Attendant Care Benefits are extremely important benefits that are available to some injured motorcyclists in Michigan through their No Fault insurance policy.  No Fault insurance benefits are available when a biker has been injured in an accident involving a car, truck, SUV, or other motor vehicle.

Attendant care benefits are available when a person sustains serious injuries as a result of a motor vehicle accident, which renders him or her unable to do things that he or she was able to do prior to being injured. Sometimes, the injured person requires professional agencies to care for him or her at home, but, more often, family and friends care for the injured person. 

Attendant Care services commonly include, but are not limited to: preparing meals and feeding; assistance with personal hygiene, such as dressing and bathing; attending to wounds; assistance with medication; providing transportation to and from medical appointments; and supervision and monitoring, etc.  

Section 3107(1)(a) of the Michigan No-Fault Act is the specific statutory section that entitles auto accident victims to be compensated for “attendant care” rendered by family members.  Courts in Michigan have held that the word “services” in this section of the No-Fault statute includes both skilled and unskilled attendant care as well as supervision.  The courts have also held that attendant care can be provided by family members as long a physician deems the services are reasonable and necessary.  Once it is established that a person requires and is provided attendant care, the insurer is obligated to pay for the attendant care regardless of whether it is being provided by family or friends.

In order to submit a claim for attendant care you must provide the insurer with “reasonable proof of the fact and of the amount of loss sustained.” This is usually done by submitting a claim, in the form of written documentation, to the insurer with: (1) the name of the injured claimant; (2) the name and address of the care provider; (3) the days and number of hours the care was provided; (4) the specific types of care provided; and (5) a note from a physician stating that the care is necessary, including the number of days/hours needed (See e.g. Attending Physicians Report).

Once the claim is documented, the claimant must then demand an amount to be reimbursed by the insurer, by establishing an hourly rate and then multiplying that rate by the number of hours provided. There is no fixed amount or “rate schedule” of how much an insurer must pay for in-home attendant care.  However, sometimes No-Fault insurers improperly advise claimants that attendant care is limited to $20.00 per day.  This is wrong and is an attempt by the insurer to limit attendant care to the rate at which Household Replacement Service Expenses are compensable. The only legal criteria is that the hourly rate must be “reasonable.” The hourly rate that the law deems reasonable, can vary greatly depending on the type of care being provided. As a general rule, family provided attendant care is commonly paid at a rate of anywhere between $10.00 - $30.00 per hour, depending on the nature and extent of the person’s injuries, the level of care being provided, the skill and expertise of the care provider, geographic location etc.

If you would like more information about your rights after a Michigan motorcycle accident, you can order our FREE book, “The Ultimate Michigan Motorcycle Accident Handbook” by calling our law firm web.  We will send it along with other important information. 

For more information about Michigan motorcycle accident cases, visit our law firm web site at www.BuckfireLaw.com.  If you would like to speak with one of our Michigan Motorcycle accident attorneys about your case, feel free to call us anytime at (800) 606-1717 or simply submit this contact form and we will get back to you quickly.

Case Management Services are benefits that are available to some injured motorcyclists in Michigan through their No Fault insurance policy. No Fault insurance benefits are available when a biker has been injured in an accident involving a car, truck, SUV, or other motor vehicle.

Case management services can be used to hire a professional case manager to handle parts of your accident claim. A case manager is typically a nurse or rehabilitative counselor who can help with a variety of aspects of your claim. Some of the services case managers can provide include:

• Coordinating medical care with multiple doctors and clinics
• Finding the best medical specialists
• Scheduling doctor’s appointments and other appointments for medical treatment
• Helping the patient with ordering home modifications, which are also paid for by the No Fault insurance company
• Helping the patient obtain necessary medical equipment such as a wheelchair, as part of a No Fault claim for medical expenses
• Communicating with the insurance company on behalf of the injured person

Case managers also often offer additional services for accident victims and their families. A case manager can be a major help in coordinating your No Fault benefits and is entirely free to the accident victim since the No Fault insurance company is required to pay for one. Despite being such a good benefit, there are many accidents in which the injured motorcyclist does not hire a case manager because he or she does not know the insurance company will pay for this service. I always encourage my clients to hire a case manager if they are seeing several doctors or have severe injuries.

