4020 East Beltline Ave. NE, Suite 101, Grand Rapids, MI 49525
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Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists may be at risk for serious injury or death whenever they are on the road, especially considering the lack of protection that their vehicles offer and the difference in size compared to other cars and trucks that may be involved in an accident. The danger for motorcyclists is clear when looking at Michigan crash statistics, which show that motorcycles are involved in less than 1 percent of all vehicle accidents but account for almost 14 percent of annual fatalities. Even when motorcyclists survive an accident, they are often left with high medical expenses and injuries from which they may never fully recover.
Motorcycle accidents can be especially complicated because of the way the vehicles are treated under Michigan law, and if you are a motorcyclist who has been injured, you may have no idea where to turn for relief. At John D. Tallman, PLC, we want to help ease your pain and stress as much as possible by working to explore every option for compensation. We have been assisting injury victims in Kent County and the surrounding areas for almost 40 years, and we are committed to standing by you to the end of even the most challenging cases, requiring payment for our services only after successfully collecting on your case.
The State of Michigan has a no-fault accident law that requires all drivers of motor vehicles to have car insurance that includes Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage. This coverage pays for medical expenses and lost income due to injuries after a car accident regardless of who was responsible. Unfortunately, motorcycles are not considered motor vehicles under this law, meaning that they are ineligible to purchase the usual PIP coverage available to other drivers.
Motorcyclists do have the option to purchase special motorcycle PIP insurance in $5,000 increments, but this only covers medical expenses from accidents that involve no other motor vehicles. When a motorcycle is involved in a crash with another motor vehicle, it is the other driver's no-fault PIP policy that pays for the motorcyclist's economic damages. However, this policy is not always sufficient to cover the extent of the motorcyclist's medical expenses, and it cannot cover non-economic damages due to pain and suffering.
Even when the no-fault PIP coverage is sufficient, working with another driver's insurance company is a challenge in its own right. John D. Tallman, PLC can help you collect and preserve documentation of your injuries and expenses and represent you in discussions with the insurance provider to push back against attempts to reduce your compensation.
When the PIP coverage is not enough, which is often the case for severe motorcycle injuries, you will need to determine whether you can seek additional compensation through a liability lawsuit. This may be possible when the accident was caused by another driver's negligent behavior, some examples of which include speeding, drunk driving, and distracted driving. Our attorney will seek evidence from the accident that speaks to the other driver's fault, including police reports, camera footage, expert investigation, and witness testimony. If a lawsuit is warranted, we will work with you throughout your case with the goal of achieving a fair outcome through either a settlement or a trial verdict.
As an injured motorcyclist, you may face many challenges in Michigan, but you do not have to face them alone. We can help you fight for the relief you need to make your life easier, and we can also help families of motorcyclists who have been killed pursue recovery through a wrongful death lawsuit. For a free consultation, contact us today at 616-361-8850. We represent clients in Grand Rapids, Holland, Grand Haven, Muskegon, and throughout Kent County, Ottawa County, Muskegon County, and the surrounding areas in the Lower Peninsula.
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