Heading out to Asylum Lake Preserve or the Kalamazoo Nature Center on your motorcycle is a great way to take in the natural beauty of the area. However, when a crash happens, a beautiful day can become devastating. When someone else’s negligence caused your crash, our Kalamazoo motorcycle accident attorneys can seek compensation for you.
Christensen Law has been advocating for injury victims since 1991. Our goal is to hold negligent parties accountable and to help you regain control of your life. Contact our Kalamazoo personal injury lawyers today for a free review of your case.
How Can Christensen Law Help With Your Accident Claim
Motorcycle accidents can be complicated. Even when the process is relatively smooth, these claims still take time and require an investigation to prove negligence. Dealing with these aspects of your case on top of trying to recover can quickly become overwhelming. Let our team step in and take on the legal process for you.
At Christensen Law, we use all our resources to pursue financial justice for riders. We support you throughout the process, keeping you updated on the status of your case and answering questions you have along the way. Our team will:
- File case paperwork, ensuring it is accurate and complete
- Investigate the accident to determine all liable parties
- Negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf
- Advise you on any settlement offers you receive
- Represent your case in court, if necessary
When working on your case, our team will ask you various questions about your case. Be prepared to give information about:
- Who owned the motorcycle involved in the crash and whether it was properly insured
- The other driver’s insurance status and whether anyone was issued a citation at the scene
- Who you believe was at fault for the accident and the circumstances surrounding the collision
- The nature and extent of your injuries and any treatment you’ve received so far
Bikers deserve safety and respect on the road, and we are determined to hold at-fault parties responsible for the harm you have suffered.
What Our Previous Clients Say About Us
One of the best ways to learn about us is through the testimonials of our previous clients. Here are some things they’ve said about us:
- “Christensen Law’s attorneys are filled with compassion and knowledge. They took amazing care of my uncle after his accident.” –Steve H.
- “I recommend all of my friends and family to Christensen Law. The attorneys and staff there are amazing and really care about their clients where you’re treated with care and not as a number.” –Jason W.
Compensation After a Motorcycle Accident in Kalamazoo
Some members of our team also ride, and we know how important riding is to the community. We also understand just how devastating someone’s negligence can be. As accident attorneys, our clients often suffer from injuries like:
- Spinal cord and neck injuries, which can result in paralysis
- Broken bones and even loss of limbs
- Road rash, which can lead to scarring and infections
- Traumatic head injuries, which can result in cognitive impairment
When dealing with injuries like these, you may have a long path to recovery. In some cases, you may even require a lifetime of medical care or assistance. When our lawyers seek fair compensation, we seek damages that actually cover all the losses you’ve experienced. Our team can help you pursue:
- Medical Expenses: These can cover current and future emergency medical services, doctor appointments, diagnostic exams, medications, physical therapy, and surgeries.
- Lost Wages: If you lost income during recovery or if you now have a diminished earning capacity from a permanent disability.
- Non-Economic Losses: These are losses that are not directly linked to a financial loss. They include your physical pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and more.
- Wrongful Death: If you lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident, please accept our deepest condolences. Our Kalamazoo wrongful death lawyers can help eligible parties seek compensation for your loved one’s medical expenses, loss of their financial support, funeral costs, and more.
If you are ready to pursue the compensation you deserve, reach out to Christensen Law today.
Proving Negligence in a Motorcycle Accident
Successfully recovering compensation relies on establishing that negligence occurred and you suffered losses due to it. Our lawyers will carefully investigate the accident to prove that the four elements of negligence were present. These elements are:
Duty of Care
Duty of care refers to one party’s responsibility toward another. Some examples of this:
- A driver owes a duty of care to everyone else on the road. They uphold this duty by practicing safe driving habits.
- A commercial trucking company owes a duty of care to others on the road. They practice this by hiring qualified drivers and ensuring they are properly trained.
Breach of Duty of Care
When someone fails to act safely, they breach their duty of care. Some examples of breaches include:
- Drinking and driving
- Speeding
- Failing to yield
- Distracted driving, such as talking on the phone or texting
Causation
Your lawyer will need to prove that the breach directly led to the accident. They may do so by gathering evidence like:
- Surveillance footage, such as from traffic cameras
- Police reports
- Eyewitness testimony
- Testimony from an expert in accident reconstruction
- Photos of the accident scene, such as those showing a lack of skid marks
Damages
You also need to have provable losses because of the accident. An example of this would be medical records which link your injuries to the accident.
What State Laws Affect Your Accident Case?
There are two main laws that are most likely to impact your case. These are:
Michigan’s Statute of Limitations on Personal Injury Cases
Per Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 600.5805, you typically have three years to file a wrongful death or personal injury lawsuit in the state. Failure to do so within that timeframe can bar you from recovering compensation.
Exceptions can apply to this rule and our lawyers will move as quickly as we can to ensure prompt filing.
Modified Comparative Negligence
Under Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 600.2959, injury victims are unable to pursue compensation if they are more than 50% at fault for their injuries. Additionally, even when you are 50% or less at fault, your recoverable compensation is proportionately reduced. For example, if you had $100,000 in losses but were 15% at fault, then you could only recover $85,000.
Drivers and insurance companies are often biased against riders—they often unfairly assign blame to anyone who rides a motorcycle. Our team is here to protect you from these biases and fight for fair compensation on your behalf.
