Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Serving Warren, Michigan

Warren, Michigan is a large city with a deep sense of community pride and care. Warren represents the third largest city in Michigan, with two major roadways that intersect it. Whether it means spending summers at the Red Oaks Waterpark or driving along the scenic shoreline of Lake Shore Road, people here value the community and beauty of our region, and you have the right to drive where you want in safety. I-696 sees its share of accidents, but Van Dyke Avenue, M-53, sees 66 annual crashes at one intersection alone.

Michigan has just over 200,000 registered motorcyclists, yet motorcycle crashes occurred 3,000 times in the state in 2021. Often, these accidents are not the fault of motorcycle riders but other reckless motorists, and they can result in catastrophic injuries. If you or a loved one were involved in a Warren, Michigan motorcycle accident, the motorcycle accident lawyers and legal professionals at Matz Injury Law are ready to help you seek compensation.

Is There a Helmet Law for Motorcycles in Michigan?

Yes, there are helmet laws for bikers in Michigan. Under Michigan law, all motorcyclists and passengers under 21 must wear a helmet. If you are over 21 years of age, there are options for not wearing a helmet.

The NHTSA released a study showing that helmets can reduce fatalities among motorcycle accident victims by 37%. The numbers bear out locally as well. In Michigan, fewer reported fatalities are found among those wearing helmets than those who do not.

What Are the Top Types of Crashes in Warren, Michigan?

In Warren and the two surrounding counties, the four leading causes of crashes, according to the Michigan State Police, are young drivers, intersections, hit-and-run accidents, and elderly drivers.

Young Drivers

Young drivers tend to make rash decisions. They are less careful than those with experience and have not yet developed robust decision-making skills. Any bad decision, from cell phone use to simply not watching where they are going, can result in a catastrophic motor vehicle accident.

Intersections

Intersections are notorious for being popular auto accident sites. People make left turns in front of oncoming traffic. They fail to abide by right-of-way standards or are just in a hurry. Auto accidents, truck accidents, and motorcycle accidents are common at intersections and cause severe injuries and even death.

Hit and Run

Hit-and-run accidents are not only tragic, but they are also infuriating as well as life-changing. These accidents refer to someone who hits another person or vehicle and then simply drives away. Leaving the scene of an accident in the state of Michigan can carry criminal penalties, including jail time, fines, and loss of a driver’s license. So, if you are in an accident, wait for first responders to arrive.

Elderly Drivers

Elderly drivers can be affected by many circumstances that lead them to cause accidents. They may be suffering from less acute eyesight or hearing. They could have slowed reflexes due to age. They may even experience a sudden health emergency that causes them to lose control of their vehicle. Not every elderly driver is a bad driver, but statistically speaking, they are prone to more risky behavior than other drivers.

How Does the Climate in Warren Affect Bikers?

Warren, Michigan sees more than the national average in snowfall every year, and below the national average of clear days. This means that from obscured vision to slippery road conditions, Michigan can be a dangerous place to be on the road. Macomb County, where Warren is located, is ranked among the top five counties statistically with the most winter weather-related crashes.

Wet roads, slushy roads, and icy roads can result in a driver losing control of their vehicle. While it may be tempting to blame the road conditions, the fault often lies with one of the drivers who failed to safely account for the risky conditions. That is where legal representation from a law firm with experience in motorcycle accident personal injury cases becomes essential.

If you have suffered an injury due to a careless driver in inclement weather, contact a personal injury attorney at Matz Injury Law for a free consultation about your case. Call us at 866-226-6833 or use our online contact form to schedule your appointment today.

What Are the Most Common Motorcycle Accident Types in Warren, Michigan?

Motorcycle accidents in Warren cover the entire gamut of causes and types. They tend to be far more catastrophic than car accidents because motorcycles do not have walls or roofs to protect their riders, who are exposed to direct impact. Some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents are distracted drivers, negligent drivers, safety failures, and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Distracted Driving

When most people hear about distracted driving, they immediately think of cell phone use. While this is undoubtedly one of the most common distractions behind the wheel, anything that takes your attention off the road can cause an accident. It can involve playing with the stereo, eating and drinking, checking your reflection in a vanity mirror, or even reading behind the wheel. The CDC estimates that distracted driving results in around eight deaths every day in the United States.

Negligent Driving

Negligent driving refers to someone who is simply behaving in a generally reckless manner. It can involve running red lights or stop signs, speeding, weaving in and out of traffic, tailgating, or any other irresponsible behavior behind the wheel.

Negligent driving is at the heart of every personal injury case, including motorcycle and car accident cases. Proving negligence, however, requires your motorcycle accident attorney to demonstrate that the other driver was violating a duty of care to operate their vehicle safely and not endanger others, that their violation of this duty led directly or proximately to the accident, and that you got hurt in the accident.

Motorcycle Safety Failure

When a driver fails to pay extra attention and take extra care around motorcycles when they fail to understand how motorcycles work on the road, the result can be broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, and even the loss of a loved one through wrongful death.

Driving Under the Influence

Any time a driver operates a vehicle while under the influence of a substance that interferes with judgment, reaction time, reflexes, or senses, they are a risk to everyone around them.

How Does Insurance Coverage Work for Warren Motorcycle Accident Cases?

The first thing to understand is that Michigan is a no-fault state for auto insurance. This does not mean that nobody is at fault for an accident. It means that everyone must carry no-fault insurance. This insurance must include personal injury protection (PIP), property protection (PPI), and residual liability insurance for bodily injury and property damage. The no-fault benefits from this coverage pay for your medical expenses, including all medical care, which allows you to start your claim immediately.

Unfortunately, even in cases where you are clearly not at fault, insurance companies will try to blame the accident on you and deny your claim.

Why Should You Hire an Attorney After a Warren Motorcycle Accident?

Insurance companies will try anything to get out of paying a claim. They may try to bully you into signing off on lowball offers that will not even begin to cover your medical bills, let alone your lost wages and non-economic damages, or they might even deny your claim outright. Matz Injury Law has experience negotiating with insurance companies to get you fair compensation for your injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering. We have over $300 million in verdicts for our Michigan clients, and we are ready to do the same for you.

We See You, Even if the Other Driver Did Not

The motorcycle accident lawyers at Matz Injury Law have represented injury victims in accident cases all over the state, including such diverse areas as Grand Rapids, Oakland County, Southfield, and beyond. We are your friends, neighbors, and family. We know and love Warren.

This community means a great deal to us, and your local motorcycle accident lawyer from our law offices will provide legal advice and representation to protect your rights every step of the way. We have a proven track record of success. We offer the experience of a large PLLC with the care and personal guidance of a boutique firm.

Contact our personal injury lawyers at 866-226-6833 or through our online contact form for a free consultation with no disclaimers or obligations. Let us listen and let us take on the fight against bullying insurance companies to fight for the compensation you deserve.