The number of fatal Michigan motorcycle accidents is on the increase compared to 2007.  According to numbers released from the Office of Highway Safety Planning, motorcyclists are more likely to be in a fatal motor vehicle accident than almost any other type of driver.  Unfortunately, however, these accidents accidents are often caused by drivers of cars, trucks, and SUVs who fail to notice or look out for motorcycles while they are driving.

The increase in fatal motorcycle accidents is even more alarming because it bucks the trend of an overal decrease in the number of fatal traffic accidents.  Car accidents were down 10% overall, while the number of accidents involving property damage or personal injury also declined.  Because of this, it is important that every motorcyclist be extra cautious when driving in heavy traffic, since it is clear drivers of other vehicles do not pay attention to motorcycles.

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 visiting our law firm web site.  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.

It has been my experience that motorcyclists are often the most careful drivers on the road.  Nonetheless, many drivers blame them if they are involved in accidents.  This is simply not right, since, very often, the drivers themselves are at fault for failing to keep an eye out for motorcycles.  Unfortunately, when car and truck drivers are negligent, it is usually the motorcyclists who pay the price.

Traffic accidents have a disproportionate effect on motorcyclists as compared to the rest of the driving population.  For every 100,000 registered vehicles, the fatality rate for motorcyclists was 3.6 times higher than the fatality rate for passenger car occupants.  And, based on figures from 1999, motorcyclists were about 18 times as likely to die in motor vehicle accidents as passenger car occupants.

The fact is, even when the motorcyclist is doing everything right, he or she is still at a significantly higher risk of injury or death than a passenger or driver in a car or truck.  Because of that, there are a variety of training and safety courses that use a classroom component and a driving/range component to teach motorcyclists how to handle less than ideal driving situations, including how to handle other drivers on the road.  More information about these courses can be found in the Training/Education Classes section of this website.

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 number of Michigan motorcycle accidents has been rising for nearly a decade.  This includes the number of catastrophic motorcycle accidents, in which there is a personal injury or significant property damage, as well as fatal motorcycle accidents, which now account for a growing portion — now approximately 10% — of all fatal vehicular accidents.

There is some evidence that the increase in motorcycle accidents is connected to the worsening economy.  During warmer weather, statistics show that some people used their motorcycle more to commute to and from work.  Possible explanations for this include saving money on gas, shortening the commute, and the desire to enjoy riding more often.  Unfortunately, too often, drivers of cars, SUVs, and trucks ignore motorcyclists and fail to keep a proper lookout for them.  Then, when an accident happens, it is almost always the motorcyclist who is injured.

Some common causes of motorcycle accidents include:

• Other drivers failing to check their blind spots while switching lanes
• Other drivers rear-ending motorcycles
• Other drivers cutting off a motorcycle

A person who is injured in a motorcycle accident has several possible legal claims that arise out of the accident.  A biker may be able to submit a claim for No Fault insurance if the accident involved a car or truck.  Or the biker may be able to submit a claim for the insurance they have on the motorcycle, including PL/PD insurance or Med Pay insurance.  Finally, a biker may be able to sue the other driver if that driver caused the accident.

Because the motorcyclist’s legal rights will depend on the exact nature of his or her injuries and on the circumstances of the accident, the motorcyclist or a family member should contact an experienced Michigan motorcycle accident attorney as soon as possible.  This will help the accident victim determine what he or she can do and will keep them from missing a deadline with the court or insurance company that could result in them forfeiting their rights.

If you would like more information about your rights after a Michigan car accident, you can order our FREE book, “The Ultimate Michigan Motorcycle Accident Handbook” by clicking on the book link. We will send it out immediately along with other important information.

For more information about Michigan car accident cases, visit our law firm web site at www.BuckfireLaw.com. If you would like to speak with one of our Michigan car 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.

Motorcycle safety is an important goal for riders, insurance companies, and law enforcement agencies alike.  Law enforcement and regulatory agencies track accident statistics to analyze the causes of accidents so they can be prevented in the future.  Whatever anyone thinks of a particular traffic regulation, virtually everyone can agree that roads need to be safer for motorcyclists so they can enjoy their ride.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) annual report on Fatal Single Vehicle Motorcycle Crashes noted some disturbing trends.

