Michigan Pedestrian & Bicycle Accidents Attorney

Key Takeaways

• In Michigan, in 2022, there were 1,340 bicycle-involved accidents.
• An accident involving a vehicle and a bicycle can have many causes, including backing up without looking, failing to yield to cyclists’ right of way in intersections, sudden lane changes, and more.
• Michigan has laws to help protect bicyclists and drivers on roadways.
• Bicycle accident cases in Michigan are often hit-and-runs.

You never expect a car to hit you while riding your bicycle alongside a road. Yet tragically, 36 bicyclists lost their lives in 2022. In Michigan, there were 1,340 bicycle-involved accidents in 2022. Bicycle accidents can cause devastating head injuries, traumatic brain injuries, fractures, broken bones, and even death. Bike accidents are often more severe than car accidents since you do not have the protective elements a motor vehicle offers.

Everyone wants to get home safely after bike riding, but when a negligent driver hits you, they take away that option. If a motorist injures you or a loved one, you need strong and effective legal representation to get the compensation you deserve.

The caring and compassionate Michigan bicycle accident attorneys at Matz Injury Law can help. Call our law firm at 1-866-22Not33 for a free consultation and evaluation to learn more about how Matz’s Michigan bicycle accident lawyers can help you fight for a fair settlement.

Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Michigan

In Michigan, there are two primary types of bicycle accidents: single-bicycle crashes and accidents involving a motor vehicle.

Single-Bicycle Accident

A single-bicycle accident occurs when a cyclist loses control of their bike and falls. Common causes include:

• Hazardous weather
• Icy roads
• Road defects
• Distracted bicycling (e.g., using a phone)
• Being attacked by a dog

Bicycle and Motor Vehicle Accidents

Cars and trucks can either directly or indirectly cause injury to a bicycle rider. Common causes include:

• Driving under the influence
• Failing to yield to cyclists’ right of way in intersections
• Distracted driving
• Changing lanes suddenly without signaling
• Backing up without looking
• Disobeying traffic laws and signals
• Weaving in and out of traffic
• Side-swipes
• Hit-and-run accidents
• Cyclists not wearing reflective gear after dark

What to Do If You Are Riding a Bicycle and Involved in an Accident

Suppose you are a bicyclist enjoying your legal right to use Michigan’s roadways, and suddenly, a negligent motorist hits you. In that case, follow these steps immediately.

Seek Medical Attention

First and foremost, make sure you are safe. Victims of Michigan bicycle accidents should always seek a medical evaluation after being hit by a motor vehicle to check for injuries. If injuries are visible, call 911 so emergency services can arrive and examine anyone injured. Even if you do not think anyone is hurt, seek medical attention to check that there are no hidden injuries that might lead to adverse health effects or excessive pain and suffering later.

Call the Police

After the collision, call the police to the accident scene. Law enforcement will note all of the details associated with the accident and write a police report to outline how the crash occurred. A police report will prove extremely useful for your case later, so do not skip this step.

Gather Information

In the aftermath of an accident, you should try to gather evidence. If you cannot do so yourself, see if someone else can perform this vital task. Information you will want to collect includes:

• The at-fault driver’s name, address, and phone number
• Auto insurance information and insurance policy
• Description of the motor vehicle and license plate number
• Photographs and video of the accident scene

When speaking with others, do not apologize or admit any potential fault at the scene. Do not give a statement to the insurance company until after you consult with a Michigan bicycle accident lawyer. Insurance company representatives are notorious for trying to get injury victims to say something that ultimately harms their case.

Hire a Michigan Bicycle Accident Attorney

An experienced Michigan personal injury attorney can help you fight to obtain the necessary compensation to help cover the costs of medical treatment. At Matz Injury Law, we offer free consultations for injury cases. Your lawyer will also investigate, gather evidence, speak to any eyewitnesses, serve as a go-between with the relevant insurance companies, and negotiate a fair bicycle accident settlement. At Matz Injury Law, we do everything we can to make the process as painless for our clients as possible, including traveling to our clients or scheduling virtual consultations when they cannot come to us.

_{Do not wait to receive compensation. Call us for free today.}

Should I File a Police Report After a Michigan Bicycle Accident?

Yes, you should always file a police report after a bike accident in Michigan. If the motorist committed any infractions to cause a collision or otherwise broke any rules of the road, the police will identify these in the report. Insurance companies will request the police report for injury claims. If you file a personal injury lawsuit, the police report will be valuable documented evidence your Michigan bicycle accident attorney can use to strengthen your case.

What if My Bicycle Accident Involves a Hit-and-Run?

Sadly, many Michigan bicycle accident cases are hit-and-run accidents where drivers are more worried about themselves and not their victims.

If this happens to you, follow the steps listed above for what to do after suffering a bike accident: file a police report and contact your insurance providers. Even if the driver is long gone, still file a report.

When victims do not file an accident report, they may lose the right to collect compensation from the insurance company, according to Michigan‘s no-fault insurance law, or the at-fault driver (if identified).

As a bicyclist out on the roadways, you also are subjected to the rules of the road. All Michigan bicycle laws are in place to help protect bicyclists and drivers using the road. As a cyclist, you must follow these rules:

• When on the road, ride close to the curb (on the right for most roads, but on the left is permitted for one-lane roads).
• You may ride on a sidewalk when possible (always yield to pedestrians and check local laws).
• Maintain working brakes on your bicycle.
• Obey traffic lights and signs, including stop signs.
• Signal when you are turning or stopping.

Cellphone use while riding a bicycle is not explicitly forbidden, but it is wise to play it safe and not use your phone. If you listen to music while riding, use just one earbud to allow yourself to hear what is happening in your surroundings.

