Indiana is a beautiful state to ride, but too many motorists fail to even see the motorcyclists with whom they share the road – much less accommodate their safe passage. Motorcycle accidents are some of the most dangerous on our roadways, and the associated physical, financial, and emotional losses tend to be immense.
If another driver’s negligence leaves you or someone you love injured in a motorcycle accident, it’s time to consult with an experienced Merrillville motorcycle accident attorney.
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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that motorcyclists are overrepresented in traffic fatalities, and historically, they always have been. Consider the following statistics shared:
When you’re on your bike, you are at a distinct disadvantage in terms of safety, which makes proceeding with the utmost caution always advised.
You take up less space on the road when you’re on your bike, which makes it more difficult for other drivers to see you. The fact is, however, that every driver is responsible for sharing the road safely with everyone on it, and this includes motorcyclists. There are certain forms of driver negligence that make our roads more dangerous for everyone and put motorcyclists at even more pronounced risk.
In order for other drivers to see you on your motorcycle, they need to pay attention to the road. Unfortunately, distracted drivers allow their attention to wander elsewhere, which can include any number of distractions but often means turning to their phones. Texting is a singularly dangerous distraction behind the wheel because it manages to meld all three forms of distraction, which include the following, into one:
When you combine this with the fact that a motorist can travel about the length of a football field in the average of five seconds that it takes to type or read a text, it translates to a serious risk factor that can prove deadly.
Drunk drivers tend to experience slowed reaction times, and they often have more difficulty focusing on the road, controlling their vehicles, and maintaining their speed – in addition to having diminished impulse control. All of this, combined with blurred vision and cognitive impairments, make drunk drivers some of the most dangerous drivers out there.
Excess speed is the risk factor that is most likely to be featured in deadly driving statistics. The faster a driver travels, the more likely they are to be involved in an accident and the more likely that accident is to be deadly. As a motorist’s speed increases – in other words – the more dangerous they become and motorcyclists are especially vulnerable to this risk factor.
Drowsy drivers experience their own brand of impairment, and it’s not dissimilar from the impairment of drunk drivers. A driver who is operating on too little sleep can have more difficulty controlling their vehicle, paying attention to the traffic all around, remaining focused, and simply staying awake – all of which put motorcyclists and everyone else on the road at serious risk of being seriously injured.
Aggressive drivers are known for driving at immense speeds and proceeding as if they’re the only people on the road, which can prove disastrous for motorcyclists. When you’re on your bike, you have far more agility and can stop shorter than drivers in larger vehicles, which can lead to dangerous consequences if an aggressive driver chooses to tailgate you – another favorite move of aggressive drivers. Aggressive motorists put everyone on the road at immense risk, and motorcyclists are especially vulnerable to their brand of danger.
If you’re injured by another driver’s negligence in a motorcycle accident, you can expect to experience serious losses, which will be addressed as legal damages in your motorcycle accident claim. These break down into several basic categories of loss.
When motorcyclists are involved in accidents, they almost invariably land on the road, which generally translates to very serious injuries – even in what would otherwise be a relatively minor accident. Despite your helmet and safety gear, the physical injuries you suffer in a motorcycle accident and the attendant medical expenses are likely to be considerable, including:
If your medical needs are ongoing, you experience a secondary health concern, or your injuries lead to complications, your medical expenses could show no signs of ending anytime soon.
You’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence, and your income is very likely to suffer as a result – while you focus on your recovery. If your ability to do your job or to continue advancing your career is affected, the financial losses you experience can be even more challenging. Career losses can also be associated with emotional consequences – due to the importance of our careers in our lives.
The physical and emotional pain and suffering that accompanies motorcycle accidents is often immense. Many victims suffer PTSD-like symptoms associated with the accident’s violent impact, which can include:
One of the most challenging aspects of this emotional loss is that it can weaken your ties with your support system – just when you need these friends and family members most.
While your motorcycle accident claim is specific to the situation at hand and the circumstances involved, there are steps every claimant can take to help protect their legal rights and bolster their accident claim in the process, including:
The bottom line is that the insurance company is focused on taking what you say – either in the form of an official statement or in the form of social media posts – and using it to its own advantage. This is a skill they’ve honed to perfection, which makes lying low while your claim moves forward an excellent plan.
Our team has combined decades of experience handling all types of injury cases, both with insurance companies and in civil court. We bring all that we know about injury law to the table in each and every case.
We have many satisfied clients who were able to move forward with their lives in a better financial position following a serious accident and injuries. We can discuss our past results with you during your free consultation.
We are dedicated to our clients and communities in Indiana. Our goal is to provide comprehensive and compassionate legal services to injured and grieving individuals. We work hard to obtain the money you need so you can focus on recovery instead of worrying about medical bills, insurance claims, or lawsuits.
While it’s true that the insurance company handling your claim is paid specifically to cover losses like the ones you’ve experienced, they are driven by profits, which means they’ll be looking for weaknesses in your claim – even if they have to manufacture these weaknesses themselves. Be on the lookout for tactics like the following:
While rejection by the insurance company can push claimants to give up early on, it’s important to recognize that your rights – and your rightful compensation – are ultimately a matter of law and are not a matter of the insurance company’s discretion.
Your trusted motorcycle accident attorney will take on all of the following important roles in their focused efforts to obtain your claim’s best possible resolution:
Your attorney may turn to a wide range of evidence to reinforce your claim, which can include the following:
Decades of handling truck accident cases in Indiana have equipped Blackburn Romey with the expertise to challenge insurance companies effectively. We start fighting for your compensation from day one, making sure no piece of evidence is overlooked.❞ Act now! Contact Chris Blackburn today, and let us work for you.
Chris Blackburn
If another driver’s negligence leaves you injured in a motorcycle accident, obtaining the compensation to which you are entitled is critical to your overall recovery. The practiced motorcycle accident attorneys at Blackburn Romey in Merrillville, Indiana, appreciate the serious nature of your claim and dedicate their imposing practice to helping clients like you obtain favorable claim resolutions that support their most complete recoveries.
Our savvy legal team has the experience, legal insight, and drive that you’re looking for. We’re on your side and here to help – so please don’t wait to reach out and contact or call us at 833-FOR-Help for more information about what we can do for you today.
Blackburn Romey founding partner Tom Blackburn graduated with honors receiving a degree from Indiana University at the Robert H. McKinney School of Law. Initiating his legal career in 1977, he has been active in practicing law and currently serves as a member of the Indiana State Bar Association on the Ethics and Advertising Committees, the American Bar Association, the American Association for Justice, as a board member at the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, and as an appointed member of the Executive Committee for the State of Indiana for the National Trial Lawyers Association.
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Blackburn Romey founding partner Tom Blackburn graduated with honors receiving a degree from Indiana University at the Robert H. McKinney School of Law. Initiating his legal career in 1977, he has been active in practicing law and currently serves as a member of the Indiana State Bar Association on the Ethics and Advertising Committees, the American Bar Association, the American Association for Justice, as a board member at the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, and as an appointed member of the Executive Committee for the State of Indiana for the National Trial Lawyers Association.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Tom Blackburn, who has more than 47 years of legal experience, including over 39 years specializing as a personal injury attorney.
