Michigan Motorcycle Safety Season What Riders Need to Know Before Summer

Michigan summer is prime riding season. From the lakeshore to the Upper Peninsula, riders flock to the open road - and, unfortunately, so do serious crashes. In 2023 alone, there were 3,056 motorcycle‑involved crashes in Michigan, resulting in 165 rider deaths and 2,394 injuries. 

As Michigan motorcycle injury lawyers, we see the same patterns every summer: preventable crashes, confusion about helmet and endorsement laws, and tough fights with insurance companies over medical bills. This editorial is designed to help you:

• Choose summer‑appropriate protective gear
• Understand Michigan’s motorcycle laws and CY endorsement
• Navigate helmet and insurance requirements
• Know who pays your medical bills after a crash
• Protect your legal rights if you’re injured

Ready Protective Motorcycle Gear

The first step in motorcycle safety is dressing for the crash, not the ride. Choosing the best protective gear for motorcycle riding in Michigan summer means balancing ventilation, comfort, and impact protection - not riding in shorts and a T‑shirt.

Michigan’s Office of Highway Safety Planning and national safety organizations consistently recommend a full set of protective gear: a quality helmet, jacket, gloves, pants, boots, and high‑visibility accessories, even in warm weather. 

Key pieces to consider:

• Helmet (full‑face, DOT‑certified)
• • Michigan law requires most riders and passengers to wear a crash helmet, and any helmet used to satisfy the law must meet standards set by the Michigan State Police and the federal DOT standard. Look for a DOT label on the back and consider helmets that also meet Snell or ECE standards for additional protection. 
  • For summer, choose a full‑face or modular helmet with good venting rather than an open‑face. It offers far better protection for your jaw, face, and eyes.
• Jacket (abrasion‑resistant with CE armor)
• • Leather or modern textiles like Cordura or other abrasion‑resistant fabrics protect against road rash.
  • Look for CE‑rated armor (Level 1 or 2) in the shoulders, elbows, and back to absorb impact energy.
  • For hot Michigan days, a ventilated or mesh jacket with built‑in armor is usually safer than riding in casual clothing and provides some airflow.
• Gloves (full‑finger, armored)
• • Your hands are often the first thing to hit the pavement. Full‑finger motorcycle gloves with palm sliders and hard knuckle armor provide critical protection.
  • Choose gloves that balance impact protection with perforated leather or mesh for summer comfort. 
• Pants (leather, textile, or armored riding jeans)
• • Regular denim shreds in a matter of feet during a slide. Motorcycle‑specific pants use thicker textiles, Kevlar or aramid panels, and often have CE armor at the hips and knees.
  • Leather or heavy textiles with venting panels work well for longer rides; armored riding jeans can be a practical compromise for commuting.
• Boots (over‑the‑ankle, sturdy soles)
• • Boots should go over the ankle, have oil‑resistant soles, and offer solid lateral support.
  • Look for shifter pads, reinforced toes, and ankle armor. Sturdy boots protect against crush injuries and provide grip when you stop at gravelly or uneven intersections. 
• High‑visibility and reflective gear
• • Motorcyclists are often struck simply because drivers never saw them. High‑visibility vests, reflective piping on gear, auxiliary lighting, and reflective tape on your bike all improve conspicuity, especially at dawn, dusk, and in rain. 
• Eye protection and base layers
• • Even with a windshield, use a visor or shatter‑resistant riding glasses.
  • For summer, moisture‑wicking base layers under your gear can keep you cooler and reduce dehydration - another safety concern noted by NHTSA. 

The bottom line: full‑coverage DOT/CE‑certified gear is the safest choice in Michigan, even when temperatures climb.

Assume Nobody Sees You on the Motorcycle

On Michigan roads, the safest mindset is to ride as if every driver is about to make a mistake. Many serious crashes happen when the rider is simply going straight and another vehicle turns left or pulls out. 

Defensive riding habits that help prevent summer crashes:

• Stay out of blind spots. Don’t linger alongside vehicles, especially large trucks and SUVs. Either drop back or pass decisively when it’s safe.
• Own your lane. Michigan law entitles motorcycles to the full use of a lane; do not ride squeezed against the edge where drivers won’t expect you. 
• Use lane position to be seen. Position yourself so drivers at intersections and in mirrors have the best possible view of you.
• Always have an escape route. Scan ahead and ask yourself where you’ll go if the car in front slams on the brakes or someone merges into your lane.
• Increase following distance. Leaving extra space gives you time to react to sudden stops, tire blowouts, or debris.
• Make your presence known. Use your headlight, reflective gear, and appropriate horn use. Noise alone is no substitute for visibility and buffer space.

Riding like “no one sees you” is one of the most effective accident‑prevention strategies, especially in heavy summer traffic.

Continue to Improve Your Riding Skills

Good riders are always still learning. A simple rule of thumb is to work on one skill every time you ride:

• One ride, focus on smooth cornering and proper entry speed.
• The next, practice controlled emergency stops in a safe, empty lot.
• Another day, practice swerving and low‑speed maneuvers.

