Bicyclists have little protection when they are struck by a car, truck, or other motor vehicle. Even a collision at relatively low speed can cause serious injuries. An injured cyclist may face medical treatment, time away from work, damaged property, insurance questions, and uncertainty about what to do next.
If you were injured while riding a bicycle, a Michigan bicycle accident lawyer at Khamo Law can investigate how the collision happened, preserve important evidence, identify potentially responsible parties, evaluate applicable insurance coverage, and explain the legal options available under Michigan law.
Our Michigan personal injury attorneys represent people injured in serious accidents throughout Michigan.
Call 248-466-0606 for a free consultation.
Legally reviewed by Attorney Koro E. Khamo
Founder & Managing Attorney at Khamo Law, PLLC
Michigan Bar No. P80994
What Should I Do After a Bicycle Accident in Michigan?
Your health and safety should come first after a bicycle collision.
If you are able to do so safely:
- Call 911 and report the collision.
- Seek appropriate medical attention.
- Obtain the driver’s name, contact information, license plate, and insurance information.
- Photograph the bicycle, vehicle, roadway, damage, traffic signs, signals, and surrounding area.
- Get names and contact information from witnesses.
- Identify nearby businesses or homes that may have surveillance cameras.
- Preserve your damaged bicycle, helmet, clothing, lights, and other equipment.
- Save medical records, bills, receipts, insurance correspondence, and wage information.
- Preserve bicycle-camera, dashcam, cellphone, or other available video.
- Avoid assuming an insurance company’s initial determination about fault or coverage is necessarily correct.
If your injuries prevent you from gathering evidence at the scene, do not put yourself at additional risk. Police reports, photographs, witnesses, surveillance footage, medical records, vehicle evidence, and other information may still help establish what happened.
How Common Are Bicycle Accidents in Michigan?
Bicycle crashes remain an important traffic-safety issue throughout Michigan.
Michigan State Police publishes statewide crash statistics and provides safety information for bicyclists and motorists. Current crash information can be reviewed through the Michigan State Police Traffic Crash Statistics resources.
Khamo Law has also analyzed several years of Michigan pedestrian and bicycle crash data. Our Michigan pedestrian and bicycle crash analysis examines geographic patterns in bicycle and pedestrian crashes across the state.
Statewide statistics can demonstrate broader trends, but responsibility for an individual bicycle accident depends on the facts and evidence surrounding that particular collision.
Electric bicycles can raise additional questions about device classification, roadway use, insurance coverage, and Michigan No-Fault benefits. Our Michigan E-Bike & Electric Scooter Accident Lawyer guide explains the current rules and legal issues that can arise after an e-bike or electric scooter crash.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Michigan Bicycle Accidents?
Bicycle crashes can happen on busy commercial roads, neighborhood streets, intersections, parking areas, driveways, and other locations where cyclists and motor vehicles share space.
Common causes and contributing factors may include:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Drivers failing to yield
- Unsafe left or right turns
- Vehicles entering or leaving driveways
- Following bicyclists too closely
- Unsafe passing
- Opening a vehicle door into a bicyclist’s path
- Impaired driving
- Unsafe lane changes
- Failure to obey traffic signals or signs
- Poor visibility
Bicycle collisions can involve many of the same right-of-way, visibility, and driver-attention issues that arise when other vulnerable road users are struck. Our Michigan pedestrian accident lawyers also represent people seriously injured while traveling on foot.
What Rights Do Bicyclists Have on Michigan Roads?
Bicyclists have rights and responsibilities when using Michigan roadways.
Michigan law generally gives a person riding a bicycle on a roadway rights and duties applicable to vehicle drivers, subject to laws specifically governing bicycles.
Cyclists are therefore expected to follow applicable traffic signals, signs, roadway markings, and other rules of the road.
Motorists also have responsibilities when sharing Michigan roads with cyclists.
How Much Space Must a Driver Give a Bicyclist in Michigan?
Michigan law addresses motorists passing bicycles traveling in the same direction.
Michigan State Police advises motorists to provide bicyclists at least three feet of space when passing and provides additional guidance about safely sharing the road with cyclists.
Drivers should also watch for bicyclists at intersections and driveways and before opening vehicle doors.
