Michigan Bicycle Accident Lawyers

The Michigan bicycle accident lawyers at the Buckfire Law Firm help victims of bicycle accidents on streets, highways, and roadways.

Our injury lawyers win the top settlements for injured bicyclists and e-bike riders every year in Michigan. We will do the same for you.

In addition to traditional bicycles, we also help people injured riding other types of cycles, including adult trikes, recumbent bikes, and tandem bicycles. For many people, cycling is a great form of exercise. For others, it is the primary mode of transportation.

In many cities, riding a bike to work is easier, faster, and much cheaper than driving a car. Some employers even offer incentives to employees who pedal to the office. And of course, riding a bike is a rite of passage for children and active teenagers without a driver’s license. Unfortunately, many motor vehicle drivers ignore the rights of bicyclists and this results in serious bicycle accidents in Michigan.

Settlement claims can be filed for personal injuries caused in these crashes. In cases involving a fatal bicycle accident, the families of the person killed can file a wrongful death claim in Michigan.

Our experienced Michigan bicycle accident attorneys can help you if your bicycle accident was today or anytime in the past.  We are the legal experts in Michigan bicycle law.

• Bicycle accident statistics in Michigan
• Bicycle riding laws in Michigan
• Do I need to file a police report?
• What are the most common injuries?
• Can I sue for pain and suffering damages?
• Michigan bicycle accident settlement examples
• How much time do I have to file a lawsuit?

Statistics Show Bicycle Michigan Accidents Are Common

The statistics for bicycle accidents in Michigan are staggering. The figures apply to all types of cycles that were not motorized at the time of use. Mopeds, scooters, and motorcycles are not included.

In 2020, there were 1,235 bicyclists involved in crashes with motor vehicles in Michigan. Of that number, there were 37 fatal accidents and 933 bicyclists were injured according to police bike accident reports.

More than 70% of Michigan bicycle accidents occurred during daylight hours, which shows that in most cases motorists were simply not paying attention or were distracted while driving. In addition to the 38 deaths, there were hundreds of injuries caused in bicycle accidents, many of them very serious.

The pie chart above shows the number of deaths for each age group for bicyclists in 2020. According to Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, 1 out of 5 deaths happens to people injured in a bicycle accident with a motor vehicle under the age of 16, with a majority of deaths happening to adults in the 21-64 age range.

Age Group: % of Total Deaths

• 11 And Under: 2.6%
• 11-15: 2.6%
• 16-20: 2.6%
• 21-64: 2.6%
• 65 And Older: 31.6%

What to Do After a Bicycle Accident

The most important thing an injured cyclist can do immediately after a bicycle accident is to call emergency services.

If possible, get the driver or other at-fault party’s name, address, phone number, plate number, and insurance information could be key for a future claim. Furthermore, photographing the scene of the accident and giving a statement to a law enforcement officer is also very helpful.

A Michigan-based bicycle accident lawyer at Buckfire Law will immediately start our investigation of your case.  We know the ins and outs of the Michigan bicycle accident law. Our own investigators will track down eyewitnesses and get surveillance video that the investigating police department may not ever get.

You should not admit any potential guilt or fault at the scene and definitely do not speak with another person’s insurance company adjuster. They are trained to get you to say things to ruin your case. You will want all of your communication with the adjuster to come through our experienced Michigan bicycle accident lawyers.

Do I Need to File a Police Report?

It is important to file a police report after your Michigan bicycle accident, even if you have a minor injury.

For serious accidents, the police will likely arrive at the scene to do an investigation and will prepare a traffic crash report.

Michigan law requires drivers to report any motor vehicle accident that causes more than $1,000 in property damage, results in death or injury, or damages an unattended vehicle or other property. A written report is not always required as long as the accident is reported. However, many auto insurance company policies require that you file a written report with a police agency within 24 hours of the accident. This may be necessary to qualify for insurance benefits and compensation.

If you were injured in the bicycle accident, contact your insurance company immediately to report any damage to your bike and injuries to yourself.

For injuries requiring medical treatment, bicycle accident victims need to file an Application for No-Fault Insurance Benefits if you qualify under Michigan law.  Our Michigan bicycle accident lawyers will identify the proper insurance company and assisting in filing your no fault claims.

What are my Rights after a Hit and Run Bike Accident?

If the at fault driver who struck you flees after the bicycle accident, you can still pursue several claims. If there is physical evidence or an eyewitness to support you were the victim of a hit-and-run accident, then you can file a claim for no-fault insurance benefits. Also, you may be able to file an uninsured motorist claim for your personal injuries if you or a member of your household had this coverage in your auto policy.

Who Pays my Medical Bills and Lost Wages?

A bicyclist hit by a car in Michigan is entitled to no fault benefits.  These auto insurance benefits include payment of medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses.

