A motorcycle accident almost always results in injury to the rider, and all too often catastrophic injury or death. If the actions of another motorist or road conditions caused the crash, contact The Law Office of Marc S. Sedwick, P. C.. We represent motorbike accident victims throughout the state of Indiana and Commonwealth of Kentucky. Having seen the devastation to riders and their families, our Indianapolis-based law firm is also dedicated to motorcyclist safety and public awareness.
Motorcycle Riders at Risk, But Others Usually at Fault
The statistics bear out that operating a motorcycle can be risky – more than 5,000 motorcyclists were killed in the United States during 2007, including 116 who died in Indiana, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Accident data also reveal that responsibility for the accident more often lies with the other driver.
Motorcycle crashes often take place at intersections. These crashes often involve traffic violations by the other driver, such as a failure to yield the right of way, illegal turning, speeding or failure to obey a stop sign or traffic control signal.
Failure to See Motorcyclists
The other driver is responsible for the crash in about two-thirds of motorcycle accidents. Failing to see the motorcycle or seeing the motorcyclist too late to avoid the collision are the most common scenarios. The single biggest danger to a motorcycle rider is drivers making left turns when the cycle is proceeding straight through an intersection.
A perfect example is the 2006 accident involving Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. According to reports, he was struck at an intersection by a turning driver, having no chance to avoid the accident. Roethlisberger, who was not wearing a helmet, was thrown from the bike at impact onto the car, a suffering knee injury and a potentially life-threatening head injury. He was "fortunate" to escape with a broken jaw and facial bone injuries.
Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Our law firm offers extensive experience in motorcycle accident cases. There are many types of injuries associated with motorcycling accidents:
Head injury — Injuries to the face, fractured skulls and closed head injuries are far more common in motorcycle crashes than other vehicle accidents. A traumatic brain injury may change the victim's life forever, often resulting in permanent mental and motor skill impairment.
Broken bones and internal injury — Another common injury in motorcycle accidents is a groin injury. A groin injury may be suffered when the bike strikes another car or a fixed object. We have seen many types of bone fracture and internal injury, including broken legs, ankles and feet, broken arms and hand injury. Broken bones can take months to heal or result in permanent disability, and organ damage or internal injury may go undiagnosed initially.
Paralysis and spinal cord injury — Injury to the spine (neck or back injury) is all too often the result in cycle crashes. The victim may be paralyzed completely or severely limited due to pain or damage to the vertebrae and connecting tissues.
Road rash, burns and lacerations — Protective boots and clothing can reduce the injuries from a motorcycle crash, but many riders still suffer severe injuries from sliding on pavement after being thrown from the bike at impact or when spilling the cycle in trying to avoid a collision. Lacerations are severe cuts, often leading to scarring, nerve damage and dangerous infection. "Road rash" is extremely painful damage to surface layers of skin caused by friction with pavement and compounded by gravel and debris embedded in underlying tissues. The heat generated by friction or contact with engine parts can result in substantial burns to the victim.
Compensation for Motorcycle Injuries
We send investigators and sometimes accident reconstruction specialists to the scene of a cycle accident to determine if the other driver's negligence or hazardous road conditions led to the accident. The Law Office of Marc S. Sedwick, P. C. aggressively pursues compensation for its clients through negotiations with the insurance company, or at trial. Mr. Sedwick has succeeded on behalf of motorcycle accident victims in obtaining damages for future medical care depending on the facts of the case.
Additionally, we will seek compensation for:
- Loss of wages and replacement of future earnings
- Reduced quality of life
- Pain and suffering
In fatal motorcycle accidents, we help families recover wrongful death damages for medical and funeral expenses, lost income of the loved one, and loss of consortium with that person who was so important in their lives.
Staying Safe
Although other drivers are often at fault, motorcycle riders can take precautions to reduce the chance of accident and injury. We encourage all motorcycle drivers to take specialized motorcycle safety courses, wear a helmet and require their passengers to wear helmets. |
