PIP benefits — the first layer
When a motor vehicle is involved in the crash, PIP under Michigan no-fault (MCL 500.3105 et seq.) pays without regard to fault. The 2019 reforms let policyholders choose PIP medical coverage: $50,000 (Medicaid-enrolled), $250,000, $500,000, unlimited, or opt-out (with qualifying health coverage). The involved motor vehicle policy's PIP choice controls what the injured motorcyclist can access.
- Medical. All reasonable and necessary treatment, up to the coverage tier.
- Wage loss. 85% of gross wages for 3 years, subject to the statutory monthly max.
- Replacement services. $20/day for 3 years for tasks you would have done for yourself.
- Attendant care. Often the largest single dollar component on a serious motorcycle file.
- Survivor's loss. Payable in fatal cases.
Third-party damages under MCL 500.3135
Against the at-fault driver, the case adds:
- Pain and suffering. When injuries meet the serious impairment of body function threshold in MCL 500.3135(5).
- Disfigurement. Scarring, amputation, and road rash injuries are heavily weighted by Michigan juries.
- Loss of enjoyment of life. The specific activities the rider can no longer do — including riding.
- Excess economic damages. Medical bills and wage loss beyond what PIP covered — including future medical and lost earning capacity.
- Loss of consortium. The spouse's derivative claim for the impact on the marriage.
Injury severity drives value
The single largest driver of Michigan motorcycle case value is the severity and permanence of the injury. Serious motorcycle injuries commonly seen in seven-figure cases include:
- Traumatic brain injury (with objective imaging findings).
- Spinal cord injury with paraplegia or quadriplegia.
- Amputation of leg, arm, or digits.
- Complex fractures requiring internal fixation, plates, or long-term hardware.
- Severe road rash requiring skin grafts and long-term scarring.
- Death — wrongful death damages under the Wrongful Death Act.
Insurance coverage often caps the recovery
A verdict is only worth what can be collected. The at-fault driver's liability limits are often the biggest ceiling on third-party recovery. We identify every layer:
- At-fault driver's auto policy. Post-2019 Michigan minimums are $250K/$500K, but many personal policies opted down to $50K/$100K.
- Umbrella / excess. Personal umbrella policies can add $1M or more of coverage — often unknown to the driver until we ask.
- Employer coverage. If the driver was on the job, respondeat superior opens business-auto and commercial general liability policies.
- UM / UIM on your policies. Motorcycle and auto UM/UIM can be layered under Michigan common law when the at-fault limits are insufficient.
- Third-party liability. Product defect (helmet, tire, brake system), dram shop under MCL 436.1801, road-design defect, or premises liability can create additional defendants.
How comparative fault changes the number
Michigan's modified comparative fault under MCL 600.2959 reduces the recovery by the rider's fault percentage. A rider found 20% at fault recovers 80% of every category. A rider found 51% at fault forfeits pain and suffering entirely but still recovers economic damages in proportion — and PIP benefits regardless.
What lowers Michigan motorcycle case value
- Gaps in treatment. The single largest self-inflicted damage-cap most riders create.
- Social media. A single "back on the bike!" post can wipe out six figures of pain and suffering.
- Missed PIP notice. Losing the 1-year MCL 500.3145 clock forfeits the entire PIP layer.
- Recorded statements. Statements to the at-fault carrier before you have counsel almost never help.
- Early settlement. Signing before reaching maximum medical improvement forfeits the future-care component.
Get a defensible valuation — free
Call Jay Trucks & Associates. We'll walk through every damages component, identify every insurance layer, and give you a candid range on what the case is worth in your specific Michigan jurisdiction.