Your medical bills are claimed through the Michigan no-fault insurance system if you were injured in a bicycle accident with a motor vehicle. You are entitled to receive these benefits, even if you were at fault for the crash. If you have health insurance, the benefits may be coordinated between the two companies.

If you were seriously injured, your medical bills will pile up quickly. This can cause you serious financial hardship if you do not take the proper steps to file your claims for benefits. We will determine which company must pay your bills and will file your claims for you.

Other no-fault insurance benefits you can claim include payment of your lost wages, household service expenses, attendant care services, medical transportation expenses, and other benefits.

If you are disabled from your injuries, you can recover lost wages for up to three years after a Michigan bicycle accident.

Benefits will either come from your own car insurance or the car insurance of a family member that you lived with at the time of the accident. If none of these people had car insurance, you can get still get benefits through the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan.

In fatal bicycle accident cases, your family members can claim Survivor Loss Benefits from the insurance company. These benefits provide financial help for a spouse, children, and dependents.

An Application for No Fault Benefits must be filed within one year of the crash.  And, claims must generally be made within one year of the date incurred.

Our Michigan bicycle accident lawyers will help you file the necessary paperwork to file your claims for no fault benefits.  We submit all claims and paperwork with the proper insurer.

How Much Time Do I Have to File a Lawsuit?

Under Michigan law, the time limit to sue someone for personal injuries from a bike accident is three years from the date of the accident. This is known as the Statute of Limitations.

The time deadlines are much shorter for no-fault insurance benefits. The period is longer if the injured person was a minor at the time of the crash.

If you miss the deadline, your claims are gone forever.  As such, you should hire a Michigan bicycle accident lawyer at the beginning to ensure you meet all deadlines.

Michigan Bicycle Law

Motorists in Michigan are required to follow all rules of the roads and drive their vehicles in a safe manner. These must be in accordance with posted speed limits, traffic signs, and traffic lights.

Michigan bicycle law requires cyclists to comply with the laws of motor vehicles, and even have additional laws imposed on them. For example, a bicyclist must obey the same traffic signals and signs as a motorist.

In addition, bicycles may be ridden on sidewalks, but cyclists must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and are required to give an audible signal before overtaking and passing a pedestrian.

Some municipalities have their own traffic control devices or ordinances restricting riding on sidewalks. Also, a cyclist lawfully operating a bicycle upon a sidewalk or a pedestrian crosswalk has all of the rights and responsibilities applied to pedestrians using sidewalks and crosswalks.

Michigan does not have any laws requiring cyclists to wear helmets, but it is always safe practice to avoid a traumatic brain injury.

The Center for Disease Control has determined bicycle helmets are the single most effective measure available to reduce head injuries and fatalities in bicycle accidents.

Our Michigan-based bicycle accident attorneys will use bicycle accident laws to get you the maximum possible settled and get your no fault benefits paid.

Most Common Causes of Cycling Crashes in Michigan

Most auto accidents occur due to driver error and inattention. The most common causes of bicycle accidents are:

• Excessive speed
• Failure to yield and not obeying traffic signals or signs
• Unlawful turns (often left turns at intersections & right turns with a bicyclist on the right side)
• Distracted driving (texting & cell phone usage)
• Sideswiping a bicyclist
• Crossing into marked bicycle lanes
• Driving into bicycle lanes, crosswalks, and sidewalks without regard for bicyclists

A detailed investigation by a Michigan bicycle accident lawyer will prove fault for the accident. In many cases, the police officer will determine the bike rider was at fault for the crash even when this was clearly not the case. Our personal injury law firm will fully investigate your case to prove that another person was the true cause of the bicycle accident.

Bicycle Lane Accidents

Many cities and counties have installed specific bicycle lanes on the side of roads and highways to protect cyclists. They are designated with markings that direct cyclists in the direction of travel.

It is illegal for motor vehicles to drive into those lanes, except when making turns from the travel lane. Despite these clearly marked lanes, many drivers cross into those lanes and hit people lawfully riding their bikes in the designated safe zones.

Bicyclists Hit in Crosswalks

One of the most common places where bicycle accidents occur is on crosswalks. This happens in a number of circumstances, all of which might lead to severe injuries to the cyclist. If so, the injured biker should pursue compensation against the negligent driver.

For example, if a driver fails to slow down or yield the right of way to a bicyclist who is already in a crosswalk, they run the risk of colliding with the bicyclist. Other times, a motorist turning right onto a street without first looking can hit a bike rider lawfully the crosswalk.

Potholes and Poorly Maintained Roads

Roads and streets that are deteriorating and in poor conditions pose a significant danger to cyclists.

Under these circumstances, an injured bicyclist may file a claim against the government entity responsible for maintaining the street or the road crew not repairing the hazard. Our bicycle accident attorneys will inspect and photograph the road defect and determine if you can file a claim for personal injury damages.

