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When other motorists fail to give motorcycles their attention and respect, motorcyclists can suffer serious injuries.
If you are the victim of a motorcycle accident in Ann Arbor, Michigan, you should not have to pay for injuries caused by an at-fault driver. The Ann Arbor motorcycle accident lawyers at Christensen Law are here to help. We can fight for the medical expenses, lost income, and other damages you need to get back on your feet.
Our personal injury law firm has stood for the rights of injured Michiganders since 1991, so we know what it takes to get the compensation you are rightfully owed. Contact us for a free initial consultation.
How We Can Help
If you or your loved one suffered injuries in a motorcycle accident, it can be difficult to recover compensation – especially while coping with your physical recovery or caring for a hurt family member. Fortunately, our attorneys are here to assist.
Our firm’s founding partner, Attorney David E. Christensen, knows firsthand how a serious auto accident can upend the victim’s life and their family. After losing his father in a fatal car wreck, Christensen dedicated his legal career to building a practice focused on advocating for injured Michigan residents and their loved ones.
Our lawyers serve as the voice for the unheard, and we do everything we can to minimize your insurance or legal burden while working tirelessly to maximize your financial awards. Our attorneys will explain all your options for pursuing compensation for your medical bills and other losses. If you contact us immediately after your accident, we can begin collecting evidence to support your case.
Christensen Law will make a strong argument for compensation on your behalf by:
- Gathering police reports
- Taking photos of the accident scene
- Interviewing eyewitnesses
- Examining the at-fault party’s driving record and history
- Employing accident reconstruction experts to recreate the accident scene
- Reviewing and analyzing your medical records
- Proving the extent of your injuries
- Negotiating with insurance companies on your behalf
- Filing a lawsuit if the insurer refuses to pay a fair settlement or denies liability for the accident
Let Our Lawyers Be Your Voice
We advise you not to make a statement to the insurance company or accept a settlement agreement without first speaking to a lawyer. Statements you make to an adjuster can jeopardize your ability to pursue compensation later, and the insurer’s initial offer usually benefits their bottom line more than it does your pocketbook.
Our attorneys will determine the maximum compensation available to you via insurance claims. We will then build a strong case to ensure you recover a settlement that satisfies your losses and does not leave you paying out-of-pocket for a motorcycle injury you did not cause.
In addition, we prepare each case as though for trial and will not back down from taking action in civil court if that is the best route for securing the awards you need. Our legal team has handled thousands of cases and hundreds of trials. We have no interest in settling for less than you deserve and will spare no resources when seeking financial justice.
We Will Explore Your Options for Compensation
Under Michigan’s no-fault laws, car and truck drivers must purchase personal injury protection (PIP) insurance.
PIP covers the policyholder’s medical bills after a crash, no matter who is at fault. However, according to the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services, motorcycle riders do not have to carry PIP unless they are over age 21 and do not want to wear a helmet. Learn more about PIP insurance and recent changes to the no-fault system.
Our attorneys can explain all the options you have to pursue compensation for your medical treatment and other losses after a collision, including exhausting any PIP coverage you have. We can also help you hold liable parties financially accountable with a claim against their liability insurance or a personal injury lawsuit.
We Will Pursue the Damages You or Your Loved One Should Recover
We help those injured by the negligent, reckless, or wrongful actions of others. If you suffered physical harm and financial losses and were not at fault, Christensen Law will advocate for the compensation you deserve – ensuring that your financial stability is not threatened by another party’s mistakes.
Our lawyers will identify every cent owed to you and build a robust case proving a liable party is responsible for your damages. In general, we can seek awards for the following:
- Ambulance transportation and emergency medical services
- Surgeries
- Hospital stays and doctors’ office visits
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Extended nursing and life care
- Lost income, earnings, and benefits
- Lost future earning capacity
- Motorcycle repairs or replacement costs
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional and mental complications
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disfigurement, scarring, and disabling injuries
- Loss of quality of life
- Wrongful death of a loved one
How Much You Can Get in a Motorcycle Accident Claim
If you are injured, or a loved one is killed in an accident, you may be wondering how much your claim is worth – especially if you’re still deciding whether or not you want to file a legal case. When you meet with your lawyer, we can examine your evidence and estimate the value of your claim.
We settled one Michigan motorcycle claim for $1.25 million. In this case, a 36-year-old husband and father was forced off the road, resulting in multiple surgeries after he sustained shoulder, neck, and back injuries.
In general, motorcycle accidents tend to settle for more than the average car accident claim because the injuries and resulting damages in these cases are much more serious. Without the protection a vehicle offers, motorcycle riders are susceptible to catastrophic injuries like amputations, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord injuries that can cause paralysis.
