Motorcycle Vehicle Accident Attorney Near Me

Motorcycle Vehicle Accident Attorney Near Me

 

If you or someone dear to you has been injured in a motorcycle accident, looking for a motorcycle vehicle accident attorney near me law firm is a sensible step to take. If you live in Valparaiso or Merrillville, IN, our motorcycle accident attorney near you can help. 

At Theodoros & Rooth, P.C., our experienced personal injury lawyers serving Valparaiso, IN will provide sound legal advice and strong representation. We are known for our professionalism when handling high-value injury claims and are proud of our service to the community. Call us for a free consultation in which we will evaluate your case and share our opinion regarding your options. 

Compensation Claimable After a Motorcycle Accident

Damages in motorcycle vehicle accidents tend to vary by case. Sitting down and discussing the details of your case with an injury lawyer can shed light on the full medical and mental picture of your accident, injuries, and their true impact on your life. It may be that your particular case qualifies for damages that are not listed below.

Potential compensation in a motorcycle vehicle accident may include, but is not limited to, the following damages:

  • Medical expenses stemming from the accident, including prescription medications, hospital stays, and home health care and equipment
  • Lost wages if you are unable to work
  • Loss of future income if you are no longer able to return to work at full capacity in the long term
  • Pain and suffering damages
  • Emotional distress and/or mental anguish
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Loss of consortium
  • Possible punitive damages in rare circumstances

Sadly, motorcycle accidents often cause catastrophic injuries with far-reaching consequences or even the wrongful death of a loved one. We want to help you rebuild your life by ensuring you have adequate resources to do so without financial worries adding to your distress. 

Why Choose Theodoros & Rooth, P.C. for Your Motorcycle Vehicle Accident Claim

When choosing an attorney, you should consider several points. First and foremost, you should consider their track record and reputation. At the same time, you will want lawyers who will identify with your predicament and give you the personal attention you deserve. Theodoros & Rooth, P.C. offers you:

  • Founded in 1988, we have more than 110 years of combined experience successfully representing accident victims in Northwest Indiana.
  • Our clients are like family, and we treat them with the utmost compassion and respect. 
  • We pride ourselves on being a leader in the community. Our compassionate legal team is heavily involved in local charities and enjoys volunteering throughout Northwest Indiana. 
  • We take a team approach to every case, employing various strategies from our diverse backgrounds to build you the strongest case possible in a favorable time frame. 
  • With decades of experience, most of our attorneys have been recognized by Super Lawyers for several years. 
  • We are the proud recipients of the AV Preeminent peer-rating through Martindale-Hubbell.

When we accept a case, we do so because we believe in you, in justice, and our dedication to protect your best interests. We will work tirelessly to recover the compensation you deserve. In our pledge to our clients, we will aggressively pursue justice with integrity and compassion.

Protecting the Integrity of Your Motorcycle Vehicle Accident Claim Is Critical to Recovering Fair Compensation

No matter how well-justified your claim may be, there will be people who oppose it, especially if you are entitled to high-value compensation. Once we have agreed to work together, you will have a lot less to worry about, but there are things you can do to help. Here are some dos and don’ts you should be aware of:

Do Follow Your Doctors’ Instructions 

Sometimes, people become impatient. They want to get back on their feet and get on with their lives, and they no longer want to listen to their doctors. Doctors will not ask you to do anything they do not think is important to your recovery. Always follow their instructions. 

If you fail to follow doctors’ orders, people may argue that you were not as badly injured as you claim, or they may say you have made your injuries worse through your own actions. This may result in lower compensation and longer recovery times. Take care of your health and leave the rest to us. 

Do Not Share Information About Your Accident

Even the simplest statements can be misconstrued and become bones of contention. Do not post any information about your accident or your health on social media. Do not enter into discussions, even with your own insurance company. If anyone calls you about your accident, refer them to your motorcycle vehicle accident attorney in Merrillville, IN. 

Avoid recorded conversations of any kind. When you must report information about your accident, stick to the basics: an accident occurred at a certain time and place. Specific parties were involved. No other details are of interest to anyone other than your lawyers. 

Do Not Attempt to Negotiate With Insurance Companies

You have chosen a lawyer to represent you. Rely on their negotiators to handle any overtures from insurance companies. Even if a company seems to be offering you a quick route to what seems like a substantial sum, do not be tempted. 

We will work to recover fair compensation in the shortest time possible. They would not be approaching you directly unless they believed that persuading you to accept a settlement would save them a great deal of money. Do not negotiate with insurance companies alone. You will be the one who loses out. 

What was your Percentage of Fault? How Liability Works In Indiana Motorcycle Accidents

Accidents happen in split seconds. You may be unsure about whether you did something wrong. Leave the matter to our investigators. Never articulate the possibility that you may have contributed to the accident. Sometimes, people feel guilty just for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. This does not equate to fault. We will investigate, looking beyond police reports to find out exactly what happened. 

