Bike riding in Ann Arbor is part of everyday life for many residents of the city.  Whether you are student riding your bicycle to class or work, a parent on a recreational ride with you children, or a member of a bicycle touring group, the city provides great opportunities for exercise and outdoor activity.  The City of Ann Arbor was designated a Silver-level Bicycle Friendly City by the League of American Bicyclists since 2005 and has over 70 miles of designated bicycle lanes, making it one of the top cities to ride your bike in all of Michigan.

Unfortunately, many motorists ignore the rights of bicyclists or are too distracted to see bicyclists riding in designated lanes or lawfully on the streets of Ann Arbor.  This often leads to bicycle accidents that result in serious injuries or even death.  In 2014, there were almost 900 bicycle accidents caused by negligent motorists in Michigan.  A substantial number of those occurred in Ann Arbor due to cars, trucks, and busses hitting bicyclists who were riding their bikes either in bicycle lanes or on streets and highways.

Common Ann Arbor Bicycle Accident Questions

If you were injured in a bicycle accident, you probably have several questions and concerns, including:

• Do I get Michigan no-fault insurance benefits if I was not in a car?
• Can I receive no-fault benefits if I did not own a car or if I did not have car insurance?
• Who is responsible for paying my hospital bills and medical expenses?
• How do I recover my lost wages from time missed from work?
• Can I receive a settlement for my pain and suffering and other injuries?
• What is a fair settlement amount for my personal injury claim?
• Who is the best lawyer to represent me for my Ann Arbor bicycle accident case?
• How much does it cost to hire a lawyer to represent me?

In general, you are entitled to receive Michigan no-fault insurance benefits under every scenario if you were hit by a car while riding a bike, even if you did not own a vehicle or have an auto insurance policy.  These benefits provide you with unlimited lifetime medical payments, lost wage benefits, household service payments, and attendant care benefits.  We will help you determine which insurance company is responsible for paying those benefits and will assist you in preparing all of the necessary paperwork to file your claims.

You may also be entitled to a substantial settlement for your injuries.  We help our clients receive the maximum possible compensation for their injuries, which includes settlements for your pain and suffering, disability, and scars or disfigurements that resulted from the accident.  In cases involving a fatal bicycle accident, we file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the surviving family members.

When you call Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C., you will speak with directly with an experienced attorney who is friendly and eager to answer all of these questions for you.  You may even have more questions and concerns and we will spend however long it takes to make sure you have a full and complete understanding of your rights.  We will also explain how we can help you.

Contact Our Ann Arbor Bicycle Accident Lawyers

Want to know the settlement value of your Ann Arbor bike accident case?    Tell us your story and we will evaluate your case.

• Toll-Free Phone                               (800) 606-1717
• Contact By Fax                                (248) 569-6737
• Contact By E-mail                           Larry@Buckfirelaw.com

You can also contact us initially through our website Free Case Review Box. If you prefer that type of contact initially, we will review your case and get back to you quickly with our initial opinions. Our goal is to learn as much as possible about your case and then provide you with your best legal options.

Our Ann Arbor bicycle accident lawyers recently settled a lawsuit for a bicyclist struck by a car.   Our client was a University of Michigan student and an avid bicyclist.  While riding his bike along E. Huron Drive in Ann Arbor around dusk, he was struck by a car that was turning left into a parking lot. 

The bicyclist was riding along the roadway in a marked bicycle lane.  He was wearing fluorescent clothing, including a jacket, and had fluorescent strips on his helmet, gloves, and bicycle.  He also had a light on the front of the bike.

Our client suffered serious injuries, including orthopedic injuries and a traumatic brain injury.  He was hospitalized for several weeks before returning home to the Boston area.  He still has the effects of his brain injury, including problems with balance, vision, and speech and language.  He is disabled from work and still receives medical care for his injuries, even three years post-accident.