Representation with Compassion, Excellence, and Results
Christensen Law strives to ensure those who seek our help feel heard and supported through every step of their case. Our award-winning team of attorneys and staff will give you their undivided attention and provide you with compassionate, personalized representation.
However, you do not have to take our word for it. Just read what past clients have to say about our service on our testimonials page. We are committed to professionalism, transparency, and fair settlements. Our client-centered approach gets real results. Our settlements and verdicts include:
- $3.2 million for a head-on collision
- $2 million for a car wreck
- $1.25 million for a motorcycle accident
- $1.1 million for a truck accident
Time Limit for Filing a Lawsuit
According to Michigan Compiled Laws § 500.3145, you have one year from the date of your motorcycle accident to file a PIP claim with your provider. If you suffered injuries due to a careless or reckless driver, you have three years under Michigan Compiled Laws § 600.5805 to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit against the at-fault party.
Our lawyers will research all insurance and begin demanding compensation before deadlines expire, which will reduce your bargaining power. If necessary, we will file a lawsuit in court before the statute of limitations expires.
How Michigan’s No-Fault Rule Can Affect Your Claim
Michigan is a no-fault state for car accidents, but this doesn’t apply to motorcycle accidents. Because motorcycles aren’t classified as motor vehicles in this state, motorcycle riders aren’t legally required to carry no-fault insurance coverage.
If you are in an accident, Michigan’s no-fault insurance system can impact your claim in the following key ways:
- No-fault coverage must be maintained: Motorcyclists must carry no-fault insurance for medical benefits and other losses. A lack of proper coverage can limit your claim options.
- Injured riders file with their own insurer first: No-fault claims for medical costs, lost wages etc. must go through the motorcyclist’s insurance company, not the at-fault driver’s.
- Damages may be reduced if the rider is partly at fault: Under Michigan’s modified comparative negligence rules, the motorcyclist’s compensation can be reduced based on percentage of fault.
- Helmet non-use may affect claim: Failure to wear a helmet as required by Michigan’s helmet laws can be used against the rider to reduce compensation for head injuries.
- Catastrophic injury exceptions: In cases of death, permanent serious disfigurement, or other major impairment, the no-fault law allows bypassing normal restrictions to directly sue the at-fault driver.
An attorney can help you navigate Michigan’s complex no-fault system. Your lawyer can explain how your insurance coverage may affect your claim.
How Negligent Motorists Can Be Liable
If you ride a motorcycle, you are most likely well aware that when an accident involves a motorcycle, people tend to assume the motorcycle rider was at fault. However, many times, an investigation will prove that the involved motor vehicle’s driver was the negligent party in the accident.
Common causes of driver negligence in motorcycle accidents include:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Reckless driving
- Cars making left-hand turns
- Failing to yield the right-of-way
- Improperly signaling
- Failing to check blind spots or not seeing motorcyclists
- Driving too fast for weather conditions
- Driving too fast for road conditions
- Tailgating
- Misjudging stopping distance
- Driving drunk or under the influence of drugs
- Colliding with road hazards
- Driving in heavy traffic
- Manufacturing or maintenance defects
The driver of the car could be at fault for your damages, even if the vehicle did not hit you. For example, if a distracted driver swerves and forces your bike off the road.
Damage to Your Motorcycle After an Accident: Who Is Responsible?
According to Michigan’s no-fault laws, when a motorcycle is damaged in a collision, the rider won’t be able to recover the cost of replacing or repairing the motorcycle if the owner of the vehicle that was involved in the wreck carries no-fault insurance. If the driver did not, they will be personally liable for covering the damages.
If your motorcycle was parked in a reasonable manner at the time of the accident, you can make a claim for property protection benefits, which could include repair costs and damages related to your inability to use the motorcycle.
Mistakes to Avoid After a Motorcycle Accident
After a motorcycle accident, there are mistakes you can make that can devalue your claim. Follow these tips to protect the full value of your claim so you can get a settlement that is enough to cover all of your damages:
- Remember to take pictures and videos at the scene.
- Get the contact information of any witnesses.
- Don’t apologize or admit fault.
- Visit the ER and go to all your follow-up medical appointments.
- Don’t sign anything or agree to any recorded statements.
- Remember to file a police report.
- Do not accept any agreement from the at-fault party’s insurance company without talking to your lawyer.
Talk to an Attorney Now
It can be extremely physically and emotionally difficult to deal with a motorcycle accident claim, especially as you heal. If a negligent or reckless driver caused your accident and injuries, we can help you make them pay for their wrongdoing.
Our lawyers understand what you are going through. We know how important it is for you to obtain compensation. At Christensen Law, we are committed to helping those whose lives have been disrupted by a motorcycle accident. Contact us online or call today for a free, confidential consultation.
