As a former trial attorney with more than a decade of litigation experience, Jamie L. Pfeiffer writes trustworthy, engaging and informative content for law firm websites, legal publications and online legal resources. She has a knack for demystifying complicated legal issues and helping ensure civil justice procedures are understandable and accessible for everyone.
Jamie Pfeiffer
As a former trial attorney with more than a decade of litigation experience, Jamie L. Pfeiffer writes trustworthy, engaging and informative content for law firm websites, legal publications and online legal resources. She has a knack for demystifying complicated legal issues and helping ensure civil justice procedures are understandable and accessible for everyone.
Adam has resided at the intersection of legal and journalism for two decades. An award-winning journalist and legal strategist, he’s covered high-profile trials in Florida.
After law school, Adam and spent two years clerking for a U.S. District Court judge. He researched and wrote legal precedent in published opinions on behalf of the Court.
He has been an editor, columnist and journalist at the Miami Herald, The Dallas Morning News, The Oregonian, Golf Digest, FindLaw.com and other media outlets.
He lived in Colombia and Argentina teaching legal English to attorneys and law students. He is also a Spanish-language subject matter expert.
An avid waterman, he surfs and scuba dives frequently.
Reviewed
Adam Ramirez, J.D.
Adam has resided at the intersection of legal and journalism for two decades. An award-winning journalist and legal strategist, he’s covered high-profile trials in Florida.
After law school, Adam and spent two years clerking for a U.S. District Court judge. He researched and wrote legal precedent in published opinions on behalf of the Court.
He has been an editor, columnist and journalist at the Miami Herald, The Dallas Morning News, The Oregonian, Golf Digest, FindLaw.com and other media outlets.
He lived in Colombia and Argentina teaching legal English to attorneys and law students. He is also a Spanish-language subject matter expert.
An avid waterman, he surfs and scuba dives frequently.
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.
Indiana has a rich history of recreational motorcycling, motorcycle racing and motorcycle clubs. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosted the MotoGP World Championships from 2008–2015, bringing world-class racing to central Indiana. The state hosts numerous motorcycle events and rallies every year, like the Boogie Hollar Motorcycle Rally, attracting riders from all over the country and beyond.
In 2021, there were over 225,000 registered motorcycles in Indiana. Unfortunately, Indiana motorcycle riders are also involved in thousands of accidents each year. If you’ve been involved in a crash, an attorney can help you get the compensation you need to recover. We’ve compiled a list of the best motorcycle accident lawyers in Indianapolis to help you get started.
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Best Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Indianapolis, IN
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Filing an Indiana Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit
Many motorcycle accidents are caused by the negligence or recklessness of other road users. Drivers often overlook motorcycle riders or fail to give them adequate space on the road. Consistently, riders involved in a collision are much more vulnerable to serious injuries than drivers protected by a vehicle. Even small collisions can have devastating effects.
If you or a loved one have been injured on a bike, you should contact an Indianapolis, IN motorcycle accident lawyer. A skilled attorney will help you understand your immediate options for obtaining essential medical treatment, start the process of identifying the responsible parties and ultimately recover the compensation you deserve.
Indiana Statute of Limitations
The statute of limitations is how long an individual has to file a lawsuit to recover damages after an accident. Every state sets its own time limits on different types of legal actions. Indiana’s statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits is two years.
In most cases, the statute of limitations begins to run when the accident occurs, which gives you two years after an accident to begin a lawsuit. However, there are a few exceptions.
- If you are legally disabled, the two-year period may not begin until your disability ends. For example, if you are in a coma or unconscious for six weeks as a result of the accident, the two-year period may not begin to run until you regain consciousness.
- If an injured person dies within the two-year period following an accident, the law allows their representative eighteen months from the date of their death to file a lawsuit.
- An injured minor has two years following their 18th birthday to file a lawsuit.
Although two years seems like a long time, it’s best to contact an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer as soon as possible after an accident or injury occurs. This gives them the opportunity to talk to witnesses while their memories are still fresh, gather evidence from the scene of the collision and inspect the vehicles involved before they are repaired.
The best Indianapolis, IN, motorcycle accident lawyers can also help guide you to resources and treatment options that you may not otherwise have. In their years of experience helping crash victims and their families, they establish strong relationships with treatment providers, rehabilitation facilities and occupational therapists. These connections can help improve your recovery significantly.
