If you were injured in a motorcycle accident where the motorcyclist was at fault, you might be able to sue the other party for compensation for pain and suffering, property damage, medical bills, and lost wages. If you are a motorcyclist who was injured in a collision that you were at fault for, you may not be able to claim benefits unless the other party was driving a truck or a car.
When a Motorcyclist Causes a Crash:
When the motorcyclist causes a collision with another road user, they may be sued for compensation for injury by the injured party or wrongful death by a person’s relatives if another party involved in the accident died as a result. If the accident did not involve a car or a truck, the motorcyclist might also be taken to court for lost wages, medical bills, and property damage.
Can the Motorcycle Owner Be Sued?
Under Michigan’s owner liability laws, the owner of a motorcycle can be sued for death, injuries, or property damage that results from negligent use of the vehicle, even if the owner was neither riding on it nor operating it at the time of the incident. Contact Michigan motorcycle accident attorneys if you are a motorcycle owner in this situation and need more advice on proceeding.
Suing After a Motorcycle Accident:
If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident that was not your fault, you will need to have evidence that the motorbike rider at fault for the accident acted negligently. You won’t usually be required to prove that you suffered a serious impairment of bodily function to recover compensation, unlike accidents caused by a car or truck driver. This is because the No-Fault law in Michigan views motorcycles differently from motor vehicles such as trucks and cars.
What Constitutes Negligence?
Several behaviors might result in a motorcyclist being held responsible for acting negligently on the road in causing an at-fault accident. These include violation of laws against actions such as ‘white striping’ or ‘lane splitting,’ violation of speed limits, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, using a cell phone while riding, failure to exercise ordinary care such as adhering to road signs and signals, and violation of other traffic laws.
Who Pays for a Motorcyclist’s Medical Bills in This Situation?
If you are the motorcyclist who caused the accident, you will usually have to rely on your first-party medical benefits if you have purchased this coverage to pay for any accident-related medical bills that you incur. Alternatively, you can rely on your health insurance. In some cases where both parties are at fault for the collision, you may also be able to counter-sue for damages. An attorney can help go over the specifics of your case and provide further advice in this matter.
If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident that was not your fault, you can claim damages from the motorcyclist’s insurance policy. Getting in touch with a specialized attorney is the best step to take if you have been involved in an at-fault motorcycle accident.