E-Bike Laws in Michigan

Laws are always evolving, and, in time, e-bikes will eventually be treated either like motorcycles or dirt bikes. For now, an e-bike’s classification is based on where it is being driven.

This is an important distinction when considering Michigan bicycle laws because motorcycles are required to carry liability insurance, whereas dirt bikes and other off-road vehicles are not. Unless an e-bike can travel over 30 mph, insurance will likely not be required.

Otherwise, e-bikes are treated the same as other bikes or small ORVs in the event of a Michigan bicycle accident.

We Won’t Let an Insurance Company Determine the Settlement

To avoid inadvertently accepting blame for the accident, consult a Michigan personal injury attorney immediately. Insurance companies are not your friends. They will look for ways to minimize or avoid any settlements, including assigning blame to the victim.

At Matz Injury Law, we’re dedicated to helping our clients get the medical care and compensation they need to recover physically, financially, and emotionally. Our Michigan bicycle accident lawyers are thoroughly versed in state laws regarding personal injury claims, fault benefits, no-fault insurance, and PIP (personal injury protection insurance).

Economic Damages

Any money you must pay for your injuries and losses falls under economic damages. Essentially, these are damages with direct monetary value, such as:

• Medical expenses
• Rehabilitation
• Therapy
• Surgery
• Attendant care
• Lost wages
• Loss of future earnings

Non-Economic Damages

Damages that do not have an explicit financial value fall into the non-economic category. These damages aren’t easily calculated but directly impact your life after an accident. Non-economic damages include but are not limited to:

• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Psychological damages
• Mental anguish
• Loss of companionship
• Loss of consortium

No two cases are the same, but generally speaking, the more severe your accident, the more significant the settlement you will likely receive. A knowledgeable Michigan bicycle accident lawyer can outline a comprehensive list of the potential economic and non-economic damages you can pursue. Schedule a free consultation today to find out how much your case may be worth.

Focused on Your Future: Our Approach

When our Michigan bicycle accident lawyers meet with you, whether in person or virtually, we will listen to you and your concerns, explain the legal process in your Michigan bicycle accident case, and show you what we can do to help you fight for compensation.

We take our time with each case, developing favorable fact patterns and gathering the appropriate evidence. This empowers us to take a more comprehensive approach to explore all avenues of recovery for our clients.

You will never be just another number or case file to us. We will communicate directly with insurance companies and adjusters and manage your benefits, medical bills, and more. Our personal injury law firm will give you the time to focus on healing rather than being stressed over these details.

Matz Injury Law prides itself on taking care of our clients. We will watch out for you and always put your interests first. Call us to schedule a free consultation about your Michigan bicycle accident.

At Matz Injury Law, we want our clients to walk away with as much money as they can after their settlement. That is why we charge a 22% contingency fee as opposed to most other firms, which charge a 33% fee, the maximum allowed in Michigan.

This means our clients keep more money with Matz.

_{Learn what Matz Injury Law can do for you. Schedule a free consultation today.}

Related Resources

• Car Accident PTSD & Mental Trauma (Everything You Should Know): Learn how common PTSD is after a car accident, who can suffer, and what types of compensation are available.
• Distracted Driving Accident Laws & Texting: Find out what counts as distracted driving in Michigan and the potential consequences.
• Michigan Compensation For Wrongful Death Car Accident Claims: Learn what can happen after a fatal car accident death in Michigan, who can make a claim, and what type of claims can be made for compensation.

Why Clients Partner With Matz Injury Law

Matz Injury Law has been serving Michigan clients for decades and earning significant settlements on their behalf. Our dedicated and knowledgeable attorneys are here to help Michigan clients navigate the legal process, negotiate with insurance companies, and seek rightful compensation for personal injuries. Our clients also appreciate our lower contingency fee, which means they get more of the eventual settlement amount to put in their own pockets.

Client Story: One recent client rode his bicycle near Northern Michigan University before a big Fourth of July parade. As he crossed a crosswalk, a car came through and hit him, breaking his leg. That driver did not admit liability and said it was all our client’s fault. We were not deterred and diligently sought compensation, obtaining approximately $90,000 for him. Because of our “22, not 33” promise, he kept an additional $9,900.

Testimonials

“We recently had a horrible tragedy in our family and had to seek legal help. We were fortunate to find Matz Injury Law. Steve Matz contacted us immediately and got right to work. From the moment we reached out to Steve, he demonstrated professionalism, expertise, and genuine care for our legal needs. […] Steve Matz not only represented my interests with skill and dedication but also showed compassion and empathy, making a stressful situation much more manageable. We are immensely grateful for Steve Matz guidance and support. We would not hesitate to seek their assistance again in the future. He is not your billboard attorney where you are just another number. We highly recommend Matz Injury Law.” — Robert B.

“My family is grateful for Steve Matz’s professional handling of our case. Steve was very thorough, candid, responsive, and strategic in his approach throughout our legal proceedings. If ever in a situation again like my family has experienced over the past year, we would immediately retain Matz Injury Law to represent our interests. Thank you Steve.” — John P.

We Will Watch Out For You

At Matz Injury Law, we are dedicated to protecting victims’ rights and seeing they receive the compensation they deserve after suffering from injuries or wrongful death. Our Southfield law firm proudly serves victims across Michigan, including Grand Rapids, Lansing, Kalamazoo, Ann Arbor, Traverse City, and the Upper and Lower Peninsulas.

If you are struggling in the aftermath of a Michigan bicycle accident, you may be able to pursue an injury case. Speak to the caring and compassionate bicycle accident lawyers at Matz Injury Law to learn your options. Call us today for a free consultation at 1-866-22Not33 or message us through our online contact form.