- December 10, 2018
- Bicycle Accidents
- Personal Injury
The Rights of a Bicyclist in Michigan
Most Michigan bike accidents are with other motor vehicles. This is because car and truck drivers are often unwilling to share the road with bicyclists, and may cause serious accidents out of negligence or frustration with bikers. While bicyclists do have roughly the same rights and responsibilities as drivers on the road, and may share in some level of fault for an accident, Michigan observes a “no-fault” rule for car accident cases – meaning that you can still recover compensation even if you contributed to your accident.
What Compensation Can I Expect In My Accident Case?
Bicycles are not considered motor vehicles under Michigan law, which means bicyclists can recover compensation from a serious accident in two primary ways. The first is to make a no-fault insurance claim with the driver’s personal injury protection (or PIP) insurance provider, which can help cover your economic and financial damages. Covering medical payments, in-home care, lost wages, and property damage, this can help you find some peace of mind for the future.
However, this isn’t always enough to truly compensate for your pain and suffering. If you’ve sustained a catastrophic injury, like a Traumatic Brain Injury or paralysis, you may be out of work for the time being, or even permanently. In those cases, you can pursue a third-party claim to cover non-economic damages too.
Because every bicycle accident is different, the amounts awarded in an injury claim can vary dramatically too. That’s why it’s important that you review your case with a qualified Michigan bicycle accident attorney. Our trusted team at Goodman Acker P.C. has more than 75 years of collective experience, with multiple million-dollar verdicts won on behalf of our clients. We can help you determine what happened, and how much compensation you may be eligible to receive.
If you have any questions about your liability or potential for compensation in a bike accident, contact us at (248) 286-8100 for a consultation! We serve clients throughout the Tri-County area.