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.

Michigan motorcycle accident lawyer Daniel Buckfire has just finished his latest publication, “The Ultimate Michigan Motorcycle Accident Handbook.”  This 65-page guide walks you through the different types of benefits that are available to people who have been injured in motorcycle accidents and provides information about buying the proper insurance for your motorcycle.

This handbook would normally sell for $14.95, but if you order it through our law firm’s website, we will send it to you for FREE if you act NOW.

To order “The Ultimate Michigan Motorcycle Handbook” simply click on the book’s title and you will be redirected to our law firm’s website.  Fill out the order form and we will send you a copy of this book for FREE.

And be sure you do not miss our FREE Motorcycle Insurance Report and FREE Car Insurance Report, which can also be downloaded from our law firm’s website.  Simply click on the titles of each report.

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.

A Jackson hit and run motorcycle accident has left the biker injured.  The accident occurred at the intersection of Styles Road and Meridian Road on December 24, 2008.  The motorcyclist was stopped at a stop sign when a truck turned into the bike.  The truck driver fled the scene while the biker was taken to Allegiance Health Center and then UM Hospital for treatment.  He was believed to be seriously injured.  Police are still investigating the accident and trying to identify the hit and run driver.

I am very sorry this accident occurred, especially since it was during the holidays.  I hope this man is able to recover completely from his injuries.

Because the motorcyclist was injured in an accident that involved a truck, the Michigan No Fault Act applies.  The man will be able to file a claim for No Fault insurance benefits.  No Fault insurance will pay for this man’s medical expenses including his current hospital bills and any reasonable and necessary follow-up treatment.  No Fault insurance will also pay for a portion of his lost wages, household replacement services, and attendant care benefits.  More information about all of these benefits is available in the Insurance Information section of this website.

In addition to his claim for No Fault insurance, this man may be able to file a lawsuit for additional damages.  For instance, No Fault insurance only pays for lost wages for up to three years after the accident.  If this man was disabled from work for more than that, he could collect lost earnings in a lawsuit.  Or, he could collect non-economic damages like pain and suffering.  Michigan law only allows people with very serious injuries to file a lawsuit after an accident like this, so this man should consult with a lawyer to determine if he has the option of filing a lawsuit.

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.

Michigan law requires motorcyclists to always wear an approved, properly-fastened safety helmet on their head.  Many bikers oppose Michigan’s helmet law, including ABATE of Michigan, because they believe individual motorcycle riders can best decide what type of safety gear is appropriate for their rides. 

In fact, ABATE of Michigan is a very active non-profit organization that is dedicated to preserving the rights of motorcyclists and promoting safe operating practices among motorcyclists.  ABATE of Michigan monitors current and proposed legislation, encourages its members to become politically involved, hosts thousands of safety programs throughout the State of Michigan, and donates a large amount to various charities.  ABATE and other like-minded bikers may succeed in repealing Michigan’s helmet law, either sometime soon or eventually, but for now motorcyclists are currently required to wear a helmet in accordance with the helmet law.

MCL 257.658 says: “A person operating or riding on a motorcycle, and any person less than 19 years of age operating a moped on a public thoroughfare shall wear a crash helmet on his or her head. Crash helmets shall be approved by the department of state police. The department of state police shall promulgate rules for the implementation of this section pursuant to the administrative procedures act of 1969, Act No. 306 of the Public Acts of 1969, being sections 24.201 to 24.315 of the Michigan Compiled Laws.”  MCL 257.658 (emphasis added).

One of the chief complaints with Michigan’s helmet law is that, although it requires crash helmets to be approved by the state police, the Michigan State Police have not generated a list of approved helmets.  In fact, if you visit one Michigan State Police Motorcycle Helmet webpage, you will see several statistics about the use of helmets before being directed to the Michigan Secretary of State’s office.  At the Secretary of State’s Motorcycle Helmet webpage, you will see that the Secretary of State erroneously states helmets must be approved by the US Department of Transportation.  If you visit another Michigan State Police webpage, you will find a series of guidelines that might be used in approving a helmet but no list of which helmets are approved.  At the very least, this conflicting information renders Michigan’s helmet law ambiguous, but at its worst, the helmet law as currently written may actually discourage helmet use since a motorcyclist cannot readily tell which helmet to use.

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 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.

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.