If you’ve suffered serious injuries in a bicycle-auto accident in Grand Rapids, you might be dealing with overwhelming medical bills and unsure of what to do if your personal injury protection (PIP) benefits fall short. An experienced Grand Rapids bicycle accident lawyer can help.
Our personal injury law firm has spent decades helping injured cyclists secure the compensation they deserve.
In this Article
How Does Michigan’s No-Fault Law for Motor Vehicles Impact Bicycle Riders?
Michigan is a no-fault state for motor vehicle accidents, but bicycles are not considered motor vehicles under no-fault law. This means injured cyclists are only eligible for benefits if their severe injury comes from a motor vehicle-involved accident. Uninsured motorist coverage is optional.
No-fault insurance won’t cover accidents caused by losing control of the bike, hitting another cyclist, or road hazards.
Will I Get PIP Coverage If a Car Hits Me on My Bicycle?
If a rider is injured in an accident with a motor vehicle, they can seek no-fault benefits from their own auto insurance policy. A cyclist is eligible to seek benefits from the insurance company in the following priority: first, their own PIP coverage; next, no-fault benefits from their spouse’s auto insurance. If neither of those exist, they can seek compensation from the policy of a family member in the same household. And finally, if there is no PIP coverage from any of those sources, an injured cyclist can seek compensation from the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan.
Do I Need a Lawyer in Michigan’s No-Fault System?
Bicycle accidents can result in serious, catastrophic injuries. In a no-fault insurance system like Michigan’s, if your injuries are severe, you may be able to pursue compensation beyond your own PIP insurance coverage and no-fault benefits.
A Michigan bicycle accident lawyer can guide you in determining whether you have a valid bicycle accident claim and which insurance companies’ policies may come into play.
Serious Injuries in Grand Rapids Bicycle Accident Cases
According to MCL – Section 257.58c, certain bicycle accident injuries that cause a serious impairment of a body function may allow you to recover compensation beyond your no-fault insurance benefits. These may include:
Loss of (or loss of use of) limbs—hands, feet, fingers, or thumbs
Vision or hearing loss, as well as impairments to bodily functions
Conditions like comas that last more than 3 days or measurable brain or mental impairments
Serious physical trauma—including visible disfigurement, head injuries like skull fractures, traumatic brain injuries, and substantial bone fractures
Loss of organs or internal injuries—subdural hemorrhages or hematomas
Compensation for Seriously Injured Bicycle Crash Victims
In a bicycle accident case resulting in serious impairment of a body function, victims may be entitled to seek compensation beyond no-fault insurance coverage from an at-fault driver. This can include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering compensation, and other damages. Accidents leading to fatal injuries are covered with Michigan’s required bodily injury liability coverage.
Common Causes of Bicycle Crashes in Grand Rapids
Cyclists involved in accidents often face severe, life-altering injuries due to negligent drivers who:
Are on the phone or texting while driving (distracted driving)
Fail to yield to cyclists at intersections
Open car doors unexpectedly into bike lanes (known as “dooring”)
Drive recklessly or exceed speed limits
How Long Do I Have to File a Bike Accident Case in Grand Rapids?
Under Michigan law, you have up to three years from the date of a bicycle accident to file a personal injury claim. It’s important to consult an experienced bicycle accident lawyer quickly to avoid missing deadlines.
How Long Will It Take to Receive My Settlement?
The time to resolve a personal injury case for cyclists in Grand Rapids varies. Some claims are settled in weeks or months, while others take longer, especially if they go to court with a third party claim.
Factors affecting your case timeline include:
The severity of your injuries and recovery time
Negotiations with insurance companies
Whether your bike crash case settles or goes to trial
Our legal team understands you want fair compensation quickly. Your experienced personal injury attorney will work efficiently to get the best outcome for you.
The Grand Rapids bike accident attorneys at our personal injury law firm provide free consultations for bicycle accident victims, connecting them with a lawyer to discuss their case, explore options, and address any questions about Michigan’s bike law. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you don’t pay any legal fees unless we win your case.
Get help from a Grand Rapids, MI bicycle accident lawyer when you've been injured in an accident because of someone else's negligence.
$7.5 Million
Recovery for a construction worker injured when a support wall fell and struck him. (Highest award on record for a construction injury in DuPage County at the time).
$3.2 Million
Recovery for a construction worker injured when he fell in an uncovered foundation trench, ranking as the highest award on record for a construction injury in McHenry County at the time.
$3 Million
Recovery for the family of a man struck by a garbage truck that was making an illegal turn.
$2.2 Million
Recovery for a salesman injured in an automobile collision.
$2 Million
Recovery for a man struck by a speeding vehicle as he waited for the CTA bus.
$1.5 Million
Recovery for a truck driver that was struck by another car on the expressway while his vehicle was disabled.
$1.4 Million
Recovery for a computer programmer that slipped and fell in the washroom at work.
Recovery for a pedestrian struck by a vehicle in a parking lot. At the time, this was the second-highest recovery on record in DuPage County for a similar injury.
$800,000
Recovered for a disputed wrongful death claim against a trucking company. The company denied they were involved in the collision.
$660,000
Recovery for a truck driver that was injured while unloading his trailer.
$550,000
Recovery for a person who slipped and fell in a grocery store.
$550,000
Recovery for a woman who injured her neck in a motor vehicle collision.
$500,000
Recovery for a pedestrian that was struck by a vehicle while standing on the sidewalk.
$460,000
Recovery for a truck driver that tripped and fell in the parking lot while making a delivery.
$450,000
Recovery for a dental assistant who slipped and fell at work on an unnatural accumulation of ice.
$425,000
Recovery for a union worker struck by a speeding vehicle.
$425,000
Recovery for a passenger in a vehicle struck by an inexperienced driver.
$415,000
Recovered for a woman that required neck surgery after aggravating an existing neck injury in a truck accident.
$400,000
Recovery for a lab technician injured while transporting equipment.
$370,000
Recovery for a construction worker injured on faulty equipment at a construction site.
$315,000
Recovery for a motorist struck by a falling utility pole.
$310,000
Recovery for a person injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$300,000
Recovery for a bicyclist struck by a vehicle.
$250,000
Recovery for a young woman struck by another vehicle.
$250,000
Recovered for a woman who sustained a partial finger amputation and other injuries in a rollover car accident. (Policy Limits)
$250,000
Recovered for a man injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$250,000
Recovered for a 60-year-old woman involved in a car accident. (Policy Limits)
$250,000
Recovered for a man hit by a semi-truck while operating a go-cart.
$240,000
Recovery for the injured party struck by another vehicle.
$235,000
Recovery for a person injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$235,000
Recovery for an inventory clerk injured when shelving toppled onto her.
$219,000
Recovery for a restaurant patron that slipped and fell in the bathroom.
$200,000
Recovered for an airline employee struck on the runway at O’Hare International Airport.
$190,000
Recovery for a person injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$175,000
Recovered for a child injured by fireworks at a fourth of July celebration.
$170,000
Recovered for a person injured when she slipped and fell exiting a major retail store.
$150,000
Recovered for a woman who fractured her leg when she was struck by a vehicle.
Latisha S.
Great service. They helped me get my money, and everyone was very pleasant even though the health insurance took a while. Everything was on point on Kryder’s side.
(312) 223-1700