Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Flint
Riding a motorcycle may be a lot of fun but is also very dangerous. With less protection than any other type of vehicle, the potential for a serious injury when involved in a motorcycle accident is much higher than in other motor vehicle accidents. Broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and fatalities are all more likely when riding motorcycles than driving a car.
If you have been involved in a Flint motorcycle accident, then you need the services of a law firm that regularly handle motorcycle accident cases. They can deal with any disputes with your insurance company over an offered settlement, or they can file a personal injury claim on your behalf.
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Key Takeaways
- In Michigan, motorcycles are not classified as “motor vehicles” under the No-Fault Act, so riders do not automatically receive PIP benefits from their motorcycle policy.
- PIP coverage for an injured rider usually comes from the auto insurer of the vehicle involved, a resident relative’s auto policy, the rider’s own auto policy, or the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan, and the priority order decides who pays first.
- Riders 21 and older may ride without a helmet only if they carry at least $20,000 in medical coverage and either have held a motorcycle endorsement for two years or passed an approved safety course, but going helmetless can affect how insurers argue a head-injury claim.
- You generally have one year to claim no-fault PIP benefits (MCL 500.3145) and three years to file a third-party lawsuit (MCL 600.5805).
- To recover pain and suffering, your injuries must meet Michigan’s “serious impairment of body function” threshold (MCL 500.3135).
- ‘Insurance companies routinely argue “rider error” to reduce a claim, so early attorney involvement helps protect against that bias.
- Flint corridors such as I-75, the I-475/I-69 interchange, and Dort Highway carry well-known hazards for motorcyclists.
- Cochran, Kroll & Associates has a Flint office and serves Genesee County riders, with no fee unless we win. Call 1-866-MICH-LAW.
What Michigan Law Says
Although Michigan law requires all users of motor vehicles to carry no-fault insurance, Michigan law does not recognize motorcycles as motor vehicles. Instead, motorcyclists need to take out a minimum liability insurance policy. While this type of policy only offers basic coverage that will cover damage to property and injury or death to another party, you can add extra coverage to this policy in blocks of $5,000. Also, if you are over 21 and decide not to use a helmet, then you need to carry a minimum of $20,000 in medical benefits coverage as do any passengers who also don’t wear a helmet.
If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident in Flint, Michigan, then you need the best legal advice you can obtain. There may be a question of who was liable (the finger is often pointed at motorcyclists), or there may be some question as to the severity of your motorcycle accident injury, but whatever the circumstances are, the law office of Cochran, Kroll & Associates will diligently represent you.
With motorcycle accident victims potentially incurring higher medical bills than a car accident victim, it is crucial that you are not left out of pocket. Where there is probable liability of another party, we will investigate thoroughly so as to be able to present a strong case to an insurance company or court.
Why Flint Riders Choose Cochran, Kroll & Associates
If you are hurt and comparing lawyers, here is what sets our firm apart for a Flint motorcycle case.
Decades of Michigan Motorcycle Case Experience
Our firm brings decades of Michigan personal injury experience to serious crash claims. Partner Terry L. Cochran is recognized by Super Lawyers, rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, and rated on Avvo, and partner Eileen E. Kroll holds a Martindale-Hubbell Preeminent rating and a Client Champion award. That experience matters when an insurer is treating a rider as the problem instead of the victim.
A Real Office in Flint
We keep an office at 432 North Saginaw Street, Suite 445, in downtown Flint, so Genesee County riders are not sent to metro Detroit to be heard. When a serious injury makes travel difficult, we can arrange home and hospital visits.
No Fee Unless We Win
We handle motorcycle injury claims on a contingency fee basis at the standard Michigan rate of one-third. You pay nothing upfront, and you owe no attorney fee unless we recover for you.
Proven Results for Michigan Crash Victims
Our published results include a $1.3 million settlement in a semi-truck case, among other significant recoveries. You can review our case results for more. Past results do not guarantee any future outcome.
Free 24/7 Consultation
The first conversation is free, confidential, and available any time. Call 1-866-MICH-LAW day or night, with no obligation.
How Michigan No-Fault Works Differently for Motorcycle Riders
Michigan’s no-fault system does not treat motorcycles the way it treats cars, and that one difference shapes how an injured rider gets medical bills paid. Understanding it early is what keeps a claim from falling apart.
Why Motorcycle Insurance Does Not Cover PIP Benefits
Motorcycles are excluded from the No-Fault Act’s definition of a “motor vehicle” (see the Michigan Legislature). Because of that exclusion, your motorcycle policy does not automatically provide Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits, the coverage that pays medical expenses, wage loss, and household replacement services after an auto crash. A motorcycle policy generally provides liability coverage, not PIP. That means an injured rider has to look to other policies for PIP, under the priority rules set out in MCL 500.3114.
