The road home should never end in a hospital room, but for too many Michigan motorcycle riders, a single careless driver changes everything in seconds. When another driver’s choices turn that ride into a hospital stay, our Southfield motorcycle accident lawyers at Christensen Law can help protect your rights and fight for the full recovery you deserve.
We have stood with injured riders across Michigan since 1991, and we know how to handle the unique legal and medical issues these crashes bring.
If you or someone you love was hurt in a motorcycle crash near Southfield, Lathrup Village, or anywhere in Oakland County, we can help. Insurance companies often start building their case against you within hours of the accident, so the sooner you have an experienced advocate on your side, the better.
Call our Southfield office today at 248-600-4591 for a free, no-pressure consultation.
CHRISTENSEN LAW HAS A 24 HOUR RAPID RESPONSE SERVICE
How Our Southfield Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Help You Recover
After a serious motorcycle crash, your job is to heal. Our job is to handle everything else, from the insurance adjusters to the evidence gathering to the courtroom if it comes to that. We take cases involving riders who were hit by a vehicle, run off the road, or seriously hurt because of a careless driver, a road hazard, or a defective part.
We have recovered millions for motorcycle accident victims, including a $9,500,000 result in a single motorcycle case. Those numbers reflect real people whose lives were changed in an instant, and the resources we poured into making them whole again. We bring that same level of commitment to every client who walks through our doors on Northwestern Highway.
Motorcycle cases are not like other car accident claims, and they should not be handled like them. Riders face unfair bias from juries and insurance companies alike, so building your case requires a deeper investigation and a sharper strategy. Our team works with accident reconstruction professionals, medical doctors, and economists to tell your full story.
Common Motorcycle Crash Injuries We Handle
Motorcycle crashes often result in injuries that change everything about how a person lives. Even with the best gear, a rider has very little protection compared to someone inside a car. The cases we handle most often involve injuries such as:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and concussions, including injuries that occur even when a helmet was worn
- Spinal cord damage leading to partial or complete paralysis
- Multiple broken bones, road rash, and crush injuries to the arms and legs
- Internal organ damage and serious burn injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one due to another driver’s negligence
These injuries often require months or years of treatment, and many lead to permanent changes in a person’s ability to work or enjoy daily life. We make sure every current and future cost is accounted for in your claim, so you are not left covering bills years down the road.
What Does Michigan Law Say About Motorcycle Accident Claims?
Michigan law gives motorcyclists important rights, but those rights work differently than they do for car drivers. Motorcycles are not considered “motor vehicles” under the Michigan No-Fault Act, which changes how Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits get paid after a crash.
This is one of the biggest reasons motorcycle claims need an attorney who truly understands the system.
Under MCL 500.3105 and the related no-fault provisions, an injured motorcyclist can still receive no-fault PIP benefits if a motor vehicle was involved in the crash. These benefits can pay for medical care, lost wages, and other accident-related expenses.
The order of priority for which insurance company pays follows a strict chain set by statute, and getting that wrong can delay your benefits for months.
Michigan also allows injured riders to pursue a third-party claim against the at-fault driver for pain and suffering, disfigurement, and other losses that no-fault does not cover. To win that kind of claim, you must show that the other driver caused the crash and that your injuries meet the legal threshold of a “serious impairment of body function.”
Our team has decades of experience proving those exact points in front of Michigan juries.
How the Michigan Helmet Law Affects Your Case
Michigan’s helmet law was changed in 2012, but many riders and even some lawyers still get it wrong. Under MCL 257.658, riders 21 and older may legally ride without a helmet if they meet specific insurance and experience requirements. Riders under 21 must always wear a U.S. Department of Transportation approved helmet.
Even if you were not wearing a helmet, you still have the right to pursue a claim. The insurance company may try to use your choice against you, but Michigan law does not bar your recovery simply because you were not helmeted. We know how to push back on those arguments and keep the focus where it belongs, which is on the driver who caused the crash.
Why Choose Christensen Law for Your Southfield Motorcycle Case?
Founded by Michigan Lawyers Weekly Hall of Fame attorney David Christensen, our firm has been advocating for injured Michiganders since 1991. We have earned a First-Tier ranking in Detroit in Personal Injury Litigation by U.S. News – Best Lawyers® for the 2026 Edition of “Best Law Firms,” along with recognition as a Martindale Hubbell AV Preeminent Law Firm.
Managing Partner Sarah Stempky-Kime is a recognized “Leader in the Law” and also an American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) member.
When you call our Southfield office, you get more than a brand name. You get a team that has tried motorcycle cases in front of Oakland County juries and knows how local courts work. You also get a firm rooted in three core principles that guide every case we take:
- Listen. We sit down with you, hear your story, and explain your options in plain language without empty promises.
- Protect. We deal with the insurance companies and at-fault parties on your behalf so you can focus on healing.
- Win. We pursue full compensation aggressively, and we are ready to take your case to trial when that is what it takes.
You pay nothing up front when you hire us, and you owe nothing unless we win your case. Consultations are always free, so there is no risk in picking up the phone today.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Motorcycle Crash?
The compensation you can recover depends on the severity of your injuries, the insurance available, and how the crash happened. Most full-recovery cases include both no-fault PIP benefits and a separate third-party lawsuit against the at-fault driver. The two work together to make sure as many of your losses as possible are covered.
No-fault PIP benefits in Michigan can include reasonable and necessary medical care, replacement services, and wage loss for up to three years after the crash.