Indiana Laws for Motorcycle Riders
Licensing: Indiana residents must obtain a motorcycle endorsement on their driver’s license. Drivers who are at least 16 years and 90 days of age can earn this endorsement by taking a motorcycle safety course authorized by Ride Safe Indiana. Experienced riders who are at least 16 years and 270 days of age can bypass this requirement if they pass a written motorcycle knowledge test and an authorized motorcycle skills test. A vision test may be required. New residents can transfer their out-of-state endorsement without taking a skills test, but they must pass a motorcycle knowledge test. Minors must have a parent or guardian sign an Agreement of Financial Liability.
Equipment: Under Indiana law, motorcycles must be equipped with certain specific equipment. This helps ensure the safety of riders and other road users. The law requires motorcycles to have:
- Front and rear brakes
- Handlebars not above the driver’s shoulders
- Footrests or pegs for operator and passengers
- Headlamps and reflectors meeting USDOT regulations
- Rearview mirror, speedometer and turn signals
Insurance: All riders must also carry motorcycle insurance that complies with state minimum requirements.
Helmets: Motorcyclists in Indiana under the age of 18 are required to wear a helmet and eye protection. Residents with a motorcycle learner’s permit are also required to wear helmets.
Roadway Usage: Riders must comply with the rules of the road as they apply to all other motorists. Indiana does allow two motorcyclists to travel side-by-side in a single traffic lane. However, lane splitting (riding between lanes of traffic) is not permitted.
Identifying Fault for a Motorcycle Crash
Drivers are negligent when they fail to live up to their duty of care, or legal expected standard of performance. Common examples of driver negligence are driving too fast for the conditions, failing to yield the right of way, disobeying traffic signals or signs and speeding. If this negligence leads to an accident, the driver may be legally at fault and liable for damages.
Often, more than one person’s actions or inactions contribute to vehicle accidents. Equipment malfunctions, tire blowouts or faulty brakes could play a part in a collision. If this is the case, you may be able to bring a product liability lawsuit against the manufacturer of your bike or another vehicle.
Legal liability isn’t all-or-nothing; multiple parties can share liability for an accident. If a rider’s own negligence contributed to causing the accident, they may still pursue damages from other responsible parties. This is called “comparative fault.” If the judge or jury awards damages to the plaintiff, the amount will be reduced by their percentage of fault. If the plaintiff is more at fault for their own injuries than all of the other parties, they can’t recover anything.
How Can an Attorney Help You?
The best motorcycle accident lawyers in Indianapolis, IN, differentiate themselves from other attorneys by their experience, tenacity and dedication to their clients. They can help manage all aspects of your recovery from beginning to end. In addition to pursuing your legal claims, they can help you manage medical bills and payments, stop medical debt collections and avoid harassment by insurance adjusters.
As medical bills and other expenses start to pile up, you may be tempted to settle your claim quickly. Insurance adjusters may try to pressure you into accepting a settlement and releasing your claims. Without an attorney, you may not get the full value of your claim. The best motorcycle accident lawyers in Indianapolis, IN, can negotiate a settlement that fairly compensates you for all of your damages or take your case to trial.
Economic costs, known as special damages, are one part of the calculation. In addition to medical expenses, this category includes lost wages and future earning capacity, prosthetics, devices like scooters and wheelchairs, vehicle modifications, household and childcare assistance and many other accident-related expenses.
Motorcycle accident victims also suffer intangible losses like pain and suffering, mental anguish and loss of opportunity. These are called general damages, and they can be difficult to quantify. Experienced motorcycle accident lawyers can help you understand how these claims are valued and ask for everything you deserve. Your spouse and children may also have compensable claims for loss of consortium (the opportunity to enjoy a full and normal marital or parent-child relationship).
Although you don’t need a lawyer to file a lawsuit or pursue an insurance claim, retaining counsel also provides you peace of mind. Rather than trying to sort through paperwork and negotiate claims with insurance adjusters, you can focus on your recovery. Your attorney will advocate on your behalf and work to get you the compensation you deserve.
How to Find the Best Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Indianapolis, IN
In Indianapolis, IN, the best motorcycle accident lawyers are often too busy to chase after new clients. Therefore, you will probably have to contact a few different choices and narrow down the field. The following tips will help you determine whether a potential candidate is a good fit for you.
Ask for Referrals
The best place to start your search is to ask friends, coworkers, family members and other community members if they can recommend a good attorney. You could also reach out to motorcycle clubs and organizations. If you get a recommendation, explore their online reviews and profiles to learn more about their experience, client relationships and reputation.
