BICYCLE ACCIDENT LAWYER IN MICHIGAN
No matter where you live in the United States, bicyclists can be seen on the streets of towns, rural communities, and bustling cities. Nevertheless, while biking is a healthy and eco-friendly mode of transportation, it can prove to be dangerous. This is especially true in the event of a bicycle accident and a motor vehicle. If a negligent driver crashed into a cyclist, it could result in severe personal injuries and even death.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a catastrophic bicycle accident, call our Michigan bicycle accident lawyers at Haque Legal. Our experienced and professional lawyers will do everything we can for you to recover compensation for your injury, and any other damages suffered.
Schedule your initial consultation by calling our firm at (248) 988-9625 or reaching out online.
Why Hire Us?
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WE LOVE OUR CLIENTS
In every case, we take on, our priority is always to exceed your needs and expectations. We look at the big picture, so we can achieve the highest level of client satisfaction and client results possible.
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TEAM APPROACH
Because we choose to work as a team, our clients benefit from our deep-rooted connections within the community and the strength of our networking power.
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COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
We are committed to the community that we serve and are always finding new ways to get involved and partner with nonprofits within Michigan.
MILLIONS RECOVERED FOR OUR CLIENTS
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$1,300,000 Single-Vehicle AccidentThe client lost control of their vehicle and crashed into a tree. As a result, they suffered a traumatic brain injury, herniated discs, lost wages, attendant care, replacement services, and ongoing case management.
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$1,000,000 Multiple Catastrophic Injuries
The client suffered a brain injury, spinal disc injuries requiring surgery, knee replacement, severe and permanent disfigurement.
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$650,000 Car Accident
A hit-and-run driver rear-ended the client. The client needed two spinal surgeries, post-operative physical therapy, injections, lost wages, and attendant care.
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents
DISTRACTED DRIVING THAT LEAD TO BICYCLE ACCIDENTS
Distracted driving habits like texting, changing the radio station, or eating, take the driver’s attention away from the road and the surrounding area, therefore making it challenging to notice cyclists sharing the roadways. Additionally, these distracted driving habits make it more likely that the driver may swerve and sideswipe a cyclist, particularly in areas where no designated bike lane exists. The popularity of bicycling around scenic and downtown areas also increases the risk that cyclists will share the road with motorists (or even other cyclists) who were drinking alcohol.
What About Bicycle Accidents with a Driver
Under The Influence?
Collisions involving drivers that are under the influence of alcohol or drugs present a unique set of circumstances. Although a bicycle accident with a car should always involve the police, if the driver is drunk, it makes everything much more serious. There are even instances when a drunk driver may the scene of the crash for fear of criminal prosecution or monetary liability. While hit-and-run drivers may be difficult to track down, it is not necessarily impossible.
WHAT ARE HIT & RUN
BICYCLE ACCIDENTS?
If a hit-and-run driver strikes you, call 911 as soon as you can. In addition to law enforcement, your Southfield bike accident lawyer can work to help find the negligent party guilty and bring them to justice. If the hit-and-run driver cannot be located, the cyclist’s own uninsured motorist insurance policy or insurance company may compensate the victim for the bodily injury. Another essential consideration in vehicle-bicycle crashes is that the driver of the car is not always the only person who can be held legally liable for the accident.
What Are Other Causes of Bicycle Accidents?
In some instances, dangerous road conditions or areas of low visibility due to poor maintenance may also be to blame for a bicycle accident. In these cases, the cyclist may also have to file a claim against the government agency responsible for maintaining the roadways and traffic control devices.
It is also possible that the bicycle itself caused or contributed to the cyclist’s injuries due to manufacturing or design flaws. In these situations, the injured party may use our law firm to file a claim against the manufacturer that designed and built the bicycle. Yet, the skilled bicycle accident attorneys of Haque Legal will investigate every possible cause of your injuries, and our lawyers will fight for your rights to recover from all responsible parties.
GETS RESULTS
Reach out to us to schedule your free, confidential consultation and get more information.
HOW DOES MICHIGAN'S NO-FAULT LAW AFFECT BICYCLE ACCIDENTS?
The state of Michigan operates under a “no-fault” insurance system when it comes to vehicle accidents. When a vehicle versus vehicle accident occurs, this means that drivers will turn to their own insurance carrier to receive coverage for their medical bills and property damage expenses.
