Why Injured Traverse City Cyclists Trust Lee Steinberg Law Firm
A cyclist on US-31 in July has nothing between them and two tons of moving vehicle. Even a glancing contact at low speed can end in a fractured spine or a brain injury, which is why these crashes so rarely produce minor claims. For more than 50 years the Lee Steinberg Law Firm has fought for injured riders throughout Michigan and recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients.
The popular TART Trail and busy roads like US-31 fill with cyclists, cars, and visitors during riding season near Grand Traverse Bay. When a driver hits a rider anywhere in Grand Traverse County, our Traverse City bicycle accident attorneys are ready to help.
The Lee Steinberg Law Firm has Traverse City bicycle accident lawyers with outstanding results and awards:
- Our trial lawyers are routinely awarded the Super Lawyers designation, a peer-reviewed honors list of the best personal injury lawyers in Michigan.
- Founder, Lee Steinberg, is a nationally recognized trial lawyer, trying cases throughout the country, and has been a powerful voice in Michigan law since the 1970s.
- Co-President, Eric Steinberg, is a former past president of the Michigan Association for Justice, the umbrella organization for Michigan personal injury lawyers.
- We have been recognized by the national Trial Lawyers Association, a prestigious invitation-only organization that recognizes the nation’s top civil plaintiff lawyers.
No Fee Guarantee
We believe every injured cyclist deserves strong legal representation, no matter their financial situation.
We know a bad bicycle accident can feel overwhelming. You have questions and you need answers quickly. Our Traverse City bicycle accident lawyers will help you understand your rights, the consultation is free and there are no upfront fees and costs. There is no obligation, and everything you share stays confidential. This is our promise.
Our Results
Our firm is dedicated to achieving results for our clients. We’re proud to share some recent results that show our commitment to securing large settlements for injured people. These settlements and results include:
- $5,750,000 Settlement where a hi-lo operator denied fault and attempted to blame our client, even though the collision occurred from the driver’s negligence. Our firm retained multiple experts to prove liability and used treating physicians to show future medical needs and long-term financial damages.
- $3,250,000 Settlement for our client following a slip-and-fall at a large big box store when the store failed to fix a leaking roof.
- $2,250,000 Settlement for our client who suffered permanent spinal cord injuries and a traumatic brain injury. They were struck by a turning vehicle while lawfully crossing an intersection on a bicycle. Although the driver first denied fault, our Michigan personal injury lawyers ran an independent investigation. They gathered witness statements and worked with medical and liability experts to prove negligence.
- $1,855,000 Settlement following a fatal crash on I-75 when a wheel detached from a pickup truck and trailer, striking our client’s vehicle. The defendant claimed the incident was unavoidable. But our firm hired accident reconstruction and metallurgy experts. They proved negligent inspection and maintenance.
Michigan No-Fault Benefits for Injured Cyclists
It catches out nearly every rider in Grand Traverse County that Michigan's No-Fault system may cover a bicycle crash.
Where a motor vehicle is involved, a rider can claim No-Fault (PIP) benefits even without holding auto insurance. The benefits include:
- Medical expenses reimbursement, such as hospital bills and doctors’ bills
- Lost wages for up to 3 years
- Replacement services or payment for household chores
- Attendant care or nursing care provided by friends, family, or nursing professionals
- Out-of pocket expenses - payment for prescriptions, co-pays, medical mileage, and other medical expenses.
Which Auto Insurance Company Pays No-Fault Benefits?
The order is prescribed rather than negotiated. Michigan law sets an order of priority determining which auto insurer pays no-fault benefits.
- If you have your own auto insurance, your own policy generally pays first, even though you were on a bike.
- If you do not have auto insurance, benefits come from a resident relative's auto insurance policy. Resident relatives include spouses, siblings, children, parents and other blood related relatives.
- If there is no insurance in the household, the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan (“MACP”) is responsible for paying up to $250,000 in no-fault benefits.
Nothing comes from the MACP without an application, which means completing an application properly. Contact the Traverse City bicycle accident lawyers at the Lee Steinberg Law Firm and we will handle it with you.
What is the Deadline to Make a No-Fault Claim?
These claims carry a strict one-year deadline, and the rules can be confusing, so it helps to have an attorney identify the right insurer quickly. To recover pain and suffering, you generally have three (3) years to file a lawsuit against the proper defendants. However, there are special rules for government vehicles, minors and other special situations.
You can read further on Michigan No-Fault benefits, and let our Traverse City bicycle accident attorneys deal with the claims process.
Traverse City Bike Accident Lawyers - Pain and Suffering Compensation
Pain and suffering means the physical or mental distress a rider is left with after another driver's or company's negligence. In legal terms these are “non-economic” damages, quite different from economic losses such as wage loss and medical bills. Examples include:
- Physical pain from the body, such as low back pain, neck pain, or a broken bone
- Headaches
- Emotional distress
- Anxiety and depression
- Grief as a result of the death of a loved one
- Limitations on activities and hobbies
Pain and suffering is made up of the physical and the mental. Physical pain is not simply what the injury felt like initially. It accounts for the pain the injured person will probably carry forward for years. Milder cases attract compensation for discomfort; severe ones, for extreme suffering.
