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.

Caress Law Group’s Indianapolis Bicycle Accident Lawyers are deeply saddened to inform our readers that a fellow Indianapolis bicyclist was been pronounced dead this morning, April 24, 2014. While further investigation is still taking place, it is currently known that the bicycle crash occurred at the intersection of Westlane Road and Ditch Road in Indianapolis, near Westlane Middle School, sometime before 7:30 am.  Indianapolis Metropolitan Police have reported that the cyclist was hit by a school bus.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of this local cyclist. As most of you know, Indianapolis leaders have created a vast amount of opportunities for riders to have an enjoyable cycling experience when riding throughout the town. While our City and State have made great strides in making Indianapolis and the entire State of Indiana more “bike friendly,” drivers and cyclists alike need to maintain caution when on the roadways, particularly in the spring and summer months.

If you or a loved one has been injured in any way in a bicycle accident in Indiana, please feel free to contact Indiana’s premier bicycle lawyers at Caress Law Group by calling 317-255-5400 or by clicking here. Seeking advice from our experienced attorneys is free and easy – and we look forward to hearing from you. As always, please remember to ride safe, be aware of your surroundings, and check your mirrors before turning.

Because Caress Law Group’s Indiana Bicycle Accident Lawyers dedicate our practice to representing victims of bicycle accidents throughout Indiana, we most often assist our clients with obtaining the compensation they deserve for the bodily injuries they sustain. This includes restitution for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and lost enjoyment of life that results from bicycle accidents. However, due to the destructive nature of these bike crashes, our clients are frequently left with heavily damaged bikes or their bikes are completely totaled. That is where our Indiana bicycle lawyers step in to make sure our clients are fairly reimbursed for their damaged property as well.

It’s not always easy to value a used bicycle, but it is becoming a more popular market, especially in Indiana as bicycle usage continues to rise at a rapid rate thanks to the State’s efforts in increasing the number of trails and bike-designated areas. With that being said, we would like to introduce our readers to www.bicyclebluebook.com. Much like www.kellybluebook.com acts as a database for used automobiles, Bicycle Blue Book does the same thing, but for used bicycles. While the site is still somewhat young, we feel that the used bike values are fair and consistent with market prices that we have seen, particularly around the Indianapolis area.

With Christmas around the corner, if you don’t feel like splurging for a new bicycle, what could make a greater gift for your loved ones than a used a bicycle? The good weather will be back before we know it, and the exercise that riding a bike can provide makes for a well-executed New Year’s resolution. Simply go to the site and choose your bike’s make, model, and year to obtain an estimated value. If interested, Bicycle Blue Book also offers a bicycle marketplace for registered users to buy and sell their new or used bikes.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident in Indiana or if you have questions about the insurance company’s valuation of your bicycle after a crash, contact the Indiana bike attorneys at Caress Law Group. We are the premier bicycle injury lawyers in Indiana and dedicate our practice to representing those who have been injured by another’s negligence. All contact with us is free and easy and we are happy to provide you with assistance. Contact us online by clicking here or give us a call (317-255-5400) or e-mail at lance@caresslaw.com. Ride safe!