Check Their Credentials
Before hiring an attorney, make sure they are licensed and active to practice in Indiana. You can check the Indiana Roll of Attorneys to see the date an attorney was first licensed to practice in the state, their license status, any disciplinary history and their contact information.
Target Their Experience
Make sure that your attorney has experience with the type of accident you were involved in, the type of injuries you have suffered and the court in which your case will be heard. In multi-vehicle accidents, liability can be complicated and your case may be tried in a federal court (rather than a state court).
Communicate Effectively
Choose a lawyer who communicates in the manner you desire as much as you need. If it’s more comfortable or necessary for you to communicate in another language, make sure they (and their staff) are fluent. Some attorneys are comfortable using videoconferencing software like Zoom, while others require in-person or telephone consultations. Ask whether they can provide updates using email, text or telephone or if they prefer to send more traditional status update letters. Make sure you’re on the same page.
Talk About the Money
A consultation with a motorcycle accident attorney is usually free. If they are interested in taking your case, most of the best motorcycle accident lawyers in Indianapolis, IN offer you a contingency fee arrangement. In this type of fee agreement, the lawyer keeps a percentage of any settlement or award they get for you rather than charging an hourly fee for services. The standard percentage is usually between 33% and 40%. The best part of such an arrangement is that if they don’t recover compensation for you, you are not liable for their fees.
Discuss Possible Outcomes
The vast majority–about 95%–of motorcycle accident cases settle before they go before a judge or jury. Lawyers negotiate directly with insurance companies and the attorneys for the other parties involved in the case. Alternate dispute resolution options like mediation and arbitration can help even the most difficult cases reach a private settlement agreement.
However, many motorcycle injuries involve life-changing, catastrophic injuries and correspondingly high damages. Insurance companies may not be willing to offer the high settlement amounts that would fairly compensate you. If you’ve suffered significant injuries, ensure that a potential lawyer has the experience and ability to take the case to trial if necessary before you retain their services.
Methodology
To come up with the Best Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Indianapolis, IN for 2024, Forbes Advisor considered many factors. Forbes Advisor’s mathematical module considers and weighs the information collected to calculate a specific rating and reviews these results to find the best attorneys in a given practice area.
Within the model, we consider factors that legal professionals and consumers value in an attorney’s qualifications. After assigning weighted scores to hundreds of data points, we narrowed the field down to our top choices based on:
- Legal experience
- Special licenses & certifications
- Ethics and bar disciplinary measures
- Legal thought leadership
- Education & employment background
- Scholarly lectures & writings
- Awards & Honors
Forbes Advisor collects public data from a variety of sources, including state bar associations, court records and other published sources on the internet. This information should not be considered comprehensive, however. It might not include additional relevant information on an attorney’s legal skills and experience.
Each lawyer listed here has their own merits. Bear in mind that our list relates to these lawyers’ legal backgrounds but does not evaluate their personalities or their knowledge of the law. One attorney may be more suitable than another for your specific legal situation.
One thing that can’t be quantified, though, is the rapport you establish with your attorney. Personality goes a long way when teaming up with an attorney, especially when going through a potentially difficult legal situation. These rankings should serve as a reference and potential starting point in your search for the right lawyer for you and your legal concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long does it take to get over a motorcycle accident?
Many victims of motorcycle crash injuries suffer serious physical and psychological trauma. Many never completely get over their accident. Serious physical injuries can require multiple rounds of surgeries, skin grafts, implantation of screws or plates and other procedures. These can take months or years. Traumatic brain and spine injuries can lead to permanent paralysis, cognitive impairment and loss of bodily functions. Even less severe injuries often take months or years of treatment, therapy and rehabilitation to heal.
What is the most common type of motorcycle accident?
Statistics from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety show that the most common type of motorcycle accidents are head-on collisions. These account for more than two-thirds (76%) of reported accidents. Just 7% of reported car-motorcycle collisions involve a motorcycle being struck from behind. More than one-third (35%) of motorcycle accident deaths occur at intersections.
What is the likelihood of being involved in a motorcycle accident?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were a total of 82,528 motorcycle riders sustained injuries in 2020. A total of 468 injuries were reported per 100 million vehicle miles traveled over the course of that year. According to the National Safety Council, motorcycle riders make up 14% of all traffic facilities, despite only 3% of registered vehicles being motorcycles.
However, many smaller accidents that do not cause injury or death are likely not reported. This makes it impossible to accurately calculate the odds of being involved in an accident.
