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Archive: October 2014


October 17, 2014

According to reports, on the early morning of Friday, October 17, 2014, a sixteen year-old Indianapolis resident became the victim of a hit-and-run when he was struck while riding his bicycle near the intersection of Shelby Street and Raymond Street in Indianapolis, Indiana. Members of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department indicated that a motor vehicle struck the male cyclist before driving away from the scene. The extent of the cyclist’s injuries is unknown and the investigation into this matter is ongoing.

The sad reality of any hit-and-run accident, especially one involving a bicycle vs. motor vehicle collision, is that, if the perpetrator is not caught by police, the victim of the hit-and-run is almost certainly left with injuries without any means of receiving compensation for them. The result is the same if a cyclist is struck by a motor vehicle operator who does not possess any insurance to cover the injured person’s injuries and damages.

As a result of those exact circumstances, the Indiana bicycle attorneys at Caress Law Group strongly encourage all cyclists (and all motorists for that matter) to obtain uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage as part of their automobile insurance policies. Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage is insurance that protects an insured even if the liable party did not have insurance or if the liable party flees the scene. Even though it is illegal in Indiana for a driver to operate a motor vehicle without insurance coverage, there are many drivers who do not have coverage, and it is a very real problem for injured persons who are entitled to have their medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering paid for.

Our lawyers also recommend that all Indiana cyclists (and drivers) obtain Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage, which is insurance that protects an insured despite the liable party not having enough insurance to cover the injured person’s injuries and damages. In Indiana, the minimum bodily injury insurance requirement is $25,000.00 per person and $50,000.00 per incident. This means that even if a cyclist is severely injured, or even killed, by a motor vehicle, the absolute maximum amount that the cyclist and/or his family can obtain from the at-fault party is $25,000.00, even though the injuries and damages are worth hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars.

For these reasons, we recommend you check your automobile insurance policy’s declaration page and make sure you have adequate Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage. If you have any questions about this article or about Indiana bicycle law, feel free to contact our Indiana bicycle crash lawyers, Tim Caress or Lance Worland. Call us for free at 317-255-5400 or click here to submit an online inquiry. We take great pride in assisting Indiana cyclists, and we wish this cyclist a speedy recovery.

October 16, 2014

On Monday, October 13, 2014, two separate Indiana cyclists in their twenties were involved in separate bicycle crashes that ended up taking both of their lives. Devon Lehman, a 26 year-old resident of Goshen, Indiana, was riding his bicycle on State Road 13 near Millersburg, Indiana, when a Jeep Liberty being driven by Matthew Kid collided with him. Sadly, Mr. Devon Lehman was pronounced dead at the scene of the bicycle accident.

That very same day on Monday, October 13, 2014, Ryan Richardson, a 27 year-old resident of Anderson, Indiana, was riding his bicycle northbound on Madison Avenue over an Interstate 69 overpass when he was struck by the passenger side of a vehicle traveling in a northerly direction being operated by Ricky Stohler of Alexandria, Indiana.

Mr. Ryan Richardson initially survived this collision and was taken by ambulance to St. Vincent Anderson Hospital before being lifelined by helicopter to St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis. Tragically, Ryan Richardson died on the evening of Tuesday, October 14, 2014 from injuries related to the bike crash. Following the accident, residents living near the location of Ryan Richardson’s bicycle collision indicated that cyclists and pedestrians often use the overpass as a means of travel.

While all Indiana bicycle accidents involving motor vehicles are tragic, the bike crashes that took the lives of Devon Lehman and Ryan Richardson are particularly difficult to accept, as they were both young, twenty-somethings who had years upon years of life ahead of them. Further, these incidents were entirely preventable, as they both appear to be the result of motor vehicles attempting to pass the cyclists. As many of you know, many Indiana communities have adopted the “3 foot rule,” which requires motor vehicles attempting to pass cyclists to leave at least 3 feet of space.

The Indiana bicycle accident lawyers at Caress Law Group offer our thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of Mr. Devon Lehman and Mr. Ryan Richardson during this difficult time.

If you have any questions regarding this post or any question regarding Indiana bicycle laws or Indiana personal injury, feel free to call our experienced Indiana bicycle injury lawyers at 317-255-5400 or click here to submit an online inquiry. Please remember to ride safe!

Caress Law Group’s Indiana Bicycle Lawyers are the leading Indiana personal injury attorneys who dedicate a significant portion of their law practice to representing victims of bicycle accidents. Please contact us at any time at 317-255-5400 or by clicking the "Contact Us" tab above.
We look forward to helping you on your path to recovery.