Who's at Fault When a Car Turns Left in Front of a Motorcycle in Michigan?

In most cases, the driver who turned left is at fault. Michigan law says a driver turning left has to yield to oncoming traffic, and that includes motorcycles.

But "most cases" isn't "every case." Insurance companies know these crashes are usually the driver's fault, so they work hard to shift some of the blame onto the rider. They'll say you were speeding, or hard to see, or in the wrong spot.

That matters, because how much blame lands on you decides how much money you can recover. This is one of the most common ways riders get hurt, so it's worth knowing how fault really works.

What Michigan Law Says About Left Turns

The rule about left-hand turns is in the Michigan Vehicle Code, specifically MCL 257.650. In plain terms, a driver turning left has to yield to any oncoming vehicle that's in the intersection or close enough to be a hazard.

"Yield" just means wait. The turning driver has to let oncoming traffic go first, and only turn when there's a safe gap. A motorcycle is oncoming traffic like any other vehicle. A motorcycle also gets full use of its lane under Michigan law. So when a driver cuts in front of a rider, the starting point is simple - the driver broke the law and the safety rule.

When The Rider Can Share the Blame

However, the left-turning driver isn't automatically 100% at fault. Here are the arguments insurers make most often:

• Speeding. If you were going well over the speed limit, the insurer will say the driver couldn't judge how fast you were coming. 
• The driver had a green arrow. With a protected left-turn arrow, oncoming traffic has a red light. If the rider ran that red, the rider is likely at fault.
• Hard to see. No headlight on, riding at night without lights, or tucked behind a larger vehicle.
• Lane splitting or passing. Riding between lanes or around stopped cars is illegal in Michigan, and it can put you where a turning driver isn't looking.
• Alcohol or drugs. If the rider was impaired, expect the insurer to lean on it hard.

Some of these arguments are fair. Many are stretched. A rider going 5 mph over the speed limit doesn’t cause a driver to turn straight into them. The question is always how much each person's choices actually caused the crash.

"I Didn't See the Motorcycle" is Not a Defense

It's the line almost every driver says after these crashes. Often they mean it. Motorcycles are smaller than cars, and drivers scanning for other cars can look right at a bike and not register it.

But not seeing you doesn't get the driver off the hook. Michigan drivers have a duty to look carefully before they turn. If you were there to be seen, failing to see you is the mistake.

In fact, "I didn't see you" can work in your favor. It's often an admission that the driver didn't look carefully enough. Make sure it ends up in the police report.

How Fault Affects Your Money

The negligence or fault of the other motor vehicle is important. However, because Michigan is a no-fault state, a motorcycle operator can still obtain no-fault benefits, even if they are at-fault for causing the crash.

Your Medical Bills and Lost Wages: Fault Doesn't Matter

Because a car was involved, you can usually get Michigan no-fault benefits for medical bills and lost wages, even if you were partly to blame. That's true no matter who turned in front of whom.

Pain and Suffering: Fault Matters a Lot

To get paid for pain and suffering, you file a claim against the driver. Here, Michigan's "51% rule" kicks in:

• If you're 50% or less at fault, you can recover compensation for pain and suffering. However, the amount you can receive is cut by your share of the blame. Found 20% at fault? You get 80%.
• If you're more than 50% at fault, you get nothing for pain and suffering.

That's why insurers fight so hard over fault in left-turn crashes. Every percent they put on you saves them money.

Evidence that Proves Who was At-Fault

Left-turn cases often come down to your word against the driver's. Evidence breaks the tie. The most useful kinds:

• Video. Helmet cams, dash cams, and cameras on nearby businesses or traffic lights. Business footage is often erased within days, so it needs to be requested fast.
• Witnesses. People who saw the crash and have no stake in it carry a lot of weight.
• The police report. Especially what the driver said at the scene.
• The car's black box. Many cars record speed and braking in the seconds before a crash. Here's more on how black box data is used.
• Phone records. If the driver was texting or on a call when they turned, that changes everything.
• Crash reconstruction. Experts can use skid marks, damage, and where the vehicles ended up to work out speed and timing. This is often how a "he was speeding" claim gets disproved.

What To Do After a Left-Turn Motorcycle Crash

The first few days shape the whole case. If you can, do these things:

1. Get medical care right away, even if you feel okay. Some injuries show up later.
2. Call the police and make sure a report gets written.
3. Take photos of the intersection, both vehicles, your gear, and your injuries.
4. Get names and phone numbers of witnesses.
5. Write down what the driver said, especially "I didn't see you."
6. Keep your helmet, gear, and helmet cam footage. Don't throw anything away.
7. Don't give a recorded statement to the driver's insurance company before talking to a lawyer.
8. Stay off social media about the crash.

Quick Answers to Common Questions

Is the left-turning driver always at fault in Michigan? 

No, but usually. The turning driver has to yield to oncoming traffic. The rider can share the blame if they were speeding, ran a red light, or were hard to see.

What if the driver had a green arrow? 

Then oncoming traffic had a red light, and the rider who went through it is likely at fault.

Can I still recover money if I was speeding? 

Possibly. As long as you're found 50% or less at fault, you can recover pain and suffering, reduced by your share of the blame.

Does no-fault pay my medical bills if the crash was partly my fault? 

Usually yes. Because a car was involved, you can generally get no-fault benefits no matter who was at fault.

How long do I have to make a claim? 

No-fault claims generally have to be filed within one year. Other claims have their own deadlines, so don't wait.

Talk to a Michigan Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Left-turn crashes should be some of the clearest cases there are. But insurers know that, and they'll look for any reason to move the blame onto you.

A Michigan motorcycle accident lawyer can lock down the evidence early and push back on unfair blame. Call the Lee Steinberg Law Firm at 1-800-LEE-FREE (1-866-697-7862) for a free consultation. We never charge a fee unless we win.

This article is for general information only and isn't legal advice. Talk with a lawyer about your specific situation.