Indianapolis Personal Injury Blog

Reckless Driver Causes Fatal Motorcycle Accident For Indiana Couple

Indianapolis Motorcycle Rider Critically Injured By Loose Canoe

Wabash Motorcycle Accident Leaves Indiana Man Dead

Indianapolis motorcycle lawyers have spring-time message for automobile drivers

The dangers of motorcycles and motorcycle crash statistics

It's obvious, when compared to cars and trucks, motorcycles are less stable and much less visible than other motor vehicles.  The motorcyclist's vulnerability is immense, and the potential for a deadly motorcycle accident is always present, even for the most responsible of motorcyclists.

When a motorcycle accident does occur, the rider's rate of injury, or death per accident, are astronomical when         compared to that of a driver or passenger in a car or truck.  In fact, the risk for injury and death is so much greater, that the U.S. government has placed the odds at 37/1 for a motorcyclist to be involved in a fatal crash when compared side-by-side to an automobile for every mile that each travels.  

The result: 5,000 fatal motorcycle crashes in 2006. 

Since 1975, when the NHTSA began collecting data, the 5,000 fatal motorcycle crashes exceeded the number of pedestrian deaths for the same calendar year.  Motorcycle deaths had been on the decline until 1998, and then the numbers began to rise again.  In fact, fatal motorcycle crashes accounted for 11% of all in 2006.

Motorcyclists will attest to the enjoyment of riding on a motorcycle, but their enjoyment comes at great risk.  Learning to ride a motorcycle properly requires expert training and experienced instructors at your side.  And even then, a motorcyclist cannot account for a distracted driver, being rear-ended, or hit from the side as a car changes lanes without seeing them. Motorcyclists can only hope that by practicing safer driving habits and utilizing proper accident prevention methods that their risks will reduce as much as possible.

Scooter accident critically injures Indianapolis man

On August 28^th, an Indianapolis man driving a scooter was critically injured after being struck by a school bus. According to the Indystar, the 19-year-old man was struck by the bus after failing to yield at a stop sign on the corners of 11^th Street and Temple. An IMPD spokesperson said the man was taken to Wishard Hospital with no further details regarding his injuries.

Scooter and motorcycles continue to rise in popularity as fuel prices remain high. The increasing presence of Harleys, Kawasakis, Choppers, and other motorized bikes on our highways should serve as a reminder to other drivers that the roadways demand our constant attention.

As personal injury attorneys for motorcycle riders and drivers of other motorized bikes, Keller & Keller is witness to the unfortunate aftermath of motorcycle accidents that are the result of careless driving. Because the injuries sustained in a motorcycle collision are usually severe, proper insurance coverage for all riders is an absolute necessity.

Indy man killed in motorcycle crash

The Northwest Indiana Times reported that motorcyclist, Leon Collier, 34, of 4406 Roxie Drive in Indianapolis, was pronounced dead after an early morning crash on Monday, September 1st.  The accident occurred at the 3300 block of Indianapolis Boulevard. The Lake County coroner has determined that Mr. Collier died of blunt force trauma to the head.

The vulnerability of a motorcyclist is immense and head injuries are a common occurrence.  Regardless of the number of years of experience a rider has, a motorcycle helmet needs be worn at all times while operating or riding as a passenger.  The effectiveness of helmets vary greatly, so be sure to investigate your helmet's safety rating before making the purchase.    

Motorycle speed is main factor in fatality

According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Mr. Underwood was wearing a helmet but traveling at speeds in excess of 80 mph.  The report stated that Mr. Underwood's bike was seen swerving before it lost control, striking a guardrail.  Further investigation did not lead authorities to believe that alcohol was a factor.

Motorcycle accidents increase by 18% in Indiana

The News and Tribune has reported an increase in the number of motorcycle accidents on Clark County and Floyd County roadways. Since 2005, accidents are up 18% in Indiana, with a total of 2,400 accidents thus far this year. A Clark County sheriff stated that the most common type of motorcycle accident occurs when a car or truck pulls out in front of a motorcycle driver and fails to yield the right of way, thus causing a collision.

Cars and trucks often fail to yield the right of way to motorcycle drivers simply because motorcycles are not easily visible. However, all drivers have a duty to maintain a heightened sense of awareness toward the motorcycles and mopeds that share our roadways.

