Why Injured Sterling Heights Cyclists Trust Lee Steinberg Law Firm
Sterling Heights is built around multi-lane arterials carrying traffic at speed, with almost no dedicated space for bicycles. A collision at 45 miles an hour produces injuries an identical collision at 25 would not. For more than 50 years the Lee Steinberg Law Firm has fought for injured riders across Michigan and recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients.
As one of Michigan’s largest cities, Sterling Heights sees heavy traffic on major roads like Van Dyke Avenue, Mound Road, and Hall Road (M-59), where cyclists must share busy lanes. When a driver hits a cyclist at arterial speed in Macomb County, our Sterling Heights bicycle accident attorneys are ready to help.
The Lee Steinberg Law Firm has Sterling Heights 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 Sterling Heights 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 here rarely know that Michigan's No-Fault system can pay benefits even though the injured person was on a bicycle.
If a motor vehicle hits you while cycling, No-Fault (PIP) benefits can be available regardless of whether you insure a vehicle. 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?
Which policy responds is fixed by law. Michigan sets an order of priority determining responsibility for paying 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.
An application must be filed before the MACP pays anything, which means completing an application properly and on time. Contact the Sterling Heights bicycle accident lawyers at the Lee Steinberg Law Firm and we will take you through each step.
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 detail on Michigan No-Fault benefits is available, or you can let our Sterling Heights bicycle accident attorneys manage the claims process from start to finish.
Sterling Heights Bike Accident Lawyers - Pain and Suffering Compensation
Pain and suffering captures the physical or mental distress an injured bicyclist endures owing to another driver's or company's negligence. These are “non-economic” damages, and they are not 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 has two dimensions: physical and mental. The physical dimension is not just the discomfort of the injuries at the time but the pain the injured person will probably carry into the future. Milder cases attract compensation for discomfort, severe ones compensation for extreme suffering.
What Documentation Do I Need to Prove Pain and Suffering?
An adjuster is persuaded by what can be evidenced. These are the documents that substantiate 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 minimum, a good Sterling Heights bicycle accident lawyer collects the client's medical records and medical bills, injury photographs, before and after photographs, prescription records, over-the-counter drug receipts and wage loss information. The strength of that documentation is very often what decides whether a pain and suffering claim achieves a full award.
Statements from friends, family and co-workers are extremely valuable. They knew you before the crash and can explain how it changed your life in terms no record can capture. This is frequently the most powerful evidence in the case.
Common Causes of Sterling Heights Bicycle Accidents
In nearly every bicycle collision, the cause is something a driver did or failed to do. In the Sterling Heights area, where high-speed arterials meet subdivision and retail entrances, the most frequent causes are:
- Vehicles turning across a rider's path at an arterial junction
- Car doors opened into the road without a mirror check
- Phone use and distraction at arterial speed
- Running a red light at a high-speed arterial junction
- Passing a rider too closely at arterial speeds
- Right-of-way violations at driveways and subdivision entrances
- Drainage grates, potholes and debris at the road edge
Drivers must keep watching the whole of the road environment. Distraction is a leading reason drivers do not see riders, and at arterial speed a glance away from the road covers most of a city block.
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 Sterling Heights 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 Sterling Heights Bicycle Accident Attorneys
Many firms focus on quick settlements. At Lee Steinberg Law Firm, we prepare every Sterling Heights 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 Sterling Heights 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 Sterling Heights or anywhere in Macomb 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.