Where Your PIP Benefits Actually Come From
When a motorcycle is involved in an accident with a motor vehicle, Michigan law sets a priority order for which insurer pays the rider’s PIP benefits. The table below shows that order.
| Priority |
Whose Insurance Pays Your PIP |
When It Applies |
| First |
The auto insurer of the owner or registrant of the motor vehicle involved in the crash |
The usual starting point in a motorcycle-versus-vehicle crash |
| Second |
The auto insurer of the operator of the motor vehicle involved |
If no coverage is available from the first source |
| Third |
The auto insurer of the motorcycle’s operator |
If no coverage is available from the vehicle involved |
| Fourth |
The auto insurer of the motorcycle’s owner or registrant |
If the operator has no applicable auto policy |
| Fifth |
The Michigan Assigned Claims Plan |
When no auto no-fault coverage is available through any source above |
One effect of Michigan’s 2019 no-fault reforms is that the coverage level chosen by the first-priority vehicle owner can shape how much PIP is available to you, because owners can now select limited PIP levels. Sorting out which policy applies, and at what level, is often the first real fight in a motorcycle claim.
The 1-Year PIP Deadline Riders Miss
Deadline Alert:
Under MCL 500.3145, you generally have one year from the date of the crash, or from the date a specific expense is incurred, to pursue no-fault PIP benefits. This clock frequently runs while the priority question above is still being investigated, which is exactly how injured riders lose benefits they were entitled to. Do not wait for the insurers to sort it out on their own.
Michigan’s Motorcycle Helmet Law and How It Affects Your Claim
Michigan has not required every rider to wear a helmet since 2012, and insurers often try to use that fact against injured motorcyclists. Here is what the law actually says and how it touches your claim.
Who Can Ride Without a Helmet in Michigan
Since Michigan’s 2012 helmet-law change, a rider who is 21 or older may ride without a helmet only if they meet specific conditions. Anyone under 21 must wear a helmet at all times.
| Rider Age |
Helmet Required? |
Conditions |
| Under 21 |
Yes, always |
A helmet is required for every operator and passenger under 21 |
| 21 or older, meeting both conditions |
Optional |
Must (a) have held a motorcycle endorsement for at least two years or passed an approved motorcycle safety course, and (b) carry at least $20,000 in first-party medical benefits; a passenger 21 or older riding without a helmet must also carry the $20,000 in coverage |
| 21 or older, not meeting the conditions |
Yes |
A helmet is required if the endorsement or safety-course condition or the $20,000 coverage condition is not met |
How Helmet Non-Use Affects Your Insurance Claim
- Riding without a helmet does not bar you from recovering compensation for a crash caused by someone else.
- It does not change your entitlement to PIP benefits.
- However, defense attorneys and insurers will often argue that helmet non-use made a head injury worse, which can raise comparative-fault questions tied specifically to head-injury damages, not to fault for the crash itself.
Where Motorcycle Crashes Happen in Flint
Certain Flint and Genesee County routes carry hazards that hit motorcyclists harder than other drivers. The corridors below come up repeatedly in local rider crashes.
| Road / Corridor |
Rider-Specific Hazard |
Notes |
| I-75 |
High-speed merges and heavy semi-truck traffic mixing with riders |
Little room to react at freeway speed |
| I-475 / I-69 interchange |
Complex, multi-lane merge points taken at speed |
Sudden lane changes create blind-spot conflicts |
| M-54 / Dort Highway |
Left-turn conflicts and steady commercial traffic |
Drivers turning across a rider’s path is a classic failure-to-yield pattern |
| Corunna Road / Flushing Road |
Suburban intersections with poor sightlines |
Obstructed views and turning vehicles |
| Genesee County rural roads |
Gravel shoulders, animal crossings, and unmarked curves |
Loss-of-control risk away from city traffic |
The “Reckless Rider” Bias Insurers Use Against Flint Motorcyclists
Insurers know jurors and adjusters often assume the motorcyclist was at fault, and they build on that bias. Knowing the tactics ahead of time is the best way to blunt them.
They Will Blame Your Speed
Expect the claim that you were speeding, even when you were at or below the posted limit. The defense is evidence: GPS and dashcam data, and an accident reconstruction expert retained early before that data disappears.
They Will Say You Were Weaving or Splitting Lanes
Lane splitting is illegal in Michigan, so insurers may claim you were doing it. Witness statements, traffic-camera footage, and the road layout can establish what actually happened.
They Will Use Your Helmet Choice Against You
If you rode without a helmet and suffered a head injury, expect the insurer to raise it. Michigan law permits helmetless riding for qualifying riders, and helmet use does not determine fault for the crash itself.
They Will Request a Recorded Statement
You are not required to give a recorded statement to the other side’s insurer. Decline until you have spoken with an attorney, because early wording is used later to reduce your claim.
They Will Offer a Quick Settlement
An early offer is almost always far below the true value of a serious motorcycle claim, and it rarely accounts for the future medical care a catastrophic injury requires.
They Will Monitor Your Social Media
Assume the insurer is watching your accounts. A single photo of you smiling at a family event can be twisted into an argument against your pain-and-suffering claim.
