Motorcycle accidents are getting more dangerous and deadly in Michigan. Just over a decade ago, there were 110 fatalities. In 2021, around 170 fatalities were reported. The number of motorcycle accident injuries ha also increased, with over 2,700 reported injuries in 2021. Our Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Detroit specialize in investigating these cases for injury victims and their families. We have recovered tens of millions for our clients, making sure they receive proper financial recovery and justice.
Unfortunately, Michigan has done little to reduce the number of severe motorcycle accidents. In fact, since Michigan permitted helmetless motorcycle driving in 2012, the number of severe motorcycle injuries has increased. This has been especially true for closed head injuries and traumatic brain injury.
Despite the freedom it brings, the risk of fatality and severe injuries increase when riders are not wearing a helmet. Deteriorating highways and streets, filled with potholes and broken up concrete has not helped matters either.
Of course, there are many other reasons why someone might get severely injured in a motorcycle accident in Detroit. But no matter how it happens, the results can be life changing and cause a tremendous financial burden.
If you or a loved one are injured or even killed in a motorcycle accident in Detroit, call a law firm that are experts in getting all the benefits and compensation available for you. At The Lee Steinberg Law Firm, our motorcycle accident lawyers in Detroit are dedicated to helping injured victims and their loved ones navigate this trying time and get the high-value settlement they deserve.
Types of Detroit Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents can happen in numerous ways. Most often, it is the result of a negligent driver. Some of the most common types of motorcycle accidents in Detroit include:
Head-On Motorcycle Accidents
Head-on collisions are very common with any kind of vehicle, including motorcycles. Unfortunately, head-on collisions for motorcyclists are more serious than they are for passengers or drivers in other vehicles.
T-Bone Motorcycle Accidents
T-bone collisions often occur when drivers run red lights or stop signs at an intersection. They can also occur when a driver enters an intersection without looking or making sure they have the right-of-way. Side impact crashes involving a motorcycle are often are severe because the force of impact can throw the rider or passenger off the bike. This can result in catastrophic injuries and even fatalities.
Left-Turn Motorcycle Accidents
A left-turn motorcycle accident happens when a motorcyclist is traveling straight and another vehicle turns left in front of them, effectively cutting them off and causing them to crash. According to the NHTSA, left turns are among the most dangerous driving maneuvers that can result in severe accidents.
Sideswipe Motorcycle Accidents
Sideswipes occur when a driver gets too close to a motorcyclist and strikes the side of the bike. This can happen by accident if the driver doesn’t see or notice the motorcyclist. But it can also occur because some drivers get annoyed by motorcyclists and don’t like to share the road with them. The driver will act negligent, getting too close to the bike and forcing the motorcyclist off the road.
There are different ways to determine fault, or negligence, after a motorcycle accident in metro Detroit. A knowledgeable and aggressive Detroit motorcycle accident attorney will conduct a detailed investigation to determine who caused the crash and why.
The best way to get quick information on how a crash occurred is by obtaining the police report. In Michigan, they are called UD-10 reports, or traffic crash reports. They are prepared by the investigating officers after each crash and provide a reason for the crash and identifies the parties involved in the motorcycle accident.
Witness statements are a major part in determining who caused the accident. Police reports are hearsay and not admissible into evidence. However, the testimony of a witness is admissible and provides the best evidence as to why a driver caused the motorcycle crash.
Another way to determine who caused a motorcycle crash is by using an accident reconstruction expert. An accident reconstruction expert is usually a former police officer who had special training in traffic crash investigation. This person can analyze the “black box” of a car, or the electronic data recorder, and find out key information to what a vehicle was doing before it hit the motorcyclist. This can include analyzing speed and braking.
Road rash is one of the most common types of motorcycle accident injuries. Also referred to as road burn, this type of injury occurs when the motorcyclist’s body skids or scrapes across the ground in an accident. When this happens, the skin, muscles, fat, and nerves can be affected, and in some cases, the bones can even become exposed.
Road rash and road burn injuries are quite painful. Besides leaving the skin red, raw, and inflamed, depending on the degree of burn surgery such as a skin graft may be required.
