MICHIGAN MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT LAWYER

How Motorcyclists Can Protect Themselves

Motorcycle accidents are the leading cause of death for people between the ages of 16 and 33 in the United States, and motorcycle accidents account for approximately 3,000 deaths each year. Many others are seriously injured and undergo major life changes and disabilities due to motorcycle accidents. Injuries from motorcycle accidents are not the same as those in an enclosed passenger car with seat belts and airbags. Even pads and helmets do little to protect the motorcycle riders in a crash. This can leave the rider with a ruptured disc, a serious brain injury, or even result in wrongful death.

Here are a few motorcycle safety tips bikers can follow to help protect themselves on the road:

• Wear a helmet to reduce the risk of death by almost 40% and the risk of injury by over 70%.
• Never drive a motorcycle after you have been drinking.
• Don’t let friends and family drive after they have been drinking.
• Wear protective clothing, which can help provide protection from potential injury.
• Maintain a safe driving speed, especially on gravel or slippery surfaces.

Unfortunately, many motorcycle accidents occur due to no fault of the biker. Even when motorcyclists take proper safety precautions, they may be hit by a distracted or drunk driver, sideswiped by a motorist illegally changing lanes, or injured by a car or truck driver that is acting carelessly, recklessly, or negligently in some way.

Michigan Motorcycle Helmet Law

In Michigan, anyone on a motorcycle – including the operator and passengers – must wear a helmet if they are under the age of 21.

There are also special rules for legal adult motorcyclists and passengers who do not wear a helmet:

• Motorcyclists must have at least a $20,000 first-party medical benefits coverage insurance policy.
• Passengers must have at least a $20,000 first-party medical benefits coverage insurance policy of their own, separate from the policy held by the operator.
• Motorcyclists must have at least a two-year motorcycle endorsement or have passed a state-recognized motorcycle safety course.

Additionally, helmets used by anyone under the age of 21 must match United States Department of Transportation (DOT) requirements. If you ride a motorcycle on a Michigan highway at speeds above 35 mph and your motorcycle does not have a built-in windshield, then you must also wear shatterproof protective goggles.

No matter what the law says, wearing a motorcycle helmet should be a requirement for yourself and any of your passengers. The protection provided by a helmet is invaluable.

Motorcycle Crash Compensation

The compensation you can demand in a motorcycle accident case will depend on the severity of your injuries and how your life has been affected by them. As your Michigan motorcycle crash attorneys, we can calculate the damages that you are owed, so you do not have to worry about that complicated step of the claim.

The compensation we can seek in your name might include:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Lost enjoyment of life
• Pain and suffering

Returning to the topic of motorcycle helmet use and safety, not wearing a helmet could hurt your chances of receiving a fair amount of compensation. Specifically, if you suffered a head injury in a crash and chose not to wear a helmet, then the liable party’s insurance company could argue that it should not have to pay for any damages related to that head injury.

We know how to build counterarguments to protect your case, but it remains true that wearing a motorcycle helmet is always a good idea.