Indianapolis Motorcycle Accident Attorneys

Most drivers just aren’t as careful as they should be. Motorcycles are especially vulnerable when it comes to accidents because they are difficult for drivers to see, and they are not protected by an automobile’s sturdy shell. If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, then you know it can change your life forever. If your motorcycle accident has led to a loss of income due to the inability to work, increased medical expenses, and a decreased quality of life, then you may be entitled to compensation. The right Indianapolis motorcycle accident attorney will see to it that you get the compensation you deserve.

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3 Rules to Follow After Being in a Motorcycle Accident

If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, you may be injured and confused. However, it’s important to try and gather as much information as possible at the scene of the accident. This gathering of evidence will help you build a strong case.

Here are some actions that are recommended.

  • Gather the Names of Those Involved: This includes all drivers involved in the accident as well as any witnesses at the scene. When it comes to the drivers involved in the accident, be sure to get their insurance information as well as their basic contact information.
  • Take Photos: These days, it’s rare for any of us to be without our phones. When you are involved in a motorcycle accident, it’s a good idea to take your phone out and take as many pictures as possible. Be sure to capture the angle of the vehicles involved, as well as any damage done. Take pictures of your injuries, as well.
  • Police Reports: After an accident occurs, the police should be called. They will create a police report that can serve as a valuable piece of evidence. You can obtain a police report online or via a mail-in request. The right lawyer will also make sure you have a police report to help you build a strong case.
  • Record Dates and Times You Speak with Insurance Companies: It is best to talk to an attorney before speaking to an insurance agency. Many agencies will try to take advantage of you and use any information you give them against you. If you do end up speaking to an insurance agency, record the dates and times of your phone calls so you can provide evidence of those conversations.

If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, it is always a good idea to seek medical attention. Right after an accident, you may experience pain or injuries, and you may not realize how severe these injuries are. However, as days go by, your symptoms may begin to get worse; but scheduling a doctor’s visit at that point in time could be problematic.

If you get medical attention days after your accident, at-fault drivers and insurance companies will try to say that those injuries were not directly related to the accident but occurred some time afterward.

On the other hand, if you seek medical attention immediately, all your injuries will be documented, so if at-fault parties try to say they were not caused by the accident, they won’t have a leg to stand on.

Motorcycle accidents are quite dangerous, and drivers that are involved in these accidents can experience serious injuries. Here are some common injuries motorcycle drivers sustain in accidents.

  • Road Rash: When motorcycle drivers are involved in an accident, they are likely to be dragged along the highway, street, or sidewalk. This can result in road rash. If road rash is not treated properly it can cause permanent damage such as skin irritation and infections and nerve damage.
  • Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI’s): Even motorcyclists that wear helmets are vulnerable to brain injuries. TBI can lead to brain damage that can change a person forever.
  • Broken Bones and Fractures: A broken bone or fracture might not seem like a serious injury, but if they do not heal properly, they can lead to disfigurement, nerve damage, and disability.
  • Limb Amputations: It is not uncommon for motorcyclists to lose a limb in a traffic accident.
  • Spinal Cord Injuries: Motorcyclists often sustain injuries to their spinal cords that can result in ongoing pain, disability, and even paralysis.

Even if you are not at fault when you are in a motorcycle accident, you may be surprised to find out how easily your words can be twisted. Insurance companies and at-fault drivers can use your statements to interpret the events of the accident in such a way that it makes it seem as if you were responsible.

Giving the wrong types of statements can be especially damaging if they are recorded. These recordings can and will be used later on in your case, so at-fault drivers can get out of giving you the compensation you deserve.

An experienced Indianapolis motorcycle attorney will be familiar with every trick in the book. They will see to it that the statement you give is incriminating to at-fault drivers, and they will make sure that the information is given in such a way that it can’t be twisted by anyone involved.

Be aware that calls with insurance companies may be recorded. Therefore, it is best to refrain from talking to insurance companies before talking to an attorney. If you do find yourself on the phone with an insurance company and you are told the call is being recorded, you can request that they turn the recording function off.

You should also be aware that everyone has a cell phone, and there may be someone at the scene of the accident who is recording video, even if you are not aware. Therefore, it is best to refrain from talking to anyone about the details of the accident unless it is necessary for the police report. Above all, it is important never to admit guilt!

The Truth About Motorcycle Accidents and Why You Should Get an Attorney

After you are involved in a motorcycle accident, it may seem like settling through an insurance company is a simple and inexpensive way to get compensation for your accident. However, it is important to be aware that insurance companies are not your friends. Many will try to give you a low-ball offer to avoid paying you a lot of money.

It may seem tempting for you to accept the amount the insurance company is offering. It may seem like a lot of money, and you may just want to take the offer and be done with it.

However, you will soon realize that the settlement you agreed to is not enough to cover your expenses, and this will lead to financial trouble in the future.

Insurance companies will also try to get you to talk about your accident. They may seem caring and sympathetic, but later on, they may use the words you said to build a case against you.

The right lawyer will help you deal with insurance companies, so you know the right things to say. They will know exactly how much of a settlement you need to cover your damages and losses, and they will see to it that you get the compensation you deserve.

When you are driving a motorcycle, you don’t have the protection of an automobile frame. That’s why motorcycle accidents are 25x more fatal than other types of traffic accidents. Here are some unfortunate facts regarding motorcycle accidents in the state of Indiana.

