Motorcycle accidents are some of the most devastating types of motor vehicle accidents across the U.S. Many motorcycle accidents are fatal. Bikers who are fortunate enough to survive will likely suffer from catastrophic injuries, such as loss of limbs, paralysis, back injuries, spinal cord damage, traumatic brain damage, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), to name a few.
When someone else is responsible for causing the accident, you can take action to hold the liable party accountable with the help of a motorcycle crash lawyer. But figuring out who is at fault could prove to be more of a challenge than you might have thought. There are many different parties who could have played a part in causing your motorcycle accident. We examine these parties in further detail when you continue reading.
Reckless or Negligent Drivers
One of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents is driver negligence. When drivers are irresponsible and fail to drive safely, they can cause devastating car accidents. There are countless different types of unsafe driving behaviors, but some of the more common types of driver negligence include:
- Following too closely
- Failure to yield
- Failure to stop
- Making an illegal turn
- Failure to use a turn signal
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Driving while fatigued
- Drunk driving
- Drugged driving
- Reckless driving
In cases of driver negligence, drivers can face traffic citations and, in some cases, criminal charges for their unsafe driving. This is in addition to the potential lawsuit you could file against them for causing your motorcycle accident in Indiana.
Establishments That Sell or Serve Alcohol
Restaurants, bars, liquor stores, and other establishments that sell or serve alcoholic beverages are known as dram shops. Dram shops can be held accountable for car accidents caused by drunk drivers when they sell or over serve alcohol to a patron or customer.
In order to pursue a successful dram shop liability claim, your attorney will need to be able to prove the dram shop knew the liable party was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time they were over served.
Government Agencies
It is more common than you might think for certain government agencies to be found at fault for car accidents. This usually happens when dangerous roadways cause an accident. Maybe a large pothole went unrepaired. Or a construction zone wasn’t properly secured. But for the government agencies responsible for road safety to be held accountable, your lawyer will need to be able to prove the agency neglected to make repairs in a timely manner or was otherwise negligent in their maintenance of the roadways.
Companies That Manufacture Vehicles and Auto Parts
You might be surprised to learn there are multiple different parties who could be named as culpable if a defective car part caused your car accident. Whether it was your vehicle or that of another involved driver, defective car parts can wreak havoc on the roadways.
It could be something as small as an airbag inflator suddenly exploding without warning, or a design defect in a particular brand of tire that causes the accident. When a defective part causes your car accident, you might be able to file a claim against:
- The parts manufacturers
- The parts supplier
- The vehicle manufacturer
- The vehicle dealership
- Safety inspectors
- Other relevant parties
Your motorcycle accident lawyer will need to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of your accident. This will help determine who is culpable and, therefore, responsible for compensating you for your losses. It will also be a great opportunity for your lawyer to gather some much needed evidence to support your case.
