What You Can Do If Injured in a Michigan Bicycle Accident?
On average, 705 people in the United States die each year from bicycle accidents caused by cars, trucks, and buses. Severe brain injuries, paralysis, and even death can result from these accidents.
An individual who has been seriously injured in a Michigan bicycle accident may be able to recover monetary compensation for:
- pain and suffering
- medical expenses
- lost wages
- emotional distress
- replacement services
- home modification
- mileage reimbursement
- attendant care
Call Thurswell Law toll-free at 1-866-354-5544 for a free consultation if you or your loved ones have been injured in a bicycle accident and need a lawyer in Detroit or anywhere in Michigan.
Preventing Bicycle (Pedal Bike) Accidents
Driver negligence causes accidents. And many times, the accidents involve bicyclists, who suffer all types of injuries… or death. Sadly, many Michigan bicycle accident victims are children.
Protect yourself from negligent drivers when you take the road on your bicycle:
- Obey traffic laws.
- Be on the alert for negligent drivers.
- Be visible. (Wear reflective gear and equip your bicycle with lights.)
- Keep your bike in good condition.
- Take routes with less traffic.
At Thurswell Law, we have recovered large settlements for clients who’ve suffered catastrophic injuries, such as a traumatic brain injury or a spinal cord injury, from Michigan bicycle accidents. If you or a family member has been seriously injured in a bicycle accident, our attorneys will ensure that you receive the maximum compensation.
Helping Victims of Bicycle Accidents in Michigan Recover Damages in Their Personal Injury Cases
When bicycle riders suffer injuries in an accident, they often require significant medical treatment, physical and occupational therapy, and rehabilitation. Even when bicycle riders wear helmets, they can still suffer injuries. Helmets can crack or riders could suffer injuries to the rest of their bodies.
If you have been injured in a bicycle accident, time may be of the essence in your case. You have strict time limits from the date of your injury to file a lawsuit for personal injuries and damages. If you have been injured in a bicycle accident, you should look no further than the experienced personal injury lawyers at Thurswell Law. The experienced Michigan bicycle injury lawyers at Thurswell Law can explain your legal rights and take the necessary steps to help you recover compensation for your injuries. We can fight for your right to monetary recovery and push the at-fault driver’s insurance company to offer you full and fair monetary compensation for your injuries.
No-Fault PIP Claims
If you were injured in a bicycle accident, no-fault personal injury protection (PIP) insurance laws under the Michigan statute may come into play. Personal injury protection coverage, sometimes known as PIP coverage, is in place to compensate injury victims, including pedestrians and bicyclists, for the injuries which they suffer in an accident — regardless of who is at fault for the accident.
In some instances, the injured bicyclist may still be able to sue a motor vehicle driver if he or she suffers a serious injury or disability in the accident. An injured cyclist could also file suit against a negligent driver if the amount of the accident victim’s damages exceeds the amount of available PIP no-fault coverage. Our experienced bicycle accident lawyers can help you bring a Claim for PIP coverage if your circumstances warrant it. If the PIP coverage is not sufficient under the circumstances, our legal team could help you file a claim directly against the at-fault driver.
Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Michigan
Bicycle accidents in Michigan are usually the result of driver negligence and error. Some of the most common causes of bicycle crashes include:
- Careless driving, where a driver violates the rules of the road, such as by speeding, and fails to notice a bicycle rider in the vicinity, and negligently collides with the bicyclist somewhere on the roadway
- Distracted driving, where a motor vehicle driver is preoccupied with texting on a cell phone or other electronic device, and as a result, fails to see the bicyclist on the road or in a parking lot, colliding with the bicycle
- Drunk driving, where a driver operates a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs and collides with a bicyclist causing serious injuries and damages
- Dooring accidents, where a motor vehicle driver negligently opens a door in the path of an oncoming bicyclist, oftentimes causing the cyclist to fall off the bicycle and suffer serious injuries and damages
Bicycle accidents can occur in any number of ways. The experienced bicycle accident attorneys at Thurswell Law can investigate how your accident occurred and take the necessary legal action on your behalf.
Injuries Suffered in a Bicycle Accident
Bicycle accidents can cause serious injuries. Common injuries suffered in this type of crash include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Broken bones
- Face and jaw injuries
- Death
If your loved one died in a motor vehicle accident that resulted from another driver’s carelessness or negligence, you might be able to file a wrongful death claim on your loved one’s behalf. As part of the wrongful death claim, you could pursue compensation for loss of companionship, loss of earning capacity, and pain and suffering damages lasting up until the time of your loved one’s death.
If you have been injured in a bicycle accident Michigan, don’t delay in seeking legal representation. The experienced lawyers at Thurswell Law can handle the legal end of your case while you focus on getting better and fully recovering from all of your injuries.
Comparative Fault in Bicycle Accident Cases
In some bicycle accident cases, the at-fault individual might claim that the accident victim caused or contributed to the bicycle accident in some way. The accident victim, for example, may have been riding outside of a designated bike lane, failed to abide by the traffic laws, or failed to execute the appropriate hand signals while turning or maneuvering the bicycle just prior to the impact.
Pursuant to the comparative fault law, an accident victim’s recovery can be reduced by his or her percentage of fault for the accident. If the trier of fact (i.e., the jury) determines that the accident victim is more than 50 percent at fault for the accident, he or she is not eligible to recover damages.
If the at-fault driver is alleging comparative negligent against you, the personal injury legal team at Thurswell Law could help rebut that assertion and fight for your right to monetary recovery for the injuries you sustained in the accident.
Talk to a Michigan Bicycle Accident Attorney Today
Bicycle accidents sometimes catch cyclists off guard when they occur totally out of the blue. Furthermore, the injuries suffered in a bicycle accident often require significant medical treatment, and the consequences can last for many years to come.
If you suffered injuries in a bike crash, you should look no further than the experienced legal team at Thurswell Law. If you cannot come to us, we are more than happy to come to you to discuss your case and develop a strong legal strategy for moving your case forward. We can discuss how your accident occurred, as well as potential settlement and litigation options for your personal injury case. Our lawyers are fluent in English, Spanish, Albanian, Arabic, and Chaldean.
To schedule a free consultation or case evaluation with a Michigan bicycle accident lawyer, please dial (248) 354-2222 or contact us online. If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident, call us for a free consultation and get the compensation that you deserve.
