Motorcycling is a popular pastime in Michigan. For many riders, there is nothing as enjoyable as riding “up north” or along the lakefront. However, motorcyclists face additional dangers on the road without the safety of a vehicle around them. Riders face more obstacles than other drivers, and even when they wear helmets and protective gear, the injuries resulting from motorcycle a can be even more devastating.
According to the website Statista, there were about 5,100 fatal motorcycle crashes on U.S. roads in 2018, translating into a fatal motorcycle crash involvement rate of nearly 26 per 100,000 vehicle miles traveled. In 2017, motorcyclists were 27 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a crash per vehicle mile traveled, based on statistics released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Many factors can put a motorcyclist at risk while they’re on the road. Of course, riding unto itself is risky for a person. Motorcyclists are under serious threat when on the road if other road users do not pay extra attention to them. Certain dangers are very common when drivers of cars aren’t completely careful while sharing the road with motorcycles. Drivers of cars and other, larger vehicles put those riding on motorcycles at risk for serious accidents and injuries.
Partly because of this increased risk, Michigan motorcycle accident laws have many exceptions and differences compared to car accidents or truck accidents. For example, a motorcycle is not considered a “motor vehicle” under the state’s new no-fault law. However, that does not mean an injured motorcyclist can’t pursue a case when they have been the victim of negligence or wrongdoing.
If another motor vehicle was involved in the motorcycle accident and the motorcycle was properly insured, the case is similar to a regular first-party or third-party auto accident case. In those situations, a first-party claim can be filed against the insurance company responsible for no-fault benefits.
These benefits can include:
