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Table of Contents
Michigan Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Table of Contents
A bicycle crash with a car does not leave you with one simple insurance claim. It can create two claims at once: a No-Fault PIP claim for medical bills, wage loss, replacement services, and attendant care, and a separate injury claim against the driver who hit you.
That is where many cyclists are misled or left guessing.
You may be told to use health insurance. You may think you cannot get No-Fault benefits because you do not own a car. You may get a call from the driver’s adjuster before you even know which insurer is supposed to pay your medical bills.
Michigan law gives injured cyclists important rights after a motor vehicle crash, but the deadlines are short and the insurance order matters. Harris Altman, PC handles both sides of the case: the No-Fault claim and the claim against the at-fault driver. We file lawsuits other firms decline, and we work on contingency.
Why Choose Harris Altman, PC for Your Michigan Bicycle Accident Case
A cyclist hit by a car often needs a lawyer who understands both Michigan No-Fault benefits and third-party injury claims. Harris Altman, PC has handled approximately 10,000 cases, the substantial majority of them motor vehicle injury matters. We handle the insurance claim and the driver claim together so your case is not split across two firms.
Trial Experience in Michigan Motor Vehicle Injury Cases
Bradley B. Harris is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell, has been recognized by Super Lawyers since 2012, and has been named to Michigan’s Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers since 2012. He has also held Leading Lawyer recognition from Leading Lawyers Magazine since 2016.
Brett D. Altman has been recognized as one of Michigan’s Top Lawyers in Personal Injury since 2015 and as a Top 40 Under 40 Litigation Lawyer in Michigan by the American Society of Legal Advocates since 2016.
John Cusmano holds Super Lawyers Rising Star recognition for 2023 and Super Lawyers Appellate recognition for 2025.
We File Bicycle Accident Lawsuits Other Firms Decline
Bicycle cases are often turned down for reasons that do not end the claim:
- The cyclist was not in a marked bike lane.
- The driver fled and was never identified.
- The PIP insurer denied benefits.
- The cyclist may share some fault.
- The case involves the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan.
- The injuries are serious, but the insurance path is complicated.
We do not treat another firm’s rejection as the end of the case. We look at the facts, the coverage, the deadlines, and the available claims before deciding what can be done.
Client Testimonials
“My experience with the Harris Altman law firm was nothing short of exceptional. Brad Harris and his team were the only law firm out of several that i called that would take my personal injury case, and I was not disappointed. Everyone was kind, knowledgeable & answered every question openly in a timely matter. If you want a law firm that will do everything to ensure you receive what you’re entitled to don’t hesitate to reach out to this wonderful law firm. I can’t thank Brad Harris enough.” — Amber M.
“Highly recommend Brad Harris for any auto accident case! His office staff is friendly and he was very professional and dedicated. I’m truly grateful for their outstanding service!” — Alissia W.
“I just wanna say Thank You from the bottom of my heart, everyone is very nice and more than willing to help in every way. No one was willing to take my case but not Harris Altman, P.C. they did and I am glad…. again thank you so much.” — Jeni D.
Meet Your Michigan Bicycle Accident Lawyers
When a Michigan Bicycle Crash Is Treated Like an Auto Accident
A driver turns across your lane. A parked driver opens a door into your path. A car clips your rear wheel at a light. You are on a bicycle, but the law may treat the crash as a No-Fault auto insurance claim because a motor vehicle was involved.
That distinction matters. Health insurance may cover some medical treatment, but Michigan No-Fault benefits can also cover wage loss, replacement services, and certain in-home assistance.
A bicycle is not a motor vehicle under Michigan’s No-Fault Act. Still, a cyclist injured by a motor vehicle may qualify for PIP benefits.
For a cyclist who was not occupying a motor vehicle, the priority order generally works like this:
- Your own Michigan auto policy, if you have one.
- A Michigan auto policy held by your spouse or a relative domiciled in the same household, if one applies.
- The Michigan Assigned Claims Plan, if no applicable household coverage exists.
You do not need to own a car to have a possible No-Fault claim after a bicycle crash.
Bicycle Accidents Involving Trucks and Commercial Vehicles
Truck-versus-bicycle crashes follow the same basic PIP priority analysis, but the injury claim may involve more than the driver.
A commercial bicycle crash case may involve the following:
- The trucking company
- The vehicle owner
- A maintenance contractor
- A freight company
- Driver logs
- Hiring and supervision records
- Vehicle inspection records
- Higher insurance limits
These cases should be investigated early because commercial records can become central evidence.
No-Fault PIP Benefits for an Injured Cyclist
No-Fault PIP benefits are meant to cover certain losses after a motor vehicle crash, regardless of who caused the collision.
Medical Expenses
PIP can cover medical care, recovery, and rehabilitation that is reasonable in amount and reasonably necessary for the crash-related injury.
