Why Injured Midland Cyclists Trust Lee Steinberg Law Firm
Midland's rail trail produces riders covering real distances, which means more road crossings and more time on open roads. A driver who crosses the same trail daily without incident is the one who stops looking. For more than 50 years the Lee Steinberg Law Firm has fought for injured cyclists across Michigan and recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients.
Midland is known for the Pere Marquette Rail Trail, a popular route that draws riders all season, while corridors like Eastman Avenue and Saginaw Road carry heavy traffic. When a driver misses a rider at a Midland County crossing, our Midland bicycle accident attorneys are ready to help.
The Lee Steinberg Law Firm has Midland 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 Midland 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
Trail riders in Midland County are often unaware that Michigan's No-Fault system covers people injured on a bicycle.
Where a motor vehicle strikes a rider, No-Fault (PIP) benefits can follow even if that rider has no auto insurance. They 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?
You cannot select the insurer. Michigan law lays down an order of priority determining which auto insurance is responsible for 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.
The MACP does not pay until an application is filed, which means completing an application correctly and in time. Contact the Midland bicycle accident lawyers at the Lee Steinberg Law Firm and we will walk you through it.
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.
A fuller explanation of Michigan No-Fault benefits is available, and our Midland bicycle accident attorneys can take the claims process off your hands.
Midland Bike Accident Lawyers - Pain and Suffering Compensation
Pain and suffering refers to the physical or mental distress an injured cyclist goes through because of another driver's or company's negligence. Known as “non-economic” damages, they differ 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 breaks down into physical and mental. The physical element is not limited to how the injury felt at first, since it also reaches the pain the injured person is likely to live with afterwards. In milder cases compensation is for discomfort; in severe cases, for extreme suffering.
What Documentation Do I Need to Prove Pain and Suffering?
Records are what carry weight with an insurance company. These are the ones that support a personal injury claim:
- 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 the very least, a good Midland bicycle accident lawyer will obtain their client's medical records, medical bills, photographs of the injuries, before and after photographs, prescription records, over-the-counter drug receipts and wage loss information. Proof is what carries a pain and suffering claim, and its quality separates a full award from an inadequate one.
Do not leave out the people who know you. Letters or testimony from friends, family and co-workers explain what a crash actually changed better than any record, and this is frequently the most powerful evidence in a pain and suffering lawsuit.
Common Causes of Midland Bicycle Accidents
Driver negligence causes the overwhelming share of bicycle collisions. In and around Midland, where the rail trail meets the road network at repeated crossings, the common causes include:
- Motorists turning across a rider's line of travel at a trail crossing
- Doors opened into the path of a passing cyclist downtown
- Drivers distracted by a phone on the approach to a crossing
- Drivers entering a junction on a red
- Passing too close on a county road beyond the trail network
- Failure to yield where the rail trail meets the roadway
- Potholes, loose debris and poorly maintained crossings
A driver has a standing duty to look for cyclists. Distraction is a major reason they fail to see riders, and at a trail crossing a rider arrives at speed from a direction the driver has stopped checking.
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 Midland 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 Midland Bicycle Accident Attorneys
Many firms focus on quick settlements. At Lee Steinberg Law Firm, we prepare every Midland 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 Midland 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 Midland or anywhere in Midland 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.
