Case Study: Visual Evidence Turned a Tough Motorcycle Case Around
Click Below for Your Free Consult With a Licensed Attorney. Call NowFree ConsultationFrom Tough Case to Six-Figure Result
Result: Strong six-figure outcome.
When facts are disputed, the truth needs a clear voice. In this case, our client, Craig, had pulled up to an entry/exit driveway as traffic waited at a red light. As he began to cross the lane, a driver suddenly turned into him — striking his motorcycle and throwing him to the pavement.
The crash left Craig with serious, life-changing injuries, and the driver’s insurance company immediately disputed fault.
The question became simple: how do we show what really happened?
The Challenge: Disputed Facts, Real Injuries
From the start, there were obstacles. Different accounts. Unclear visuals at the scene. Craig did nothing to deserve the aftermath he was living with, but the story of the crash was not landing with the clarity it needed.
As Attorney Pete Leehey explains in his interview for this case, juries and adjusters need more than words when versions of events clash. They need to see the sequence. They need to understand the timing, spacing, and visibility in a way that is simple and honest.
“Juries respond to visual evidence. And if you can deliver to a jury visual evidence that helps them understand what happened, that can get you to success, get you pretty damn close to it.” — Pete Leehey
Our Approach: Make the Truth Visible
We partnered with trusted visual experts to build a clear reconstruction that showed the scene and how events unfolded. This was not about adding drama. It was about removing confusion. The visual sequence helped decision-makers follow the action as it would have appeared at the time of the crash.
For more on the animation approach used in this matter, see the feature from our partners at DK Global: “Motorcyclist’s Life Thrown Under Wheels of Impetuous SUV.”
Why Visuals Matter
- Clarity: Cuts through conflicting statements when the scene itself tells the story.
- Credibility: Helps fact-finders evaluate the timing, sight lines, and movement.
- Impact: Shows why a “minor” moment can cause a major, life-changing injury on a bike.
The Result
After we delivered the facts clearly and visually, Craig obtained a strong six-figure result. As Pete put it in the interview, despite the obstacles, “this was a fabulous result.”
Why This Matters for Riders
On a motorcycle, small errors by other drivers have big consequences. When another driver’s choices upend your life, you deserve a team that knows how to prove the truth. That means investigation, trusted visual experts, and the experience to bring it all together.
Want to learn how police reports are used in Iowa injury cases?
Read our guide: Are Iowa accident police reports admissible?
Iowa Motorcycle Safety: By the Numbers
Small share of traffic, outsized harm. In Iowa, motorcycles make up about 4% of registered vehicles and just 0.33% of vehicle miles traveled, yet they accounted for 16% of all traffic fatalities in 2023. Source: Iowa Department of Public Safety.
- No universal helmet law: Iowa is one of only three states without a universal motorcycle helmet requirement. IIHS; NHTSA.
- National trend: 6,335 motorcyclists were killed in 2023 nationwide. IIHS.
- Risk per mile: Motorcyclist fatality rate (per 100M VMT) was nearly 22× that of passenger car occupants in 2022. NHTSA.
Note: Iowa DOT also publishes monthly tables tracking motorcycle fatalities and helmet usage for 2023—useful for ongoing safety updates. Iowa DOT.
About Attorney Pete Leehey 
Pete is a lifelong rider and a founding attorney at The Biker Lawyers. He’s tried and resolved motorcycle cases across Iowa for over four decades. When a case turns on what people think they saw, Pete focuses on what can be shown—and understood—by a jury.
Visual Evidence FAQ (Case Study Edition)
Click the (+) on any of the questions below.
How did visual evidence help Craig’s motorcycle injury case?
Visuals made the sequence of events easy to follow. When stories conflicted, the reconstruction showed timing, sight lines, and movement clearly. As Pete says, juries respond to visual evidence because it helps them understand what happened.
Was the police report decisive?
Police reports can be helpful, but they are not the final word. Fact-finders often need more context. Learn how Iowa treats police reports here: Iowa Accident Police Report Admissibility.
What was the outcome for Craig?
Craig secured a strong six-figure result given the circumstances. This case had obstacles, and after presenting the facts clearly, the outcome was, in Pete’s words, “a fabulous result.”
How do I know if The Biker Lawyers can help with my case?
Start with a free, no-pressure consult. We’ll review what happened, explain your options, and outline next steps. Contact us here: Get a Free Consultation.
Where can I learn more about motorcycle accident cases in Iowa?
For more real-world examples and legal insights, visit our Motorcycle Accident Representation page.
Injured in a Motorcycle Crash? Let’s Talk.
You get one chance to tell your story the right way. We’ll listen, explain your options, and give you a clear plan. No pressure. No fluff. Just the next right step.
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Every case is different. Past results, including strong six-figure outcomes, do not guarantee future results. Outcomes depend on the specific facts, injuries, and insurance available.