Riding a motorcycle symbolizes freedom for many riders, especially as you cruise along Indiana’s vast interstates. However, encountering another’s negligence while on your bike can be dangerous. If you are injured due to someone else’s carelessness, an Indianapolis motorcycle accident lawyer can protect your rights.
That said, you can bring your medical bills and other losses to the attention of an Indianapolis personal injury lawyer. Together with the legal team at Vaughan & Vaughan, you can file for maximum compensation.
Our law firm has recovered over $25 million for clients; let us help you like we helped so many others. We have the legal experience and knowledge to file a winning claim. Call today for a free consultation.
Indianapolis Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Offer Compassionate Legal Support
Motorcycle accidents can leave riders with severe injuries, mounting medical bills, and a long road to recovery. At our law firm, we understand the unique challenges motorcyclists encounter after an accident, and we’re here to help.
Our experienced motorcycle accident attorneys provide compassionate legal support to guide you through every step of the claims process. You should not face this difficult period alone.
From investigating the accident to negotiating with insurance companies or representing you in court, we fight to secure the compensation you need. You focus on healing while we fight for your future.
Your Case Will Get
The Attention It Deserves
You Need to Work Quickly After an Indianapolis Motorcycle Accident
You’re going to have a lot on your plate in the immediate aftermath of a motorcycle crash. Unfortunately, Indiana’s statute of limitations doesn’t give you much time to file a personal injury lawsuit. Indiana Code §34-11-2-4 caps your right to take civil action against the party liable for your accident at two years.
This means that Indiana courts can deny you your right to civil action if you attempt to file a motorcycle accident claim more than two years after the day your accident takes place. As such, you may lose your chance to receive fair compensation.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to make the most of the time allotted to you by the Hoosier State. Start by connecting with a personal injury attorney early into your recovery. The sooner you have a professional on your team, the easier it will be to stay on top of your motorcycle accident claim’s deadlines.
There is no fee
unless you win
Don’t Let Insurance Companies Dictate the Flow of Your Recovery
Most insurance providers require you to inform them of a motorcycle accident within 24 hours of said accident. After you’ve communicated an understanding of your losses to your insurance provider, they may send an insurance adjuster out to your home to verify your claim.
Insurance adjusters tend to undervalue the losses endured by motorcycle riders. If you don’t contest their assessments of your losses, you risk walking away with far less than you deserve. To protect your rights, get legal counsel from our motorcycle accident insurance claim lawyers.
Tactics insurance adjusters use to devalue your claim include:
- Offering quick, lowball settlements
- Questioning the severity of your injuries
- Claiming pre-existing conditions caused your injuries
- Delaying the claims process
- Misinterpreting or disputing medical records
- Using recorded statements against you
- Shifting blame for the accident
- Minimizing property damage evidence
- Asserting policy limitations to reduce payouts
- Pressuring you to settle without legal counsel
Fortunately, a motorcycle accident lawyer in Indianapolis can step in to ensure that your conversations with an insurance provider go smoothly. Our team advocates for your right to fair treatment by both your and a defendant’s insurance company as you fight to recover from your recent losses.
How to Build a Motorcycle Accident Complaint in Indianapolis
When a negligent driver injures you, you have the right to recover your losses. If you want to demand damages for your motorcycle accident losses, you can file a civil claim.
This personal injury claim needs to identify:
- The nature of the duty of care owed to you at the time of your accident
- The ways in which another party violated that duty
- The identity of the negligent party that violated that duty
- The nature and economic value of your losses
- Evidence linking the negligent party‘s actions to your injuries
- Documentation supporting your medical treatment and recovery timeline
- Future costs related to medical care, rehabilitation, or lost earning capacity
- The impact of your injuries on your quality of life and daily activities
You also need to bring forward a record of evidence to back your assertions regarding fault and value. Without this evidence, a court may not see fit to move your claim forward. Our motorcycle lawyers can build an evidence-based case for you so you can get a fair settlement.
Identify the At-Fault Party
It’s often easiest to blame another driver for the losses you endure in a motorcycle accident. Who you hold responsible for your losses, however, depends on what evidence is available at the accident scene. The raw data from your crash may have you holding an unexpected party liable for your losses.
You can use all of the following forms of evidence to determine who to hold liable for your losses:
- Video and photo footage of your accident
- Bystander accounts of your collision
- Expert witness opinions on the nature of your losses
- Skid marks and physical debris from your accident
- Police and medical reports
- Accident recreations
- Medical records
This evidence can point to another driver’s roadway negligence. However, it may also see you hold someone’s employer, a construction company, or even government officials responsible for a portion of your losses. Our team can help you divide fault between applicable parties before you bring your claim forward in court.
Estimate the Value of Your Losses
Additionally, you need to calculate what kind of economic effect a motorcycle accident has had on your expenses. This process can help you find the sum of your post-accident bills and your non-economic losses to determine the total value of your case.
When you’re calculating the value of your motorcycle accident claim, make sure you consider your:
- Medical expenses and at-home assistance, including any medical equipment
- Loss of income and opportunities for future employment
- Property damage
- Emotional distress/mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment
- Loss of consortium
- Wrongful death and funeral expenses
Our motorcycle accident lawyers in Indianapolis, IN, can help you determine which economic and non-economic damages you may be entitled to and how to defend your request before a judge.
What to Expect After Filing a Motorcycle Accident Claim
So long as you submit your motorcycle accident claim within the applicable deadline, a civil judge can consider your right to compensation. Should your claim move forward, you may have the right to summon your named liable party to either settlement negotiations or a motorcycle accident trial.
If you want to go to trial after a motorcycle accident, both you and the defense need to prepare for discovery. The process allows you and the defendant’s representative to exchange information about negligence. From there, our motorcycle injury attorneys can help you prepare your case’s opening statement.
We examine witnesses, and you share information about your accident with a jury. Our experienced attorneys then prepare you for cross-examination from the defendant.
Once you’ve finished your time on the stand, we will stay with you as a jury goes to deliberation. Afterward, once a judge has delivered their verdict, we can celebrate your victory or prepare to appeal the court’s decision.
You Can Afford to Hire an Experienced Motorcycle Accident Attorney
After a motor vehicle accident, you likely experience financial difficulties. As experienced lawyers, we understand the long-term financial consequences of traffic accidents. That is why we work on a contingency fee basis.
If you work with us, you never have to pay us out of your pocket. We only get paid when we win a case, and then we collect a percentage of the compensation or settlement amount.
Contact Our Indianapolis Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Today
Motorcycle collisions can cause catastrophic injuries that impact your ability to take care of yourself in the long term. When these severe injuries result from an avoidable accident, it’s easy to feel frustrated. Fortunately, there are laws in Indiana that allow you to take civil action against the at-fault driver.
You can collaborate with an Indianapolis motorcycle accident attorney to discuss your right to financial support after a roadway collision. Our law firm has been helping personal injury victims rebuild their lives since 1913.
Meet with Vaughan & Vaughan to learn more about the information you need to compile a personal injury complaint and kickstart your legal journey. We’re available to schedule your free consultation online or over the phone.
