East Chicago, Indiana Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
Motorcyclists in East Chicago may have the same rights as drivers, but they are considerably less protected from injury in the event of a crash. Indiana drivers who do not take motorcyclists’ safety seriously can be found negligent if their recklessness causes a collision and injuries. Unfortunately, at that point, the damage has already been done. Motorcyclists may be able to seek compensation for the costs of their medical care, career setbacks, and the emotional toll of recovery in an East Chicago motorcycle accident injury lawsuit.
As motorcycle accident attorneys with decades of experience, we know that these claims can be challenging to negotiate. Your best chance of recovering fair compensation for your damages is to start the personal injury claims process with access to seasoned legal advice and a network of resources that the Indiana motorcycle accident lawyers of Lerner and Rowe can provide. Schedule a free consultation by calling us at 219-999-0122 or completing a free online case review today.
Why You Should Choose Lerner and Rowe to Represent Your East Chicago Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit
There is no margin for error when pursuing an Indiana motorcycle accident lawsuit, which means that you need a capable negotiator who is unafraid of powerful insurance companies. Our accomplished team at Lerner and Rowe will not hesitate to advocate for the maximum compensation for your East Chicago motorcycle accident lawsuit while you focus on healing from your injuries.
The motorcycle accident lawyers of Lerner and Rowe have spent nearly two decades protecting the rights of injured riders. Our dedication to our clients’ needs has resulted in an exceptional track record of settlements. We take the time to understand the nuances of each case so that we can most effectively negotiate for a settlement that covers the financial, physical, and emotional costs of your motorcycle accident injuries in a personal injury lawsuit.
East Chicago motorcycle accidents can range from a dooring accident on 149th Street or a sideswipe collision on Chicago Avenue, to a left-turn motorcycle accident at Columbus Drive and Grand Boulevard or a multi-vehicle pile-up on US 20. The skilled personal injury attorneys of Lerner and Rowe are equipped to support you, whether you were injured in a parking lot fender bender or a catastrophic collision.
Understanding East Chicago Motorcycle Crashes
With a population of 25,968, East Chicago has historically been dominated by manufacturing and industry. The city is located northeast of Hammond, Indiana, and west of Gary. Interstate 90 brackets East Chicago in the south, with Indiana State Route 912 running along the city to the north. Motorcyclists looking to travel along the shore of Lake Michigan, road trip to Chicago, or simply ride around town may encounter a higher concentration of trucks, windy weather, and the ever-present threat of reckless drivers.
Out of the 681 traffic collisions in East Chicago in 2020, there were 6 motorcycle accidents. This represents about 1% of East Chicago collisions that year. Motorcycle accidents accounted for about 1.6% of traffic accidents in Indiana, so East Chicago’s numbers are comparable. Statewide, there were 2,785 motorcycle accidents in 2020, which peaked between May and September.
In Lake County, where East Chicago is located, there were 175 motorcycle accidents in 2020, accounting for 3.4% of the state’s total motorcycle accidents that year. Nearly 75% of the motorcyclists involved in those Lake County motorcycle accidents were hurt or killed. While this troubling statistic can be partially attributed to the inherent risks of motorcycle riding, it is also worth noting that the lower rates of helmet usage observed in states without universal motorcycle helmet laws, like Indiana, likely played a role.
Common Causes of East Chicago Motorcycle Accidents
Indiana motorcyclists should be aware of the risks that they face on East Chicago roads in order to limit the likelihood of being involved in a serious collision. Motorcyclists should always use protective gear like helmets, make themselves visible with bright clothing and lights, and move in predictable ways. Unfortunately, even when a motorcyclist takes every precaution, the carelessness of a driver can still result in debilitating and fatal injuries in an East Chicago motorcycle accident.
In fact, negligent drivers are more likely than riders to be responsible for collisions involving motorcyclists. The kinds of reckless behaviors that cause car accidents are even more conducive to motorcycle accidents. For example, a driver who is distracted by a phone call could neglect to look before they merge, which in theory endangers any motorist in their path. However, it is harder to miss an SUV in your mirror as compared to a motorcycle that’s less than a quarter of the size. It is also easier to destabilize a motorcyclist, push a motorcycle into a hard surface like a guardrail, or throw them from their bike. Motorcycle accidents are often caused by:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Texting and driving
- Ignoring or intentionally disobeying traffic laws
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Failure to yield
- Drowsy driving
- Unsafe lane changes
- Failure to check blind spots
- Reckless maneuvering
- Unsafe lane changes
- Failure to check blind spots
- Drunk driving
- Mechanical failures
- Road rage
- Poor road maintenance
- Aggressive driving
East Chicago Motorcyclists Are at Risk of Debilitating and Fatal Injuries in a Crash
Motorcycle accidents often result in grave injuries for riders and passengers on bikes. Considering how exposed they are, this is not a surprise, but rather an unfortunate reality. When a passenger car or truck is involved in a crash, the frame of the vehicle absorbs the impact of the other vehicle, the road, a tree, a guardrail, or another surface. In a motorcycle accident, that force is applied directly to the motorcyclist’s legs, arms, head, back, or torso. The result often involves long-term or permanent damage. Motorcycle accident injuries may include:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Disfigurement
- Spinal cord injury
- Paralysis
- Amputation
- Soft tissue injury
- Fractured or broken bones
- Crush injury
- Deep lacerations
- Facial injuries
- Contusions
- Road rash
- Biker’s arm
- Severe burns
- Dental injuries
- Whiplash injury
One of the biggest mistakes an injured motorcyclist can make is forgoing medical attention immediately after a crash. A medical provider is best equipped to judge the severity of your injuries and ensure that other injuries aren’t lurking undiagnosed. Not only does prompt medical treatment benefit your health, but it can also benefit your credibility in a personal injury lawsuit.
