Michigan Bicycle Accident Lawyer
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, and uncertainty about what to do next.
If you were injured while riding a bicycle, a Michigan bicycle accident lawyer at Khamo Law can help you understand your legal options. Our Michigan personal injury attorneys represent people injured in serious accidents throughout Michigan and work to hold negligent parties accountable.
According to Michigan State Police data, 1,773 bicycle-involved traffic crashes occurred in Michigan in 2024, a 20% increase from 2023. Michigan also recorded 29 bicyclist fatalities in those crashes.
Bicycle accidents can cause serious injuries when cyclists are struck by motor vehicles on Michigan roads.
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Michigan
Bicycle crashes can happen on busy roads, residential streets, intersections, parking areas, and other places where cyclists and motor vehicles share space. Some crashes occur because a driver fails to see a bicyclist or does not leave enough room when passing.
Common causes of bicycle accidents may include:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Drivers failing to yield
- Unsafe turns at intersections
- Vehicles entering or leaving driveways
- Drivers following bicyclists too closely
- Unsafe passing
- Opening a vehicle door into a bicyclist’s path
- Impaired driving
- Failure to obey traffic signals or signs
Michigan State Police advises motorists to give bicyclists at least three feet of space when passing. Drivers should also watch for bicyclists at intersections and driveways and before opening vehicle doors. You can learn more through the Michigan State Police bicyclist safety resources.
Bicycle accidents can involve many of the same issues that arise when other vulnerable road users are struck by vehicles. Our Michigan pedestrian accident lawyers also represent people seriously injured while traveling on foot.
Michigan Laws Protect Bicyclists on the Road
Bicyclists have rights and responsibilities when using Michigan roadways. According to Michigan State Police, bicycles on the roadway generally have the same rights and responsibilities as motor vehicles. Cyclists must follow traffic signals, signs, and roadway markings.
Michigan law also requires a motorist overtaking a bicycle traveling in the same direction to pass at a safe distance of at least three feet. If three feet is impracticable, the statute requires the driver to pass at a safe distance and safe speed. Some Michigan municipalities have adopted greater passing-distance requirements.
Drivers should remain alert for bicyclists when turning at intersections, entering or leaving driveways, and traveling on roads shared with cyclists.
Injuries Caused by Bicycle Accidents
Unlike people traveling inside passenger vehicles, bicyclists have little protection from the force of a collision. A cyclist may be struck directly by a vehicle and then thrown onto the roadway or into another object.
Bicycle accidents can cause serious injuries, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
- Spinal cord and back injuries
- Broken or fractured bones
- Shoulder, arm, wrist, and hand injuries
- Knee, leg, ankle, and foot injuries
- Facial and dental injuries
- Cuts, road rash, and scarring
- Internal injuries
Some bicycle crashes result in permanent disabilities or fatalities. When a family loses a loved one in a fatal bicycle collision, our Michigan wrongful death attorneys can explain the legal options that may be available.
Michigan Bicycle Accident Statistics
Bicycle crashes remain a serious traffic-safety concern across Michigan. In 2024, Michigan recorded 1,773 bicycle-involved crashes, compared with 1,480 in 2023. That represents a 20% increase in one year. Bicyclist fatalities also increased from 24 to 29, a 21% increase.
The state’s 2024 crash report also found that August had the highest number of bicycle-involved crashes, with 257. Bicycle-involved crashes occurred most often between 3:00 p.m. and 5:59 p.m.
These statistics demonstrate the risks cyclists can face while sharing Michigan roads with motor vehicles.
Insurance and Compensation After a Michigan Bicycle Accident
The insurance benefits and compensation that may be available after a bicycle accident depend on how the crash happened, the vehicles involved, applicable insurance coverage, and the cyclist’s individual circumstances.
When a bicyclist is injured in a collision involving a motor vehicle, Michigan’s No-Fault insurance laws may affect the benefits and compensation available. Because insurance coverage can vary, an injured cyclist should not assume that the at-fault driver’s insurer is necessarily the only potential source of benefits or compensation.
Depending on the circumstances, a bicycle accident case may involve medical treatment, rehabilitation, lost income, pain and suffering, and other accident-related losses. The benefits and damages that may actually be recovered depend on Michigan law and the facts of the individual case.
Our Michigan personal injury lawyers can review the accident, available insurance coverage, injuries, and other relevant circumstances to determine which legal options may apply.
What to Do After a Bicycle Accident in Michigan
The steps you take after a bicycle crash can help protect your health and preserve information about what happened. If you are able to do so safely:
- Call 911 and report the collision.
- Seek medical attention for your injuries.
- Obtain the driver’s name, contact information, and insurance information.
- Take photographs or video of the vehicles, bicycle, roadway, traffic signs, and surrounding area.
- Get contact information from witnesses.
- Keep your damaged bicycle, helmet, clothing, and other equipment.
- Save medical records, bills, receipts, and other documents related to the crash.
If your injuries prevent you from gathering evidence at the scene, do not put yourself at further risk. Police reports, witness statements, photographs, surveillance footage, medical records, and other evidence may still help establish what happened.
How Khamo Law Can Help After a Bicycle Crash
Bicycle accident claims can involve disputes over how a collision occurred, whether a driver saw the cyclist, who had the right of way, and which insurance coverage applies.
Khamo Law can investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision and gather available evidence. Depending on the case, that may include police reports, photographs, witness statements, medical documentation, video footage, vehicle information, and other records relevant to determining responsibility and documenting the cyclist’s injuries.
Our attorneys can also communicate with insurers and other parties involved in the claim while the injured cyclist focuses on recovery.
For riders injured in Metro Detroit, Khamo Law also provides local resources for people seeking a Troy bicycle accident attorney or Sterling Heights bicycle accident lawyer. Those are your existing local bicycle pages, so this statewide page can serve as the broader Michigan hub rather than duplicating their local focus.
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 review the circumstances of the accident and explain the legal options that may be available.
Call Khamo Law at (248) 466-0606 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
Legally reviewed by Attorney Koro E. Khamo
Attorney at Khamo Law, PLLC