Riding Through Hammond? Why Lake County Motorcyclists Face Some of Indiana’s Highest Crash Risks — and What to Do If You’re Hit

April 2, 2026

• Lake County is one of the most dangerous areas for motorcycle riders in Indiana.
• A motorcycle accident can cause serious injury, and you will need to be compensated for your medical bills and other expenses.
• Working with an experienced Lake County motorcycle attorney can help you get your life back in order.

You’re riding through Hammond, cruising south on Calumet Avenue, nearly at Hammond Central High School. Traffic there can be tricky, with student drivers, parents in a rush, and buses coming in and out, along with traffic from MLK Park across the street. People aren’t always looking out for motorcycles, and no matter how careful you are, you could get into an accident.

It’s not just there, of course. It turns out that Hammond and Lake County overall are among the most dangerous places to ride a motorcycle. And if you are involved in one of those accidents, you’ll need representation that can help you get the compensation you deserve.

As a motorcycle rider, there’s a lot you can do to prevent accidents. But as anyone riding through Hammond knows, it isn’t necessarily up to you. Here’s why Lake County motorcyclists face some of Indiana’s highest crash risks – and what to do if you’re hit.

How Lake County Can Be Dangerous for Motorcyclists

There’s no question that there are some great places to ride your motorcycle in Lake County. You can cruise around Wolf Lake, take a highway, or head up to the casino. But you are never alone on the road.

Lake County is still a vibrant shipping and industrial corridor, and that means a lot of trucks. Indiana Harbor has a constant influx and outflow of trucks, heading to and from the highways. It is also one of the most heavily trafficked areas of the state, with people driving to and from Chicago for work or play, and anybody trying to avoid the Skyway or find a go-around may suddenly be cruising down residential streets.

And with everyone in a hurry, they won’t all be checking for motorcycles.

In fact, Lake County motorcycle accidents continue to rise. According to data from the Indiana University Public Policy Institute, motorcycle crashes have spiked from 146 in 2019 to 171 in 2023, the last year with full data. This is nearly three times as much as next-door Porter County, which had only 67 in 2023. The only county with a higher total is Marion County, home of Indianapolis.

Your being involved in a motorcycle crash in Lake County is not inevitable. But with one nearly every two days, it is far from impossible.

We know how dangerous a motorcycle crash can be. High speeds and the strength and weight of your bike compared to the average car (to say nothing of a truck or school bus) puts you at a disadvantage in every collision. So if you are injured in a Lake County motorcycle accident, here’s what your next steps should be.

Steps to Take After a Motorcycle Accident in Lake County

The first thing you need to do is assess your safety. Motorcycle accidents can be shocking as well as dangerous. You may be able to assess the scene, or you may need to go straight to the hospital. But you or someone should call 911 and get help.

From here, it is important that you don’t talk about the accident to any professionals except the police until you have acquired representation. Insurance companies will try to pin negligence on motorcycle riders as often as they can and will use anything you say against you.

That’s why it is important to find an experienced Lake County motorcycle accident attorney as quickly as possible, someone who can stand up to the insurance companies and take care of you as your case moves forward.

Some of the things an experienced Lake County motorcycle accident lawyer will do include:

• Gathering evidence to determine who is negligent. This could be the other driver, it could be the company or school district the driver works for, it could even be the state or the county for having neglected road repair. There could be multiple vectors of negligence – your attorney will work to find who is responsible.
• Interview witnesses who can help you present a stronger case.
• Deal with insurance companies.
• Work through the legal system.
• Understand your overall damages and what you need to be fairly compensated.
• Fight to get you what you deserve.

Remember that insurance companies will try to lowball you. They might offer a settlement based on your immediate hospital bills, and that might seem like a lot. But expert motorcycle accident lawyers know that your medical bills can pile up months or even years after your accident. There could be lingering medical issues and trauma. You might miss work, and the amount that you miss should be reflected in your settlement.

These cases are complex, as is the Lake County legal system. Many times, your lawyer will even take your location into account if your accident happened in an area prone to traffic and motorcycle accidents, as much of Lake County is.

The complexities might be overwhelming to you, but they can be handled with ease by an seasoned Lake County motorcycle accident attorney.

Reach Out to Our Experienced Lake County Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

You might normally ride solo, but you need a team around you after an accident, like the team 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.

Simply call us at (317) 472-3333, chat with us online, or fill out our contact form now for a free consultation with a knowledgeable Hammond motorcycle accident lawyer.