For additional safety information, visit the Michigan State Police Bicyclist Safety resource.
What If a Driver Says They Never Saw the Bicyclist?
Drivers sometimes say they did not see a cyclist before turning, entering traffic, changing lanes, or crossing an intersection.
That statement does not automatically determine fault.
An investigation may consider:
- The cyclist’s position
- The driver’s line of sight
- Lighting conditions
- Traffic signals and signs
- Vehicle speed
- Bicycle lights or reflectors
- Road conditions
- Witness accounts
- Dashcam or surveillance footage
- Vehicle and bicycle damage
- The driver’s actions immediately before impact
The evidence surrounding the collision should be evaluated rather than assuming that a driver’s statement resolves responsibility.
Bicycle Accidents at Intersections
Intersections can create conflicts between bicyclists and motorists who are turning or crossing each other’s paths.
Important questions can include:
- Who had the right of way?
- Which person had the traffic signal?
- Was the driver turning left or right?
- Did the motorist yield?
- Where was the cyclist positioned?
- Was either person speeding?
- Did the driver check for bicycle traffic before turning?
Surveillance footage, witness statements, traffic controls, roadway markings, photographs, and damage to the bicycle and vehicle may all become important.
Right-Turn Bicycle Accidents
A driver making a right turn may cross directly into the path of a bicyclist traveling alongside the vehicle.
These collisions can happen at intersections, commercial driveways, parking-lot entrances, and side streets.
Evidence may include lane position, turn signals, vehicle speed, sight lines, video footage, witness accounts, and damage patterns.
Left-Turn Bicycle Accidents
A motorist turning left across a cyclist’s path can cause a serious collision.
An investigation may examine who had the right of way, whether the driver saw or should have seen the cyclist, traffic signals, vehicle speed, roadway conditions, witnesses, and available video.
Dooring Bicycle Accidents
A “dooring” accident occurs when someone opens a vehicle door into the path of an approaching bicyclist.
The cyclist may strike the door, be thrown from the bicycle, or swerve into traffic.
Evidence can include:
- Photographs
- Witness statements
- Surveillance footage
- Bicycle damage
- Damage to the vehicle door
- Location of the parked vehicle
- Roadway configuration
Even when the cyclist is not initially struck by a moving vehicle, the resulting injuries can be serious.
Rear-End Bicycle Accidents
A bicyclist struck from behind may suffer catastrophic injuries because there is almost nothing between the rider and the approaching vehicle.
Potential causes include distracted driving, speeding, following too closely, failure to see the cyclist, and driving too fast for conditions.
The driver’s sight distance, vehicle speed, road configuration, lighting, and available passing space may all become relevant.
For broader information about rear-impact crashes, visit our Michigan Rear-End Collision Lawyer resource.
Bicycle Accidents Involving Passenger Cars
Many serious bicycle collisions involve ordinary passenger vehicles.
Depending on the circumstances, a claim can involve both Michigan No-Fault insurance issues and potential claims involving the driver who caused the collision.
For broader information about Michigan auto claims, visit our Michigan Car Accident Attorney resource.
Bicycle Accidents Involving Commercial Trucks
Cyclists can be particularly vulnerable around large commercial vehicles because trucks have significant blind spots and require additional space to maneuver and turn.
A bicycle collision involving a commercial truck may require investigation of:
- The truck driver
- Motor carrier
- Vehicle ownership
- Driver training
- Dashcam or fleet video
- Electronic vehicle information
- Company records
- Maintenance records
- Applicable commercial insurance
For more information about commercial vehicle claims, visit our Michigan Truck Accident Lawyers page.
How Does Michigan No-Fault Insurance Apply to an Injured Bicyclist?
Michigan No-Fault insurance can become an important issue when a bicyclist is injured in an accident involving a motor vehicle.
Which insurer is responsible for benefits can depend on the circumstances of the cyclist and the accident. Michigan also has rules governing claims involving people who were not occupying motor vehicles when injured.
Because insurance priority and available coverage can become complicated, an injured cyclist should not assume that the driver’s liability insurer is necessarily the only potential source of benefits.
For more information about medical benefits, wage loss, attendant care, replacement services, and other benefits after a Michigan motor vehicle accident, visit our Michigan No-Fault Insurance Lawyer resource.
