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A top-rated Michigan motorcycle accident lawyer can help if you or a loved one was injured while riding. We represent bikers and passengers in motorcycle injury cases.

You can sue after a motorcycle accident if another driver or biker was at fault for the crash. If you were a passenger, you can also sue the driver of your motorcycle if that person was at fault.

Our law firm gets motorcyclists the highest settlements against at-fault drivers and assist them with insurance claims for their no-fault insurance benefits.

Should I Hire a Michigan Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?

Bikers consider Buckfire Law the top motorcycle accident law firm in Michigan. We are members of ABATE and support a large number of other motorcycle clubs and organizations, including The Michigan Confederation of Bikers, Gold Wing Riders, and other riding groups.

When you hire our law firm as your attorneys, you will get the following:

  • A team of lawyers who regularly wins the top accident settlements in Michigan.
  • We handle motorcycle injury cases statewide, in cities like Port Huron, Monroe, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Saginaw, and in Northern Michigan.
  • The best possible legal representation under our No-Fee Promise. It costs no money to get started and we only earn our fee if you receive a settlement check.

What We Do for You After Your Accident

Our legal team will do everything possible to prove the driver of the vehicle that hit you was negligent and caused the crash. To win your case, we will:

  • Get all police accident reports, investigative reports, and witness statements.
  • Interview all eyewitnesses with our own special investigators.
  • Have our traffic crash expert download the black box data from the car or truck.
  • Hire a motorcycle accident reconstruction expert witness to analyze the accident.
  • Get your medical records to prove the seriousness of your injuries.

Call us now for your free consultation with an experienced Michigan motorcycle accident lawyer. Our law firm is ready and eager to help you!

What are the Most Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents?

The fact is that very few Michigan motorcycle crashes are the fault of the biker. In most crashes, the biker is completely free of any negligence and did nothing to cause the accident. Typically, it is a negligent motorist that ignored the rights of motorcyclists on the streets and highways.

The most common reported causes of motorcycle accidents in Michigan include:

  • Improper lane changes.
  • Distracted driving.
  • Drugs and alcohol.
  • Speeding.
  • Driving under the influence.
  • Intersection accidents.
  • Sudden stops.
  • Head-on collisions.
  • Left-turn accidents.
  • Defective road conditions.
  • Vehicle defects.

The police may put you at fault for the accident, even when it was a negligent motorist that was truly responsible for the collision. The team legal team at our top-rated law firm has the skill and experience to fully investigate and prove your case.

Michigan Motorcycle Accident Statistics

In 2018, there were 2,728 total motorcycle accidents in Michigan, slightly down from the total in 2017, but still a large number of crashes. Of that total, there were 2,004 injuries and 192 fatalities reported. An astounding 44.6% involved the use of drugs or alcohol. There were 242 total crashes with deer that resulted in nine fatalities and 170 injuries to bikers.

Michigan motorcycle accidents chart - Buckfire Law

The counties with the highest number of motorcycle injuries were:

  • Wayne County: 432
  • Oakland County: 220
  • Kent County: 180
  • Genesee County: 98
  • Muskegon County: 91
  • Kalamazoo County: 72
  • Ingham County: 71
  • Ottawa County: 58

The total number of accidents fluctuated over the past 10 years. The highest number of crashes was 3,600 in 2012 and there was a huge drop off in 2014 before climbing up again to 3,290 in 2016.

Who Pays for Repairs to my Damaged Motorcycle?

The Michigan No-Fault Act allows drivers and owners of an automobile to recover up to $1,000.00 from the at-fault driver and owner of an automobile to cover the damages and repairs to the automobile. However, motorcyclists are not entitled to make a mini-tort claim because it is limited to motor vehicles, and a motorcycle is not considered a motor vehicle under the Michigan No-Fault Act.

For an accident with another motorcycle, the at-fault driver and owner of the motorcycle are responsible for the damages and repairs to your motorcycle. You would make your claim against their insurance company to have your bike fixed.

Motorcycle Accidents Result in Serious Injuries

Motorcycle accidents result in very serious injuries to bikers and passengers. The most common injuries include:

  • Fatal accidents.
  • Spinal cord injuries.
  • Traumatic brain injuries.
  • Back and neck injuries.
  • Shoulder injuries.
  • Fractures and broken bones.
  • Knee injuries.
  • Scarring and disfigurement.
  • Road rash.
  • Psychological damage, like PTSD and depression.

Victims of motorcycle accidents often require surgery, lengthy hospitalization, and extensive rehabilitation. Many of these injuries result in permanent disability from work and recreational activities. They also can negatively affect relationships with family members.

How Do I File a Michigan Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit?

You need a Michigan motorcycle accident lawyer to file your lawsuit. The formal lawsuit document, called the Complaint, must specifically state the facts, claims of negligence, and damages.