Michigan’s rough roads, potholes, expansion joints, and construction zones demand precise control. Practicing clutch control, throttle “feathering,” and braking on imperfect surfaces can make the difference between a close call and a crash.

Take Advantage of Michigan Rider Training

Michigan offers a statewide Michigan Rider Education Program (Mi‑REP) with Motorcycle Safety Foundation–based Basic, Returning, and Advanced Rider Courses, typically around $50 for residents. 

Completing an approved safety course can:

• Sharpen braking, cornering, and hazard‑avoidance skills
• Help new or returning riders gain confidence in a controlled environment
• Waive the on‑cycle skills test requirement for your CY motorcycle endorsement in many cases 

The goal is simple: improve your riding skills each season so you’re better prepared for the unexpected.

Michigan Motorcycle Laws

Understanding Michigan motorcycle law compliance is essential - not just to avoid tickets, but to protect your insurance rights if you’re hurt.

Endorsement and Licensing Requirements CY Endorsement

Michigan law requires a motorcycle endorsement (CY) on your driver’s license to legally operate a motorcycle or three‑wheeled motorcycle on public roads. 

Riding without a CY endorsement is a misdemeanor that can carry fines and possible jail time. 

How to get your motorcycle endorsement in Michigan (written and skills test):

1. Study the Motorcycle Operator Manual (SOS‑116).
2. Visit a Secretary of State (SOS) office to:
3. • Take a vision screening and written knowledge test, and
   • Obtain a Temporary Instruction Permit (TIP) if you qualify.
3. Practice with your TIP. You must ride under required supervision and obey all permit restrictions.
4. Either:
5. • Pass a state‑approved Rider Skills Test, or
   • Successfully complete an approved Mi‑REP Basic Rider Course, which can waive the skills test requirement.
5. Return to SOS to have the CY endorsement added to your license.

Michigan generally limits riders to two TIPs in a 10‑year period, so it’s important to use training time wisely. 

Michigan Motorcycle Helmet Laws and Insurance Requirements

Michigan no longer has a universal helmet mandate for all adult riders, but the law is not a simple “helmets optional” rule.

Under current law:

• All riders and passengers under age 21 must wear a crash helmet.
• Riders and passengers 21 or older may ride without a helmet only if all of the following are true:
• • The operator has had a motorcycle endorsement for at least two years or has passed an approved motorcycle safety course; and
  • The operator has at least $20,000 in first‑party medical benefits for motorcycle injuries; and
  • If carrying a passenger, the passenger is also at least 21 and has at least $20,000 in first‑party medical benefits of their own. 

Even when the law allows you to go without a helmet, the data are clear: helmets significantly reduce the risk of death and serious brain injury in a crash. The Lee Steinberg Law Firm strongly encourages riders and passengers of all ages to wear DOT‑approved, full‑face helmets on every ride.

Required Motorcycle Equipment

To ride legally, your motorcycle must be in safe working condition and equipped with:

• Functioning front and rear brakes
• A working headlight, tail light, and rear brake light
• Rear reflectors
• A horn audible at a reasonable distance
• Tires with safe tread
• At least one rear‑view mirror providing adequate view to the rear

Any aftermarket modifications - exhaust, lighting, handlebars, etc. -  must also comply with Michigan regulations.

Michigan Traffic Laws That Affect Motorcyclists

Motorcyclists must obey the same traffic laws as other drivers, including:

• Obeying speed limits, traffic lights, and stop signs
• Yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks
• Signaling turns and lane changes
• Not riding under the influence of alcohol or drugs

Importantly, lane splitting is not legal in Michigan - you may not ride between lanes of moving or stopped traffic. You are entitled to the full use of a lane, but you must still ride with due care and avoid reckless or negligent conduct.

Who Pays the Medical Bills After a Motorcycle Accident in Michigan

Many riders are surprised to learn that in Michigan, no‑fault auto insurance for the car or truck usually pays an injured motorcyclist’s medical bills - not the motorcycle policy - when a motor vehicle is involved.

Michigan No Fault Insurance Benefits for Injured Motorcyclists

Under Michigan’s no‑fault system, if a motorcycle crash involves a motor vehicle (a car, truck, or other vehicle with more than two wheels), the injured motorcyclist typically claims Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits from auto insurers in this statutory order of priority:

1. Insurer of the owner or registrant of the motor vehicle involved
2. Insurer of the driver of the motor vehicle involved
3. Motor vehicle insurer of the operator of the motorcycle
4. Motor vehicle insurer of the owner/registrant of the motorcycle
5. If no applicable policy exists, the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan (MACP) 

PIP medical benefits are paid regardless of fault, but are subject to the PIP limit selected on the applicable auto policy. If no qualifying policy is available in the priority chain, an injured motorcyclist may seek up to $250,000 in PIP medical benefits through the MACP. 