We filed a lawsuit on his behalf in the Washtenaw County Circuit Court seeking damages for his pain and suffering, disability, and other damages.   The defendant driver claimed that the bicyclist rode into the passenger side of her vehicle and that he caused the accident.  She also believed that he was riding on a sidewalk adjacent to the road, instead of in the marked bicycle lane.  We took the depositions of a number of witnesses, including the investigating police officer and EMS personnel.  We were able to establish that the accident did occur in the roadway and proved that our client was not at fault.     The insurance company for the driver then agreed to pay the policy limits of $250,000.00 to settle the case.

The Ann Arbor bicycle accident lawyer at the award winning law firm of Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. recently filed a no-fault benefit lawsuit on behalf of our bicyclist client who suffered injuries after being hit by a car.  The lawsuit was filed in the Washtenaw County Circuit Court. No trial date has been set by the court.

The lawsuit arose out of an accident in which our client was struck by a car while riding his bike in Ann Arbor.  Due to the bicycle crash, he suffered serious injuries, including an incapacitating traumatic brain injury.

Bicyclists injured in Michigan car accidents do have legal rights are able to receive no-fault benefits for their injuries.  No-fault benefits that may be available to injured bicyclist include attendant care services, medical bills, prescription costs, and expenses, wage and income loss benefits, household chores/replacement services, case management services, home modifications, and more.  If a bicyclist who was injured has his own insured vehicle, then that insurance company  is responsible for payment of these benefits.  When the insurance company denies payment, the only recourse available is to file a no-fault benefit lawsuit against the insurance company.

Our client’s insurance company is Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, therefore Liberty Mutual is responsible for paying his no-fault benefits, including his wage loss benefits. However because they have failed to do so, our client hired our experienced Ann Arbor bicycle accident attorney to file a no-fault benefit claim on his behalf.  The lawsuit seeks damages in excess of $25,000 for unpaid no-fault insurance benefits.  Also included in damages, is a demand for both attorney’s fees and penalty interest.

If you or a loved one was involved in an Ann Arbor bicycle accident that involved a motor vehicle and are having trouble obtaining your insurance benefits, call our award winning Buckfire & Buckfire attorneys now at (800) 606-1717.  We will discuss your case with you and determine which no-fault insurance company is responsible for paying your benefits in Michigan.  Call today for your free, no obligation consultation! We will represent you in your Ann Arbor injury case under our No Fee Promise, which means no legal fees or costs until we win or settle your claim.

Riding a bicycle in Ann Arbor is quite common, for both exercise and commuting to work and class. However, some obstacles on the road such as potholes, uneven portions of cement, and even rudely patched potholes with loose gravel can prove to be quite hazardous.  These hazards can cause a bicyclist to lose control of the bike and fall to the pavement.  The injuries from bicycle falls and accidents are often very serious.

The government is responsible for maintaining roadways in reasonable repair. Michigan has several statutes that relate to a governmental agency’s duty to properly maintain roadways. A bicyclist injured due to a defective road condition or pothole can file a claim against the government agency for accident related injuries.

MCL 691.1402 says in pertinent part “. . . each Governmental agency having jurisdiction over highways, shall maintain the highway in reasonable repair so that it is reasonably safe and convenient for public travel. A person who sustains bodily injury or damage to his or her property by reason of failure of a Governmental agency to keep a highway under its jurisdiction and reasonable repair and in condition reasonably safe and fit for travel, must recover the damages suffered by him or her from the Governmental agency.”

To assert this type of claim, the injured bicyclist is required by law to provide written notice to the government agency responsible for maintaining the roadway where the injury occurred. The written notice must be served within 120 days of the injury, with very few exceptions, or the claim will be forever barred.  The notice must include the date of the injury, the precise location of the injury, the nature of the defect, and the names of any known witnesses.

In the event that a bicyclist is injured due to a road defect in Ann Arbor, it is essential that an experienced Michigan bicycle accident lawyer be contacted as soon as possible after the accident.  This will insure that the matter is properly investigated and the required notice be sent to the governing agency to preserve the claim. 

