A great ride down Woodward Avenue or up to the Mackinac Bridge can quickly become tragic when a careless driver crashes into you. The injuries can be severe, and the road back can feel long. Our Michigan motorcycle accident lawyers at Christensen Law are here to listen, protect your rights, and fight for the full recovery you and your family deserve.
We have stood up for injured riders across Michigan since 1991, from Detroit to the Upper Peninsula. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a crash, we want to hear your story.
Contact us today at 248-600-4591 or through our online form for your free, no-obligation consultation.
CHRISTENSEN LAW HAS A 24 HOUR RAPID RESPONSE SERVICE
What Should a Motorcyclist Do If They Have Been Hit by a Vehicle?
Get medical care first, then talk to a Michigan motorcycle accident lawyer before you give a recorded statement to any insurance company. Many riders try to “tough it out” after a crash because adrenaline masks serious injuries, and that decision can hurt both your health and your claim.
Brain injuries, internal bleeding, and spinal damage do not always show up at the scene. A clean medical record that starts the day of the crash is one of the strongest pieces of evidence in any case, and waiting days or weeks to be seen gives the insurance company an opening to argue you were not really hurt.
While you are focused on healing, we can take over the heavy lifting. That includes preserving the bike, getting the police report, locating witnesses, pulling any traffic or surveillance video before it is erased, and putting the at-fault driver’s insurance company on notice. The sooner we get started, the more evidence we can lock down.
Why Riders Across Michigan Trust Our Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
Motorcycle crashes are not like car accidents. The injuries are usually more serious, the insurance rules are different, and many jurors come into court with the wrong idea about riders. We know how to push back on that, so your story is told the right way from the first call to the last verdict.
Founder David Christensen is a member of the Michigan Lawyers Weekly Hall of Fame, and our firm has been recognized as a First-Tier Best Law Firm in Detroit for Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs by U.S. News – Best Lawyers® for 2026. We are also an AV Preeminent firm by Martindale-Hubbell, and a member of ABOTA, the American Board of Trial Advocates.
Managing Partner Sarah Stempky-Kime is a recognized “Leader in the Law” and also an ABOTA member.
Awards are nice, but what matters is the work behind them. Here is what we bring to every Michigan motorcycle accident case we take:
- Three decades of trial experience. We have recovered tens of millions of dollars for injured riders and their families, including a $9.5 million result in a motorcycle case.
- Statewide reach. From offices in Detroit, Southfield, Troy, Ann Arbor, and Grand Rapids, we serve clients from the D to the UP.
- No upfront cost. We work on a contingency fee, so you pay nothing unless we win your case.
- Personal attention. You will know who is handling your file, and you will hear back when you call.
When your future is on the line, you want a team that treats your case like it matters, because it does. That is the standard we hold ourselves to every day, and it is the standard you should hold any lawyer to before you sign anything.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Michigan Motorcycle Accident?
In Michigan, an injured motorcycle rider may be able to recover no-fault benefits for medical expenses and lost wages, and also pursue a separate claim against the at-fault driver for pain and suffering and other damages, depending on the circumstances. Both pieces matter, and both have rules that trip up riders who try to handle a case on their own.
Michigan’s no-fault system is unique, and motorcycles are treated differently from cars. Under MCL 500.3114, when a motor vehicle is involved in a motorcycle crash, the rider can usually claim Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits from the at-fault driver’s auto insurance, not from their own motorcycle policy.
These benefits can cover medical care, attendant care, replacement services, and a portion of lost wages.
On top of no-fault benefits, you may have a “third-party” claim against the at-fault driver for damages that no-fault does not pay, such as pain and suffering, scarring and disfigurement, and the loss of enjoyment of life.
To bring this kind of claim, Michigan law requires you to show a “serious impairment of body function,” and most catastrophic motorcycle injuries clearly meet that bar.
Depending on the facts of your case, our motorcycle accident attorneys may pursue compensation for:
- Past and future medical treatment, surgeries, and rehabilitation
- Lost wages and loss of future earning capacity
- Attendant and replacement care services in your home
- Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
- Permanent scarring, disfigurement, and disability
- Property damage to your motorcycle and gear
- Loss of consortium for your spouse and family
- Wrongful death damages if a loved one was killed
Every case is different, and the right number depends on your injuries, your future needs, and the available insurance coverage. We will sit down with you, walk through what you are facing, and give you a straight answer about what your case looks like.
How Long Do You Have to File a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit in Michigan?
In most cases, you have three years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit in Michigan, but the deadline for no-fault PIP benefits can be much shorter. Missing either deadline can wipe out your right to recover anything at all, which is why timing is one of the first things we look at.
For no-fault benefits, written notice generally has to be given within one year of the accident, and a lawsuit for unpaid benefits usually has to be filed within one year of the date the expense was incurred. There are also special rules and shorter deadlines if a city, county, or state agency may be responsible, such as in a road defect case.
