Bicycle Accidents

Hurt in a bicycle accident in Michigan? If so, you don’t have to face the painful effects of medical bills, lost income, and a disrupted life alone. Instead, you can turn to an experienced Detroit bicycle accident lawyer for help pursuing insurance benefits and other compensation to offset these losses and help you rebuild your life.

Atnip & Associates, PLLC, is a full-service bicycle accident law firm in Detroit dedicated to helping injured cyclists when they need it most. We know how frustrating it can be to get an insurance company to take your injuries seriously, much less pay you fairly for what you’ve suffered. Let us take on the adjusters and defense attorneys for you, fighting hard at the negotiating table and in court as necessary in our pursuit of the full and fair compensation you deserve.

Ready to demand the justice you’re owed? Then contact us today for a free consultation with a Detroit personal injury lawyer about your bicycle accident case. We’re ready to get to work at no upfront cost to you.

Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Michigan

Our Michigan bike accident lawyers often handle cases involving cyclists injured by:

Driver Negligence– Mistakes on the part of motorists are among the leading causes of bicycle accidents. Driver negligence includes distracted driving, failing to yield the right of way, speeding, and not respecting cyclists’ space on the road.
Doorings– This type of accident happens when the occupant of a parked vehicle opens their door into the path of a bicyclist. These are particularly common in urban areas where street parking is the norm.
Poor Road Conditions– Michigan’s varying weather conditions can lead to hazardous roads for cyclists. Potholes, uneven surfaces, and lack of proper bike lanes can significantly increase the risk of accidents.
Inclement Weather– Weather conditions like rain, snow, and ice can create slippery and dangerous surfaces for cyclists and motorists, reducing visibility and control. Bad weather is no excuse for poor driving behavior, as motorists must adjust their driving habits to suit road conditions.

Common Bicycle Accident Injuries

Bicycle accidents can result in a range of injuries, some of which may be severe. Get in touch with a Bicycle accident law firm in Michigan if you’ve suffered any of the following:

Michigan follows a no-fault insurance system. Under this system, you file your initial injury claim with your own no-fault insurance provider, not against the liability policy covering the other driver – regardless of who is at fault. This is true even if you were riding your bike at the time and, therefore, not an occupant of a motor vehicle. If you do not own an insured vehicle of your own, you may be covered by the policy of a family or household member who does.

The Personal Injury Insurance (PIP) portion of your insurance policy will pay for lifetime medical expenses as well as three years of lost income and household services, up to the policy’s limits. Policies can be sold with the following PIP limits:

Unlimited
$500,000 per person per accident
$250,000 per personper accident
$250,000 per person per accident, with exceptions (provided the policyholder meets specific criteria)
Lower limits, but only under very specific circumstances

In the event that no one in your household owns an insured motor vehicle, you are likely covered by the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan, which has a $250,000 limit per claim.

If the driver who hit you is to blame for causing the accident, they could owe you compensation to cover additional harm not already covered by your PIP plan. Furthermore, if you suffered serious injuries, you could also demand that they pay you for the pain and suffering they caused you.

All told, a Detroit bicycle crash lawyer could help you pursue compensation for the following:

Past and future medical expenses
Lost wages and diminished income
Repairing or replacing your bicycle and other damaged property
Pain and suffering
Diminished quality of life, if you suffer impairments that limit the activities you can take part in

An experienced Michigan bike collision attorney can review your situation to determine how much you could be owed.

How a Detroit Bike Accident Attorney Can Help

Head injuries, including concussions and other Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
Broken bones/fractures
Road rash, a friction burn that results from skidding across the asphalt
Back and spine injuries
Dental and facial injuries
Internal injuries, including organ damage and internal bleeding

What to Do After a Bicycle Accident in Michigan

What you do in the aftermath of a bicycle accident in Michigan can affect your medical prognosis as well as your eventual personal injury claim. Take as many of the following steps as possible to safeguard your health and your legal rights:

Move to Safety– If it’s safe to do so, move yourself and your bicycle to the side of the road to avoid further danger.
Check for Injuries– Your priority should be to assess your injuries. If they’re serious, call 911 immediately.
Exchange Information– Obtain the contact and insurance information of the other parties involved in the accident. If there are witnesses, get their contact information as well.
Document the Scene– Take photos of the accident scene, including your bicycle, the vehicle involved, any visible injuries you suffered, and the surrounding area. The more you can document, the stronger your resulting claim could be.
Seek Medical Attention– You should get checked by a medical professional, even if you feel fine. Injuries like concussions or internal injuries may not be immediately apparent. Furthermore, getting checked out after a collision will create a medical record that ties any injuries you suffered to the crash.
Notify Your Insurance Company– Inform your own insurance company about the accident as soon as possible, presuming you have an auto insurance policy or live in the same household as someone who does. Your initial coverage will likely come from your own insurer.
Keep Records– Maintain a file of all documents and information related to the accident, including medical expenses, correspondence with insurance companies, and any incidental expenses you accrue because of the crash.
Consult a Bicycle accident attorney in Detroit– Consider speaking with a legal professional knowledgeable about bicycle accident laws in Michigan. A Detroit bicycle injury lawyer can advise you on how to proceed and can even pursue compensation on your behalf.

Compensation for Your Bicycle Accident Injuries

You have enough to deal with already, between treating your injuries and coping with their wide-ranging effects on your life. Rather than try to deal with a lot of corporate and legal red tape yourself, turn to a Michigan bicycle accident attorney from Atnip & Associates, PLLC, for help. While you rest and recover, we can:

Investigate the crash to determine what happened and who’s to blame.
Work with medical and financial experts to place a dollar value on what you’ve suffered.
Review relevant insurance policies to find all avenues for coverage.
File your claims and negotiate with the insurance companies for a fair settlement.
Represent you in court if we need to pursue a lawsuit to get you every cent you’re owed.

Remember, the sooner you contact our Detroit personal injury attorneys, the sooner we can get to work on your case.

Contact Our Michigan Personal Injury Law Firm Today

Are you in need of high-quality Detroit bicycle accident legal representation? Then contact Atnip & Associates, PLLC, today for a free consultation with a Detroit bicycle accident compensation lawyer. We look forward to hearing from you soon.