Who Pays Medical Bills After a Bicycle Accident?
The answer depends on how the accident happened and what insurance coverage applies.
When a bicycle accident involves a motor vehicle, potential sources of benefits or coverage can include:
- Applicable Michigan PIP benefits
- Health insurance
- Applicable household auto insurance
- Michigan Assigned Claims Plan benefits when statutory requirements are satisfied
- Claims involving an at-fault driver
- Other applicable insurance
Medical expenses and damages sought from a negligent driver are not necessarily handled through the same claim.
That makes identifying all applicable insurance coverage an important part of the investigation.
Can I Sue the Driver Who Hit My Bicycle?
Potentially.
A bicyclist injured because of another motorist’s negligence may have a claim when the requirements of Michigan law are satisfied.
Potential negligent conduct can include:
- Failing to yield
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Unsafe passing
- Turning into a cyclist’s path
- Running a traffic signal
- Following too closely
- Opening a vehicle door into a cyclist
- Impaired driving
Whether a particular claim is available depends on the circumstances, including the cyclist’s injuries, evidence, insurance coverage, and applicable Michigan law.
What If the Driver Blames the Bicyclist?
Drivers and insurance companies sometimes argue that the cyclist:
- Failed to stop
- Rode against traffic
- Was difficult to see
- Entered the roadway unexpectedly
- Was distracted
- Failed to use appropriate lighting
- Was riding in an improper location
- Otherwise contributed to the collision
An accusation does not establish legal responsibility by itself.
Police reports, photographs, video, witness statements, traffic controls, physical evidence, and other information may provide a more complete account of what happened.
Our guide explaining what happens if the other driver says the accident was your fault discusses disputed-fault accident claims in greater detail.
Can I Recover Compensation If I Was Partly at Fault?
Potentially.
Michigan comparative-fault rules can affect the damages available when an injured person shares responsibility for an accident.
The effect can depend on the percentage of fault and the type of damages involved.
An injured cyclist should not assume that an insurance company’s allegation of partial responsibility automatically eliminates a potential claim.
What Evidence Can Help Prove a Bicycle Accident Claim?
Bicycle collisions can involve conflicting accounts of what happened.
Potential evidence includes:
- Police reports
- Crash-scene photographs
- Bicycle damage
- Vehicle damage
- Helmet and clothing
- Dashcam footage
- Bicycle-camera footage
- Traffic-camera footage
- Business surveillance footage
- Residential doorbell video
- Witness statements
- Traffic signals and roadway markings
- Skid marks or debris
- Electronic vehicle information
- Medical records
- Insurance policies
- Employment records
Evidence can disappear quickly. Video may be overwritten, vehicles repaired, bicycles discarded, roadway conditions changed, and witnesses become more difficult to locate.
Should I Repair or Throw Away My Bicycle After a Crash?
Not before important evidence has been preserved.
The bicycle itself may help document:
- Point of impact
- Damage patterns
- Wheel or frame deformation
- Vehicle contact
- Lighting equipment
- Braking components
- Other physical evidence
The cyclist’s helmet and damaged clothing can also become relevant.
In a serious or disputed collision, photographs or inspection may be appropriate before damaged equipment is repaired or discarded.
What Injuries Are Common in Bicycle Accidents?
Unlike people inside passenger vehicles, bicyclists have little protection from the force of an impact.
Potential injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
- Spinal cord injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Broken bones
- Shoulder injuries
- Wrist and hand injuries
- Knee and leg injuries
- Facial and dental injuries
- Nerve injuries
- Internal injuries
- Road rash
- Scarring and disfigurement
For serious head injuries, visit our Michigan Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer resource.
For severe spinal injuries, see our Michigan Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer page.
Bicycle Accident Brain Injuries
A bicycle crash can cause a concussion or traumatic brain injury even when a cyclist does not lose consciousness.
Potential symptoms can include headaches, memory problems, dizziness, concentration difficulties, balance problems, sleep changes, mood changes, and sensitivity to light or noise.
Brain injuries can affect a person’s work, education, relationships, and independence.
Medical evaluation and documentation can become particularly important when neurological symptoms develop after a collision.
What If I Wasn’t Wearing a Bicycle Helmet?