Remember, if a driver causes an accident by failing to yield the right of way to a motorcycle, the law will not recognize the driver’s "failure to see the motorcycle" as an acceptable defense.

Does Indianapolis Love MotoGP?

MotoGP is coming to Indianapolis!  

The return of motorcycle racing to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was met with acclaim across all of America. The Big weekend is here and the fans and neighbors are talking.  However, not everyone is happy. And we're not talking about riders worrying about problems with grip or the final turn back onto the front straight.  

Locals of Speedway, Indiana - the town in which the track resides - are afraid that the arrival of thousands of MotoGP fans on their noisy motorcycles could keep the people of Speedway awake at night.

Perhaps fearing scenes from The Wild One, the Town Council is attempting to pass a special ordinance banning "unnecessary noises made by certain motor vehicles". The ordinance is specifically aimed at motorcycles revving their engines noisily, and will give police the power to impose fines on anyone they determine to be causing a nuisance by exhibiting excessive noise with thier bikes.

Although the citizens' and politicians' concerns are quite evident (even the most perfunctory browse through Youtube will turn up aural assaults from many European MotoGP rounds ) the wording of the ordinance seems contradictory to the spirit of the event.   Bouncing your sports bike off the rev limiter or doing long and noisy burnouts are an integral part of the weekend's entertainment, and an important factor in keeping the atmosphere going at a MotoGP weekend. "Unnecessary" noises, like so many other adjectives, is very much in the eye, or the ear, of the beholder.

Watch the WISH TV news report on the Town Of Speedway's civil ordinance banning excessive motorcycle noise.Indianapolis, USA

Safety Tip: Motorcycle Lane-Splitting, White-lining, and Filtering Forward is Illegal in Indiana

This week, a motorcyclist was killed on I-69 near Fort Wayne, Indiana, when he attempted to pass two cars by traveling in the middle of the two lanes. This practice is known as "lane-splitting," "filtering forward," or "white lining." It occurs when a biker attempts to pass between the car and the breakdown lane or shoulder.

In the United States, lane splitting is only legal in the state of California (mostly because of California's clogged streets and traffic issues). In all other 49 states, the maneuver is illegal, or has no specific legislation that speaks to its legality.

There are two schools of thought on lane-splitting. Some think that it actually decreases traffic and makes motorcycle accidents less frequent - the Hurt Report, published in 1981, used data collected in the 1970s to show that white lining and lane splitting reduced the number of read-end crashes. Also, data from the United States Department of Transportation cites that read-end crashes are 30% lower in California.

However, other data suggests that the move is very dangerous and even often deadly. While lane splitting during stop-and-go traffic may help congestion, lane sharing at higher speeds is a very risky maneuver that increases blind spots and leaves little room for error. According to the Office of Traffic Safety, there were 397 motorcyclist injuries and 9,472 incidents involving unsafe lane changes associated with lane-splitting in 2005 alone. 

Indiana has no specific legislation addressing the maneuver; however, it is dangerous and can have fatal consequences.  And while there may not be legislation regarding lane-splitting, if you're in an accident while performing such a maneuver, the likelihood of you being placed at fault will increase exponentially. 

Motorcycles already face more safety issues on the road than cars do - if you ride one, be sure to follow all laws and safety precautions to prevent accidents and injuries.

September: A Focus on Motorcycle Safety

• What the Hurt Report Can Tell Us About Motorcycle Safety Today
• Motorcycle Laws and Regulations in Indiana
• Handling Dangerous Surfaces On Your Motorcycle

Be Aware of Motorcycles and Share the Road

• Check your rear view and side view mirrors often. Be aware of your blind spots, even if it means turning quickly to peek behind you.
• Don't tailgate or follow too close. While rear-ending a car or truck can be a simple fender-bender, rear-ending a motorcycle can often be fatal.
• Simply be aware the riders are on the road - consciously look for them when turning onto a highway or merging, and purposely think about the possibility of motorcycles when changing lanes.
• Don't drive impaired. The motorcyclist killed this week was killed by a drunk driver pulling out of a bar. But drinking isn't the only way to impair your driving - be careful when taking cold medicines, pain killers, and prescription drugs. Also understand that driving while fatigued can be just as dangerous as driving drunk.