  • In Indiana, motorcycles are involved in less than 2% of car crashes but make up nearly 13% of the state’s traffic deaths.
  • Motorcycle deaths have fluctuated between a total of 100 and 147 per year spanning from 2016-2018.

75% of Indiana motorcyclists in collisions in 2014 sustained an injury, and one out of five riders sustained incapacitating or fatal injuries.

If you are seriously injured in a motorcycle crash, it can change your life forever, and at-fault drivers should not get away with it. It is up them to provide compensation for your losses and damages. Here are some examples of the losses and damages you are likely to get compensation for.

  • Loss of Income: When you are injured in an accident, you may have to take time off work for doctor’s visits and recovery. In some cases, the injuries will be so severe you may not be able to return to work at all or you may have to take a lower-paying position because you are unable to perform your professional duties.
  • Medical Expenses: Injured motorcyclists will have medical expenses to pay for the care of their injuries. This type of care may be necessary on an ongoing basis.
  • Mental and Physical Pain and Suffering: If you are injured you will experience a diminished quality of life. It may be difficult for you to enjoy certain activities and you may be suffering from ongoing physical pain and depression. It can be difficult to put a monetary amount on the compensation you are owed for physical pain and suffering, but the right lawyer can help.

Driving a motorcycle is dangerous, but following the rules of the road will reduce your risk of collision. With that in mind, here are some examples of bad driving habits that can be avoided to make the road as safe as possible.

  • Not Maintaining Your Vehicle: A vehicle that is not well maintained can break down while you are driving. Brakes can give out, and turn signals can fail. All this can make for a dangerous situation on the road that can be avoided with the proper maintenance.
  • Not Wearing Your Gear: A helmet can protect you against TBIs. Eye and face protection, a protective jacket, long pants, gloves, and boots should also be worn to protect your face and skin.
  • Not Taking a Motorcycle Safety Course: Even if you know the rules of the road, a motorcycle safety course will enforce these rules, so you are sure to stay safe.
  • Driving Under the Influence: Drugs and alcohol cloud judgment when you are driving. Stay safe. Drive sober.
  • Don’t Speed: Many motorcyclists get into accidents as a result of going above the speed limit. Stay within the speed limit to minimize your chances of getting in an accident.
  • Be Alert: You may have a lot on your mind, but be sure you are focused enough to pay attention to other drivers, traffic signs and the condition of the road to avoid accidents.

As stated earlier, helmets really do save lives. If you don’t wear a helmet when you are riding, here are some eye-opening statistics that may convince you to do all you can to keep yourself protected.

  • Helmets saved an estimated 1,829 lives in 2016.
  • If all motorcyclists had worn helmets in 2016, more than 802 more lives would be saved.
  • The United States could save over $1 billion dollars each year in economic costs if all motorcyclists wore helmets.
  • Helmets reduced the risk of death by 37%.
  • Helmets reduced the risk of head injury by 69%.
  • According to a 2012 Government Accountability Office report, “laws requiring all motorcyclists to wear helmets are the only strategy proven to be effective in reducing motorcyclist fatalities.”
  • There were 10 times as many un-helmeted motorcyclist fatalities in states without universal helmet laws in comparison to states that did have universal helmet laws in 2016.
  • A 2010-2015 study of motorcycle crash victims in Wisconsin revealed that un-helmeted drivers sustained twice as many spinal cord injuries as those that were driving with a helmet.
  • Motorcycle helmets reduce the risk of brain injury by 69% and reduce the risk of death by 42%.
  • 82% of Americans favor laws that require all motorcyclists to wear helmets.
  • Per vehicle mile traveled, motorcyclists, are nearly 28 times more frequently killed in a car crash than occupants of passenger cars.

The way insurance companies handle motorcycle accidents is really a crime. They take advantage of injured people just to avoid losing money. This is the perfect example of how corporate greed comes above the needs of the individual, much less one that is injured, suffering, and dealing with losses and expenses.

Don’t let an insurance company take advantage of you!

The right lawyer will help protect you from insurance companies who are trying to make you settle for lowball offers. They have the knowhow to make sure providers don’t try to twist your words to hurt your case, and they will defend you in court to make sure you are fairly compensated.

If you were injured in an Indianapolis motorcycle accident, team up with a reliable attorney right away. They will see to it that justice is served.

Let Lohmeier Law take on the insurance company for you!

We work solely on a contingency fee, which means we do not take a fee unless we settle your accident claim.

An Experienced Motorcycle Accident Attorney Will Do the Work for You

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident, you are probably dealing with a lot of stress not to mention emotional and physical pain. The last thing you need to be doing is dealing with building your case, doing the legal legwork, and haggling with dishonest insurance companies.

If you hire an experienced Indianapolis motorcycle accident attorney, they will do the work for you. They will help you gather the evidence you need to build a strong case. They will review your case to determine how much compensation you deserve. They will talk to insurance companies to make sure you get a settlement that covers your expenses. If necessary, they will even go to court to fight your case.

The right lawyer will also be familiar with the ins and outs of the law. They will determine the at-fault parties and file all the necessary paperwork on your behalf to make sure you don’t lose money due to an I that wasn’t dotted or a T that wasn’t crossed. Best of all, an honest lawyer will provide a free consultation and will not charge you anything unless you win your case.

Once you start working with the right attorney, you will immediately feel as if the burden has been lifted from your shoulders. They will take care of everything, leaving you to sit back and focus on what’s truly important…healing.