If a bicyclist sustains an injury caused by the careless or negligent actions of a motor vehicle driver, then they will be able to recover compensation through this state’s no-fault insurance system, specifically PIP coverage. It is important to point out that actual physical contact between the motor vehicle and the bicyclist is not required, so long as the operation of the motor vehicle was a significant factor and causing the injury to the bicyclist.
However, if a bicyclist sustains an injury as a result of a collision with another bike, a pedestrian, or due to a road defect, they will not be entitled to recover any compensation through the state’s no-fault system.
If a cyclist does sustain an injury caused by another driver, there are four basic types of no-fault benefits they will be able to recover:
What Are the Bicycle Laws in Michigan?
Many states have established different laws regarding bicyclists. However, in Michigan, cyclists are categorized as pedestrians. This means that people riding bikes have the same rights and responsibilities on the roadway as any other pedestrian on the road. Furthermore, cyclists must adhere to traffic laws, and motorists must know when cyclists are sharing the roads. Typically, bicyclists are required to ride in a designated bicycle lane, or when there is none, in the far right-hand lane of traffic.
Michigan's Bicycle Helmet Law
Thankfully, they help to prevent personal injuries ranging from minor but painful skin scrapes to the face to severe traumatic brain injuries that can result from a severe blow to the skull. Given these helmet laws, many cyclists may believe that they are not entitled to medical expenses compensation for damages following a crash simply because they were not wearing a helmet. However, this is not always the case. If you were not wearing a helmet at the time of your injury, call a Southfield bicycle accident lawyer from Haque Legal law firm. You still may be able to receive compensation for the medical expenses from your personal injury once our attorneys get their hands on the case.
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"Their team was highly professional, knowledgeable, and responsive throughout the entire process"
- Umer K.
.2309071055550.png "Super Lawyers")
HOW DANGEROUS ARE BICYCLE ACCIDENTS WITH CARS?
According to the National Highway Transportation Authority, in 2019, vehicle versus bicycle accidents resulted in almost cyclist fatalities, a number that accounts for 2 percent of all traffic deaths in the United States. In addition to deaths, motor vehicle collisions injured about 38,000 cyclists. However, only about 10 percent of all motor vehicle-bicycle personal injuries are reported to the police, so the number of losses is probably much higher. However, it is crucial to always file a police report when something like this happens.
What Are Some Severe Bicycle Accident Injuries?
Unfortunately, when riding a bicycle, sometimes the injuries from an accident can be catastrophic. Outside of a helmet, cyclists have no real physical protection in a disaster, which can result in rehabilitating issues such as neck and back, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries. This lack of protection can result in severe and sometimes fatal injuries to the cyclist, which is often the case when a bicycle accident involves an automobile.
What Are Some Minor Bicycle Accident Injuries?
Minor injuries can include skin scrapes, bruises, and sprained appendages. These can result from smaller bicycle accidents that maybe didn’t involve a car, another person, or traveling at high speeds.
SHOULD I HIRE A BICYCLE ACCIDENT AND INJURY ATTORNEY?
We know from talking to thousands of accident victims that many of them wonder, “At what point do I need to hire a Southfield personal injury attorney for a bike accident?” All too often, injured cyclists attempt to handle claims and negotiate with insurance companies on their own. Unfortunately, insurance companies are not on your side, especially the ones that you pay hundreds of dollars in insurance premiums to.
The insurance adjuster’s job is to settle your claim for the smallest amount of money possible. So, while they may agree to cover your medical bills resulting from an accident, they may refuse to pay for additional financial expenses such as loss of income or pain and suffering caused by the crash. This leaves many injured cyclists grossly under-compensated, with no way to continue earning income and providing for their families. However, you can avoid all of this by hiring a skilled bicycle accident attorney from Haque Legal, PLC, and keep you ahead of the insurance companies.
Schedule Your Consultation Today
The experienced bicycle accident attorneys at Haque Legal represent real people and not insurance companies. Our law firm knows how to negotiate accident and personal injury cases with insurance companies head-on. If all else fails, we are not afraid to take your case to trial, if it means getting you the financial compensation that you are owed for suffering an accident.
Contact us online today for a free consultation or call at (248) 988-9625 and have all your accident-related questions answered.