It stands to reason that if you were injured in a motorcycle accident, you would go see a doctor as soon as you could. If you wait awhile, it implies that your injuries weren’t all that serious, or you were waiting until they became more severe so you could claim additional damages. Insurance companies will want to take advantage of any inconsistencies in your claim so that they can offer a lower settlement, and this is an easy way to avoid giving them an excuse.
What Damages Are Available in an East Chicago Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit
As you go through the process of filing a personal injury lawsuit to recover compensation for your losses, you will need to be able to identify your damages. Damages refer to the costs you have sustained because of your motorcycle accident injuries. These losses do not have to be financial, but economic damages are usually the first priority. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may need lifelong care, have to switch careers, or pay for support services to maintain your home.
Besides monetary costs, plaintiffs in an East Chicago motorcycle accident lawsuit can also pursue compensation for the emotional price they paid for their injuries in the form of non-economic damages. This can include lifestyle sacrifices, such as a surfer being unable to swim after a spinal cord injury. Examples of damages in an Indiana personal injury lawsuit include:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Replacing or repairing the motorcycle
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of quality of life
- Wrongful death
Why You Need an East Chicago Motorcycle Accident Attorney to Negotiate Your Claim
If you are considering pursuing compensation in an Indiana motorcycle accident injury lawsuit, your starting point should be hiring a trustworthy, well-established personal injury lawyer to represent you. From there, they will be able to help you effectively and efficiently pursue compensation for the damages you have incurred as a result of another party’s negligence.
Personal injury lawyers have a valuable skill set, which includes conducting thorough research, anticipating insurance companies’ negotiating tactics, interpreting dense insurance policies, presenting evidence in a persuasive manner, and navigating complex legal procedures. With a reputable motorcycle accident attorney representing your claim, your case is more likely to be seen as legitimate because personal injury attorneys take on claims they believe are valid and likely to be settled.
As you decide which East Chicago personal injury lawyer to hire, you should make sure that they have specific experience negotiating motorcycle accident claims. Insurance companies and fact-finders like juries tend to be more skeptical of motorcycle accident claims because motorcyclists have a reputation for recklessness, which can make it difficult to recover full compensation for damages, even if you weren’t at fault. A motorcycle accident lawyer will be able to account for this bias and work to recover the compensation you deserve.
Frequently Asked Questions About East Chicago, Indiana Motorcycle Accident Claims
What does it cost to hire an Indiana motorcycle accident attorney?
Motorcycle accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. For you, that means you can hire a personal injury lawyer to represent you without having to pay them before they provide services. You are also protected in the event that they fail to settle your claim because they collect their fee out of what they recover. The industry standard for a contingency fee is around 33% of the final settlement or court awards.
Do I have to wear a motorcycle helmet in Indiana?
Indiana does not have a universal motorcycle helmet law. In 1977, it was successfully repealed after activists campaigned against it on the premise that it infringed on the rights of Indiana motorcyclists. Currently, Indiana motorcyclists who are under 17 must wear a helmet while operating or riding on a motorcycle, but anyone 18 or older can choose to not wear a helmet. Obviously, this is not advisable. Studies have repeatedly demonstrated the efficacy of helmets in preventing serious and fatal head injuries in the event of a motorcycle accident.
How long do I have to file an East Chicago motorcycle accident lawsuit?
After a motorcycle accident, you have a limited amount of time to file a personal injury claim to recover compensation for damages like medical expenses, reduced earning capacity, and mental anguish. In Indiana, once the statute of limitations expires, you are no longer able to seek compensation.
The same time limits apply if you are a family member filing a wrongful death claim for a loved one who died in an East Chicago motorcycle accident. An injury lawyer will know how to evaluate your individual circumstances to help ensure you know how long you have to file.
Contact the East Chicago Motorcycle Accident Attorneys of Lerner and Rowe Today
Given the catastrophic nature of many motorcycle accident injuries, your damages are likely to be extensive. You can’t afford to gamble with your settlement by hiring anything less than a relentless, capable East Chicago motorcycle accident lawyer to negotiate for maximum compensation. At Lerner and Rowe, we believe that you should not have to suffer in silence when a negligent driver has caused you to be severely injured.
We will harness our years of experience and specialized knowledge to secure a fair settlement for your East Chicago personal injury lawsuit. It is our privilege to support injured motorcyclists throughout the personal injury claims process so that they can recover compensation for damages like pain and suffering, medical bills, reduced earning potential, and emotional distress.
With our team of highly experienced Indiana personal injury attorneys representing your claim, you can rest assured that your case is being managed by tenacious negotiators who have your best interests in mind. We encourage you to set up a free consultation with one of our skilled motorcycle accident attorneys by calling us at 219-999-0122 to schedule a consultation or complete a free online case review today.