If you get in an accident with a rented motorcycle, you can still file a lawsuit against the party or parties responsible for the crash. You may even be able to file suit against the company that rented you the motorcycle if any action or inaction on their part contributed to the motorcycle accident.
Is The Rental Company Responsible For Motorcycle Accidents?
Motorcycle accident cases are a type of personal injury case. You have the right to hire an attorney to represent you. Filing a motorcycle accident claim without an attorney can take your focus away from your health.
Among other things, a motorcycle accident attorney in Indiana can investigate your collision to figure out which parties you should sue and for how much. When it comes to accidents involving rented motorcycles, you may be able to sue the rental company if they:
- Did not properly maintain the motorcycle
- Knew something might be wrong with the motorcycle and allowed you to use it without informing you of the potential issue
- Received similar complaints from other customers
- Willfully hid information about the motorcycle that might have caused you to change your mind about renting it
Your lawyer will collect any available evidence against the rental company, such as prior complaints, footage of the accident, witness and expert testimony, and more. This is in addition to speaking with you about the accident and examining any relevant materials, such as the rental agreement, that you may possess.
For a free legal consultation, call 317-636-7777
How Motorcycle Accidents Happen
Pages 12-13 of a report by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute report that 4 percent of all Indiana traffic accidents involved motorcycles in 2019. That number reflects 2,698 motorcyclists who were involved in accidents that year. Some were lucky enough to escape injuries, but many were not. Over 100 passed away due to accident injuries.
Such accidents can happen for a variety of reasons, including:
- Driver error or negligence: Drivers sometimes forget (or do not care) that they share the road with others. They may drive too fast, ignore traffic signals, drink and drive, or look at their cell phones while driving.
- Rider error or negligence: The person who rented the motorcycle may share responsibility if they neglected traffic laws or used the motorcycle for something other than its intended purpose.
- Faulty parts: If any part of your motorcycle or the car that hit you malfunctioned, the manufacturer could be responsible. This is especially true if the manufacturer knew of the flaw and did not issue a recall.
- Government neglect: Suing the local government may be an option if the environment played a role in the accident. Broken street signs, potholes, untrimmed foliage, and so on are all the government’s responsibility.
- Rental company neglect: Rental companies must keep their vehicles in a safe condition and be honest with customers about the vehicle’s history and operational status.
Some accidents are straightforward: a driver was distracted, and they hit your motorcycle. Others, however, are more complex: perhaps the driver who hit you was distracted by a poorly maintained roadway or a third driver who got in the way because they were intoxicated.
What A Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Can Do for You
Motorcycle accidents are already complicated even before you add in the fact that the motorcycle was rented. A personal injury lawyer near you can take much of the stress and guesswork out of filing a case. They would:
- Investigate the rental company to determine if they are in any way liable
- Investigate the accident to figure out what happened and collect evidence
- Figure out how much money the liable parties owe you
- File all necessary paperwork and manage all communications between all parties
- Contact all involved parties—particularly the liable party and their insurance company—to let them know you are demanding compensation
- Meet with the liable parties to negotiate a fair settlement, if they are open to negotiating in good faith
- Represent you in a trial if negotiations are not an option
Many lawyers can accomplish the above tasks, so how do you know you are choosing the firm that is best for you? Look for an attorney who:
- Handles personal injury cases, especially motorcycle accidents
- Is willing to take the time to answer all of your questions
- Offers a free consultation so you can learn about your rights
- Will keep you updated as your case progresses
Click to contact our What If I Get In An Accident With A Rented Motorcycle? today
Our Indiana Personal Injury Attorney Is Here For You
Unlike other law firms, Sevenish Law Firm, P.C. focuses exclusively on personal injury cases. If you get in an accident with a rented motorcycle, the Indiana motorcycle accident lawyer at our firm—Randy Sevenish, who has ridden motorcycles for years—will do everything possible to protect your rights and get you fair compensation. Call today for a free, no-obligation case review.
Call or text 317-636-7777 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
