A bicycle gives a rider almost no protection, so even a low-speed collision with a car, truck, or SUV can cause life-changing harm. If you or someone you love was hurt while cycling in Ann Arbor, the Ann Arbor bicycle accident lawyers at Christensen Law are here to listen, protect your rights, and pursue the full recovery you deserve.
We have advocated for injured Michigan riders since 1991, and we know how frightening the first days after a serious crash can feel. Christensen Law treats every client like family, never a case number, and we take on the insurance companies, so you can focus on healing.
Many bike crashes involve the same careless drivers and the same insurers as our Ann Arbor car accident cases, and we prepare both with the same relentless attention to detail. Call our team 24/7 at (734) 519-7576 for a free, no-risk consultation.
CHRISTENSEN LAW HAS A 24 HOUR RAPID RESPONSE SERVICE
How Can Our Bicycle Accident Lawyers in Ann Arbor Help After a Crash?
Our Ann Arbor bicycle accident lawyers handle every part of your claim, from securing no-fault medical benefits to holding the at-fault driver accountable, so you can put your energy into recovery. After a serious bike crash, you may be facing surgeries, time away from work, and questions you never expected to ask.
We step in right away to protect your rights, and we deal with the insurance companies on your behalf. Here is what our team does for injured riders:
- Investigate the crash, preserve evidence, and identify every driver and insurer that may owe you compensation.
- File and manage your first-party no-fault claim, so your medical bills and wage loss are covered.
- Build a third-party case against the at-fault driver when your injuries meet Michigan’s legal threshold.
- Work closely with your doctors and treatment team to document the full scope of your injuries and future needs.
From the first phone call to the final resolution, we keep you informed at every step, so you always know where your case stands.
Why Injured Cyclists Choose Our Ann Arbor Bike Accident Attorneys
Injured cyclists choose Christensen Law because we pair a proven trial record with genuine, compassionate care for every person we represent. For more than 35 years, we have stood beside Michigan families during the hardest moments of their lives.
Our founder, David Christensen, is a Michigan Hall of Fame trial attorney, a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), and holds AV Preeminent status from Martindale-Hubbell. Managing partner Sarah Stempky-Kime is a recognized Leader in the Law, and she is also an ABOTA member.
Together, they lead a team that earned a First-Tier ranking for Personal Injury Litigation in Detroit from U.S. News, Best Law Firms, along with a 4.9 to 5.0 client review rating across our offices. Riders in Ann Arbor count on us for:
- A record of results, including a $17.8 million motor vehicle verdict and a $9.5 million wrongful death recovery.
- Trial-ready preparation on every case, so insurers know we are willing to go to court.
- A focus on serious, life-altering injuries rather than high-volume, quick settlements.
- Free consultations 24/7, with no fee unless we win your case.
This is what Listen Protect Win means to us, and it is what you can count on from day one. We also handle Michigan bicycle accident claims statewide, so you get that full-state experience on your Ann Arbor case. Call (734) 519-7576 to speak with our team today.
Do Injured Cyclists Qualify for Michigan No-Fault Benefits?
Yes. In Michigan, a cyclist struck by a motor vehicle can receive no-fault Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits, even if the cyclist does not own a car or carry auto insurance.
Under Michigan law, a bicycle is not a motor vehicle, so an injured rider is treated much like a pedestrian for insurance purposes. That means PIP benefits are available regardless of who caused the crash, under MCL 500.3115.
PIP, short for Personal Injury Protection, is the part of Michigan’s no-fault system that pays for accident-related medical care, a portion of lost wages, and certain daily support services. These are called first-party benefits, because they come from an auto insurer rather than from the driver who hit you.
Sorting out which insurer must pay can get complicated. Michigan law follows a specific priority order:
- Your own auto no-fault policy, if you have one.
- The policy of a spouse, or a relative who lives in your household.
- The insurer of the vehicle involved in the crash.
- The Michigan Assigned Claims Plan, if no other coverage is available.
We handle that priority analysis for you, and we make sure no source of coverage is missed. Michigan drivers can also choose different PIP levels and coordinated policies, where health insurance pays first, and those choices affect what is available to you.
Where Bike Crashes Happen Around U-M and Washtenaw County
Ann Arbor is one of Michigan’s most bike-friendly cities, but its heavy mix of cyclists, students, and traffic also creates real danger, especially in the dense corridors around the University of Michigan.
Thousands of students, faculty, and residents ride every day near Central Campus, the Diag, and busy streets like State, Division, and Packard. Where cars and bikes share tight space, a single careless moment can send a rider to the hospital.
The city’s growing network of bike lanes and the popular Border-to-Border Trail bring even more riders onto the road each year. That density is part of what makes Ann Arbor special, and it is also why driver awareness matters so much here.
Common Crash Types We See in Ann Arbor
Certain patterns come up again and again in Washtenaw County bike crashes:
- Dooring crashes, where a driver or passenger opens a car door directly into a cyclist’s path.
- Intersection collisions, often when a driver turns across a bike lane, or fails to yield.
- Campus-corridor crashes, where heavy foot and bike traffic meets impatient drivers near U-M.
- Rear-end and sideswipe crashes on higher-speed roads like Washtenaw Avenue and Plymouth Road.
