Elkhart Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

Hensley Legal Group, PC has what it takes to get you the compensation you deserve after a serious motorcycle accident in Elkhart, IN, including: 

• Attentive legal service wherever you need it from one of nine offices conveniently located in practically every corner of the state.
• A national caliber law firm with a small-town feel that was founded by and for Hoosiers like you over a quarter century ago.
• A proven record of success with auto injury claims, including a $25 million jury verdict* for a collision with an ambulance.

*SPECIFIC CASE RESULTS.  NO TWO CASES ARE EXACTLY ALIKE.

No matter if you want to cut through the gridlock of the Downtown Historical District on a Monday morning or cruise alongside the St. Joseph River on a Sunday afternoon, riding a motorcycle can be an amazing way to make your way through Elkhart, IN.

Yet as exciting and convenient as motorcycling can be, it isn’t exactly the safest mode of travel.  Indeed, riders are killed in crashes about 28 times as much as the occupants of passenger cars, and non-fatal motorcycle accidents can still inflict catastrophic injuries demanding prolonged treatment at a price that the average family may struggle to afford.

Fortunately, you may have grounds for a personal injury case if you get hurt while riding in Elkhart through no fault of your own, and you can improve your chances of success if you partner with the Elkhart motorcycle accident lawyers at Hensley Legal Group, PC, a dedicated Indiana personal injury law firm whose experienced attorneys have been fighting on behalf of the wrongfully injured since 1998 and who have obtained such notable outcomes over the years as a: 

• $25 million verdict for a collision with an ambulance.
• $4.25 million resolution for a struck pedestrian claim.
• $1.25 million settlement for a motorcycle accident.

In recognition of achievements like these, Hensley has been named one of the Best Law Firms in the United States by Best Lawyers®, while its attorneys have been honored with inclusion in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Super Lawyers, America’s Top 100 Attorneys, and the National Trial Lawyers’ lists of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers and the Top 40 Under 40.

But as proud as we are of these accolades, we’d be equally proud to get the opportunity to get you justice, so schedule a free case review with a knowledgeable Elkhart motorcycle accident attorney at our firm by calling us at (317) 472-3333, chatting with us online, or filling out our contact form.

Why Do Motorcycle Accidents Happen?

While no two motorcycle accidents are completely alike, there are certain forms of misconduct that frequently play a role in compensable motorcycle accidents in Elkhart, IN, including: 

• Speeding
• Following too closely (tailgating)
• Not yielding the right of way
• Intoxication
• Fatigue
• Distracted driving
• Illicit cellphone use
• Improper turning
• Swerving
• Abrupt lane changes
• Opening a door in front of a passing motorcycle (dooring)
• Cutting a rider off at an intersection

However an Elkhart motorcycle accident ultimately happens, the consequences are often incredibly dire because of how dangerous motorcycles tend to be.

The Unique Hazards Posed by Motorcycles

In addition to dying at a considerably higher rate, riders incur five times as many injuries during accidents thanks to the unique hazards posed by motorcycles, and these hazards ironically stem from the features that make motorcycles so appealing to riders.

For instance, the lower weight and compact frame that gives a motorcycle its distinctive “zip” gives it a much shorter stopping time too, thereby increasing the probability of a rear-end crash in traffic.

Moreover, motorcyclists have almost nothing to shield them from other vehicles or the road itself.  This quality may be exhilarating when the wind is blowing past them on the highway but positively terrifying when they’re rocketing towards metal and asphalt, and the odds of such an accident are even greater because their two-wheel designs make bikes much less stable.

To compensate for how vulnerable motorcyclists can be, other drivers are expected to be mindful in their presence, giving them extra room and slowing down more gradually when they’re around, and our Elkhart motorcycle accident lawyers will be there to hold them to account if they don’t.

Guidelines for Avoiding an Elkhart Motorcycle Accident

Given the threats to life and limb that you have to endure every time you climb on a bike, you have a vested interest in doing everything you can to steer clear of trouble, and you may be able to avoid an Elkhart motorcycle accident altogether or lessen its harm if you observe these guidelines:

• Maximize your visibility – Since drivers who see you generally won’t run you over, make an effort to maximize your visibility when you go riding by attaching reflectors to your motorcycle, wearing brightly colored clothing, and flashing your lights on and off when you come across other vehicles.
• Don’t speed – Driving too fast is the number one cause of auto accidents of any kind, but you won’t have to get into one if you don’t exceed the posted speed limit and reduce your speed further if you encounter poor weather or surface conditions.
• Pay attention – Second only to speeding as a factor in traffic accidents is distraction, and paying attention to your surroundings and staying focused on the task at hand whenever you’re on your bike is critical to noticing problems before it’s too late to do anything about them.
• Maintain an appropriate space cushion – Crowding other vehicles or encroaching on their space could expose you to collisions from the side or rear.
• Look before entering intersections – Because riders are most likely to get hit in the middle of intersections, where more than a third of motorcycle accidents occur, you should look in every direction for oncoming vehicles before you enter them.
• Merge with care – Care should similarly be exercised when you merge, as you could end up in the blind spots of unsuspecting drivers if you neglect to notify them of your intentions by signaling or making eye contact with them.
• Get enough sleep – Drowsiness can be as detrimental to driving as drunkenness, with one study finding that being awake for over twenty hours can produce the same degree of impairment as a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent, the threshold for intoxication in Indiana.
• Don’t drink and ride – Of course, the risks of drowsy driving don’t minimize the risks of drunk driving (or drunk riding), but you don’t have be a statistic if you don’t drink and ride.
• Put on a helmet – If you can’t avoid an Elkhart motorcycle accident, you can do the next best thing by putting on a helmet, a simple precaution that can be 67 percent effective in preventing brain damage and 37 percent effective in preventing death.