Helmet use does not automatically determine who caused a bicycle collision.
For example, a motorist who fails to yield to a cyclist does not necessarily avoid responsibility simply because the cyclist was not wearing a helmet.
Helmet use may become relevant to certain injury or damages questions depending on the facts, particularly when a claim involves a head injury.
Responsibility for causing a crash and questions concerning the extent of particular injuries are separate issues.
What If a Child Is Injured in a Bicycle Accident?
Children can suffer serious injuries in bicycle collisions, and their claims can involve additional considerations.
Potential issues include:
- Medical treatment
- Scarring
- Brain injuries
- Future care
- School disruption
- Long-term disability
- Insurance coverage
- Future limitations
A serious claim involving a child should consider potential long-term consequences rather than focusing only on the initial emergency treatment.
What If the Driver Leaves the Scene?
A hit-and-run bicycle accident can create additional challenges because identifying the vehicle may become an immediate priority.
Potential evidence can include:
- Witness descriptions
- Partial license-plate information
- Surveillance footage
- Dashcam footage
- Doorbell cameras
- Vehicle fragments
- Nearby business cameras
- Police investigation
Insurance coverage may still need to be evaluated even if the responsible driver cannot immediately be identified.
For more information, visit our Michigan Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyer page.
What If the Driver Who Hit Me Was Uninsured?
An uninsured driver can make a bicycle accident claim more complicated.
Potential insurance issues can involve:
- Michigan No-Fault benefits
- Uninsured motorist coverage
- Other applicable insurance policies
- Michigan Assigned Claims Plan eligibility
- Potential claims against the responsible person
Uninsured-motorist coverage is generally governed by the applicable insurance policy, making the actual policy language important.
What Compensation May Be Available After a Michigan Bicycle Accident?
The benefits and damages available depend on the circumstances of the individual case.
Potential losses can include:
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation
- Lost income
- Future medical treatment
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Disability
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Other legally recoverable losses
Different categories of losses may be addressed through different insurance benefits or legal claims.
There is no universal settlement amount for a Michigan bicycle accident.
How Much Is a Michigan Bicycle Accident Case Worth?
The potential value of a bicycle injury claim depends on case-specific factors such as:
- Severity of the injuries
- Medical treatment
- Surgery
- Permanent limitations
- Future care needs
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Liability evidence
- Comparative-fault allegations
- Available insurance
- Long-term effects of the injuries
A temporary injury claim is fundamentally different from a case involving permanent brain damage, paralysis, or another catastrophic injury.
Generic settlement calculators should not be treated as reliable predictions of an individual case.
Fatal Bicycle Accidents
Some bicycle collisions result in fatal injuries.
When another person’s conduct causes a cyclist’s death, surviving family members may have legal questions involving medical expenses, funeral and burial expenses, lost financial support, and other losses recognized under Michigan law.
Our Michigan Wrongful Death Attorneys can explain the legal options that may be available after a fatal bicycle collision.
How Long Do I Have to File a Michigan Bicycle Accident Claim?
Different deadlines can apply to different parts of a bicycle-accident case.
Timing issues may involve:
- No-Fault benefits
- Personal-injury lawsuits
- Insurance-policy claims
- Wrongful-death claims
- Claims involving governmental entities
The statute of limitations is also not the only reason to investigate promptly.
Surveillance footage can be overwritten, vehicles and bicycles repaired, witnesses become harder to locate, and roadway conditions change.
How Khamo Law Can Help After a Bicycle Crash
Bicycle accident claims can involve disputes concerning right of way, visibility, vehicle speed, lane position, traffic signals, passing distance, insurance coverage, and whether the cyclist or driver was following Michigan traffic laws.
Depending on the circumstances, Khamo Law may:
- Review police and crash reports
- Obtain photographs and video
- Locate witnesses
- Search for surveillance footage
- Preserve bicycle-camera or dashcam recordings
- Examine bicycle and vehicle damage
- Review roadway and traffic-control evidence
- Investigate insurance coverage
- Evaluate applicable PIP benefits
- Review medical documentation
- Document lost income
- Evaluate comparative-fault allegations
- Consult qualified experts when appropriate
- Communicate with insurance companies
- Prepare the claim for negotiation or litigation when necessary
For additional information about the attorney’s role in these cases, read our guide explaining what a bicycle accident lawyer does after a Michigan crash.
