Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Serving Port Huron 

Port Huron, Michigan, is a wonderful place to ride a bike along the Bridge to Bay Trail, past the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse, or even to a place where you can take a walk like Blue Water River Walk or Pine Grove Park. Nobody wants to be in a motorcycle accident while seeing the sights, but it can leave you with serious injuries when it happens. Insurance companies look for reasons to pay out the bare minimum, and they even try to get away with paying nothing.

Fighting to get the settlement you deserve is stressful and draining, especially when paired with emotional and physical trauma and pain. The personal injury lawyers at Matz Injury Law have generated over $300 million in results for our personal injury clients. We can help with your claim so you can pay your medical bills and expenses. Call us today at 866-226-6833 or use our online form for a free consultation.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Port Huron, Michigan?

Motorcycle accident cases happen as the result of many different causes. They are different from other car accidents and motor vehicle accidents like truck accidents because motorcycles do not have doors and a roof. This means they can result in truly catastrophic injuries. According to the Times Herald, the M-25 corridor at Krafft Road in Port Huron has the most accidents in St. Clair County.

If you are a motorcyclist who has suffered an injury and need a Michigan motorcycle accident lawyer, the law office of Matz Injury Law may be able to help. We have extensive experience in these practice areas, and we have seen what it is like when bikers just want to grab a bite to eat or go to the Port Huron Museum but suffer at the hands of another reckless driver.

Distracted Driving

Simply taking your eyes off the road for one second can have devastating consequences. Distracted driving refers to anything that draws the attention of motorists away from the road. Most commonly we think of cell phone use when talking about distracted driving, but activities like reading, checking makeup in the mirror, or even eating and drinking can cause a distraction.

Negligent Driving

Negligence is the core of every personal injury case, including motor vehicle accidents. Negligence is a legal term that means someone violated a duty of care, that their violation led to an accident, and that another person got hurt in that accident.

In the case of a motorcycle injury, every driver has a responsibility to control their vehicle, drive safely, and not put others in danger. If they fail to do so and a motorcyclist gets hurt as a result, this is negligence.

Drivers Not Seeing Motorcyclists

Motorcycles are smaller than other types of motor vehicles, which makes them more difficult to see. Drivers should pay extra attention when bikers are around, but all too often, they simply do not. If they fail to do so and you get hurt, personal injury law provides for you to be compensated for your injuries.

Left-Hand-Turn Accidents

Say you are enjoying an evening ride, and as you pass through an intersection, someone makes a sudden left turn right in front of you, causing you to wreck your bike. Michigan law requires drivers who are making left-hand turns to yield to those going straight. If they fail to do so and an accident occurs as a result, the person making the left turn often can be held responsible for any injuries or property damage the motorcyclist suffers.

Speeding

Speeding is one of the most common causes of severe and fatal accidents across the nation. When someone drives too fast for road conditions, they cannot stop fast enough to avoid obstacles, and they run the risk of losing control of their vehicle, and the consequences can be severe. If you are in an accident with someone who is speeding, contact a personal injury attorney right away.

Driving Under the Influence

Driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs affects a driver’s judgment and reaction times. They cannot make good decisions, are not as fast to step on the brakes, and are likely to over- or under-compensate when they need to make emergency adjustments. DUI is also illegal and can carry criminal penalties, though these are separate from seeking compensation for your accident.

Poor Road Conditions

Poor road conditions involving issues like loose gravel, snow, ice, rain, or potholes can be contributing factors to accidents. Accidents often are caused by a combination of poor road conditions and careless driving. When a driver fails to operate their vehicle safely for the conditions of the road, they can be considered negligent, and an experienced personal injury law firm can fight for compensation for those injured by their careless behavior.

What Should I Do After I Have Been in a Motorcycle Crash in Port Huron, Michigan?

An accident is a stressful, scary, and infuriating time. Still, it is important to take things step-by-step. Stay calm, never apologize to the other driver, and make sure all your bases are covered. By keeping your wits about you and treating the scene like a checklist, you can help your case later.

Get Everyone to Safety

The first thing to do is make sure that everyone is out of immediate danger. When cars and motorcycles are on the road, they present a risk to drivers of other vehicles who do not know you have had an accident. If you can, get vehicles off the road. Also, get people off the road so that they are not in the way of oncoming traffic. The only exception is that you should never move someone who is seriously injured before they have been seen by medical professionals.

Call Emergency Services

Calling for first responders is an important part of keeping everyone safe, as police and paramedics can help to safely block off the accident scene and make sure that everyone gets medical attention. Even if you do not feel hurt, it is important to get seen. Some injuries can take weeks or months to present symptoms. Calling the police also allows you to file a police report. The report cannot be used as evidence but can be an important touchstone when you need to remember details later.

Gather Any Necessary Evidence

The more evidence you can gather, the better off your case will be. Because most motorcycle accidents involve another vehicle, you should always exchange information with the other driver, including contact and insurance information. Police can help you with this if needed. Also, make sure you never apologize to the other driver.

