Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Michigan

Key Takeaways:

• Motorcycle accidents often result in more severe injuries due to less protection, highlighting the need for specialized legal assistance.
• Major causes of motorcycle accidents include distracted driving, negligent drivers, safety failures, and driving under the influence.
• Understanding Michigan’s no-fault insurance laws is crucial for motorcycle accident victims to navigate claims and secure compensation.
• Victims of motorcycle accidents have a three-year window from the accident date to file a lawsuit in Michigan, emphasizing the importance of timely legal action.
• The motorcycle accident lawyers at Matz Injury Law specialize in representing Michigan accident victims, aiming to secure fair compensation for injuries and damages.

Michigan Lawyers Representing Motorcycle Accident Victims

A motorcycle accident, especially a serious motorcycle accident, is a scary and emotionally traumatic event to go through, leaving victims confused about how to proceed. Without legal support, Michigan motorcycle accident victims can struggle to file their insurance claims and get the settlements they need to cover medical bills and other costs.

Matz Injury Law is a law firm of professionals who have helped generate over $300 million in results for our personal injury clients, and we can help you with your Michigan personal injury claim. Contact our Michigan motorcycle accident lawyers for a free consultation today.

How a Motorcycle Accident Is Different From a Car Accident

All motor vehicle accidents can have serious consequences, but a motorcycle crash often has more impactful injuries due to the lack of protection around the motorcyclist. While a car driver or passenger has a large vehicle around them, motorcyclists do not. Severe, life-altering injuries and even deaths are more common in motorcycle accident cases, which is why working with a motorcycle accident attorney is so important.

What Are Some Common Causes of Serious Motorcycle Accidents?

Like all vehicle accidents, motorcycle accidents can have several causes. Determining the cause of the accident is essential to getting a fair settlement with the help of a personal injury attorney.

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is becoming an increasingly difficult problem for Michigan motorcyclists. Many injured motorcyclists claim a distracted driver as the cause of their crashes. The CDC estimates that around eight people die every day in the country due to crashes involving distracted drivers.

Negligent Driver

In motorcycle crashes, negligence occurs when the at-fault driver did something that a person who is being “reasonably careful” would not have done. Similarly, it can occur if the at-fault driver failed to do something a careful person would have done. That action or failure of action must be the primary cause of the motorcycle accident. Violating state traffic laws or making lane changes without checking a blind spot would fall into this category.

Motorcycle Safety Failures

Many drivers and motorcyclists are not properly trained on motorcycle safety. Failing to watch for motorcycles or understand how motorcycles work on the road can lead to motorcycle accidents. Failing to notice motorcycles on the road is the top cause of motorcycle crashes.

Driving Under the Influence

Driving under the influence often leads to a motorcycle crash, and if a motorcycle rider is near an intoxicated driver or if the motorcyclist is the one who is intoxicated, the risk of a crash increases significantly.

These are just some common causes of motorcycle accidents in Michigan. These motorcycle accidents also occur due to road debris, equipment malfunctions, taking turns too quickly, and reckless driving practices. Regardless of the cause, injured motorcyclists need to know their rights in these cases so that they may be able to file a motorcycle accident lawsuit.

How a Motorcycle Accident Is Different From a Car Accident

All motor vehicle accidents can have serious consequences, but a motorcycle crash often has more impactful injuries due to the lack of protection around the motorcyclist. While a car driver or passenger has a large vehicle around them, motorcyclists do not. Severe, life-altering injuries and even deaths are more common in motorcycle accident cases, which is why working with a motorcycle accident attorney is so important.

What Should You Do After a Michigan Motorcycle Accident?

When you suffer any type of motor vehicle accident, you are left dealing in the aftermath. Knowing what to do is vital to protecting yourself and your rights in the moments and days that follow. Bikers need to know the steps to take after a motorcycle accident to protect themselves and their rights.

