Michigan Motorcycle Insurance Questions

Daniel Buckfire

Contributor

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For Michigan motorcyclists, being involved in a motorcycle accident is a very serious challenge. The number of motorcycle accidents in Michigan has been rising in recent years, and the laws governing motorcycles are complicated. After being treated for any injuries and making a police report, the most important things an injured biker or family member can do is begin submitting claims to the insurance company and deciding whether to pursue a lawsuit. It is important to do these things quickly since insurance companies have filing deadlines after which they can deny benefits and since lawsuits must be filed by the state’s statute of limitations.

My law firms represents people who have been injured in motorcycle accidents, and I often meet people who are unsure of whether a lawyer can help them. Here are answers to some common questions

• Can I file a lawsuit against an errant and negligent driver if I get involved in a motorcycle crash, and my vehicle is not insured, though I own it? – Michigan law permits you to file a lawsuit against this negligent driver. Many people think they cannot because under the Michigan No Fault Act, the driver of an uninsured car cannot sue a negligent driver. Michigan law treats motorcyclists differently from car drivers in this respect. So, even if your bike was not insured, you could still file a lawsuit.
• I have often heard about the term Uninsured Motorist Coverage. What does it mean? – When the accident is caused by a driver who does not have insurance or by a hit and run driver, whose identity is unknown and there is no information available regarding his insurance coverage, Michigan law allows you to recover cost of damages from your own insurance policy if you have uninsured motorist coverage. This means that it makes sense to carry uninsured coverage, to receive protection from your insurance policy, in case you get involved in situations like these. Check back later this week for more about Uninsured Motorist Coverage.
• What is the difference between uninsured motorist coverage and underinsured motorist coverage? – Both types of insurance are very important to add to your policy. Uninsured motorist coverage covers you when the negligent driver has no insurance or when his or her identify is unknown. Underinsured motorist coverage fills in the difference between the costs of your injuries and the maximum amount covered by the negligent driver’s insurance policy when he or she does in fact have insurance. Check back later this week for more about Underinsured Motorist Coverage.