Ypsilanti Bicycle Accident Lawyers

Why Injured Ypsilanti Cyclists Trust Lee Steinberg Law Firm

A large share of Ypsilanti's riders use a bicycle as everyday transport, on streets shared with drivers who are new to the area and change every semester. A rider has no protection at all in that mix. For over 50 years the Lee Steinberg Law Firm has represented injured cyclists throughout Michigan and recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients.

Ypsilanti is a bike-friendly community connected by the Border-to-Border Trail and busy corridors like Michigan Avenue near Eastern Michigan University. When a driver fails to yield to a rider in Washtenaw County, our Ypsilanti bicycle accident attorneys are ready to help.

The Lee Steinberg Law Firm has Ypsilanti 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 Ypsilanti 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

This is decided by statute, not by preference. Michigan law sets an order of priority determining which auto insurance pays no-fault benefits.

1. If you have your own auto insurance, your own policy generally pays first, even though you were on a bike. 
2. 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. 
3. 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. 

MACP benefits are obtained only by completing an application. Get in touch with the Ypsilanti bicycle accident lawyers at the Lee Steinberg Law Firm and we will guide you through each step.

Which Auto Insurance Company Pays No-Fault Benefits?

Responsibility follows a set order. Michigan law establishes an order of priority governing which auto insurer must pay no-fault benefits.

1. If you have your own auto insurance, your own policy generally pays first, even though you were on a bike. 
2. 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. 
3. 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 is the sole route into MACP benefits, which means completing an application properly and on time. Contact the Warren bicycle accident lawyers at the Lee Steinberg Law Firm and we will walk you through the process.

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 Ypsilanti bicycle accident attorneys can manage the claims process from start to finish.

Ypsilanti Bike Accident Lawyers - Pain and Suffering Compensation

Pain and suffering captures the physical or mental distress inflicted on an injured cyclist by another driver's or company's negligence. Described in law as “non-economic” damages, it stands apart from economic losses like 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 halves, physical and mental. The physical half extends past the discomfort felt at the time to the pain the claimant is likely to endure in future as a result of the collision. In milder cases that is compensation for discomfort; in severe cases, for extreme suffering.

What Documentation Do I Need to Prove Pain and Suffering?

An adjuster works from paper. To validate a personal injury claim you should assemble the following:

• 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 Ypsilanti bicycle accident lawyer collects the client's medical records and medical bills, photographs of the injuries, 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.

Letters and testimony from the people around you matter just as much. Friends, family and classmates knew you before the crash and can explain what it cost: the term interrupted, the work you can no longer do. In a pain and suffering claim this is often the most compelling evidence there is.

Common Causes of Ypsilanti Bicycle Accidents

Very few bicycle crashes are genuinely unavoidable; most come down to driver negligence. Around Ypsilanti, where student riders and unfamiliar drivers share the same campus-edge streets, the causes we see most often are:

• Drivers cutting across a rider travelling straight through a campus-edge junction
• Dooring on the busy streets around campus and Depot Town
• Distraction at the wheel, especially phone use and texting
• Motorists running red lights around the campus edge
• Unsafe overtaking that squeezes a rider toward the kerb
• Failing to yield to a cyclist who has the right of way
• Neglected pavement, potholes and debris in the riding line

The duty to watch for cyclists runs for the whole of a journey. It covers the roadway, the bike lanes, intersections, shoulders, crosswalks, driveways and everywhere a cyclist could be. Distraction, phone use in particular, is the principal reason riders go unseen, and a driver unfamiliar with the streets is looking at signs and satnav rather than at the bike beside them.

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 Ypsilanti 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 Ypsilanti Bicycle Accident Attorneys

Many firms focus on quick settlements. At Lee Steinberg Law Firm, we prepare every Ypsilanti 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 Ypsilanti 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 Ypsilanti or anywhere in Washtenaw 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.