Why Injured Southfield Cyclists Trust Lee Steinberg Law Firm
Southfield's roads were built to move commuters, and a cyclist among them is both hard to see and completely unprotected. A collision at commuter speed produces injuries that a slower one simply would not. Over more than 50 years the Lee Steinberg Law Firm has fought for injured riders across Michigan and recovered hundreds of millions of dollars on their behalf.
Southfield's office corridor puts heavy commuter traffic on roads like Telegraph Road, Northwestern Highway and 12 Mile Road, where cyclists share the pavement with vehicles moving at speed. When a driver hits a cyclist in commuter traffic in Oakland County, our Southfield bicycle accident attorneys are ready to help.
The Lee Steinberg Law Firm has Southfield 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 Southfield 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
Riders in Southfield are frequently unaware that Michigan's No-Fault system can pay benefits following a bicycle collision.
A cyclist hurt by a motor vehicle can be entitled to No-Fault (PIP) benefits, and the absence of a policy in their own name does not prevent it. These benefits cover:
- 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?
Responsibility is allocated by statute, not by choice. Michigan law sets an order of priority determining which auto insurance company 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 is paid by the MACP before an application is made, so completing an application accurately and in time is essential. Contact the Southfield bicycle accident lawyers at the Lee Steinberg Law Firm and we will work through 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.
More on Michigan No-Fault benefits can be read separately, and our Southfield bicycle accident attorneys are ready to take the claims process on for you.
Southfield Bike Accident Lawyers - Pain and Suffering Compensation
Pain and suffering means what an injured rider endures, in body and in mind, because another driver or company was negligent. These are the “non-economic” damages, held apart from economic losses such as lost earnings and unpaid 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 carries a physical part and a mental part. The physical part looks past the discomfort of the injury itself to the pain the claimant will most likely still be dealing with years later. Lesser cases are compensated for discomfort, severe ones for extreme suffering.
What Documentation Do I Need to Prove Pain and Suffering?
Claims are valued on what can be evidenced. These are the documents to collect in support of 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
A competent Southfield bicycle accident lawyer will, as a minimum, gather their client's medical records and bills, photographs of the injuries, before-and-after photographs, prescription records, over-the-counter drug receipts and wage loss information. How thoroughly the claim is documented is frequently the difference between a full award and a disappointing one.
Input from the people who know you is every bit as valuable. Friends, family and colleagues remember how you were before the crash and can spell out what has changed since. Often the most persuasive evidence a pain and suffering claim has.
Common Causes of Southfield Bicycle Accidents
A bicycle crash is nearly always the consequence of something a driver did or failed to do. In the Southfield area, where office and retail entrances feed onto high-volume arterials, the most frequent causes are:
- Motorists turning across a rider into an office park entrance
- Doors opened into a cyclist beside a commercial frontage
- Drivers distracted by a phone during the commuter peak
- Motorists running a red light on a high-volume arterial
- Passing too close on a road built for commuter speed
- Failure to yield when leaving an office or retail driveway
- Potholes, drainage grates and debris at the edge of the lane
A driver's obligation to watch for cyclists runs continuously. It covers the roadway, the bike lanes, intersections, shoulders, crosswalks, driveways and everywhere a cyclist could be. Distraction is a principal reason riders go unseen, and a driver leaving an office park at the end of the day is watching for a gap in cars, not for a bicycle.
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 Southfield 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 Southfield Bicycle Accident Attorneys
Many firms focus on quick settlements. At Lee Steinberg Law Firm, we prepare every Southfield 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 Southfield 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 Southfield or anywhere in Oakland 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.
