Southfield Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Key takeaways:

• • Even if another driver is clearly at fault, insurance companies often display a bias against motorcyclists, making skilled legal representation necessary to secure fair compensation.
  • The actions you take after returning home from a crash, including preserving your riding gear and documenting your injuries, are foundational for building a successful injury claim.
  • Michigan’s No-Fault insurance laws have specific rules for motorcyclists, and a lawyer can clarify your rights to medical benefits and your ability to sue the at-fault driver for damages.

• Guide to Southfield Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Content

  • Critical Actions to Take After Returning Home from a Motorcycle Crash
  • Establishing Liability in a Michigan Motorcycle Accident
  • Common False Arguments Used Against Motorcyclists
  • What Types of Compensation Are Available for Injured Riders?
  • Why Choose Goodman Acker PC to Represent You?
  • Frequently Asked Questions About Southfield Motorcycle Accident Claims
  • Reclaim the Road: Your First Step Toward Justice

  The freedom of the open road is what draws riders to motorcycles. That sense of freedom is shattered when careless drivers fail to see you. A motorcycle collision is rarely a minor event; it often results in severe injuries that change your life.

  What happens next is a difficult road of physical pain, medical treatments, and financial pressure. You should not have to face this battle without guidance, especially when the crash was caused by another’s negligence.

  Hiring a Southfield motorcycle accident lawyer is the most decisive action you can take to protect your rights and fight back against the unfair biases that riders often face.

  Insurance adjusters may try to shift blame, implying you were speeding or driving recklessly. We know the truth. Most motorcycle accidents are caused by inattentive drivers of cars and trucks who fail to respect a rider’s right to the road. Our mission is to hold those negligent drivers accountable.

  • They make a left turn directly into your path at an intersection.
  • They change lanes without checking their blind spot.
  • They follow too closely, leaving no room to stop safely.
  • They are texting or otherwise distracted, completely unaware of your presence.

  These are not accidents; they are the consequences of poor choices. You deserve a legal team that will fight for the justice and financial recovery you are owed.

  Critical Actions to Take After Returning Home from a Motorcycle Crash

  After you have been treated for your immediate injuries and have returned home, your focus should be on recovery.

  However, a few key steps taken during this time will significantly strengthen your future legal claim.

  • Photograph and document everything. Take clear pictures of all your injuries. Bruises, road rash, and lacerations heal and change over time, so create a detailed visual record. Also, take photos of your damaged motorcycle and all of your riding gear, including your helmet, jacket, and boots. Do not have the bike repaired or throw away your gear until your attorney has seen it.
  • Preserve your damaged gear. Your helmet, leather jacket, pants, and boots are crucial pieces of evidence. They can show the points of impact and demonstrate the severity of the collision. Place them aside in a safe location and do not alter them in any way.
  • Write down a detailed account of the crash. As soon as you are physically and mentally able, write down everything you can remember about the accident. Include details about the weather, road conditions, traffic, what you saw the other driver do, and the sequence of events. Your memory is freshest right after the motorcycle crash.
  • Create a file for all paperwork. Start a folder to keep all documents related to the crash. This includes the police report, medical records, bills from the hospital and doctors, receipts for prescriptions, and any letters or emails from insurance companies.
  • Stay off social media. Do not post anything about the accident, your injuries, or your recovery online. Insurance companies will search your social media profiles for anything they can twist to argue you are not as injured as you claim. A photo of you smiling with family could be taken out of context and used against you.
  • Follow your doctor’s treatment plan. Attend every scheduled medical appointment, physical therapy session, and follow-up visit. Adhering strictly to your doctor’s orders is not only best for your health but also creates a clear medical record linking your injuries to the crash.
  • Contact a motorcycle accident attorney. Before you give a recorded statement to any insurance company, especially the other driver’s, seek legal counsel. An attorney can handle these communications for you, protecting you from adjusters who are trained to ask questions that could weaken your claim.

  Establishing Liability in a Michigan Motorcycle Accident

  To secure compensation, your attorney must prove that the other driver’s negligence caused the crash and your injuries. This involves establishing four specific legal elements.

  We build a case around each one, using evidence like the police report, witness statements, and accident reconstruction data.

  • Duty of Care: Every driver on the road owes a duty of care to others, including motorcyclists. This means they must operate their vehicle safely and follow all traffic laws.
  • Breach of Duty: We must show that the driver violated this duty. A breach occurs when a driver speeds, texts while driving, makes an illegal turn, or fails to yield the right-of-way.
  • Causation: The next step is to prove that the driver’s breach of duty was the direct cause of the collision. For example, if a driver ran a red light and T-boned your motorcycle, their action is the direct cause of the crash.
  • Damages: Finally, we must demonstrate that you suffered actual harm, or damages, as a result of the crash. This includes your physical injuries, medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.

  Motorcyclists often face an uphill battle. There is a common, unfair perception that riders are inherent risk-takers. Insurance companies and defense attorneys exploit this bias to shift blame away from their negligent clients.

  Common False Arguments Used Against Motorcyclists

  • “The rider was speeding”: This is often the default accusation, even with no evidence. We use police reports, witness testimony, and vehicle data to prove our client was traveling at a safe and legal speed.
  • “Motorcycles are hard to see”: While motorcycles have a smaller profile, this is not an excuse for a driver’s inattention. Drivers are legally obligated to be aware of their surroundings and look for all other vehicles, regardless of size.
  • “The rider should have taken evasive action”: This argument unfairly places the burden of avoiding a crash on the victim. We demonstrate how a sudden, negligent act by a driver left our client with no time or space to react safely.

