Riding a bicycle should be one of life's simple pleasures. You're not doing anything wrong. You're sharing the road carefully, following the rules, and then in one careless moment, someone else's negligence changes everything. A single crash can leave you with broken bones, a traumatic brain injury, or worse. The medical bills stack up fast. You can't work. And suddenly you're dealing with an insurance company that is already looking for reasons to pay you as little as possible.
We know how overwhelming that feels. At Hamo Law, we have spent more than 40 years standing beside people in exactly that position. George Hamo and his son Alex Hamo have built this firm on one belief: good people who get hurt through no fault of their own deserve a fierce, experienced advocate in their corner. We are not a factory firm. We answer our own phones. We know our clients by name. And when we take your case, we carry the ball from the moment of that crash all the way to a result that reflects what you truly lost.
Cyclists in Michigan face unique legal challenges that most attorneys are not equipped to handle well. Michigan's No-Fault insurance laws are complex, and the rules for bicyclists are different from those for drivers. If you or someone you love has been hurt in a bicycle accident anywhere in Michigan, we want to talk with you.
How Bicycle Accidents Happen in Michigan
Bicycle crashes rarely happen because of anything the cyclist did. In most of the cases we see, a driver made a mistake. Sometimes it is a split-second distraction. Sometimes it is something far more reckless.
Common causes of bicycle accidents in Michigan include:
- Distracted driving — a driver looking at a phone instead of the road
- Dooring — a driver or passenger swinging a car door open into a cyclist's path
- Failure to yield — drivers turning without checking for cyclists at intersections
- Speeding — reducing a driver's ability to stop or react in time
- Truck and commercial vehicle blind spots — large vehicles that simply cannot see a cyclist alongside them
- Impaired driving — alcohol or drug use behind the wheel
- Unsafe road conditions — potholes, missing signage, poor lighting, or road debris
- Hit-and-run — a driver who flees the scene after striking a rider
Michigan Law and the Cyclist: What You Need to Know
Cyclists' Rights Under Michigan Law
Under the Michigan Vehicle Code (MCL 257.657), bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motor vehicle operators when riding on the road. That means you have a legal right to be on the road. Drivers are required by law to share it with you.
Michigan law also allows cyclists to ride on the right side of the road, use shoulders and designated bike paths where available, and take the full lane when necessary for safety. When a driver violates these rights and causes an accident, Michigan law gives injured cyclists the right to pursue compensation.
Michigan No-Fault Insurance and Bicycle Accidents
Michigan is a No-Fault state. That means injured people generally turn to their own auto insurance first for Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits. But what if you were on a bicycle and do not own a car?
This is where Michigan law gets complicated. Under MCL 500.3115, if you do not own a vehicle and have no household member with auto insurance, you may still be able to claim PIP benefits through the insurance policy of the vehicle that struck you. The order of priority for those claims is set by statute, and it matters a great deal to your case.
Michigan's 2019 No-Fault reform also created a tiered PIP benefit system. Depending on the coverage level chosen by the at-fault driver's insurer, your available medical benefits could vary. This is exactly the kind of detail that insurance companies use to limit what they pay you. It is also exactly why having an experienced Michigan No-Fault attorney on your side is so important.
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Michigan Bicycle Accident?
Liability in a bicycle accident is not always limited to the driver who hit you. Depending on the facts, multiple parties could share responsibility.
- Negligent drivers — any driver whose careless behavior caused or contributed to the crash
- Commercial trucking companies — when a truck driver causes the accident, the company that employs them may also be liable
- Government entities — if a dangerous road condition like a pothole or missing signage contributed to the crash, a municipality could be responsible
- Vehicle or product manufacturers — if defective brakes or faulty equipment played a role, product liability law may apply
- Property owners — in some cases, dangerous conditions near a roadway involve premises liability
Michigan also follows a comparative fault rule. Under MCL 600.2959, if you are found partially at fault, your compensation may be reduced by your percentage of fault. Insurance companies love to argue that the cyclist was partly to blame. We know that tactic well, and we know how to push back against it.
What Your Bicycle Accident Claim Could Be Worth
Every case is different, and we will never make promises about outcomes. What we can tell you is that a serious bicycle accident claim can include compensation for:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Rehabilitation and long-term care needs
- Emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life
- Wrongful death damages, including loss of companionship and funeral expenses
The Insurance Company's Playbook (And Why You Need Us)
Insurance companies are not your friends after a bicycle accident. They are businesses. Their goal is to pay as little as possible, and they are very good at it.
Here is what they do:
- Contact you quickly — before you have legal representation, while you are still in shock
- Request a recorded statement — anything you say can and will be used to minimize your claim
- Offer a fast, low settlement — designed to get you to sign away your rights before you understand the full extent of your injuries
- Argue comparative fault — suggesting you were riding unsafely or violated a traffic law
- Delay and complicate — hoping you get frustrated and accept less than you deserve
George Hamo has been squaring off against major insurance companies for more than four decades. Alex Hamo brings the same disciplined, aggressive preparation to every case we handle. We know what these companies do, and we know how to counter it. You are the individual. They are the billion-dollar corporation. We are the firm that has always been comfortable with that fight.
What to Do After a Bicycle Accident in Michigan
The steps you take in the hours and days after a crash can significantly affect your case. Here is what we recommend:
- Call 911 — get police to the scene and obtain a police report number
- Seek medical attention immediately — even if you feel okay, some injuries are not obvious right away
- Document everything — photograph the scene, your bike, the vehicle, your injuries, and road conditions
- Collect witness information — names and phone numbers of anyone who saw the crash
- Do not give a recorded statement to any insurance company without an attorney present
- Preserve your bicycle and gear — they are physical evidence
- Contact Hamo Law as soon as possible — the sooner we get involved, the better we can protect your claim
The Road Back Starts Here
A bicycle accident can shake you to your foundation. One moment you are going about your day, and the next, your life looks completely different. We have walked alongside enough Michigan families through this experience to know that what people need most is someone they can trust to handle the hard parts while they focus on healing.
Cyclists deserve the same relentless representation as anyone else who has been hurt by someone else's negligence. You were on that road legally. You had every right to be there. And if another person's carelessness took that from you, we want to help you get justice for it.
You Have Been Through Enough. Let Us Fight From Here.
If you or a family member has been injured in a Michigan bicycle accident, please reach out to us today. Your initial consultation is completely free, and you owe us nothing unless we win your case. The sooner you call, the sooner we can start protecting your rights.
Hamo Law Firm 614 S. Grand Traverse Street, Flint, Michigan 48502
Legal Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is unique, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Michigan No-Fault laws and personal injury statutes are subject to change. Please contact Hamo Law for a consultation specific to your situation.