Aside from exchanging information, draw diagrams, take photos, get information from witnesses, and document the incident in any other way that occurs to you. All of this can be useful to your motorcycle accident lawyer.

Assess Your Injuries and Damage to Your Motorcycle

Motorcycle accidents can cause catastrophic damage, including, but not limited to:

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Spinal cord injury
• Amputation or loss of limb function
• Broken bones
• Lower back trauma
• Road rash

Again, it is important to get medical attention right away. You may be injured and not realize it yet due to the nature of the damage or due to adrenaline at the time of the wreck. In addition, the insurance company may try to downplay how hurt you are to avoid a big payout, and early attention can help to offset these accusations.

Contact Your Insurance Provider

As soon as you get home, you should contact your insurance company. Even though the statute of limitations gives you a window in which to report your claim, doing so immediately shows that you are taking the incident seriously. It can also protect your coverage down the line. Do not try to editorialize or spin what happened. There will be time to tell your story later. For now, stick to the facts and direct them to your motorcycle accident lawyer for further communication.

Hire a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Serving Port Huron

The most important call you will make after a motorcycle accident is to a Port Huron motorcycle accident lawyer. Not only do you want an experienced attorney who has handled these kinds of cases before, but you also want one who is a hometown neighbor, who cares about the community, and who values you as a client. At Matz Injury Law, we are familiar with Fort Gratiot County Park, North River Road Park, Lighthouse Beach, and other treasured areas in the Port Huron area. We care deeply about our friends and neighbors, and we are ready to fight for you.

What Are the Motorcycle Accident Laws in Port Huron, Michigan?

Michigan is a no-fault state for motorcycle law. This does not mean that nobody is at fault, but rather that everyone must carry no-fault insurance. When you are in an accident, the no-fault insurance on the vehicle with which you crashed provides for medical bills and lost wages. If that vehicle does not have insurance, you then turn to the operator of the vehicle (the person who was driving the vehicle that hit you). If that person does not have coverage, you then turn to your own no-fault insurance.

If you are not sure where to go to file your insurance claim, a personal injury lawyer at Matz Injury Law can help. Call us at 866-226-6833 or use our online contact form for a case consultation and review at no charge today.

What Compensation Can I File for in Port Huron, Michigan?

There are two categories of damages for which you can file a claim after a motorcycle accident. These are special damages, which are also referred to as economic damages, and general damages, which are also called noneconomic damages. Special damages can be easily quantified. General damages are harder to value.

Medical Care

Medical care covers all of your medical costs. These include doctor’s bills, medical procedures, medication, therapy, medical equipment, transportation to and from medical appointments, and the costs of in-home care.

Property Damage

Property damage covers harm to your motorcycle or other vehicle. It also covers any property you had on board, and even valuables that were on your person that were damaged as a result of the accident.

Lost Wages

Lost wages cover the money you have lost from not being able to work. It also covers the earnings you would have potentially received if you were able to continue work into the future.

Wrongful Death

Wrongful death refers to cases where you have lost a loved one due to the careless acts of another person. In such cases, you can be eligible for compensation to cover medical bills, loss of financial support, funeral expenses, and burial expenses as well as noneconomic damages.

Noneconomic Damages

Noneconomic damages, though sometimes colloquially called pain and suffering, go far beyond physical pain and anguish. They also cover conditions like mood swings, depression, PTSD, loss of the ability to enjoy life, loss of consortium and comfort, and other “invisible” injuries.

How Can a Motorcycle Accident Attorney Help Me if I’ve Been Injured?

A personal injury lawyer with practice areas in motorcycle accidents can help to prove negligence on the part of the other driver. They can take on the fight with the insurance company and the defendant so you can focus on getting well again. These cases can be stressful and take some time, and having a knowledgeable ally in your corner can be essential to helping you get remuneration for your injuries.

At Matz Injury Law, we will negotiate with the responsible party and their insurance company to fight for fair compensation for you. We can gather relevant documents to make sure you file on time and correctly. We will contact witnesses for testimony. We can coordinate with the police as necessary, and do everything we must to build you a formidable case.

Insurance companies have powerful legal teams working for them. Trying to fight your case alone puts you at a grave disadvantage while having an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer by your side evens the playing field and lets you fight back.

Matz Injury Law: Serving Bikers From Port Huron to Portage

At Matz Injury Law, we have seen clients all over the great state of Michigan, including such diverse locations as Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Macomb County, Saginaw, Southfield, St. Clair County, and Sterling Heights. We are your neighbors and friends, and we care deeply about these communities.

As Port Huron motorcycle accident lawyers, we know what a beautiful town this is. We know what a pleasure it can be to view the scenery during a motorcycle ride or sit in the park. When bikers suffer at the hands of reckless drivers, they deserve to be compensated for their injuries, and our law firm has the injury lawyers to fight for your rights. Contact the Matz Injury Law legal team at 866-226-6833 or through our online contact form for a free consultation with no obligation today.