Indiana law allows injured riders to seek financial compensation for both economic and non-economic losses. The total value of your insurance claim depends on the severity of your injuries and how they’ve impacted your life, but in general, you may be able to pursue the following: 

• Medical Expenses: Medical costs represent a major portion of motorcycle accident claims. Emergency room visits, hospital bills, surgeries, and rehabilitation costs add up quickly. Future medical bills must also be considered when calculating compensation amounts.
• Lost Wages and Earning Capacity: Lost income affects motorcycle accident victims who can’t work during their recovery. When injuries prevent them from returning to their previous job, lost earning capacity becomes part of the claim. Self-employed individuals face additional challenges proving lost income, but a personal injury attorney can compile the necessary evidence.
• Pain and Suffering: Pain and suffering compensation addresses the physical and emotional impact of motorcycle accidents. These recoverable damages, which include emotional distress, mental anguish, loss of consortium, and loss of enjoyment of life, can’t be calculated with receipts like medical bills, but an experienced lawyer will know how to value physical pain and emotional suffering claims appropriately.
• Property Damage: Motorcycle repairs or replacement costs are recoverable in accident claims. Damaged riding gear, helmets, and other personal property can also be included. These costs are usually easier to prove with receipts and repair estimates.

Indiana follows a modified comparative fault system for personal injury cases. Under this law, when accident victims bear some responsibility for their injuries, their compensation gets reduced proportionally. For example, if you are found 25% at fault, you can still recover 80% of your damages, but if you are 51% or more at fault, you won’t be able to file a claim. 

Unfortunately, insurance companies often try to assign partial blame to motorcycle accident victims. They may claim the rider wasn’t wearing proper safety gear or was driving aggressively. Our attorneys challenge these allegations with physical evidence, medical records, witness testimony, and other compelling proof.

Motorcycle accident cases involve different laws and regulations from car accident claims. An experienced Greenwood motorcycle accident lawyer knows how they apply to your legal claim and will use those insights to put together a compelling legal claim. They will also aggressively counter any attempt to minimize your compensation; insurance companies tend to offer low settlements in the beginning, hoping that stressed victims will accept quickly. Your attorney will know when to negotiate and when to take cases to trial for better results.

Indiana law gives motorcycle accident victims two years to file personal injury lawsuits. This deadline starts from the date of the accident in most cases, and missing it typically means losing the right to seek compensation. Some exceptions do apply: 

• When injuries aren’t discovered immediately, the deadline may start from the discovery date.
• Minors have until their 20th birthday to file claims for childhood injuries.

If you wait too long, evidence can disappear or become harder to obtain as time passes, and witnesses may forget important details or become unavailable to testify. Starting the legal process early provides more time to investigate and make your case as strong as possible.

Motorcycle accidents in Greenwood happen for many reasons, but most result from the careless actions of other motorists. When car and truck drivers fail to watch for motorcycles, serious crashes often follow. 

• Driver Inattention: Many motorcycle crashes occur when motorists fail to check blind spots or look carefully before turning. Left-turn accidents happen frequently when drivers turn in front of oncoming motorcycles. These collisions often result in severe injuries for motorcyclists.
• Poor Road Conditions: Potholes, loose gravel, and wet surfaces create hazards that affect motorcycles more than other vehicles. Construction zones with uneven pavement or debris pose additional risks for motorcyclists, as road maintenance issues can cause riders to lose control and crash.
• Following Too Closely: Rear-end collisions occur when drivers tailgate motorcycles and can’t stop in time. When the rider brakes suddenly, following vehicles may strike the motorcycle from behind. These accidents can throw riders from their bikes and cause life-altering injuries.
• Aggressive Driving: Speeding and weaving through traffic increase accident risks for everyone on the road. When drivers act aggressively around motorcycles, crashes become more likely. Road rage incidents sometimes target motorcyclists specifically.

As we stated earlier, motorcycle accidents often result in devastating injuries because riders have little protection from impact forces. When motorcycles collide with cars, trucks, or road surfaces, the human body absorbs most of the crash energy, resulting in damage like the following:

• Head and Brain Injuries: Traumatic brain injuries are among the most severe consequences of motorcycle accidents. Even when riders wear helmets, the force of impact can cause brain damage. These injuries often require extensive medical treatment and long-term rehabilitation.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: Damage to the spinal cord can result in partial or complete paralysis. When motorcyclists are thrown from their bikes, they may land on their backs or necks. These injuries change your quality of life permanently and require ongoing medical care.
• Road Rash and Skin Injuries: Road rash occurs when riders slide across pavement after being thrown from their motorcycles. While it may seem minor, severe road rash can damage muscles, nerves, and bones. Infection risks make proper medical treatment necessary for all road rash injuries.
• Broken Bones and Fractures: The impact from motorcycle crashes often breaks bones in arms, legs, ribs, and other areas. Multiple fractures can require several surgeries and months of recovery time. Some bone injuries heal improperly and cause permanent disabilities.

Gathering evidence immediately after a motorcycle accident helps establish who caused the crash. When you or a bystander call law enforcement, the police report will document the accident scene and, in many cases, include the responding officer’s opinion about fault. If there were witnesses, their statements provide additional perspectives on how the accident happened.

When you hire a personal injury lawyer, they will assess any physical evidence from the accident scene; skid marks, vehicle damage, and debris patterns can all help accident reconstruction experts determine fault. Traffic cameras or security footage may also have captured the moment of impact, so your motorcycle accident attorney will probably review them for additional evidence.

Your medical records will also link your physical injuries directly to the motorcycle accident. When victims seek immediate medical attention, emergency room staff will document their injuries and get a treatment plan started. This medical evidence is especially important when seeking financial compensation for accident-related expenses.

Insurance adjusters often blame motorcyclists for accidents, even when other drivers are at fault. They may claim the rider was speeding or driving recklessly without proper evidence. These tactics, which aim to reduce the insurance company’s financial responsibility, are often successful when the victim is unrepresented.

It’s also important to note that coverage limits can be insufficient for serious motorcycle accident injuries. When the at-fault driver only has minimum insurance in Indiana, your underinsured motorist coverage can help bridge this gap, if you have it. If not, a Greenwood motorcycle accident lawyer can help you file a personal injury claim against the negligent driver directly.

At Habig Injury Law, we’ve helped many Greenwood motorcyclists recover maximum compensation after serious accidents. We challenge the presumption that bike riders are inherently reckless and negligent, and fight to hold motorists accountable when they disregard the rules of the road. 

If you’ve been hurt in a motorcycle accident, contact us for a free consultation to discuss your legal options. Call our offices at 866-558-1139 or fill out the form below, and one of our representatives will reach out to get you started.

Knowing what to do after a motorcycle accident can help protect your rights and strengthen your case:

1. Seek Medical Attention Immediately

• • If injured, wait for first responders and get medical care.

1. • Even if you feel fine, visit a hospital as some injuries might not show symptoms immediately.
2. Contact Local Authorities
   • Call 911 to report the accident.
   • A police report can provide valuable information for your case.
3. Reach Out to a Lawyer
   • Contact a motorcycle accident attorney as soon as possible.
   • An accident attorney can handle communications with insurance companies and guide you through the legal process.
4. Gather Important Evidence
   • Collect evidence at the scene, including photos, skid marks, and witness statements.
   • If you’re unable, your attorney will handle this step.
5. Avoid Discussing Fault
   • Do not admit fault or discuss liability with others or insurance representatives.
   • Exchange contact information but be cautious with your statements.