Lansing Motorcycle Accidents Lawyers

You may be eligible for compensation for medical bills and other damages you suffered because of your crash. A licensed attorney can explain what your options for pursuing that compensation may be.

You can meet with one of the Lansing motorcycle accident lawyers at Jay Trucks and Associates in a free legal consultation. If we find you have a valid claim, there is no obligation for you to hire us to pursue it. If you do hire us, there will be no upfront fees. We do not get paid unless you get paid.

I was very pleased with the services of Jay Trucks & Associates. They were friendly, professional, and efficient. I would recommend them to family and friends...

– J. Martin

Our firm has a track record of success – we have recovered more than $500 million in compensation on behalf of our clients and have experience successfully handling motorcycle accident cases including a combined recovery of $620,000 for a husband and wife who were seriously injured in a motorcycle crash and a $490,000 recovery for a carpenter's apprentice that suffered numerous injuries in a motorcycle crash.

If you have questions about your crash or the legal process, call us to discuss your concerns with a lawyer at our firm. Ph: 989-254-6113.

Are You Eligible to Seek Compensation?

It is generally a good idea to discuss this question with a licensed attorney. After talking about the circumstances of the crash, the insurance coverage you have available, your injuries and other damages, and other factors involved in the accident, our lawyers are prepared to explain your available options.

Motorcycle crash claims can be complicated because these vehicles are not classified as motor vehicles under Michigan law. That means certain insurance coverages do not apply and you may need to use insurance coverage for other vehicles you own to pay for your damages.

These are all reasons it can be very important to have an experienced attorney with extensive knowledge of these issues who has helped other crash victims recover compensation.

What Damages Can I Claim?

The biggest concern after a motorcycle crash, considering these crashes often lead to serious injuries, is treating your injuries and trying to make the best recovery that is possible.

Our Lansing motorcycle accident lawyers are committed to pursuing full compensation for your medical bills. If the insurance company denies your claim or makes a lowball offer, we are prepared to go to court to obtain the compensation you need.

Other damages that you may be able to claim include:

• Lost wages from missing work because of your injuries
• Lost household services – the cost to hire someone to help out around the house because you are unable to do so yourself
• Damage to your motorcycle or other personal property
• Pain and suffering
• Funeral or burial costs
• Loss of earning capacity

What is the Deadline for Filing a Claim?

You have one year from the date of the accident to file a claim for no-fault insurance benefits. If you miss the deadline, you will likely lose the right to pursue these benefits.

Waiting to file an insurance claim can be a bad idea because it may give the insurance company a reason to question the validity of your claim. Our firm is ready to take your call 24/7 and if you have a valid claim, we are ready to deal with the insurance company on your behalf.

There is a separate deadline for lawsuits over personal injuries, including injuries from motorcycle crashes. You have three years from the date of the crash to file. If you file after that, the other side will likely move for a dismissal of your claim.

There are exceptions to this deadline in different situations, such as claims against the government or claims over a defective component on a motorcycle. These may come into play in a claim for a crash that did not involve another vehicle.

Motorcycle Crash Insurance Claims

After a motor vehicle accident in Michigan, drivers should be able to obtain compensation from their personal injury protection (PIP) coverage, assuming they purchased this coverage as required by law.

However, motorcycles are not legally classified as motor vehicles so there is no no-fault coverage specifically for these vehicles. Fortunately, you may be able to file a claim for compensation with the other driver's no-fault coverage, whether the other driver is the owner of the vehicle or not.

If you exhaust that coverage and still have more damages, you may be able to file a claim against the no-fault coverage you have on another motor vehicle.

PIP policies that were bought before July 1, 2020 have unlimited coverage for medical bills. Policies bought after this date have the limit selected by the driver:

• Unlimited coverage
• $250,000
• $500,000

In addition to covering medical bills, no-fault benefits pay for up to 85 percent of lost wages for up to three years.

If no-fault coverage is not available, you may be able to pursue compensation from the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan. The limit of this coverage for individual accident victims is $250,000, a limit set on June 11, 2019.

Besides no-fault coverage, you may be able to obtain compensation for medical bills. Michigan allows motorcyclists to buy this coverage in $5,000 increments.

What if the Other Driver Lacks Insurance Coverage?

In these situations, including situations when the other driver's insurance coverage runs out and you still have damages to pay for, you may be able to file a claim with your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

As motorcycle insurance claims can be complicated, it is important to seek help from a licensed Lansing motorcycle accident attorney.

How Can a Licensed Attorney Assist Me After a Crash?

A lawyer can manage the legal process on your behalf, dealing with insurance companies, negotiating for fair compensation, investigating the accident, preserving evidence, preparing for trial and keeping you informed throughout the process.

Our attorneys have helped many crash victims through the claims process, and we have detailed knowledge of the numerous regulations that apply. We have access to industry experts who could help us determine how severe your injuries are and how long they may affect you.

We know how important compensation can be to victims looking to move forward with their lives. Their injuries may affect them for quite some time, and compensation can help prevent this from resulting in a financial crisis.

Accident victims who hire attorneys often recover more compensation than those who do not and choose to go through the process alone. You do not need that kind of stress. You need to be able to focus on healing.

What if I Was Injured as a Passenger on a Motorcycle?

You should be able to pursue compensation from the same sources as the motorcycle operator. Passengers are often unsure of how to pursue compensation and how much may be available. That is why meeting with a licensed attorney can be valuable during this difficult time.

Can I File a Claim if I Was Not Wearing a Helmet?

Yes, you may still be able to obtain compensation for your damages. Insurance companies and attorneys for at-fault parties may try to use you not wearing a helmet against you to lower the value of your claim, arguing you are partially at fault. Under Michigan's comparative fault law, victims who are partially at fault can see their claims lowered in value based on their percentage of fault.

However, you are prohibited from seeking compensation from any parties less at fault for the accident than you.

Who is Required to Wear a Helmet?

Riders under 21 years of age must wear a helmet in Michigan. If you are over 21, you have $20,000 in first-party medical insurance coverage and you passed a motorcycle safety class or have a motorcycle license and have had it a minimum of two years.

Claims for No-Contact Motorcycle Crashes

Some motorcycle crashes are the result of road conditions or defective parts on the bike itself. These are also called no-contact collisions because another vehicle was not involved.

You may still be able to obtain compensation for these accidents, depending on the insurance coverage your purchased and whether another party may be at fault for the crash, such as a government entity.

The deadline for a product liability claim, such as a claim over a defective part on your motorcycle, is three years from the date of the injury.

A claim against a government entity for a defective highway have a notice requirement of 120 days from the date of the accident.

Common Reasons Why Motorcycle Crashes Occur

There are many forms of negligence that could lead to motorcycle crashes and serious injuries:

• Failing to yield the right-of-way
• Distracted driving
• Speeding
• Going the wrong way
• Drinking and driving
• Failing to check blind spots
• Running red lights or stop signs
• Tailgating
• Breaking traffic laws

These forms of negligence could result in many different accidents with devastating results:

• Head-on crashes
• Left-turn crashes
• Sideswipes
• Rear-end crashes
• High-speed crashes

Call Today to Set Up a Free Consultation With a Lansing Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Unsure if you may have a valid case?

Get answers to your legal questions by calling Jay Trucks and Associates to schedule your free legal consultation. Learn more about how we help our clients pursue maximum compensation to help them move on with their lives.

There are no upfront fees for hiring us to provide legal representation. Unless you receive compensation, we do not get paid.

Founding partner Jay Trucks is a member of the Michigan Trial Lawyers Association and American Trial Lawyers Association.