Retaining Our Elkhart Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Can Make a Difference

We hope these tips are useful, although the reality is that an Elkhart motorcycle accident may take place regardless of what you do, and it can change everything in a heartbeat.  Before you know it, you could be buried beneath a mountain of debt and unable to earn the funds to dig yourself out, but this is where retaining our Elkhart motorcycle accident attorneys can make a difference.

If you hire Hensley, we will begin by launching a thorough investigation to identify the origins of your Elkhart motorcycle accident and all of the defendants who contributed to it, then establish valid claims against them within the time allotted by law.  If the situation warrants it, a lawsuit may be filed as well in a court with the authority to issue a binding judgment.

Our tenacious Elkhart motorcycle accident lawyers will also act swiftly to secure the materials necessary to support any allegations you make, such as:

• Police reports
• Citations and dispositions
• Crash scene photos
• Dash cam, streetlight, and surveillance videos
• Eyewitness statements
• Black box data
• Phone records
• Driving histories
• Vehicular servicing logs
• Forensic analysis and accident reconstruction

If proof of misconduct by the defendants exists, we will move heaven and earth to dig it up.

Get Compensated for the Totality of Your Losses

Once a rock-solid case has been assembled against each of the defendants, our firm will enter into exhaustive negotiations with their insurance companies in order to get you compensated for the totality of your losses, including your:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Mental and emotional trauma
• Hindered mobility
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Diminished quality of living
• Loss of consortium (if applicable)

Many insurers will try to exploit negative public sentiment about the perceived “recklessness” of the motorcycle community to settle these types of cases for less, but we won’t let them, nor will we be afraid to take your case to trial if we don’t receive an offer that reflects its true value.  This sets us far apart from far too many of our competitors, who seldom, if ever, step foot inside of a courtroom.

And if you’re hesitant to spend more money after spending so much already, you’ll be happy to hear that Hensley Legal Group operates on a contingency basis, meaning that you won’t owe us anything until our Elkhart motorcycle accident attorneys win your case.

You have enough to worry about at the moment merely recovering from your cycling injuries.  Let us worry about recovering the resources you need to do it.

Get in Touch with Our Elkhart Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

Hensley Legal Group has been fiercely advocating for hardworking Hoosiers like you for nearly three decades.  If you’ve been badly injured while riding your motorcycle in the Elkhart area, get in touch with our Elkhart motorcycle accident lawyers to learn about the remedies that may be available to you.

Just call us at (317) 472-3333, chat with us online, or fill out our contact form for a complimentary consultation with an accomplished Elkhart motorcycle accident attorney now.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is my motorcycle accident case worth?

Although a skilled lawyer will always strive to get you top dollar for your Elkhart motorcycle accident case, there is no way of knowing in advance what it will be worth because every case is different.

Nevertheless, certain factors may influence the amount of your final compensation package, such as the facts leading up to your accident, the nature and extent of your damages, and the applicable insurance coverage.

How long does a case take?

It is similarly impossible to predict exactly how long a case will take because there are too many variables that could come into play, though the timeline will be at least partially influenced by the Statute of Limitations.

The Statute is two years for most motorcycle accidents in Indiana, but it could be much shorter under some circumstances, with further requirements that may have be met, so it may be wise to talk to a knowledgeable Elkhart motorcycle accident attorney about your case as soon as you can.

Why are motorcycles dangerous?

Many of the qualities that make motorcycles so appealing are the same qualities that tend to make them more dangerous than other vehicles.

Among the unique hazards posed by motorcycles are their lack of shielding, their shorter stopping times, and the instability of their two-wheel designs.

How can a motorcycle accident be prevented?

While sometimes an Elkhart motorcycle accident may happen no matter what you do, there are a number of precautions you can take that could either prevent an accident altogether or lessen the harm it inflicts.

These precautions may include maximizing your visibility, controlling your speed, paying attention, maintaining a proper space cushion, being careful when entering intersections or merging, getting your rest, staying sober, and wearing a helmet.

What will it cost to hire you?

Because Hensley Legal Group, PC operates on a contingency basis, it won’t cost you anything up front to hire our firm, or anything at all unless your case is won.

At that point, we may request reimbursement for our out-of-pocket expenses and a fee for our services, typically as a percentage of the verdict or settlement we have obtained for you.