave you at the scene.

2. Gather photos of your motorcycle, your riding gear, the scene, and your injuries.

3. Collect your medical records and bills, including emergency care and follow-up treatment.

4. Include your insurance policy and any letters or settlement offers from the other driver’s insurer.

The consultation is free. We will review how the crash happened and explain how fault and damages are likely to be argued in your case.

What Is the Motorcycle Accident Case Timeline?

Indiana generally allows two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit, and a wrongful death claim must be filed within two years of the death under Indiana’s statutes. Once a lawsuit deadline passes, the claim is usually lost.

The early phase focuses on medical care, preserving the motorcycle, and collecting the crash report and witness statements. When treatment reaches a stable point, our Westfield motorcycle accident lawyers calculate your losses and present a demand to the insurer. Negotiation follows. If the insurer will not pay a fair amount, we file suit, exchange evidence through discovery, take depositions, and prepare for mediation or trial. A typical injury case with serious injuries can take a year or longer, depending on how long treatment lasts and whether the insurer disputes fault.

Most Dangerous Locations for Motorcycle Accidents in Westfield

State Road 32 through downtown Westfield is being rebuilt under the 32 Connects project, with lane closures, detours, and new roundabouts along the corridor. Construction zones with shifting lanes and uneven pavement create added risk for riders.

US 31 runs through Westfield as a freeway, and its interchanges use roundabouts at the ramps, including at 191st Street. The city continues to add roundabouts on local roads such as 161st Street and Spring Mill Road. Grand Park, the city’s 400-acre sports campus, draws event traffic onto the surrounding roads. A motorcycle accident attorney in Westfield, IN generally files injury lawsuits in the Hamilton County courts in Noblesville, which are listed in the Indiana trial court directory.

Reach Out to Ward & Ward Personal Injury Lawyers to Schedule a Consultation

After a motorcycle crash, the insurer begins evaluating fault right away, and your account of the crash belongs in the record. Your first meeting with a motorcycle accident attorney in Westfield is free, and you owe no attorney fees unless we recover compensation. We will review the crash, your injuries, and your options. Contact us to schedule a meeting at a time that works for you.