Immediately after a crash, get all the people involved to safety, and move vehicles out of the roadway if you are in danger of causing another crash. Then, leave everything alone. Do not admit guilt or fault or apologize to any other drivers. This is a crucial step you need to take in the event you file a Michigan motorcycle accident lawsuit.

Next, call emergency services. Make sure all people are given medical care if they need it. Work with the officers on the scene to take statements, get insurance information from other motorists involved, and clean up the area.

While waiting for the officers to arrive, gather evidence and take photos of the crash scene. Your insurance company and Michigan motorcycle accident lawyer can both benefit from having these. They will also help you prove your injury case should you need to fight for a fair settlement. Matz Injury Law is standing by to take your call and help you understand your rights in your motorcycle accident case. We offer free consultations to help you get started immediately.

Once everyone is safe and you are finished with the law enforcement officials, reach out to a Michigan motorcycle accident lawyer. Motorcycle riders are at high risk for serious injuries, and you need to know that you or your injured loved one are getting a fair settlement for your injuries.

Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries

One of the reasons you need a motorcycle accident attorney when facing the aftermath of a Michigan motorcycle crash is the extensive injuries common to these types of cases. These include the following:

• Traumatic brain injuries: Traumatic brain injuries affect how the brain works. These head injuries can be fatal or cause lifelong disabilities, leading to mounting medical bills.
• Road rash: When a Michigan motorcyclist is thrown from the bike, they can experience severe scraping of the skin that can lead to infections, scarring, disfigurement, and nerve damage.
• Fractures: Broken bones are common for motorcycle crash injury victims, and they can sometimes require surgery to repair properly.
• Spinal cord injuries: If the spinal cord is damaged, the motorcyclist may experience paralysis, which requires long-term care.
• Neck injuries: Neck injuries can be something relatively minor, like whiplash. More serious injuries may lead to paralysis. Any injury can require medical care and ongoing treatment.
• Fatalities: Sadly, many motorcycle accidents end up as fatalities. In 2020, there were 130 motorcycle accident fatalities across Michigan, and the number of deaths has steadily increased since the 1990s.

Each of these types of injuries carries severe potential consequences, and you need to ensure you are fully compensated for them. Working with an experienced Michigan motorcycle accident lawyer will help.

Common Types of Compensation in Motorcycle Accident Cases

When you work with an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer after a motorcycle accident, you increase the chances of getting a fair settlement. Often, motorcyclists are not aware of the different types of compensation that may be due to them. Some of these include:

• Medical Expenses – You should get compensation for your current medical expenses as well as future potential medical expenses for your injury.
• Property Damage – Property damage includes damage to your motorcycle or any property around the motorcycle accident that was yours.
• Lost Wages – Most motorcycle accidents are serious and cause long-term problems for injured riders, which means you may not be able to work and should receive compensation for lost wages.
• Lost Earning Potential – Not only will you lose wages while you heal from your injuries, but sometimes motorcycle accident victims are not able to return to their normal work, losing earning potential that must be compensated.
• Wrongful Death – Motorcycle accidents that end in death can lead to wrongful death claims for the families left behind.
• Pain and Suffering – The lifelong impact of motorcycle injuries is hard to measure, but you can get compensation for these types of non-economic damages.

With so many potential types of damages, it’s clear that you need to work with a Michigan motorcycle accident lawyer to get a fair settlement.

Insurance Coverage and Motorcycle Crashes in Michigan

If you are in a motorcycle accident in Michigan, you need to understand the insurance laws in our state. In 2020, the Michigan no-fault law was passed, requiring all drivers to carry no-fault insurance benefits. You will also hear this referred to as personal injury protection (PIP). This PIP coverage pays for your medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage, regardless of who is at fault for the crash. These no-fault benefits mean you can get medical care, even if the other driver is driving illegally uninsured.

No-fault insurance does not cover repairs to your motorcycle. For those costs, you will need to look to the insurance of the at-fault driver to seek compensation that extends more than the insurance no-fault insurance provisions, particularly if your injuries and damages are severe and long-lasting.