The bottom line is simple: do not wait. The earlier you talk with a Michigan motorcycle accident lawyer, the more options you have, and the less risk there is of losing a claim to a deadline you did not know existed.
Michigan Helmet Laws and Your Motorcycle Accident Claim
Michigan does not require every rider to wear a helmet, but the rules around the choice can affect both your safety and your claim. Under MCL 257.658, an operator who is 21 or older can ride without a helmet if they have held a motorcycle endorsement for at least two years (or completed an approved safety course) and carry at least $20,000 in first-party medical benefits coverage. Passengers 21 or older have similar requirements.
Insurance companies sometimes try to use the absence of a helmet to argue that a rider should get less money, especially in head and brain injury cases. We have seen these arguments, and we know how to answer them.
A driver who runs a red light and hits a motorcyclist is responsible for that crash, whether or not the rider was wearing a helmet, and Michigan law does not allow the defense to escape liability just because someone was riding without one.
If you have questions about how the helmet rules apply to your situation, talk with us before you talk to the insurance company. There is too much at stake to guess.
Catastrophic Motorcycle Injuries We Handle
Motorcycle crashes can cause some of the most severe injuries we see in any practice area. A rider has nothing between their body and the road, and even a low-speed crash can change a life. Our team takes on these cases because the people behind them need lawyers who are not afraid of complex medicine, long recoveries, and big insurance companies.
We regularly represent riders and families dealing with:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI), including concussions, contusions, and severe diffuse injuries
- Spinal cord injuries, paralysis, and chronic back and neck conditions
- Broken bones, crush injuries, and amputations
- Burn injuries from fuel fires and friction
- Internal organ damage and internal bleeding
- “Road rash” that requires surgery and skin grafting
- Wrongful death claims when a rider does not survive the crash
These injuries do not just affect your body, they affect your job, your family, and your future. We build cases that account for all of it, including the care you will need years from now, so the settlement or verdict actually fits the life you have to rebuild.
Serving Riders Across Michigan, From Detroit to Grand Rapids
Whether you were riding through downtown Detroit, cruising M-22 along Lake Michigan, or heading north on I-75 toward the Mackinac Bridge, we want to help. Our offices in Southfield, Detroit, Troy, Ann Arbor, and Grand Rapids let us meet clients where they are, and we travel statewide when a case calls for it.
We know the local courts, we know the local roads, and we know how juries in different parts of Michigan think about motorcycle cases. That local knowledge matters, so your case is not handled like a number on a spreadsheet by a firm that does not know the difference between Woodward and 8 Mile.
FAQs Answered by Our Michigan Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
Below are answers to some of the questions we hear most often from injured riders and their families. If you do not see your question here, please give us a call. We are happy to talk through your situation, at no cost and with no pressure.
You may. Michigan follows a “modified comparative fault” rule, which means you can still recover damages for economic losses even if you share some fault, and you can recover noneconomic damages such as pain and suffering as long as you are not more than 50% at fault.
Insurance companies often try to push more blame onto the rider than the facts support, so it is worth having a Michigan motorcycle accident lawyer look at the case.
Nothing up front. We handle motorcycle accident cases on a contingency fee basis, which means we only get paid if we recover money for you. Your first consultation is always free, and we will explain the fee in plain English before you sign anything.
You may still have options. Your own auto policy may include uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage that pays for your injuries, and in some cases the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan can provide no-fault benefits. We will pull every policy that might apply and explore every source of recovery.
Most cases settle before trial, but some need a courtroom to get a fair result. We prepare every case as if it is going to trial, because that is what gets the insurance company to take settlement seriously. If a fair settlement is not on the table, we are ready to try the case.
It depends on the injuries, the insurance coverage, and whether liability is disputed. Some cases resolve in a matter of months, and others take a year or more, especially when the injuries are still healing or future medical needs are not yet clear. We will keep you updated at every step.
Yes. Michigan’s wrongful death statute allows certain family members to bring a claim through the estate for losses such as funeral expenses, loss of financial support, loss of companionship, and the pain and suffering the loved one experienced before death. These cases are deeply personal, and we handle them with the care they deserve.
A motorcycle versus truck case is often more complex because of federal trucking regulations, multiple potentially liable parties, and larger insurance policies. Our firm has handled many of these cases, and we know how to investigate them quickly, before key evidence such as electronic logs and driver records goes missing.
Hurt in a Michigan Motorcycle Accident? Let’s Talk Today.
When the road takes everything from you, the right legal team can help you get it back. At Christensen Law, we have spent more than 30 years standing up for injured Michigan riders and their families, and we are ready to do the same for you. There is no fee unless we win, and your consultation is always free.
Call us now at 248-600-4591, or reach out online, so we can start protecting your rights today. Listen. Protect. Win. It is what we do.