This may include:
- Emergency care
- Hospital treatment
- Surgery
- Imaging
- Physical therapy
- Follow-up visits
- Medical equipment
- Rehabilitation
- Certain in-home care
Wage Loss
PIP wage loss benefits may cover 85% of pre-tax gross wages, subject to the state monthly maximum. These benefits are generally payable for up to three years from the date of the accident.
For self-employed cyclists, wage loss may be shown through tax records, invoices, deposits, work history, and other proof of interrupted income.
Replacement Services
Replacement services may cover household work you can no longer perform because of the injury.
Examples include:
- Grocery shopping
- Laundry
- Cleaning
- Lawn care
- Snow removal
- Childcare
- Driving children to school
- Other routine household tasks
These benefits are capped at $20 per day and are generally available for up to three years.
Attendant Care
Attendant care may apply when an injured cyclist needs help with daily activities at home, such as bathing, dressing, mobility, medication support, or supervision after a serious injury.
Medical Coverage Limits After Michigan’s No-Fault Reforms
Michigan’s No-Fault reforms changed PIP medical coverage for policies issued or renewed after July 1, 2020.
Depending on the applicable policy, medical coverage may be:
- Unlimited
- $500,000
- $250,000
- $50,000 for eligible Medicaid households
- Excluded or opted out in limited situations allowed by law
The important point is this: the available coverage depends on the policy responsible for the claim, not the coverage level you would have chosen.
Harris Altman, PC reviews the policy and priority order so you know which insurer should be paying and what limits may apply.
Fatal Bicycle Accidents
When a cyclist is killed in a crash with a motor vehicle, the family may have both No-Fault and wrongful-death claims.
No-Fault survivor’s benefits may include:
- Survivor’s loss benefits
- Funeral and burial benefits
- Certain replacement services
A wrongful-death claim against the at-fault driver may also seek damages for the loss caused by the death.
These claims serve different purposes. We coordinate them so the family does not have to sort through two separate legal systems alone.
How to File a No-Fault Claim After a Michigan Bicycle Accident
The first step is identifying the correct insurer. Filing with the wrong insurer can delay payment and create deadline problems.
A PIP claim usually requires three steps:
- Identify the correct insurer under Michigan’s priority rules.
- File written notice or an Application for No-Fault Benefits within one year of the crash.
- Submit medical bills, wage loss, replacement services, and other losses with supporting proof.
Missing the one-year notice deadline can be devastating. A cyclist may still have a claim against the driver, but lose the PIP claim that should have paid medical bills and wage loss.
The One-Year-Back Rule
Michigan also has a one-year-back rule for PIP benefits. In general, a lawsuit can only recover PIP losses incurred within one year before the lawsuit is filed.
There are important tolling rules when a specific claim for benefits has been submitted and formally denied. That is why documentation matters. Bills, wage-loss forms, replacement-service logs, and written denials should be preserved from the beginning.
The Michigan Assigned Claims Plan
If no applicable auto policy exists, the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan may assign an insurer to handle the cyclist’s No-Fault claim.
The MACP often applies when:
- The cyclist does not own a car.
- The cyclist does not live with a spouse or resident relative who has auto coverage.
- No other applicable No-Fault policy can be identified.
MACP medical benefits are generally capped at $250,000 per person, per accident under MCL 500.3172(7)(a). That cap may be enough for some injuries, but it can become a serious problem when a cyclist has catastrophic injuries or needs long-term care.
Suing the Driver Who Hit You
PIP benefits pay certain financial losses, but they do not pay for pain and suffering. A separate injury claim against the at-fault driver may be available when the cyclist’s injuries meet Michigan’s tort threshold.
Under Michigan law, a cyclist may pursue non-economic damages when the crash caused the following:
- Serious impairment of body function
- Permanent serious disfigurement
- Death
Examples may include:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Broken pelvis
- Permanent limp or gait change
- Visible facial scarring
- Serious fractures
- Long-term shoulder, hip, knee, or back limitations
The analysis depends on the medical record and how the injury affected the person’s normal life.
A cyclist may also have an excess economic-loss claim for losses not fully covered by PIP, such as wages above the No-Fault monthly maximum or medical bills above the applicable PIP medical limit.
The general deadline to sue the at-fault driver is three years from the date of the crash.
What If the Cyclist Was Partly at Fault?
Insurance companies often blame cyclists. They may argue the cyclist was outside a bike lane, riding too far into the road, crossing mid-block, riding at night, not using a light, or not wearing a helmet.
Those arguments do not automatically defeat the case.
Michigan uses comparative fault:
- If the cyclist is 50% or less at fault, damages may be reduced by the cyclist’s percentage of fault.
- If the cyclist is more than 50% at fault, non-economic damages may be barred.
Michigan does not have a statewide helmet requirement for adult cyclists. An insurer may still argue that the lack of a helmet contributed to a head injury, but that is a fault and causation argument, not an automatic bar to recovery.