Common Injuries from Michigan Bicycle Accidents

There is rarely a minor injury that results from a motor vehicle striking a bicyclist, even at minor speeds. Due to the general lack of safety, bicycle accidents often result in serious injuries.

While wearing a bicycle helmet and other safety equipment helps reduce injuries, they are not always enough to prevent a severe injury.

Common injuries suffered by bicycle accident victims include, but are not limited to:

• Scrapes, bruises, and cuts
• Broken and fractured bones
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Neck injuries resulting in paralysis and nerve damage
• Spinal cord damage, herniated discs, and other back injuries
• Head and brain trauma, including concussions
• Death

The bar chart above shows the number of deaths from bicyclist accidents in 2022 for each month. The number of deaths increase in the summer months and decrease beginning winter months.

What If I Am Injured by a Hit and Run Driver?

Many Michigan bicycle and e-bike accidents are caused by a hit and run driver.  Either the at fault driver is unaware that a bicyclist was struck or simply flees the scene to avoid potential criminal and civil legal consequences.  For a case involving a hit and run driver, the injured bicyclist can receive no fault insurance benefits.

In addition, a claim for uninsured motorist benefits can be made for pain and suffering damages if the biker had an insurance policy that provided this coverage.  Or, if the injured bicyclist lived in a household with a relative that had an insurance policy providing uninsured motorist coverage.

Can I Sue the At-Fault Driver that Caused My Injuries?

Most bicycle accident lawsuits are based on the legal theory of negligence. This means that someone failed to take proper care in doing something.

For bike accidents, it means that a motor vehicle driver either was careless, reckless or violated a driving rule of the road.

You can sue the at-fault driver for your personal injuries suffered in your accident. You can also sue the owner of the vehicle driven by the at-fault driver. These claims are in addition to payment of your medical expenses and other no-fault insurance benefits.

A personal injury settlement provides monetary compensation for your pain and suffering, psychological damages, disability, and disfiguring scars. Our Michigan bicycle accident lawyers work hard to prove the extent of your losses and this helps maximize your settlement.  The Buckfire Law legal team will aggressively pursue your case.

What Is Comparative Negligence?

A common insurance company defense strategy for the at fault driver is to blame the bicycle accident victim. This legal theory, called comparative negligence, tries to place the blame for the crash on the cyclist.

If successful, the jury can reduce the damages awarded to the cyclist by his or her percentage of fault. For example, if the jury awards the sum of $100,000 but puts 30% of the blame on the cyclist, the resulting award would be $70,000 based upon the 70% fault attributed to the motorist for the bicycle accident.

Many times, the investigating police blame the bicyclist even though it was the motorist that was at fault for the crash. Our Michigan bicycle accident lawyers will locate and interview witnesses, get surveillance video, and hire an accident reconstruction expert to prove you were not at fault for the crash.

What Types of Compensation Are Available for Bicycle Accidents?

Michigan law allows for several types of recoverable damage in personal injury cases. You can demand compensation for both economic and non-economic losses from the at-fault driver.

These are known as a third party claim and include, but are not limited to:

• Past, present, and future wages and loss of earnings
• Loss of enjoyment of life, such as disability from activities
• Medical expenses—such as hospital bills, medical bills, rehabilitation, and physical therapy
• Physical pain and suffering at the time of the crash and during your recovery
• Mental anguish and psychological damages
• Loss of companionship, consortium
• Decreased earning capacity
• Scars and disfigurements

How Much Money Can You Sue for Pain and Suffering?

There is no limit to the amount you can sue for pain and suffering.  Most often, the more severe the injury, the more money you will receive.

Your bicycle accident settlement will be determined by the specific facts of your case because there is no average or typical payout amount.

Pain and suffering damages are proven by your own testimony and medical records. The testimony of your family members and treating doctors is also helpful.

What Is the Typical Amount of a Bicycle Accident Settlement?

There is no settlement calculator or average bicycle accident settlement used for determining the payout amount in your case. Every claim is completely different and based upon a number of factors used to determine the worth of your injury claim. These include:

• Severity and permanence of your injuries.
• Type and length of medical treatment, including surgeries and rehabilitation.
• The amount of physical and emotional pain and suffering.
• Nature and length of any disabilities.
• The severity of any scars or disfigurement.
• How the injuries have affected your ability to lead a normal life.

Other settlement factors include whether you had an excess loss of income, a loss of future earning capacity, medical bills, and the permanency of your injuries.

If your pain and disability will go into the future, your settlement will be much higher than if you have fully recovered.

The amount of insurance for the negligent motorist and other potential sources of insurance coverage also factor into the determination of your settlement amount. Our Michigan bicycle accident lawyers will investigate all possible sources of insurance to recover compensation and make sure you receive the highest possible settlement.