Why Choose Khamo Law After a Bicycle Accident?
Khamo Law represents people injured in serious accidents throughout Michigan.
Our personal-injury practice includes bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, car crashes, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, catastrophic injuries, and wrongful-death claims.
Khamo Law offers:
- Free consultations
- Contingency-fee representation
- 40+ years of combined attorney experience
- Representation throughout Michigan
- Investigation of serious accident claims
Call 248-466-0606 to discuss a Michigan bicycle accident.
Michigan Bicycle Accident Lawyers Serving Local Communities
Khamo Law represents injured cyclists throughout Michigan and provides dedicated local bicycle-accident resources for:
- Troy Bicycle Accident Attorney
- Sterling Heights Bicycle Accident Lawyer
- Warren Bicycle Accident Attorney
- Detroit Bicycle Accident Attorney
- Southfield Bicycle Accident Attorney
- Clinton Township Bicycle Accident Attorney
The Troy bicycle page is live and already points back to this statewide resource, which is exactly the parent/child architecture we want.
Frequently Asked Questions About Michigan Bicycle Accidents
Do bicyclists have rights on Michigan roads?
Yes. Michigan law provides bicyclists with roadway rights and responsibilities, subject to rules specifically applicable to bicycles.
How far away must a car stay when passing a bicycle?
Michigan law generally requires motorists passing a bicycle traveling in the same direction to provide at least three feet when practicable, with additional statutory requirements governing safe passing.
Who pays my medical bills if I am hit by a car while riding a bicycle?
Michigan No-Fault benefits may apply when a bicyclist is injured in a collision involving a motor vehicle. The responsible insurer and available benefits depend on the circumstances and applicable Michigan insurance law.
Can I sue the driver who hit my bicycle?
Potentially. A claim may be available when another person’s negligence caused the collision and Michigan’s requirements for recovery are satisfied.
What if the driver says I caused the accident?
The driver’s statement does not establish responsibility by itself. Police reports, video, witnesses, vehicle and bicycle damage, traffic controls, and other evidence should be evaluated.
Can I recover compensation if I was partly responsible?
Potentially. Michigan comparative-fault rules may affect the damages available depending on the circumstances and allocation of fault.
What if I wasn’t wearing a helmet?
Not wearing a bicycle helmet does not automatically determine who caused the crash. Helmet use may become relevant to particular injury or damages issues depending on the circumstances.
Should I keep my damaged bicycle?
Yes. Particularly after a serious or disputed collision, the bicycle may contain important physical evidence and should generally be preserved until appropriate documentation or inspection has occurred.
What happens if the driver leaves the scene?
Report the crash to law enforcement and preserve information that may help identify the vehicle, including witness information, video, vehicle descriptions, debris, and partial license-plate information.
What if the driver doesn’t have insurance?
No-Fault benefits or other insurance coverage may still be available depending on the circumstances. Uninsured-motorist coverage and Michigan Assigned Claims Plan eligibility may also need to be investigated.
Do bicycle and pedestrian accident claims involve similar issues?
Sometimes. Both can involve vulnerable road users, right-of-way disputes, visibility, turning vehicles, intersections, hit-and-run drivers, and Michigan No-Fault insurance. Our Michigan Pedestrian Accident Attorney resource explains pedestrian-specific claims.
How much does a Michigan bicycle accident lawyer cost?
Khamo Law handles qualifying personal-injury cases on a contingency-fee basis, meaning attorney fees are generally tied to obtaining a recovery rather than hourly billing.
Contact a Michigan Bicycle Accident Lawyer at Khamo Law
If you or a loved one was injured in a bicycle collision, you may have questions about medical expenses, insurance coverage, responsibility for the crash, and what to do next.
A Michigan bicycle accident lawyer at Khamo Law can investigate the collision, preserve available evidence, evaluate applicable insurance coverage, identify potentially responsible parties, document injuries and financial losses, and explain the legal options supported by Michigan law and the facts.
Call 248-466-0606 or contact Khamo Law online to schedule a free consultation.
Khamo Law handles qualifying personal-injury cases on a contingency-fee basis.