No-fault insurance is just the first type of coverage that may contribute to your compensation. You may also get compensation from the other driver’s liability coverage if they are the at-fault driver. Sometimes, your uninsured motorist coverage will kick in if the other driver does not carry insurance. Workers’ compensation may also play a role if you were injured while driving for work.

Sadly, many motorcyclists run into trouble when they try to file an insurance claim. Even in cases where the other driver is clearly at fault, the insurance companies like to blame these accidents on the motorcycle drivers, making it harder to recover liability damages from the other driver. Understanding the nuances of insurance coverage and motorcycle crashes in Michigan is crucial for motorcyclists in the state, as it can significantly impact your ability to secure compensation.

Because there are so many insurance companies and strategies at play, working with a skilled motorcycle accident attorney will help you work through all of these claims to get the full amount of compensation available to you.

Matz Injury Law has a team of personal injury attorneys ready to go to work for you. Contact us for a free consultation. Let us know how we can help you with your motorcycle accident claim. The sooner you call, the better. Due to the Michigan statute of limitations, you only have three years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit.

Why Pick Matz Injury Law for Your Michigan Motorcycle Accident Case?

Even with Michigan’s no-fault motorcycle accident laws, you still need to consider a motorcycle accident claim after a crash. Insurance companies often offer the bare minimum for settlements and medical benefits. Only with a skilled Michigan motorcycle accident attorney at your side can you be certain that all of your medical needs, both now and in the future, have adequate coverage after a crash.

Matz Injury Law has a team of personal injury lawyers who are experts in what they do. We know how to negotiate with all insurance parties to ensure you get full and just compensation for your injuries. Our Michigan motorcycle accident lawyers work tirelessly to get the best possible outcome for our clients, and we have been serving the state of Michigan for decades. We are ready to put that experience to work for you as we fight for a fair settlement in your motorcycle accident case.

Our legal team will take care of all the paperwork, file on your behalf, and even represent you in court should the need arise. We have the knowledge to get you the highest possible settlement for your case, so you don’t have to worry about the cost of your medical treatment.

We regularly have verdicts for thousands more than the insurance settlement amount, and we have over $300 million in verdicts for Michigan clients. We are located in Southfield but proudly all of Michigan, from Saginaw to Grand Rapids and beyond.

Our Process

When you choose Matz Injury Law to represent you in your motorcycle accident case, here is what you can expect:

Step 1: We meet with you, either in person or over Zoom, to listen to the details of your case. At this meeting, we’ll explain what you can expect in the legal process and what issues you have that might impact your claim and compensation amount.

Step 2: Medical care is our top priority, so we will help you find the providers you need to ensure a full recovery. We’ll deal with the insurance company at this time so you can focus on healing.

Step 3: We will look for all potential sources of compensation for your case. This might include the other driver’s liability insurance policy, your no-fault insurance, other insurance coverage you carry, and even workers’ compensation coverage if you were driving on the job.

Step 4:We seek full compensation. We will work with adjusters, insurance companies, your medical benefits, and your medical care providers who send bills so that you can be confident you are getting the full amount of compensation for your losses. We understand these cases intricately, so you do not have to wonder if your case is getting a fair settlement.

Step 5:We will resolve your case for the maximum value of your claim. Throughout this process, we will keep you updated on what is happening. Should you need to go to court, we are here every step of the way to ensure you know what to expect and receive proper representation.

Throughout this process, we put you first. We desire to help each of our clients move forward with their lives after the lasting impact that a motorcycle accident can create. With the help of the skilled team at Matz Injury Law, you can get fair compensation and a just settlement.

Are you ready to discuss your case? We are ready to hear from you. Call our personal injury lawyers to discuss your motorcycle accident case at 1-866-22Not33 or complete our online contact form to schedule a no-obligation free consultation, and we’ll be in touch immediately!