While drivers and passengers in a car are protected by a solid frame, seatbelt, and airbag, motorcyclists are merely protected by their clothing and a helmet. This lack of protection greatly enhances the chance for a serious injury or fatality in a motorcycle crash. The following points cover critical content that all motorcyclists in Michigan must understand. If you or a loved one was involved in a motorcycle accident, a Michigan motorcycle accident lawyer at Moss & Colella can be very helpful to you in how to file a Michigan motorcycle accident claim as well as Michigan motorcycle statute of limitations for how long you have to file a case.

Insurance Coverage Required

Motorcycle owners are not required to purchase Michigan no-fault auto insurance. However, the owner (or registrant) of a motorcycle is required to purchase traditional liability insurance for bodily injury, death or property damage. A Michigan motorcycle accident lawyer at our firm can help you understand this more clearly with a consultation on your Michigan motorcycle accident case. This liability insurance is commonly referred to as “PLPD coverage.” Essentially, it provides liability coverage to the motorcyclist if the motorcyclist is at fault and causes bodily injury, death or property damage to another person. If the owner is not insured, serious penalties can be imposed, including a misdemeanor conviction, fine and/or imprisonment. More importantly, the failure to purchase insurance coverage will disqualify the motorcycle owner from receiving no-fault PIP insurance benefits that may be available under the Michigan No-Fault Law. A Detroit motorcycle accident lawyer at Moss & Colella can help you understand the laws in Michigan surrounding motorcycle accidents.

Damages Recoverable for an Injured Client

If you are injured in a motorcycle accident; you are entitled to make a claim for non-economic damages commonly referred to as “pain and suffering.” But, recovering money for your pain, suffering, and injuries is not the only compensation you may be entitled. The negligent driver may also be responsible for excess economic losses. In cases involving death, the estate of the motorcyclist can pursue a wrongful death claim against the at-fault motor vehicle driver. Injured motorcyclists must be very careful in how they approach a potential liability claim because, in most situations, the insurer of the motor vehicle involved in the accident will be “wearing two hats.” A Michigan motorcycle accident lawyer at our firm will help guide you through a better understanding of what to do after your accident. In other words, the insurer will be responsible for payment of no-fault PIP benefits to the injured motorcyclist and will also be the insurer defending the motorcyclist’s liability claim. In these situations, the motorcyclist must exercise extreme caution in his or her dealings with the motor vehicle insurer. Hiring a Michigan motorcycle accident lawyer immediately following an accident will prevent a costly mistake which could jeopardize the value of your case.

Damage to your Motorcycle

If a motorcycle is physically damaged as a result of being struck by a car, truck or other motor vehicles as defined in the Michigan No-Fault Law and that motor vehicle is insured with Michigan No-Fault insurance, the motorcycle owner will not be able to recover any compensation for collision damage to the motorcycle – not even so called “mini-tort” damages that are available to automobiles. However, if the motor vehicle causing the damage to the motorcycle did not carry the required Michigan No-Fault insurance coverage, then the owner and/or operator of the uninsured motor vehicle is personally liable for the damage to the motorcycle. Speak with a Detroit motorcycle accident lawyer at our firm to better understand your rights.

In situations where a motorcycle was “reasonably parked” at the time the collision damage was sustained, the motorcycle owner would be entitled to make a claim for “property protection insurance benefits” from the insurer of the motor vehicle causing the damage to the parked motorcycle. These property protection insurance benefits consist of the repair costs or replacement value of the motorcycle, less depreciation, plus the value of loss of use of the motorcycle. A Michigan motorcycle accident lawyer at Moss & Colella can help you better understand your rights and options if you or a loved one was involved in a motorcycle accident. If you have lost a loved one in a fatal car accident, a Michigan Car Accident Lawyer at our firm is ready to stand by your side. An auto accident attorney Michigan at Moss & Colella will have the experience needed to make a difference in your case!