  What Types of Compensation Are Available for Injured Riders?

  A serious motorcycle crash can result in catastrophic injuries with lifelong consequences. The compensation you pursue should reflect the full extent of your losses, both now and in the future.

  We recover damages for every aspect of your life that the accident has affected.

  Economic damages are the measurable financial losses you have incurred because of the collision.

  They are calculated using bills, receipts, and financial records.

  • Medical expenses: This includes all costs for past and future medical care, such as ambulance transport, emergency room treatment, surgeries, hospitalization, rehabilitation, physical therapy, and prescription medications.
  • Lost wages and income: You can recover the wages and benefits you lost while unable to work during your recovery.
  • Loss of future earning capacity: If your injuries result in a permanent disability that affects your ability to earn a living, you may receive compensation for the income you will lose over the course of your working life.
  • Property damage: This covers the cost of repairing or replacing your damaged motorcycle, helmet, and other riding gear.
  • Home modifications: In cases of severe injury, you may need to make modifications to your home, such as installing wheelchair ramps or grab bars. These costs are recoverable.

  Non-economic damages compensate you for the intangible, personal losses that have profoundly impacted your quality of life.

  • Pain and suffering: This compensates for the significant physical pain and emotional distress you have endured from your injuries.
  • Emotional anguish: This includes compensation for the psychological trauma of the event, such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
  • Scarring and disfigurement: Permanent scars, particularly from road rash or surgery, can have a major impact on self-esteem. You are entitled to compensation for this.
  • Loss of enjoyment of life: If your injuries prevent you from participating in the hobbies, activities, and family life you once enjoyed, you can be compensated for this loss.

  Why Choose Goodman Acker PC to Represent You?

  When you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, the legal team you choose is a critical decision. You need a firm that not only understands the law but also understands the unique challenges riders face.

  We provide aggressive representation and compassionate guidance from start to finish.

  • We understand motorcycle cases: We know the biases riders are up against. We have a long history of successfully representing injured motorcyclists and know how to build cases that overcome the false narratives pushed by insurance companies.
  • A proven record of results: Our history of securing substantial settlements and jury verdicts in complex vehicle accident cases demonstrates our commitment to maximizing our clients’ recovery. We are not afraid to take a case to trial if a fair offer is not made.
  • Direct attorney communication: You will work directly with your attorney. We believe in clear, consistent communication, providing regular updates on your case and ensuring you are always informed and empowered to make decisions.
  • A no-fee promise: We handle all injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay no upfront costs, and we only collect a fee if we successfully recover financial compensation for you.
  • Resources to win: We invest in our clients’ cases. We work with a network of accident reconstructionists, medical professionals, and financial planners to build the strongest possible claim that accounts for the full value of your lifetime damages.

  Frequently Asked Questions About Southfield Motorcycle Accident Claims

   

  
  How does Michigan’s No-Fault law apply to motorcycles?
  

  The No-Fault system is different for motorcycles. Unlike car drivers, motorcyclists must purchase their own separate medical insurance on their motorcycle policy. If a rider is in a crash with a motor vehicle, their own motorcycle policy’s medical benefits are primary. If they do not have medical coverage, or their expenses exceed their policy limits, they may be able to claim benefits through the at-fault driver’s No-Fault policy or the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan. It is a layered system that requires careful legal analysis.

  
  What if I was not wearing a helmet?
  

  Michigan has a partial helmet law. While riders over 21 may be able to ride without a helmet if they meet certain insurance requirements, a helmet’s absence does not prevent you from filing a claim against a negligent driver. The defense may argue that your failure to wear a helmet contributed to your head injuries, which could potentially reduce your compensation for that specific injury. However, it does not bar you from recovering damages for your other injuries, like broken bones or road rash.

  
  The at-fault driver’s insurance adjuster wants me to give a statement. What should I do?
  

  You should politely decline to provide a recorded statement until you have spoken with an attorney. Adjusters are trained to ask leading questions designed to get you to say something that can be used to minimize your claim or assign partial fault to you. Your lawyer should handle all communications with the insurance company on your behalf.

  
  How much is my motorcycle accident claim worth?
  

  There is no average settlement amount, as each case is unique. The value of your claim depends on several factors, including the severity of your injuries, the total amount of your medical bills and lost wages, the long-term impact on your ability to work and enjoy life, and the strength of the evidence proving the other driver’s fault. An attorney can evaluate these factors to give you a clearer picture of your claim’s potential value.

  Reclaim the Road: Your First Step Toward Justice

  You were injured because a driver failed in their most basic responsibility: to watch for others on the road. You have the right to hold them accountable. The legal team at Goodman Acker PC is here to be your voice and your shield, fighting for the full and fair compensation you need to rebuild your life.

  We serve clients across Michigan from our offices in Southfield, Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Sterling Heights.

  Do not let an insurance company dictate the terms of your recovery. Take control. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your case.

  Call Goodman Acker PC Now for a Free Consultation:

• Southfield: (248) 831-1507
• Grand Rapids: (616) 333-8302
• Sterling Heights: (586) 261-8457