Determining who was negligent, and to what degree, is crucial to your settlement. In Indiana, contributory negligence means that more than one person may share fault for an accident. Let us suppose that you are deemed to be 20 percent to blame for an accident. That does not mean you cannot claim compensation. You made a mistake, but another party or parties are 80 percent to blame. 

They will be responsible for 80 percent of the damages you incurred. While this is fair, lawyers representing insurance companies may try to reduce their settlement costs. If they can show that you were more than 50 percent to blame, you would not receive any compensation.

That is why many of the arguments we address when negotiating claim settlements rely on our own investigations. Our team will analyze your accident in detail. We will notice things you may not have been aware of at the time. When necessary, we will use our knowledge to maximize your settlement. 

Unique Features of Motorcycle Accidents

The severity of motorcycle accident injuries is among the unique factors to consider. According to the World Health Organization, 30 percent of crash fatalities worldwide involve two—or three-wheeled vehicles. Motorists have a duty of care that requires them to be alert to the presence of motorcycles on the roads, but in many instances, they cause crashes because they fail to see them. 

Mechanical failure can also have serious consequences for riders. In some instances, component manufacturers are the negligent parties to blame for accidents. For example, a faulty tire or a dropped kickstand can easily cause riders to lose control of their motorcycles, with devastating consequences. 

Because people who have been in motorcycle crashes are often severely injured, motorcycle crash claims are often hotly contested. It will be important to have help from our motorcycle vehicle accident attorneys to protect what is at stake.

Evidence That Strengthens Your Case

If you bought a helmet cam, you may have been thinking about capturing great footage for your socials. However, if you were using one at the time of your accident, its footage could prove decisive. Similarly, if nearby motorists had dashcams activated, or you were driving where traffic cameras were activated, their footage can help to clarify what occurred. 

Nevertheless, video footage is not the be-all and end-all of investigations. The nature of your injuries and the damage to your motorcycle and other vehicles will provide information that helps us analyse your crash. Experts can piece together what occurred, correlating physical evidence with eyewitness testimony to build a clear picture of your accident. 

Police reports certainly provide a starting point, but if you do not agree with police findings, you will not be the first to do so. University of Michigan research indicates that police reports can be biased or simply incomplete. Indeed, we have often found an element of social bias in accidents involving motorcyclists, and this is supported by research. We will look much further and investigate far more thoroughly. 

Why Choosing a Motorcycle Vehicle Accident Near You Is an Advantage

Although convenience may have been your first thought when you began your search for a motorcycle vehicle accident attorney near you, there are several other advantages to choosing a local lawyer. As we have observed, a thorough investigation will be key to your case, and a local lawyer will understand local road conditions and typical driver behavior that may contribute to accidents. 

For example, U.S. Route 30, which links Valparaiso and Merrillville, IN, is a 3,112-mile highway often used by long-distance trucks and travellers. Driver fatigue often leads to inattention, and motorcycles’ lower visibility can put riders at risk, especially after dark or in low-visibility conditions like rain or fog. 

In addition, holiday seasons can elevate motorcyclists’ risk. Drivers are relaxed, traffic volumes are higher, and there is a greater chance of encountering people who are driving under the influence. A ride through Lake County on a summer holiday may sound idyllic, but it can end badly. 

Finally, it is simply a lot easier for a local attorney to investigate your case, meet with you, find experts to testify, and interview witnesses. Our Northwest Indiana network is well-established in Ross Township, Lake County, and Porter County, and we have built strong relationships with local experts who may be of help in supporting your case. 

How Long Do You Have To File a Claim?

The time you have to file a claim after an accident is specified in Ind. Code § 34-11-2-4(a)(1) (2024). In most instances, it means you have two years to file, and if you fail to do so within that time, you will no longer be able to do so. The same timeframe applies to wrongful death, a civil action in which families claim compensation following an accidental death caused by someone else’s negligence. 

Although this sounds relatively straightforward, there are certain exceptions to the rule, so if you had good reasons why you were unable to file by the deadline, it may still be possible to move ahead with your case. Our motorcycle vehicle accident attorneys in Valparaiso, IN, can advise you. 

In general, we recommend approaching a lawyer as soon as your most pressing medical needs have been attended to. A successful claim requires careful research. Once we are working on your case, you will have far less to worry about, and you will be able to concentrate on your recovery. 

Reach Out to our Motorcycle Vehicle Accident Attorney Near Me Law Firm 

Theodoros & Rooth P.C. serves Northwest Indiana, including Lake County, Ross Township, and Porter County. We are well-known for our ability to secure high-value compensation, and our courtroom experience and acumen will serve you well, even in fiercely contested cases. Your recovery matters to us, and we will always work to achieve what is best for you. 

In your search for a motorcycle vehicle accident attorney near you, you have found a law firm that will take good care of you. All that remains is for you to contact us. We are always available, and we will give you an informed opinion on the potential success of your claim. Call us or fill out our contact form. Expect honesty, empathy, and lawyers who are prepared to fight for your rights.