Our bicycle accident Buckfire lawyers will interview witnesses, take photographs and measurements of the defective condition, and obtain government records of road repairs in the area of the accident.  Without this prompt and detailed investigation, it may be later impossible to prove and win your claim.  Time is of the essence for preserving these claims.

If you or someone you know sustained serious injuries due to a bicycle accident involving a pothole, contact an attorney immediately to learn your legal rights. The experienced lawyers of Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. handle these types of cases every day and represent clients under our NO FEE promise. Call our office today at (800) 606-1717 for a free consultation with one of our top-rated Buckfire lawyers.

Automobile drivers are not the only ones who have the responsibility of following the rules of the road. Bicyclists actually have all the same rights and responsibilities as the driver of any other vehicle. Bicyclists also can be ticketed for violating Michigan traffic laws. More than half of all urban car-bike accidents are due to one or more of the following actions:

Cyclists:

• Riding into a street at mid-block.
• Cycling against the direction of traffic.
• Running a stop sign or red light.
• Cycling at night without required lighting.
• Failure to yield when required.

Motorists:

• Driving too fast for conditions.
• Failure to yield to a cyclist when required.
• Opening driver-side door into a cyclist’s path.
• Unsafely passing a cyclist.
• Right or left turn immediately in front of a cyclist.

Not only do bicyclists have to follow the safe rules as automobiles, they also have specific turn signals they are required to communicate using their arm:

• To signal left turn: extend left arm straight out to the left.
• To signal right turn: Upturned left arm.
• To signal stopping or slowing down: extend left arm straight down with your palm facing rearward.

Following the rules of the road is vital to your own safety and the safety of everyone around you both those on and off the road weather they are on a bike or in a car. These rules and regulations should not be taken lightly and you can be ticked for breaking these laws.

If you have been injured in a car-bicycle accident call a lawyer immediately to learn your rights. The experienced bike accident attorneys of Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. will represent you under our NO FEE promise! Call our office at (800) 606-1717 for a free consultation with one of our top rated bicycle accident attorneys.

There was a story in the paper today where a driver crashed into a bicyclist in Ann Arbor yesterday. According to Ann Arbor Police, Paul Miller was bicycling to work when a motorist allegedly ran a red light and struck him in the crosswalk at the intersection of Platt Road and South Huron Parkway. Miller suffered a broken arm. Police are still investigating this accident.

I am very sorry to hear about this injury to Mr. Miller and wish him the fullest and speediest recovery possible. I hope there is no permanent damage from this accident.

Our Michigan car accident lawyers advise accident victims of their legal rights. For this type of auto accident in Michigan, Mr. Miller can submit a claim for Michigan No-Fault insurance benefits.  No-Fault benefits will cover his medical expenses, lost wages, attendant care, replacement services, and other benefits related to injuries suffered in the accident.  The injured party can claim these benefits even if he did not have a Michigan automobile insurance policy.

In addition, the car accident injury victim may also have claims for personal injuries against any driver determined to be at fault in this auto accident. The insurance company for the negligent driver typically pays a settlement for this type of case. In this lawsuit, the injured victim can claim damages and compensation for the injuries suffered in the accident.  At the very least, the injured parties should hire the best possible lawyer to look into these possibilities.

An experienced Michigan car accident lawyer can assist the victims with this type of claim.  Auto accident victims should not speak with the insurance adjuster for the negligent driver before consulting with an attorney.

If you would like more information about your rights after a Michigan car accident, you can order our FREE BOOK, “The Ultimate Michigan Car Accident Handbook” by clicking on the book link.  We will send it out immediately along with other important information.

For more information about Michigan car accident cases, visit our law firm web site at www.BuckfireLaw.com.  If you would like to speak with one of our Michigan car accident attorneys about your case, feel free to call us anytime at (800) 606-1717 or simply submit this contact form and we will get back to you quickly.