Riders in mid-Michigan get a short season and a lot of traffic to share it with. When a driver pulls out of a parking lot or turns left without seeing an oncoming bike, the rider takes the full force of the impact. Michigan also treats motorcyclists differently under its No-Fault law, which surprises many riders after a crash. A Lansing motorcycle accident lawyer can sort out which insurer pays your bills and build the claim against the driver who caused the wreck.
Khamo Law represents injured motorcyclists and passengers in Lansing, East Lansing and throughout Ingham County. We are based in Troy, with a second office in Sterling Heights, and we work with Lansing-area riders by phone, by video or in person in Troy. Our attorneys and staff speak Arabic, Chaldean and English. For a free consultation, reach us at (248) 466-0606. We take these cases on contingency, so you owe no attorney fee unless we recover compensation.
Our Michigan motorcycle accident lawyer page covers statewide rules, and our Lansing personal injury attorney page covers other injury claims in the area.
How a Lansing Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Can Help
Motorcycle claims have two problems that car claims usually do not: a more complicated insurance priority order, and an insurer looking for reasons to blame the rider. We address both by:
- Identifying the right insurer for your personal injury protection (PIP) benefits under Michigan’s motorcycle priority rules
- Collecting video, witness statements and scene measurements to answer claims that you were speeding or hard to see
- Documenting injuries that are common in motorcycle crashes, such as road rash, fractures and brain injuries, so the medical record supports a serious impairment
- Pursuing the at-fault driver for pain and suffering, excess wage loss and the cost of repairing or replacing your bike and gear
- Checking your own policies for uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage when the driver fled or had little insurance
REPRESENTATIVE RESULTS
Results That Reflect the Cases We Handle
Khamo Law has obtained millions of dollars in recoveries for injured clients.
Past results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome. Every case depends on its individual facts, injuries, liability, insurance coverage, and applicable law.
Motorcycle Crashes in Ingham County
Motorcycles make up a small share of traffic but a large share of serious injuries. The 2024 Ingham County report from Michigan Traffic Crash Facts counted 83 motorcycles involved in crashes across the county. Of those, 59 were in crashes that caused injuries and 1 was in a fatal crash. Among motorcycle riders and passengers, the same report lists 1 death and 15 suspected serious injuries. Put another way, roughly 7 out of 10 motorcycles involved in a crash that year were in a crash where someone was hurt.
The report does not break motorcycle figures down by city, so these are county totals.
Where Lansing Riders Get Hurt
Commercial Streets With Driveways and Lots
Some of the most dangerous moments for a rider come when a car crosses their path from the side. In one crash on South Cedar Street, a southbound motorcyclist was killed after colliding with a car pulling out of a business parking lot, according to FOX 47 News. Lansing Police said speed may have been a factor, which shows how quickly fault becomes an argument in these cases. Long stretches of Cedar, Saginaw, Michigan Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue are lined with driveways and lots where the same kind of crash can happen.
Freeways and Work Zones
On I-96, I-69, I-496 and US-127, riders face high speeds, semi-trucks and merging traffic. The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is rebuilding US-127/I-496 between I-96 and I-496 through fall 2028. Grooved pavement, uneven lanes, loose gravel and sudden stops in work zones are much more dangerous on two wheels than on four.
Left Turns at Intersections
The classic motorcycle crash is a driver turning left across the path of an oncoming bike, often saying afterward that they never saw it. Michigan law requires turning drivers to yield to oncoming traffic, motorcycles included. Insurers often respond by claiming the rider was going too fast, which is why early evidence matters.
Michigan No-Fault Rules for Motorcyclists
Under Michigan No-Fault law, a motorcycle is not treated the same as a car. When a motorcyclist or passenger is hurt in a crash that involves a motor vehicle, MCL 500.3114(5) sets the order in which insurers must pay PIP benefits:
- The insurer of the owner or registrant of the car or truck involved in the crash
- The insurer of the driver of that car or truck
- The motor vehicle insurer of the motorcycle’s operator
- The motor vehicle insurer of the motorcycle’s owner or registrant
In other words, the car’s insurance usually pays the rider’s medical bills and wage loss first, not the rider’s own motorcycle policy. This rule depends on a motor vehicle being involved. A single-bike crash with no car or truck involved generally does not trigger these PIP benefits, so health insurance and other coverage become more important. Our page on motorcycle laws in Michigan has more background.
Michigan’s Helmet Law and Your Claim
Michigan does not require every rider to wear a helmet. Under MCL 257.658, an operator who is at least 21 may ride without one if they have held a motorcycle endorsement for at least 2 years or passed an approved motorcycle safety course, and they carry at least $20,000 in first-party medical benefits coverage. Riders under 21 must wear a helmet.
