Michigan Motorcycle Accident Questions | FAQs & Answers

It is best to hire a lawyer to help you after a motorcycle crash.  There are a number of claims that should be reviewed and handled by an experienced attorney.  These include interviewing eyewitnesses, tracking down insurance information, and presenting claims for lost wages and medical bills.  There are issues related to insurance coverage that you likely will not be able to get on your own.  And, studies show that injury victims still get more money in their pocket even after paying a lawyer to help with the personal injury settlement.

In Michigan, a person injured in a motorcycle accident must generally file a lawsuit within 3 years under the statute of limitations. If you fail to meet that deadline, your case will be destroyed forever and you cannot sue for your injuries. It is essential that you contact an experienced Michigan accident and injury lawyer as soon as possible so that you do not lose your rights to a fair settlement.

There is no specific formula on how much you can get compensated after a motorcycle accident in Michigan. Compensation is all dependent on the amount of pain and suffering you experience as a result of the crash as well as the skill and expertise of the lawyer you hire to represent you in your accident case. Factors such as the seriousness of your injuries and the effects it has had on your life, the type of medical treatment you received for the injuries and future treatment, the amount of lost wages you have incurred if the injuries resulting does not allow you to go back to work, and more.

Yes, you can receive pain and suffering damages after a Michigan motorcycle accident. These damages include the loss of enjoyment of life, disability, and compensation for the pain and suffering that you experienced as a result of the collision.

These damages are often significant and depend on a number of factors, which include: severity of injuries, size and location of any scars or disfigurements, psychological trauma, the medical treatment that is required, hospital expenses, lost wages, effects of the injuries from the motorcycle accident on your life, and the amount of the insurance policy limits.

Victims injured in a hit and run motorcycle accident do have legal rights. If the motorcyclist had insurance on his/her motorcycle, and assuming the other vehicle involved in the hit and run was a motor vehicle, the motorcyclist could make a claim for Michigan No Fault benefits. If the hit and run owner and operator were never identified, the motorcyclist’s auto insurer would be first in priority to pay these benefits, which include items such as medical expenses, medical mileage, attendant care, replacement services and wage loss. If the motorcyclist did not have insurance on his/her motorcycle, he/she will not qualify for No Fault benefits. If the hit and run vehicle was not a motor vehicle (i.e., not a car or truck), the motorcyclist could make a claim for medical benefits pursuant to his/her own motorcycle insurance policy if he/she had medical payment coverage on his/her policy. Further, the motorcyclist could make a claim for “pain and suffering” compensation against his/her own motorcycle insurer pursuant to “uninsured motorist” coverage if such coverage is provided on their policy.

Yes. Because wearing a helmet is optional, you can still get a settlement if you were not wearing one at the time of the crash.  There is no reduction in your settlement award or a verdict amount if you did not have on a helmet.