Catastrophic Injuries from Flint Motorcycle Crashes
Because a rider has so little between them and the road, motorcycle crashes tend to produce far more severe injuries than car crashes. These are the injuries we see most often.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Head trauma is a leading cause of motorcycle fatalities and long-term disability. A TBI may not show up on an initial scan, and even helmeted riders can sustain one from the rotational forces of a crash.
Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis
High-speed ejection or a direct impact can damage the spinal cord, causing partial or complete paralysis and a lifetime of care costs.
Road Rash and Severe Burns
Sliding across pavement at speed causes deep friction wounds unique to motorcycle crashes. Severe road rash can require skin grafts and leave permanent scarring.
Fractures, Crush Injuries, and Amputations
Riders frequently suffer multiple fractures to the legs, arms, and pelvis, along with crush injuries and, in the most severe crashes, amputations.
Fatal Motorcycle Crashes
When a crash is fatal, the rider’s family may have a wrongful death claim under MCL 600.2922 to recover for their loss and the financial harm that follows.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Flint Motorcycle Crash
A motorcycle claim generally moves along two tracks: no-fault PIP benefits and a third-party claim against the at-fault party. Which applies, and how much is available, depends on your facts.
No-Fault PIP Benefits (Through the Priority Order)
PIP benefits can cover medical expenses, up to 85% of lost wages for as long as three years, replacement services, attendant care, and mileage to medical appointments. For a rider, these benefits come through the priority order described earlier, not from the motorcycle policy itself.
Third-Party Damages (If the Serious Impairment Threshold Is Met)
A third-party claim against the at-fault driver can add what PIP does not cover: pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement, excess economic loss, and the value of your motorcycle and gear. To pursue pain and suffering, your injuries must meet Michigan’s serious impairment of body function threshold under MCL 500.3135.
An experienced Michigan motorcycle accident attorney can evaluate which categories apply to your crash. Car-motorcycle collisions in Flint often involve claims tied to the driver’s car accident coverage as well, and our team coordinates both.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Crash in Flint
What you do in the first hours and days can protect both your health and your claim.
At the Scene
- Call 911 and report the crash.
- Do not remove your helmet unless medically instructed to.
- Photograph everything, including the vehicles, the road, and your gear.
- Get the names and phone numbers of any witnesses.
Within the First 24 Hours
- See a doctor at the ER or urgent care, because motorcycle injuries can be delayed and internal.
- Notify your auto insurer, if you have one, with only the basic facts.
- Get the police report number.
Within the First Week
- Do not give a recorded statement to any insurer.
- Do not sign a medical release before talking with a lawyer.
- Preserve your helmet and riding gear as evidence.
- Contact an experienced Flint motorcycle accident attorney.
Contact Our Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Flint
If you were injured in a motorcycle crash in Flint, you may have options through both no-fault PIP benefits and a third-party claim against the at-fault driver. The right approach often depends on the available insurance coverage and the strength of the evidence in your case.
Contact us at Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. for a free consultation. We’ll review your case, explain your options, and map out the strongest path forward. Remember, we don’t get paid unless you win.
Call us at 1-866-MICH-LAW anytime, 24/7, to schedule a free case evaluation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my motorcycle insurance cover my medical bills after a Flint crash?
Usually not on its own. Motorcycles are excluded from PIP under Michigan’s No-Fault Act, so medical coverage comes through the priority order: the auto insurer of the vehicle involved, a resident relative’s auto policy, your own auto policy, or the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan.
Can I still recover if I was not wearing a helmet?
Yes. Not wearing a helmet does not bar recovery, and it does not change your PIP entitlement. Michigan law allows helmetless riding for qualifying riders who are 21 or older, have two years of endorsement or a safety course, and carry $20,000 in medical coverage. Insurers may still argue helmet non-use worsened a head injury.
How long do I have to file a motorcycle accident claim in Flint?
You generally have one year to claim no-fault PIP benefits under MCL 500.3145, and three years to file a third-party injury lawsuit under MCL 600.5805. Because the one-year PIP deadline can pass quickly, it is best to act early.
Who is at fault in most motorcycle crashes?
Most rider crashes are caused by other drivers, commonly in left-turn and failure-to-see situations. Under Michigan’s modified comparative fault rule (MCL 600.2959), you can still recover as long as you are found no more than 50% at fault.
How much does a Flint motorcycle accident lawyer cost?
Nothing upfront. We work on a contingency fee at the standard Michigan rate of one-third, so there is no attorney fee unless we win your case.
What is the serious impairment threshold for motorcycle crashes?
Under MCL 500.3135, to sue for pain and suffering, your injury must amount to a “serious impairment of body function” or a “permanent serious disfigurement.” Whether an injury meets that threshold is often disputed, which is where an attorney’s evidence matters.
How much is my Flint motorcycle accident case worth?
It depends on the severity of your injuries, the source and level of available PIP coverage, your lost wages, and whether the serious impairment threshold is met. No honest lawyer can give a figure without reviewing your facts, so call for a free evaluation.