Critical Insurance Requirements for Riders

Two key rules every Michigan rider should know:

• You must be insured to receive PIP benefits if you own the bike.
  If you were the owner or registrant of the motorcycle you were riding and you failed to carry the required motorcycle liability insurance, you are generally disqualified from receiving PIP benefits under Michigan law. 
• A motor vehicle must be involved.
  A motorcycle‑only crash (for example, hitting a deer or sliding out in gravel with no car involved) usually does not qualify for auto PIP benefits. In those cases, your health insurance and any medical payments coverage on your motorcycle policy may be critical. 

Many Michigan motorcycle policies offer optional first‑party medical or “med‑pay” coverage, typically sold in increments (for example, $5,000 and up). This coverage can help pay your medical bills when PIP is not available or has been exhausted. 

Can You Access More Than One Policy

Historically, riders were effectively stuck with whatever PIP medical limit the vehicle owner or driver had purchased, even if the rider’s own auto policy carried higher or unlimited coverage. That changed with the 2026 Michigan Court of Appeals decision in Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital v. Esurance.

In that case, the court held that when the higher‑priority insurer’s PIP medical limit is exhausted, an injured motorcyclist (or their medical provider) may, in many situations, move down the statutory order of priority and seek additional PIP medical benefits from a lower‑priority auto policy, such as a family policy with higher or unlimited PIP coverage. 

The total recovery is still capped at the highest PIP medical limit available on any one applicable policy, but this ruling can dramatically increase available coverage for catastrophically injured riders.

What PIP No Fault Benefits Can Pay For

If you qualify for PIP benefits after a Michigan motorcycle accident involving a motor vehicle, those benefits can include:

• Medical expenses – All reasonably necessary medical care related to the crash, up to the PIP limit: hospital stays, surgery, doctor visits, rehab, medical equipment, and more. 
• Lost wages – Generally 85% of your gross income, tax‑free, for up to three years from the date of the crash, subject to a monthly maximum that is adjusted annually. 
• Household replacement services – Up to $20 per day for up to three years to pay someone to perform household chores you can’t do because of your injuries (laundry, cleaning, lawn care, snow removal, childcare, and similar tasks). 
• Attendant care (nursing care) – Payment for in‑home or facility‑based personal care services when medically necessary, which can be provided by professionals or, in some cases, trained family members.
• Transportation and medical mileage – Reimbursement for travel costs to and from medical appointments.
• Prescriptions and medical supplies - Coverage for medications and medically necessary equipment related to your injuries.

Because the interaction between PIP limits, motorcycle insurance, MACP, and the Mary Free Bed ruling is complex, it’s wise to consult a Michigan motorcycle accident lawyer as early as possible after a crash.

What to Do If You’ve Been Involved in a Motorcycle Accident

If you’re involved in a crash this summer, the steps you take in the minutes and days afterward can affect both your health and your legal rights.

The Michigan motorcycle accident lawyers at the Lee Steinberg Law Firm recommend:

1. Call 911 and wait for help.
   Get police and EMS to the scene. Do not leave, even if the other driver suggests “handling it privately.”
2. Give your version of events.
   Calmly explain what happened to the responding officer. Avoid speculating or admitting fault; just describe what you saw and did.
3. Document the scene.
   If you’re physically able, use your phone to photograph:
4. • Vehicle positions and damage
   • Skid marks, debris, and road defects (potholes, loose gravel, missing signs)
   • Traffic signals and signs
   • Your visible injuries and damaged gear
4. Gather information.
   Obtain names, phone numbers, and addresses for all drivers and witnesses, plus license plate numbers and insurance information.
5. Seek prompt medical care.
   Go to an ER or urgent care, even if you think you “just” have road rash or soreness. Mention every area of pain so it’s documented. Some serious injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, may not be immediately obvious.
6. Notify your insurance - carefully.
   You typically must notify insurers promptly, but you do not have to give a recorded statement on the spot. Adjusters may try to lock in your words before you understand the full extent of your injuries.
7. Talk to an experienced Michigan motorcycle accident lawyer before signing anything.
   A lawyer familiar with motorcycle‑specific no‑fault issues, MACP, and recent court decisions can protect your access to PIP, lost wages, attendant care, and full compensation for pain and suffering.

Contact Our Michigan Motorcycle Accident Lawyers - Free Consultation

If you or someone you care about has been injured in a Michigan motorcycle crash, you don’t have to navigate no‑fault rules and insurance disputes on your own.

The Michigan motorcycle accident lawyers at the Lee Steinberg Law Firm have represented riders and passengers across the state for more than 50 years and have recovered tens of millions of dollars in no‑fault benefits and pain‑and‑suffering compensation. The firm handles motorcycle cases on a contingency‑fee basis, meaning you pay no attorney fee or case costs unless your case is successful. 

Your consultation is free. To get answers about your medical bills, lost wages, and legal options:

• Call 1‑800‑LEE‑FREE (1‑800‑533‑3733), or
• Visit the firm’s website and submit a free case evaluation form.