Hit-and-Run Bicycle Accidents
A hit-and-run driver does not always leave the cyclist without a claim. After a hit-and-run bicycle crash, two sources of recovery may still exist:
No-Fault PIP Benefits
PIP may be available through your own auto policy, a resident-relative policy, or the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan.
Uninsured-Motorist Coverage
Uninsured-motorist coverage may apply through your own policy or a resident-relative policy, depending on the policy language.
Evidence matters in hit-and-run cases. Useful evidence may include:
- Surveillance video
- Traffic-camera footage
- A partial plate
- Paint transfer
- Vehicle debris
- Witness statements
- Police body-camera footage
- Photos of the bike and crash scene
We send preservation letters quickly and look for video before it disappears.
Deadlines in a Michigan Bicycle Accident Case
Different parts of the case have different deadlines.
- PIP notice: You generally have one year from the date of the crash to give written notice for No-Fault benefits.
- PIP one-year-back rule: Recovery is usually limited to PIP losses incurred within one year before suit is filed, subject to tolling rules that may apply after a specific claim is submitted and formally denied.
- Claim against the at-fault driver: You generally have three years from the date of the crash to file a negligence lawsuit.
- Certain defective-highway claims against a government agency: Written notice may be required within 120 days.
Government claims need early review. A defective city road, unsafe shoulder, poor maintenance, or dangerous roadway condition may trigger the 120-day highway-defect notice rule. A crash involving a government vehicle may involve different rules.
Common Causes of Michigan Bicycle Accidents
Many bicycle crash cases follow familiar patterns.
Common causes include:
- Drivers turning right across a cyclist’s path
- Drivers opening doors into cyclists
- Distracted driving
- Unsafe passing
- Failure to yield
- Left turns across an oncoming cyclist
- Speeding
- Poor visibility at dawn, dusk, or night
- Commercial vehicle blind spots
- Road defects or unsafe shoulders
Common Bicycle Accident Injuries
Bicycle crashes often cause injuries that are more serious than insurers first acknowledge.
Common injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Concussions
- Facial fractures
- Dental injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Wrist and hand fractures
- Spinal cord injuries
- Herniated discs
- Pelvic and hip fractures
- Knee injuries
- Road rash
- Internal injuries
Some injuries do not fully appear at the scene. Head injuries, internal bleeding, soft-tissue damage, and spinal injuries can worsen after the adrenaline wears off.
What to Do After a Michigan Bicycle Accident
The first 24 hours can affect the insurance claim, the injury case, and the available evidence.
After a bicycle accident:
- Call 911 and wait for the police.
- Accept medical care at the scene if needed.
- Get follow-up medical care within 24 hours.
- Photograph the bike, vehicle, scene, plate, injuries, helmet, and clothing.
- Get witness names and contact information.
- Do not give a recorded statement before speaking with a lawyer.
- Do not sign a release or broad medical authorization from the adjuster.
- Preserve the bicycle, helmet, shoes, lights, and damaged clothing.
- Save every bill, discharge paper, work note, and insurer letter.
- Speak with a Michigan bicycle accident lawyer before deadlines pass.
How Much Does a Michigan Bicycle Accident Lawyer Cost?
Harris Altman, PC works on contingency. You do not pay an hourly fee or attorney fee up front.
Our fee comes from the recovery and only if there is a recovery.
The consultation is free. We will review what happened, identify the likely insurance path, explain the deadlines, and tell you whether we believe we can help.
How Long Does a Michigan Bicycle Accident Case Take?
The timeline depends on the injury, the insurance coverage, and whether the insurer disputes fault.
A case may move faster when liability is clear, the injuries are fully known, and the available insurance is adequate. A case may take longer when the cyclist has a serious injury, disputed medical care, a traumatic brain injury, comparative-fault allegations, or an insurer that refuses to negotiate fairly.
The main timeline factors are:
- Injury severity
- Medical treatment length
- Whether surgery is needed
- Whether the cyclist has reached maximum medical improvement
- Whether the driver’s insurer disputes fault
- Whether the PIP insurer denies benefits
- Available insurance limits
- Whether the case settles before or during litigation
We move cases as quickly as the facts allow, but we do not push a serious injury case to settle before the long-term medical picture is clear.
Talk to a Michigan Bicycle Accident Lawyer Before the Insurance Company Controls the Case
A bicycle crash can leave you dealing with medical bills, missed work, a totaled bike, and several insurers pointing in different directions. You should not have to figure out the No-Fault priority order, PIP deadlines, and driver claim by yourself while you are still healing.
Our bicycle accident lawyers can review the crash, identify the insurer responsible for PIP benefits, evaluate the claim against the driver, and explain what needs to happen next.
Call Harris Altman, PC at 248-540-3100 or reach us through the contact form to schedule a free consultation.