What Documentation Do I Need to Prove Pain and Suffering?
You will have to show the insurance company proof, not simply describe what happened. Gather the following:
- Photos of the accident and your subsequent injuries
- Medical reports and medical records
- Any medical bills and receipts
- Lists and receipts for prescriptions/medications
- Proof of lost wages
- Log of treatment undergone, both physical and psychological
- Journal or a pain log
- List of missed activities, hobbies, and important life events.
- Written evaluations from your therapist or mental health professional
At minimum, a good Traverse City bicycle accident lawyer collects the client's medical records and medical bills, photographs of the injuries, before and after photographs, prescription records, over-the-counter drug receipts and wage loss information. The strength of the documentation standing behind a pain and suffering claim is very often what decides whether the award is a full one.
Do not overlook the people who know you well. Letters or testimony from friends, family and co-workers describe what the crash actually changed: the season of riding lost, the job that no longer works, more convincingly than any medical record can.
Common Causes of Traverse City Bicycle Accidents
Bicycle crashes rarely happen without a driver doing something wrong. Around Traverse City, where seasonal traffic meets riders on roads that locals use year-round, the most frequent causes are:
- Drivers turning across a rider while looking for a parking space
- Car doors opened into the road by drivers parked downtown
- Drivers distracted by satnav, phones and unfamiliar streets
- Drivers running a red light in seasonal traffic
- Passing too close while towing a boat or trailer
- Failing to yield when reversing out of a waterfront parking space
- Potholes, road debris and loose gravel on the shoulder
A driver is required to keep watching, wherever a cyclist might be. The main reason they fail to see riders is distraction, and a driver navigating an unfamiliar town while watching for a parking space is distracted in exactly the way that gets someone hurt.
Deep Resources and Aggressive Investigation
Winning a serious bicycle accident claim takes far more than filing paperwork. Insurance companies often try to blame the cyclist, and overcoming that requires attorneys with real resources and determination.
The Traverse City bicycle accident lawyers at Lee Steinberg Law Firm have the resources and resolve to fight and win your case. We bring in top experts from around the country to prove liability, connect injuries to the crash, and show the true impact the collision had on our client’s life. Insurance companies know we prepare every case aggressively and leave no stone unturned.
Our team begins preserving evidence right away, including witness statements, traffic-camera and surveillance footage, vehicle data, and documentation showing how the driver's negligence caused the collision. We then take this evidence and develop it into a story that demonstrates to the insurance company and the negligent individuals why our client is entitled to a large settlement.
Trial-Ready Traverse City Bicycle Accident Attorneys
Many firms focus on quick settlements. At Lee Steinberg Law Firm, we prepare every Traverse City bicycle accident case as though it will be decided by a jury.
Our attorneys bring decades of courtroom experience and are ready to litigate aggressively when an insurance company refuses to offer fair compensation. We conduct thorough discovery, take depositions, retain credible experts, and build persuasive cases that prove the driver's fault and demonstrate the real impact of our clients' injuries.
Insurance companies know which firms are willing to go to trial. Our reputation for preparation and courtroom advocacy often creates valuable leverage during settlement negotiations.
Client-Centered Representation
At our firm, clients are treated with the care and respect they deserve. Our Traverse City bicycle accident lawyers are supported by a dedicated team that maintains regular contact and keeps clients informed at every stage of the case. This approach allows us to respond quickly to client needs while staying focused on achieving the strongest possible result.
Proven Results for Injured Michigan Cyclists
Our firm has recovered substantial settlements and verdicts for injured cyclists and other accident victims throughout Michigan, including cases involving traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, broken bones, permanent disabilities, and wrongful death.
While every case is different and past results do not guarantee future outcomes, our track record reflects our commitment to holding negligent drivers accountable and pursuing maximum compensation for injured cyclists.
You can review our recent results to see examples of what our firm has recovered for injured Michiganders.
If you or a loved one was hit while cycling in Traverse City or anywhere in Grand Traverse County, our legal team is ready to help.
Experienced Trial Representation for Bicycle Accident Victims
The Lee Steinberg Law Firm brings decades of real courtroom experience to every auto accident case we handle. Unlike firms that focus solely on quick settlements, our attorneys are seasoned trial lawyers who prepare every car accident claim as if it will be presented to a jury. That preparation includes aggressive discovery, motion practice, expert retention, and trial strategy designed to clearly demonstrate fault, prove the full extent of our client’s injuries, and expose insurance company tactics.
Insurance carriers know which firms are willing and able to take cases to verdict—and they know the Lee Steinberg Law Firm has a long history of doing exactly that when fair compensation is refused.