Riding without a helmet does not bar a claim against a careless driver. Insurers may still argue that a helmet would have reduced a head injury and try to shift part of the fault to the rider. How that plays out depends on the injuries and the medical evidence, which is one reason to talk with a lawyer before giving any statement.
Your Claim Against the Driver Who Hit You
PIP benefits never cover pain and suffering. To recover those damages from the at-fault driver, the crash must have caused death, permanent serious disfigurement or a serious impairment of body function under MCL 500.3135. Riders often suffer injuries that meet that standard, such as broken legs and pelvises, shoulder injuries that need surgery, and brain injuries. Lasting scars from road rash can also be part of the claim.
Comparative fault applies. If a jury finds you partly at fault, for example for speed, your recovery is reduced by your percentage. If you are found more than 50% at fault, you lose the right to pain and suffering damages. Because insurers lean on rider-blame arguments, independent witnesses, video and crash reconstruction can make a large difference.
Injuries Riders Suffer Most Often
- Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
- Road rash and skin grafts
- Fractures of the legs, ankles, wrists, collarbone and pelvis
- Spinal cord injuries
- Nerve damage in the arms and shoulders
- Facial injuries and dental damage
When a motorcycle crash takes a life, the family may have a wrongful death claim.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Crash in Lansing
- Call 911 and get medical help, even if you can stand up and walk.
- Keep your helmet, jacket and gear. Damage to them can show how the crash happened.
- Photograph the scene, including where the bike ended up, skid marks, the other vehicle and road conditions.
- Get witness names and phone numbers, especially from people who saw the driver turn or pull out.
- Get the other driver’s insurance information. Their insurer may be first in line for your PIP benefits.
- Do not discuss your speed or riding with the other side’s adjuster.
- Talk to a motorcycle accident attorney in Lansing before deadlines run.
Our guide on what to do after a motorcycle accident in Michigan has more detail. If you hire us, we request the police report for you during intake.
Deadlines for Lansing Motorcycle Claims
- PIP notice: written notice to the responsible insurer within one year of the crash (MCL 500.3145)
- Lawsuit against the at-fault driver: generally three years (MCL 600.5805)
- Road defect claims, such as a pothole or poorly marked work zone: written notice to the road agency usually within 120 days (MCL 691.1404)
Why Riders Choose Khamo Law
We know the motorcycle priority rules and the rider-blame arguments insurers use, and we prepare for both from the first day. Our firm has recovered more than $40 million for injured clients and our team brings more than 40 years of combined experience. Clients rate us 5.0 stars across more than 230 Google reviews. Koro E. Khamo, the firm’s founder, is a Super Lawyers Rising Star and a member of The National Trial Lawyers’ Top 40 Under 40. Lansing riders can work with us entirely by phone and video, and our attorneys and staff speak Arabic, Chaldean and English.
Hurt in a car rather than on a bike? See our Lansing car accident lawyer page. Hit by a semi while riding? Our Lansing truck accident lawyer page explains the extra evidence in those cases.
Lansing Motorcycle Accident FAQs
Should I get a lawyer after a motorcycle accident?
If you were injured, it is usually worth at least a free consultation. Motorcycle claims involve a different insurance priority order and frequent disputes about the rider’s speed and visibility, and a misstep early can hurt both your benefits and your injury claim.
How much compensation can I get for a motorcycle accident?
It depends on the injuries, their long-term effects, lost income, fault and the insurance available. No one can give a reliable number before reviewing the medical records and the facts of the crash.
Will my own motorcycle insurance pay my medical bills?
Usually not first. If a car or truck was involved, Michigan law generally puts that vehicle’s insurer first in line for your PIP benefits. Your own policy comes later in the order.
Can I still recover if I was not wearing a helmet?
Yes. Whether or not the law required you to wear one, a careless driver can still be held responsible for causing the crash. The insurer may argue the helmet issue reduces your damages, especially for head injuries.
How long does a motorcycle accident settlement take?
Most claims are not ready to settle until treatment has progressed far enough to understand the long-term effects. Some resolve within months; contested cases can take a year or more through litigation.
Do you handle East Lansing motorcycle accident cases?
Yes. We represent riders hurt in East Lansing, Lansing and anywhere in Ingham County.
Speak With a Lansing Motorcycle Accident Attorney
If a driver’s mistake put you or someone you love in the hospital, we can explain your options at no cost. Dial (248) 466-0606 or reach us through our contact form.
The content on this page is general information and does not create an attorney-client relationship or offer legal advice. Results in past matters do not guarantee a similar result in yours.