For catastrophic injuries, the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association may provide lifetime coverage of certain medical expenses through your no-fault carrier. These benefits exist to keep you and your family afloat while your case is pending, and we make sure your insurer pays what the law requires.
A third-party claim can add compensation for pain and suffering, scarring, permanent loss of bodily function, and excess economic losses. In wrongful death cases, surviving family members may also recover for the loss of companionship, guidance, and financial support their loved one provided.
Our Southfield motorcycle accident attorneys have secured multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements in exactly these kinds of cases, and we know how to value every part of what you have lost.
How Long Do You Have to File a Motorcycle Accident Claim?
You generally have three years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit in Michigan, but no-fault PIP claims have much shorter deadlines.
Written notice of injury must be given to your no-fault insurer within one year, and claims for specific benefits must be made within one year of those expenses being incurred. Missing either deadline can permanently cost you the right to recover.
Wrongful death cases follow their own rules, and other deadlines may apply depending on whether a government vehicle or public agency was involved.
Crashes that happen on roads maintained by the City of Southfield, Oakland County, or the Michigan Department of Transportation may trigger notice requirements as short as 60 to 120 days. The safest path is always to talk with an attorney as soon as possible.
We take action quickly once you hire us, sending letters to preserve evidence, requesting traffic camera footage, and locating witnesses before memories fade. Skid marks disappear, vehicles get repaired, and dash cam footage gets overwritten, so every day matters. Our investigators have responded to crash scenes from I-696 to M-10, and we know what to look for.
Common Causes of Southfield Motorcycle Crashes
Southfield’s mix of busy commercial corridors, highway interchanges, and residential streets creates real risks for riders. Some of the most common causes of the crashes we see include:
- Drivers turning left in front of motorcyclists at intersections, especially along Telegraph Road and Twelve Mile Road
- Distracted drivers texting, eating, or looking at GPS instead of the road
- Drivers following too closely or changing lanes without checking blind spots
- Drunk or drug-impaired drivers, particularly in evening and late-night hours
- Road hazards like potholes, debris, or poor signage that disproportionately affect two-wheeled vehicles
Whatever caused your crash, we will investigate every angle and identify every party who may share legal responsibility. Sometimes, more than one driver, a government agency, or even a parts manufacturer may be liable, and we look at all of it.
How Do Insurance Companies Try to Reduce Motorcycle Claims?
Insurance companies use a familiar playbook to lower what they pay injured motorcyclists, and knowing that playbook is half the battle.
They may call you within days, ask for a recorded statement, and offer a quick settlement that sounds generous but covers only a fraction of your true losses. Once you sign a release, you usually cannot go back for more, even if your injuries get worse.
Adjusters also look for ways to blame the rider for the crash, even when the other driver clearly caused it. They may argue that you were speeding, lane-splitting, or not wearing the right gear, all in an effort to reduce their payout through Michigan’s comparative fault rules.
We push back hard on those tactics with evidence, medical opinions, and the same trial-tested approach that has produced verdicts in the millions.
You do not have to talk to the at-fault driver’s insurance company alone, and you should not. Once you hire us, all communication goes through our office. You can stop answering the calls, stop worrying about saying the wrong thing, and start focusing on your recovery.
FAQs Answered by a Southfield Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Below are answers to some of the questions our Southfield motorcycle accident clients ask most often. If you do not see your question here, please call us so we can talk through your specific situation.
What if the driver who hit me does not have insurance?
You may still have options through your own no-fault policy and through uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. Michigan also operates an assigned claims plan for situations where no other coverage is available. We can review every possible source of recovery during your free consultation, so no avenue gets missed.
Can I still recover compensation if I was partly at fault for the crash?
Yes, in most cases. As mentioned above, Michigan follows a modified comparative fault rule, which means you can recover damages as long as you were not more than 50 percent at fault for the crash. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault, so an experienced attorney can make a real difference in how that percentage is argued.
What if my loved one died in a motorcycle accident?
We are deeply sorry for your loss. Michigan’s wrongful death statute allows certain family members to pursue a claim for the losses caused by the death, including medical expenses, funeral costs, lost financial support, and loss of companionship. These cases are complex and emotionally heavy, and our team handles them with the care your family deserves.
Do motorcycle accident cases always go to trial?
No, most motorcycle accident cases settle before trial, but you should never hire a lawyer who is afraid to try one. Insurance companies pay more attention when they know your attorney has a real trial record, and ours does. We prepare every case as though it will go in front of a jury, so we are ready if it does.
How much does it cost to hire a Southfield motorcycle accident lawyer?
There is no cost to talk with us, and you pay nothing up front to hire us. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means our fee comes out of the settlement or verdict we recover for you. If we do not recover anything, you do not owe us a fee.
Will I have to deal with the insurance company myself?
Once you hire us, you will not have to. We handle all communication with the insurance companies, including your own no-fault carrier and the at-fault driver’s insurer. You can focus on healing while we focus on building your case.
Talk to Our Southfield Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today
You have already been through enough. Now is the time to let our Southfield motorcycle accident lawyers carry the legal weight so you can focus on your health and your family. With offices in Southfield, Detroit, Ann Arbor, Troy, and Grand Rapids, we are ready to stand with riders across Michigan,from the D to the UP.
At Christensen Law, our promise is simple: we listen, we protect, and we win for the people who trust us. There are no up front costs, the consultation is always free, and you owe us nothing unless we recover for you. Reach out today and let us start fighting for the future you deserve.
Call our Southfield office at 248-600-4591 or schedule your free consultation online right now.
