Indiana Motorcycle Crash Checklist & Contact Card

Prepared by Poynter & Bucheri, LLC · Reviewed by Donald Poynter, Indiana attorney · Last reviewed November 9, 2026

After an Indiana motorcycle crash, urgent help comes before paperwork. In an emergency, call 911, give your location and follow the call-taker’s instructions. Never delay help to take photos or fill out a card. See Calling 911.

After an Indiana motorcycle crash: first steps

Ask emergency staff or a health-care provider about care. This checklist does not tell you whether to move an injured person, remove a helmet or choose a treatment. Those questions need trained help, not a web checklist.

Once it is safe to sort records

You can make a short note of the crash date and location, the police agency and any report number you were given. Keep existing photos, letters, bills and contact details in one private folder. Do not put yourself or anyone else at risk to gather more.

Indiana State Police links to BuyCrash for electronic vehicle crash reports for a fee. Check the linked report service for its fee and report availability.

Questions to write down

What follow-up does my health-care provider advise?
What does my own policy say about notice and claim requests?
Who contacted me, and what did they ask for?
What should I ask a lawyer about damaged items, records or time limits?

How long do I have to file a lawsuit after an Indiana motorcycle crash?

A lawsuit for injury to a person or personal property must be filed within two years after the claim “accrues,” meaning the date the law treats the claim as starting (IC 34-11-2-4). If a city, county, other local unit or the state is involved, written notice is due sooner: within 180 days after the loss for a local unit, or 270 days for the state (IC 34-13-3-8, IC 34-13-3-6).

This is a general summary of Indiana’s time limits, not a calculation of your deadline. When your time started and which rule applies depend on your facts, so ask a lawyer to confirm your date early. This page does not tell you to delay an insurer’s request.

Optional paper emergency-contact card

Print this blank section and fill it in by hand if you want. Keep the paper private. It is not a medical record or a required legal form.

Name you want a helper to use: ____________________

Emergency contact name: ____________________

Emergency contact phone: ____________________

Second contact name and phone (optional): ____________________

Do not add a birth date, address, ID number, policy number, VIN, payment data, blood type, allergies or medical history. Don't send the filled card through our contact form; keep it on paper.

For more, see rider-law sources and insurance questions.

Talk with the firm

You can call Poynter & Bucheri at (317) 780-8000 for a free case review. Ask about the terms of any work before you agree to it.