• Over a ten year period, more riders age 40 and over are dieing in accidents
• More motorcyclist fatalities are occurring on rural roads
• High Blood Alcohol Contact (BAC) levels are a major problem among motorcycle operators who are involved in accidents
• Half of the fatalities reported are related to negotiating a curve prior to a crash
• Over 80% of fatalities occur off the roadway
• Undivided roadways account for a majority of fatalities
• Almost two-thirds of fatalities were associated with speeding
• Almost 60% of motorcyclist fatalities occur at night
• Collision with a fixed object is a significant factor in over 50% of fatal accidents
• Breaking and steering maneuvers possibly contribute for almost 25% of fatal accidents
• Helmet use among fatally injured motorcyclists remains below 50%
• Almost one-third of fatally injured motorcycle operators did not have a motorcycle endorsement on their driver’s license

The consequences of these findings are significant but they effect the individual biker in various ways.  An individual motorcyclist can do little to encourage greater use of divided highways, but these findings may be used in future traffic studies. 

There are, however, important things a motorcyclist can learn from these statistics. 

First, motorcyclists should use caution while negotiating curves, breaking, and engaging in complicated steering maneuvers. 

Second, motorcyclists may wish to use extra caution when biking at night or on rural roads. 

Third, motorcyclists should carefully monitor their consumption of alcohol and never drink and drive. 

Fourth, motorcyclists should educate themselves on Michigan’s helmet law and make an informed decision on their use of helmets and other safety measures, that is based on Michigan’s helmet law and well-reasoned arguments put forth by motorcyclist organizations, such as ABATE of Michigan. 

Finally, motorcyclists should maintain and enhance their knowledge of Michigan’s motorcycle licensing and registration laws as well as know their insurance options to make sure they have the proper coverage in case they are involved in a motorcycle accident.  The content on this website is a great place to start.

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.  We will send it along with other important information.

For more information about Michigan motorcycle accident cases, visit our law firm web site at http://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 increase in motorcycle accident is alarming. Nearly 4000 motorcyclists die in accidents each year, and the number of people injured in motorcycle accidents is close to 67,000. In Michigan, the number of motorcycles involved in crashes between 2006 (3386) and 2007 (3821) has increased by 12.8%.  The mortality rate during that same time rose by 9.1%, while the number of motorcyclists injured rose by 11.8%.  In the last decade, the number of Michigan motorcycle accidents shot up by 45%. The number of accidents that resulted in death in Michigan grew by an alarming 98%.

Unfortunately, motorcycle accidents are too often blamed on motorcyclists not following traffic rules, being inexperienced or disobeying the rules of the road. The truth is that motorcycle accidents are very frequently the result of a mistake made by another motorist, which can injure, maim, or kill even the most experienced motorcyclists.

Because the motorcycle accident victim may be seriously injured after the incident, the biker’s account or version of the accident may never be heard.  The police agency investigating the accident may wrongly blame the biker for the accident.   As a result, a seriously injured biker may go uncompensated for an accident caused by someone else.

My firm understands this problem and we take quick and prompt action to prove that the biker was not at fault in the accident.  When we are hired to represent an injured biker, we immediately obtain all eyewitness statements and have our investigator canvas the area for additional witnesses.  We then take our own statements, which are often different than what the police put in their reports.  We also take extensive photographs of the accident scene and the vehicles involved in the accident.  It is important to take photographs before vehicles are repaired or sent to the salvage yard.

To further determine the actual cause of the accident, we hire the country’s best accident reconstruction experts to recreate the accident.  Measurements of roadways, skid marks, and other pertinent markers are taken.  We even have a specialist that can download the data on the “Black Box” in many newer vehicles to prove the speed of the negligent motorists both before impact and at the time of impact.

As you can see, it is important to find an experienced Michigan motorycle accident lawyer to handle your case immediately after your accident.  The attorney that you choose for your case is often the difference between a great settlement or no settlement at all.  A delay in hiring a lawyer often means lost evidence and lost witnesses, which can prevent the truth from ever making it to the courthouse.  For more information on our firm, visit www.BuckfireLaw.com or call us at (800) 606-1717.