Many cases settle with an insurance before it is even necessary to file a lawsuit.  In other cases, you must sue to recover compensation injuries suffered in the motorcycle accident.

Can I Sue for Pain and Suffering Damages?

Anyone injured in a Michigan motorcycle accident can sue the at-fault driver for non-economic damages, or personal injury damages. These are claims in addition to no-fault insurance benefits and compensate the biker for pain and suffering, psychological damage, disability, scars, and disfigurements caused in the accident.

Who Pays my Medical Bills and Lost Wages?

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident and qualify for no-fault insurance benefits, it must be determined which insurance company is responsible for paying all of your hospital bills and medical expenses.

Many bikers also purchase medical pay coverage as part of their motorcycle insurance to guarantee medical bills will be paid if injured in a crash. This is important because your bills may not be covered if another automobile was not “involved” in your crash and no-fault medical benefits will not be paid.

For your lost wages, you are entitled to receive up to three years of wage loss benefits at 85% of your income. There is a maximum monthly amount for this benefit under Michigan law.

Wrongful Death Lawsuits after a Fatal Accident

If the crash resulted in fatal injuries to the biker or passenger, the surviving family members can file a Michigan wrongful death lawsuit against the negligent person. A death claim seeks a settlement for the decedent’s pain and suffering before the death, loss of the companionship of the family members, and other claims that are allowed under the Michigan Wrongful Death Act.

What are the Legal Rights of an Injured Passenger?

Injured passengers can also sue for compensation. Claims can be filed against negligent drivers and even the operator of the motorcycle they are riding on at the time of the crash. The passenger is completely innocent in any accident. Many times, the biker and motorist attempt to blame each other as being responsible for the crash.

How Much is My Motorcycle Accident Case Worth?

The amount of your settlement depends on a number of factors. These include the seriousness and permanency of your injuries, the type of medical treatment, and how the injuries have affected your ability to lead your normal life. Other factors to take into consideration include whether you had any degree of fault and the amount of the insurance policy limits available to pay your settlement. You may be entitled to a large settlement.

Do I Need a Lawyer to Settle my Case?

No, you do not need a motorcycle accident lawyer to settle your case. You can try to negotiate a personal injury settlement with the adjuster, but you will likely not get close to the appropriate settlement amount. Studies show that injury victims receive substantially more money when they have legal representation, even after they pay the attorney’s fees and expenses.

Examples of Michigan Motorcycle Accident Settlements

  • $9,500,000 settlement for a biker hit by a public bus in a Detroit motorcycle accident.
  • $5,000,000 judgment against a negligent driver in Kalamazoo.
  • $2,750,000 settlement in a fatal motorcycle accident lawsuit.
  • $1,900,000 settlement for a motorcyclist injured in a Grand Traverse County.
  • $1,260,000 settlement injured in a Lansing area motorcycle accident.
  • $1,100,000 settlement for a Detroit biker injured when a truck forced him into oncoming traffic.
  • $750,000 settlement for a husband and wife severely injured in a Grand Rapids accident.
  • $560,000 settlement for a Michigan motorcyclist injured in a Florida motorcycle accident.
  • $500,000 settlement for a biker in a Flint motorcycle crash.

What if I am Hit by a Driver with No Insurance?

Many drivers in Michigan drive their cars, trucks, and motorcycles without state-required liability insurance. If you are hit by a driver without insurance, you may still be able to receive a settlement under your own policy if you have uninsured motorists’ coverage.

What is the Statute of Limitations in Michigan for a Motorcycle Accident?

The “statute of limitations” refers to the amount of time after an accident that you can file a lawsuit. The time deadline in Michigan to sue a negligent driver for pain and suffering damages, also called a third-party lawsuit, is three years from the date of the accident MCL 600.5805(10). This includes claims against the negligent motorist and the owner of the vehicle that caused the crash.

If you miss this time deadline, your claims will be lost forever.

Contact a Michigan Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

The sooner you contact a Michigan motorcycle accident lawyer, the better chance you have of winning your case. However, we have had great success for clients who contact us even several years after their crash.  If you think you have a case, contact us today.

You need a firm that will help you from start to finish. You also want lawyers who are available for questions even after your case settles.

Call us now to get started on your case. We have been in business for over 50 years. We have the skill, experience, and integrity you need to get you the highest possible settlement.

Michigan Motorcycle Accident References and Resources

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Free Consultation Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. – Michigan Personal Injury Lawyers 29000 Inkster Road Suite 150 Southfield MI 48034 (800) 606-1717

Client Description: The Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. law firm represented me after my serious motorcycle accident. I wish I would have called them sooner because they made things so much easier for me. They answered all of my many questions I had, and always updated me on new information. I would recommend them to anyone due to the great experience and everything they helped me with.

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