No two crashes are exactly alike, so we investigate the specific facts of your ride, the roadway, and the driver’s conduct to build the strongest possible claim.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Bike Crash?
After an Ann Arbor bike crash, you may recover two kinds of compensation: no-fault PIP benefits for your economic losses, and a third-party claim against the at-fault driver for your pain and suffering.
PIP benefits cover medical treatment, a share of your lost wages, replacement services, and attendant care for riders who need in-home help while they heal. These benefits are available no matter who caused the crash.
For catastrophic injuries, PIP can also extend to home modifications, medical mileage, and long-term care that your family would otherwise pay out of pocket. We work to document every one of these needs, both now and for the years ahead.
You may also bring a third-party lawsuit against the driver who hurt you, but only if your injury meets Michigan’s legal threshold. Under MCL 500.3135, that threshold is a serious impairment of body function, death, or permanent serious disfigurement.
A serious impairment is an injury that is objectively verified, involves an important body function, and affects your ability to live your normal life. Broken bones, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries frequently qualify.
Michigan also follows a modified comparative negligence rule. You can still recover compensation even if you were partly at fault, as long as you were not more than 50% responsible, though your award is reduced by your share of the blame.
Because these rules directly affect what your case is worth, we account for every present and future loss when we value your claim.
Common Causes of Ann Arbor Bicycle Accidents
Most Ann Arbor bicycle accidents happen because a driver fails to see or respect a cyclist’s right to the road. Michigan law requires drivers to give riders room and care, yet many crashes trace back to a few preventable mistakes:
- Distracted driving, including texting and phone use behind the wheel.
- Failing to leave a safe passing distance, which Michigan law sets at a minimum of three feet under MCL 257.636.
- Turning across a bike lane, or failing to yield at intersections.
- Speeding, running red lights, and driving while impaired.
When a driver’s choice causes your injuries, we focus on accountability, and on securing the resources you need to move forward.
How Long Do You Have to File a Bike Accident Claim in Michigan?
In Michigan, deadlines for bicycle accident claims are strict, and they differ for no-fault benefits and injury lawsuits. Acting quickly protects your rights.
For no-fault PIP benefits, you generally have one year from the date of the crash to file a written claim, under MCL 500.3145. Waiting too long can mean losing coverage for your medical bills and wage loss.
For a third-party lawsuit against the at-fault driver, Michigan generally allows three years from the date of the crash, under MCL 600.5805. Some situations can shorten or change these deadlines.
Because the clock starts the day of your crash, we encourage injured riders to reach out early, so evidence stays fresh, and no deadline slips by.
How We Build Strong Bicycle Accident Cases
We build strong cases by putting your story first, documenting your injuries thoroughly, and letting the facts of the crash speak for themselves. Our managing partner, Sarah Stempky-Kime, puts it plainly: the client is the most important part of every case, and the defendant’s own conduct is often what wins it.
As she describes our approach, “we like to let the treatment team do the talking. We love to have the defendants dig their own hole.”
In practice, that means we let your doctors and therapists document your recovery in their own words, and we hold the at-fault driver accountable using their own decisions and records. This keeps the focus where it belongs, on the real impact the crash has had on your life.
It is careful, patient work, and it is how we have earned record results for Michigan families since 1991.
FAQs Answered by Our Ann Arbor Bicycle Accident Lawyers
Here are answers to questions injured cyclists and their families often ask us after a crash in Ann Arbor.
A lawyer is not required, but the insurance companies have teams working to reduce what they pay you. Our team explains how Michigan’s No-Fault system works, manages the paperwork, and pushes back when an adjuster requests a recorded statement or offers a quick, low settlement. That support lets you focus on getting better.
You may still have a path to no-fault PIP benefits even in a hit-and-run or an uninsured-driver crash. When no other coverage applies, the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan can step in to cover your medical care and wage loss. We help you file through the right channel, and we look for every possible source of recovery.
Your first consultation is always free, and it is available 24/7. We handle bicycle accident cases on a contingency fee, which means you pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you. That way, cost is never a barrier to getting strong legal help after a crash.
You are generally not required to give the at-fault driver’s insurer a recorded statement, and doing so can sometimes hurt your claim. Adjusters may use your words to shift blame or minimize your injuries. Before you agree to anything, it is wise to speak with our team so your rights stay protected.
Often, yes. An out-of-state student struck by a car in Ann Arbor may still qualify for Michigan no-fault benefits through the insurer of the vehicle involved, or through the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan. The rules can be detailed, so we review each student’s situation carefully to find available coverage.
Michigan has no statewide helmet requirement for adult cyclists. Choosing not to wear a helmet does not automatically bar you from recovering compensation after a crash caused by a driver. We can help injured riders pursue their claim regardless of whether a helmet was worn.
Talk to an Ann Arbor Bicycle Accident Lawyer 24/7
If a crash has changed your life, you do not have to face the insurance companies alone. Our Ann Arbor bicycle accident lawyers are ready to listen to your story, protect your rights, and pursue the justice you deserve.
Call Christensen Law 24/7 at (734) 519-7576 for a free, no-risk consultation. There is no fee unless we win your case.
Serving all of Michigan, from the D to the UP.