There are three levels of road rash or road burn:
- First-degree: The skin is red and inflamed, but the skin is not broken.
- Second-degree: The first layer of skin is broken and exposed.
- Third-degree: The skin is significantly damaged and torn away, potentially exposing muscles, tendons, nerves, fat, and bone.
Road rash can result in huge medical bills and lost time from work. A Detroit motorcycle accident lawyer who specializes in personal injury cases can make sure these harms and losses get compensated.
The steps you take following your Detroit motorcycle accident can play a significant role in how your case turns out. The most important steps you should take are as follows:
- Call 911 and get immediate medical attention
- Collect and exchange insurance information with the other parties involved in the crash
- Make sure the police arrive and a report is made
- Gather evidence at the scene—this includes taking photos, videos, and getting the names and telephone numbers of witnesses statements
- Contact your insurance company to get a claim started
- Contact an experienced Detroit motorcycle accident lawyer
After a motorcycle accident in Detroit, you will need to work with your attorney to establish liability. In other words, you will have to provide evidence and any other necessary documents to show what happened and prove who was at fault.
Potentially liable parties in a Detroit motorcycle accident can include:
- Another driver
- A pedestrian
- A bicyclist
- The motorcycle manufacturer if a defect caused the accident
- A local municipality if poor road conditions caused the accident
It can be complicated to sort out who will pay for your no-fault accident claim, but there is a proper order to follow. This is called the order of priority. Unlike standard car accident cases, in a motorcycle accident the auto insurance carrier for the owner of the motor vehicle involved in the crash is responsible for paying first-party benefits. If they don’t have car insurance, then you look to the auto insurance of the vehicle’s driver.
If the driver doesn’t have car insurance either, then you turn to your own car insurance to pay the claim. This occurs even though your own car was not involved in the crash.
If there is no auto insurance at any of these levels, then the injured motorcycle driver or passenger can turn to the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan (MACP). After an application for benefits is completed, the MACP will then assign an auto insurance company, such as Nationwide or Allstate, to pay PIP benefits.
The value of your Michigan motorcycle accident injury case depends on factors like the cost of your medical bills, whether someone was negligent, how much pain and suffering you endured, scarring, and injuries. There is no magic formula, which is why you need the assistance of an experienced Detroit motorcycle accident attorney. You can also use our Free Case Evaluation Form.
As motorcycles have become an increasingly popular form of transportation, the number of motorcycle accidents has steadily increased. It’s no surprise motorcyclists are much more likely than car occupants to die or become injured in a crash, as the lack of barrier between the motorcycle driver and the object with which they are colliding makes them especially vulnerable. What’s more surprising, however, is that when it comes to motorcycle accidents involving another vehicle, the driver of the other vehicle violated the motorcycle right-of-way and caused the accident in 66% of these cases. That was the case with one of our clients in Detroit.
Why You Should Hire a Detroit Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
If you are injured in a motorcycle accident in Michigan, a Detroit motorcycle accident lawyer can help.
Motorcycle accidents can be traumatic and leave you with severe and even life-threatening injuries. Managing your injuries and your well-being while also trying to manage a personal injury case can be challenging. But with the help of a lawyer, the process can go a lot smoother and you are more likely to get better results.
Insurance companies, for example, often try to offer reduced settlement amounts, hoping the victim will agree because they just want to get the process over with or because they don’t know that their case is worth more money.
With an experienced Detroit motorcycle accident lawyer, however, you will have someone there to handle all the difficult work and who can stand up against the insurance company to ensure they pay you the full settlement you deserve.
One of the Best Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Detroit
For over 40 years, The Lee Steinberg Law Firm has helped injured victims win their cases to collect the compensation they need and deserve. We care about the health and well-being of our clients. The results of a Detroit motorcycle accident can be devastating—let us help you get the benefits you need to recover and move on as comfortably as possible.
Please call Lee Steinberg and the Detroit motorcycle accident lawyers at 1-800-LEE-FREE (1-800-533-3733) or fill out the Free Case Evaluation Form so we can answer any questions you may have about your accident. You pay nothing until we settle your Michigan personal injury case.
