Gary Motorcycle Accident Lawyer: On the Rider’s Side
Riding through Gary means sharing the road with some of the heaviest traffic in Indiana — freight running the Borman Expressway, mill and port traffic on U.S. 12 and U.S. 20, and commuters cutting across Broadway and Ridge Road. When a driver fails to watch for a motorcycle in that mix, the rider pays the price. At Harper and Harper, LLC, we start from the truth — that you were riding lawfully when someone else’s negligence caused the wreck — and we build the case to prove it.
How Gary Motorcycle Crashes Happen
Most serious motorcycle collisions in Gary trace back to a driver’s failure to watch for riders:
- Left-turn collisions: A driver turns across a rider’s path at intersections along Broadway, Ridge Road or Grant Street — the most common and most dangerous motorcycle crash.
- High-speed merges: Drivers change lanes into riders on I-80/94, I-65 and the Indiana Toll Road ramps without checking their blind spots.
- Failure to yield: Vehicles pull out of side streets and industrial drives along U.S. 12 and U.S. 20 without looking for an approaching motorcycle.
- Commercial-vehicle crashes: Semis and work trucks dominate Gary’s corridors, and a truck-versus-motorcycle collision is rarely survivable without serious injury.
Overcoming the Bias Against Riders
In many motorcycle cases the real obstacle is not proving the driver was negligent — it is the stereotype that riders are reckless. Adjusters use that bias to discount claims, and they frequently raise helmet use even though Indiana does not require helmets for riders 18 and older. We answer with evidence: crash reconstruction, witness testimony and a clear account of how a careless driver, not the rider, caused the crash.
Indiana’s Comparative Fault Rule
Indiana applies modified comparative fault — you can recover as long as you are not more than 50 percent at fault, with your award reduced by your share. Insurers try to pin blame on riders to shrink what they pay, so how fault is established directly affects your recovery. We make sure responsibility stays where it belongs.
Serious Injuries Deserve Full Compensation
With none of the protection a car provides, motorcyclists often suffer catastrophic injuries — traumatic brain injury, road rash, fractures, spinal damage and more. We pursue full compensation for emergency and ongoing medical care, lost income and earning capacity, long-term rehabilitation, and the pain and lasting impact of the crash. When a commercial vehicle is involved, we also pursue the carrier’s policy — typically far larger than a personal auto policy.
Speak With a Gary Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Learn more about our Indiana motorcycle accident practice, or if you were hurt in a passenger vehicle, our Gary car accident lawyers can help. Contact us for a free consultation or call 219-762-9538.