What Does an Indiana Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Do?

August 5, 2024

A motorcycle can be a thrilling means of transportation, but it is also a dangerous one, potentially inflicting devastating injuries in the event of a crash.  While Indiana law permits a rider to initiate a personal injury case when someone else is at fault for a motorcycle accident, success is not guaranteed, which is why injured cyclists often seek out legal assistance.  What does an Indiana motorcycle accident lawyer do?  Join us as we explore how a capable attorney can help if you have been hurt on a motorcycle. 

Hiring a Lawyer Could Maximize the Value of Your Case 

Motorcycle accidents are far from rare in Indiana, where there were 2,885 collisions involving motorcycles in 2022.  And, because motorcycles provide minimal protection compared to cars and trucks, the injuries that riders might sustain could require prolonged treatment at a price that few Hoosiers could manage on their own.   

For this reason, it is important to maximize the value of any case you may have for your motorcycle injuries, and hiring an Indiana motorcycle accident lawyer could allow you to do just that.  In fact, one study by the Insurance Research Council determined that personal injury plaintiffs with attorneys receive 3.5 times more than personal injury plaintiffs without them, while a different study showed that 85 percent of the funds that insurance companies pay out go to claimants who work with lawyers. 

What to Expect from an Indiana Motorcycle Accident Attorney 

Clearly, your odds of meeting the new demands on your finances could improve dramatically with a skilled lawyer in your corner, but what exactly can you expect from an Indiana motorcycle accident attorney? 

First, your lawyer will investigate your motorcycle accident and everyone responsible for it, then establish valid claims against all of the liable parties by sending them formal notification in writing and alerting their insurance carriers.  If the need arises, a lawsuit could be filed as well in a court authorized to issue a binding judgment. 

Next, your attorney will amass the materials to build your case, such as: 

• Police reports 

• Citations and dispositions 

• Eyewitness accounts 

• Crash site photos 

• Dash cam, streetlight, and surveillance footage 

• Black box data 

• Phone records 

• Driving histories 

• Vehicular servicing logs 

• Accident reconstruction and forensic analysis 

After putting together the strongest case possible, your lawyer will enter into negotiations with the defendants’ insurance companies, who will be the primary source of economic recovery in any Indiana motorcycle accident case.  While your relative inexperience could put you at a disadvantage when dealing with an insurance adjuster, a seasoned attorney will be better equipped to fend off the tricks and tactics that would otherwise be deployed against you.   

Moreover, your Indiana motorcycle accident lawyer will calculate what your case is really worth and work tirelessly to obtain a final compensation package that equals or exceeds that figure.  Novice plaintiffs might agree to offers that only reflect their short-term, monetary damages, which could leave them entirely on the hook for long-term costs that may emerge, along with the non-monetary losses that are sometimes more enduring. 

In contrast, your attorney will strive to get you compensated for ALL of your damages, including your: 

• Past, present, and future medical bills 

• Lost wages 

• Diminished earning capacity 

• Pain and suffering 

• Mental and emotional anguish 

• Reduced quality of living 

• Mobility restrictions 

• Loss of consortium 

• Punitive and wrongful death damages (if applicable) 

When confronted with detailed evidence of the extent of your losses and the guilt of the insured, a wise adjuster can be convinced to tender a fair settlement rather than risk a worse verdict at trial.   

However, a trial might be necessary if the insurance company refuses to act in good faith.  If that should happen, a veteran litigator will be critical, since plaintiffs with lawyers tend to win in the courtroom, whereas plaintiffs who represent themselves before a jury lose about 96 percent of their cases. 

What Does It Cost to Retain an Attorney? 

We realize you may be concerned about committing to more expenditures, but you should know that most Indiana motorcycle accident attorneys work on a contingency basis.  This means that you should not have to pay anything until your case is resolved favorably.  

At that point, your lawyer will probably ask for reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses and a fee for services rendered, usually as a percentage of your verdict or settlement – which should statistically be much higher if you retain an attorney.  

Talk to Our Indiana Motorcycle Accident Lawyers 

Hensley Legal Group has been standing up for the seriously injured since 1998.  If you are still reeling from your motorcycle injuries, talk to our Indiana motorcycle accident lawyers to discover your legal options. 

You can schedule a free consultation with a dedicated Indianapolis motorcycle accident attorney by calling or texting us at (317) 472-3333, chatting with us online, or filling out our contact form.