Bicycle Accident Settlement Example

A senior citizen was riding his bike and was struck by a truck as he entered the crosswalk at a major intersection. The bicyclist died from the collision and the family brought a wrongful death lawsuit against the truck driver and the vehicle owner.

The defendants argued the bicycle accident was the fault of the bicyclist for entering the road against the traffic light. The plaintiff’s attorney argued the evidence showed the truck driver was a fault for making an illegal right turn when the decedent had the right of way in the crosswalk.

The decedent was survived by a large and close-knit family. The parties litigated the case and the case went to trial. The jury awarded the estate a total of $2,100,000.

Examples of Michigan Bicycle Accident Settlements

Below is an example of bicycle accident settlements throughout Michigan:

• $5,500,000 settlement for a fatal bicycle accident victim in Northern Michigan
• $4,500,000 settlement for passenger removing his bike from a Detroit bus
• $2,000,000 wrongful death lawsuit verdict for a Lansing child hit by a pickup truck.
• $1,750,000 bicycle accident settlement in Oakland County for a child with severe injuries hit by a car while riding his bike
• $1,250,000 fatal bike accident settlement in Otsego County
• $1,000,000 wrongful death settlement against a truck company in a Macomb County
• $750,000 settlement for a bicyclist hit by a transportation van in Downriver Detroit
• $600,000 settlement for a bicyclist with a brain injury in an Ann Arbor accident

Do I Need a Bicycle Accident Lawyer to Settle My Case?

You can always try to settle your injury case without a bike wreck lawyer. However, studies show that injury victims receive much higher settlement awards when represented by an experienced personal injury attorney. They end up with more money for themselves even after paying the lawyer fees.

If you try to settle your third party claim without an attorney, be aware of any releases the insurance company adjuster will demand you sign.

You may unknowingly give up many of your important legal rights and benefits forever. Also, beware the adjuster may not tell you the real insurance policy limits or other types of insurance coverage that will bring you a larger settlement.  It is wise to choose a legal team with  skilled and experienced bicycle accident lawyers to win your case.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Michigan Bicycle Accident Attorney?

It will not cost you a penny to hire the bicycle accident lawyers at the Buckfire Law Firm. We do not charge any legal fees to start your personal injury case and we charge no legal fees unless you recover compensation. We only get paid when you receive your settlement check.

Under this arrangement, called a contingency fee agreement, we also pay all case expenses for you. We are paid a percentage of the settlement at the very end of the case when your check is received. There are no legal fees if the case is unsuccessful for any reason. You owe us nothing.

Buckfire Law Named Bicycle Friendly Business

Buckfire Law was among 103 nationwide businesses this year to be named a Bicycle Friendly Business by The League of American Bicyclists.

Buckfire Law was a recipient of the bronze award in recognition of its outstanding efforts to support and encourage bicycling. This award was given to only a select group of bicycle accident lawyers who understand the intricacies of Michigan bicycle accident law.

Founded in 1880, The League of American Bicyclists celebrates the communities, businesses, and universities joining the movement to make biking better each year through its Bicycle Friendly America awards.

“There are few better grassroots ways to make bicycling an easy transportation choice for people than by destinations–the places we want and need to go–becoming Bicycle Friendly Businesses,” executive director of the League of American Bicyclists Bill Nesper said in a statement. “We’re thrilled that these 153 businesses are part of this movement to make our communities stronger, safer, and more connected through bicycling.”

The Bicycle Friendly Business program recognizes organizations for the role they play in the ecosystem of building a more Bicycle Friendly America for everyone. The League also awards Bicycle Friendly Universities and Bicycle Friendly Communities throughout the year.

Finding the Best Michigan Bicycle Accident Attorneys

Buckfire Law is a respected law firm for more than 53 years. Our bicycle accident attorneys have achieved the top awards in the legal profession.

We have law offices in Southfield, Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Macomb County. However, we handle Michigan bicycle accident cases on a state-wide basis.

We have won settlements for bicyclists in Lansing, Port Huron, Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, Grand Rapids, Royal Oak, Traverse City, and throughout Michigan.

The difference between winning a great settlement or no settlement is the attorney you choose for your case. We have the skill and experience to win your case.

Call us now to tell us your story. Our Michigan bicycle accident lawyers are ready and eager to begin work on your case immediately.

Michigan Bicycle Accident References and Resources

• Michigan Traffic Crash Facts
• League of Michigan Bicyclists

Legally reviewed by:

Lawrence J. Buckfire, J.D., Lead Trial Attorney at Buckfire Law
Lawrence J. Buckfire, J.D. has over 30 years of experience specializing in personal injury and wrongful death cases. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and attended Wayne State University School of Law. Lawrence has been named a Super Lawyer, U.S. News Best Lawyer, and in The National Trial Lawyers-Top 100 Trial Lawyers.
Date of Review: Nov., 2024