If you would like more information about your rights after a Michigan motorcycle accident, you can order our FREE book, “The Ultimate Michigan Motorcycle Accident Handbook” by calling our office. We will send it along with other important information.

For more information about Michigan motorcycle accident cases, visit our law firm web site at www.BuckfireLaw.com. If you would like to speak with one of our Michigan Motorcycle accident attorneys about your case, feel free to call us anytime at (800) 606-1717 or simply submit this contact form and we will get back to you quickly.

Special Transportation Benefits are benefits that are available to some injured motorcyclists in Michigan through their No Fault insurance policy. No Fault insurance benefits are available when a biker has been injured in an accident involving a car, truck, SUV, or other motor vehicle.

Special transportation benefits are used to pay for a specially equipped van or other vehicle to take an accident victim to and from medical appointments. This can be especially useful for people who are in wheelchairs or who require other medical equipment and have a hard time getting around for that reason.

The No Fault insurance company is required to pay a reasonable rate for the special transportation vehicle. An accident victim should submit a claim for this benefit once every thirty days to ensure the van is paid for each time they use it.

If you would like more information about your rights after a Michigan motorcycle accident, you can order our FREE book, “The Ultimate Michigan Motorcycle Accident Handbook” by calling our office. We will send it along with other important information.

For more information about Michigan motorcycle accident cases, visit our law firm web site at www.BuckfireLaw.com. If you would like to speak with one of our Michigan Motorcycle accident attorneys about your case, feel free to call us anytime at (800) 606-1717 or simply submit this contact form and we will get back to you quickly.

Survivor Loss Benefits refer to the benefits that are available to family members of someone who is killed in an accident through their Michigan No Fault insurance policy. No Fault insurance benefits are available when a biker has been injured or killed in an accident involving a car, truck, SUV, or other motor vehicle.

Survivor loss benefits are paid to the spouse or a relative of the motorcyclist who dies in an accident. They typically include a portion of the funeral expenses as well as payments for loss of financial support and loss of household services. The payment for the funeral expenses is disbursed as a one-time payment while the other payments are paid out over a period of time for up to three years. The amount that is paid out changes from year to year due to inflation.

A survivor loss claim requires the family to submit a copy of the death certificate, funeral bill, and proof of loss of financial support and household services. These things should be submitted as quickly as possible after the accident since the No Fault Act and insurance companies have strict deadlines and use people’s failure to meet deadlines as an excuse to deny their claims and save money for their own shareholders. I strongly recommend you consult with an attorney immediately after a fatal accident or any accident to ensure you are submitting all the proper documents and making all the claims you should to get the full amount of benefits you are entitled to.

If you would like more information about your rights after a Michigan motorcycle accident, you can order our FREE book, “The Ultimate Michigan Motorcycle Accident Handbook” by calling our office. We will send it along with other important information.

For more information about Michigan motorcycle accident cases, visit our law firm web site at www.BuckfireLaw.com. If you would like to speak with one of our Michigan Motorcycle accident attorneys about your case, feel free to call us anytime at (800) 606-1717 or simply submit this contact form and we will get back to you quickly.

The Experienced Rider Course is a safety course designed for an experienced motorcyclist who wants more than the basics. This course teaches deeper fundamentals of riding to riders that already have their endorsements. Many organized group riders require this course before experienced bikers can register with them.

The Experienced Rider Course is usually a half-day course given on a weekend. Bikers use their own motorcycle and helmet. The course combines classroom time with time spent riding the motorcycle.

There are several benefits to taking an Experienced Rider Course. The course discusses balancing the mental and physical aspects of safe riding, managing risk, increasing visibility, and optimizing your lane position. The Experienced Rider Course also covers topics like protective gear, rider responsibility, motorcycle inspection and care, and the effects of alcohol and drugs on riding. The course concludes with an optional skill evaluation and knowledge test.

If you would like more information about your rights after a Michigan motorcycle accident, you can order our FREE book, “The Ultimate Michigan Motorcycle Accident Handbook” by calling our office. We will send it along with other important information.

For more information about Michigan motorcycle accident cases, visit our law firm web site at www.BuckfireLaw.com. If you would like to speak with one of our Michigan Motorcycle accident attorneys about your case, feel free to call us anytime at (800) 606-1717 or simply submit this contact form and we will get back to you quickly.