Detroit Motorcycle Accident Attorney

People of all ages, backgrounds, and occupations enjoy motorcycle riding. Most bikers are safe and responsible, but unfortunately, those around them are often not.

Besides negligent drivers, potholes and other defects can cause motorcycle accidents on Michigan roadways. Motorcycle riders are at risk of suffering devastating injuries or even death. Despite wearing helmets and safety gear, they remain mostly unprotected from the impact of other vehicles.

When bikers suffer injuries, they can face obstacles to obtaining compensation from their own insurance company and the other driver’s insurer. Government entities can sometimes add insult and frustration to an already difficult situation.

If you have been hurt in a Michigan motorcycle accident, an experienced personal injury lawyer who understands the state’s motorcycle laws can help you recover the compensation you deserve.

Motorcyclists Face Risk of Injuries and Death

Motorcyclists are at a greater risk of death than the drivers with whom they share Michigan’s roads. Nationwide, bikers are nearly 30 percent more likely to die in a crash than car or truck drivers per mile traveled. They account for many more traffic fatalities per rider than the general driving population.

It is easy to guess why motorcyclists’ injury and fatality rates are higher than other drivers. Unlike cars, bikers do not have the protection of seat belts, steel frames, or airbags. When a motorcyclist loses control or is struck by a vehicle, they can be thrown to the ground, into other objects, or oncoming traffic. The impact can cause debilitating injuries and is often fatal.

What Causes Motorcycle Accidents?

Many of the same factors that cause car crashes are also responsible for motorcycle accidents. Unsafe driving behaviors like speeding, drunk driving, drowsy driving, or distracted driving increase the risk of collisions.

Crashes become even more likely when negligent drivers fail to give bikers the same respect and attention as other vehicles on the road. Motorcycles can maneuver in ways that other drivers may not expect. Additionally, their smaller frame can make them difficult to spot, particularly while making turns or driving at night.

Sometimes unsafe road conditions, such as potholes or slick roads, contribute to causing a crash. A road defect that might cause a car driver only a moment of discomfort can throw a biker off their motorcycle or cause them to lose control. The following are other factors that lead to many motorcycle accidents:

• Lane splitting.
• Unsafe lane changes.
• Inexperienced or unlicensed bikers.
• Road hazards, pavement defects, or obstacles.
• Faulty motorcycle parts.

Motorcycle Accident Injuries

Michigan motorcycle riders involved in accidents have little to no protection from large vehicles like cars, SUVs, and trucks. The injuries from a crash can be severe, potentially causing permanent disabilities or death. Failing to wear a protective helmet can increase a rider’s risk of fatal or debilitating injuries.

Bikers may sustain many injuries in a motorcycle accident, from scratches and bruises to head trauma and lost limbs. Common injuries include:

• Head injuries.
• Concussions.
• Traumatic brain injuries.
• Fractures and broken bones.
• Neck injuries.
• Spinal cord injuries.
• Amputated limbs.
• Internal bleeding.
• Organ damage.
• Soft tissue injuries.
• Burn injuries.

Understanding Michigan’s Motorcycle Helmet Law

Wearing a helmet is essential for staying safe on the road. Helmets provide great protection from severe head and brain injuries. However, they are only mandatory in Michigan for people under 21.

Motorcyclists can legally choose not to wear a helmet on the road if they meet certain requirements. To qualify, riders must:

• Maintain at least $20,000 of first-party medical benefit insurance.
• Pass a motorcycle safety course or hold an endorsement for two years.

The same requirements apply to motorcycle passengers. Anyone riding a motorcycle must wear a helmet unless they are over 21 and meet both the above criteria.

Damages in Motorcycle Accident Cases

While not all motorcycle accident injuries are catastrophic, many require medical treatment that can cost thousands of dollars. Sometimes, victims may need ongoing rehabilitative care. The road to recovery can be long, requiring extensive time off work. The financial burden of expensive medical bills and the emotional trauma of being involved in a crash can take a tremendous toll.

If you have been injured in a Michigan motorcycle accident, you may be able to recover compensation for medical costs, lost income, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and other expenses arising from the crash. You may also be eligible for punitive damages if the driver who caused the motorcycle accident behaved recklessly. Family members who lost a loved one due to a motorcycle accident can file a wrongful death lawsuit to recover damages.

Pursuing Compensation

Unfortunately, bikers may face obstacles to getting compensation for their injuries. Hiring a motorcycle accident attorney with the advocacy skills and knowledge to cut through the legal hurdles can make all the difference. Otherwise, a motorcyclist injured by another driver’s negligence could go without the compensation and justice they deserve.

Michigan insurance companies often try to blame riders for causing their own motorcycle accident. However, even motorcyclists who were partially responsible for the crash may still pursue compensation. The court will reduce any damages they receive by their percentage of fault.

Sommers Schwartz has decades of experience helping clients obtain out-of-court settlements and damages in the courtroom. We know how to stand up to insurance companies and protect the rights of motorcycle accident victims. We fight for motorcyclists’ rights with respect, commitment, and an appreciation of their difficulties after a devastating accident.

To prove your case, we will thoroughly investigate your collision. We will gather police crash reports, medical records, witness statements, accident reconstruction expert analysis, and other evidence supporting your claim. Our Michigan motorcycle accident lawyers do everything possible to recover full compensation for our clients. We have the advocacy skills and dedication needed to obtain just compensation to help bikers recover and get back on the road.

Michigan Motorcycle Accident Attorneys

Injured Michigan bikers have steadfast allies in the motorcycle accident attorneys at Sommers Schwartz. We have lawyers who ride, so we have the utmost respect for bikers and understand the challenges they face on the road. Our law firm handles every aspect of these cases, allowing clients to focus on healing from their injuries and rebuilding their lives.

If you are a biker who has suffered injuries and losses because of another driver’s negligence or lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident, the Michigan motorcycle accident lawyers of Sommers Schwartz can help.

Please contact us today to arrange your free initial consultation. Because we work on a contingency fee basis, there is no fee until we win.