Motorcyclists Are Often Shafted Under Michigan Law

The Motorcycle Legal Minute™ was created by Jason Waechter, THE Motorcycle Lawyer, to explain Michigan’s motorcycle law in a short and easy to understand way.

Here is another way Michigan motorcyclists often get shafted. After a crash, the motorcyclist files a collision claim with their own insurance company. They bought collision coverage so they assume the bike will be fully paid for less their deductible.

That’s when they find out: sorry, all the accessories and custom parts you put on your motorcycle are NOT covered. The insurance policy they have says it only pays for a ‘stock motorcycle.’

Now, some policies come with, say, $1,000 of accessories coverage and that is sometimes enough.

You can purchase extra insurance that will cover ALL the customization you have done to your motorcycle. My advice: have a conversation with your insurance agent about how much coverage there is for YOUR extras, and then, you determine if you need more.

More about Collision Coverage: It is up to you to have it or not. It is optional, not mandatory. You need to know Michigan law does not allow you to pursue vehicle (car, truck or motorcycle) damage claims against the other guy’s insurance company.  

It is important to understand that, in most car-related accidents, you cannot make the at-fault driver pay for any damage to your motorcycle – not physical damage, not the accessories and not the deductible. 

You first need to decide if your cycle is worth replacing or fixing. The Michigan Collision Law is worse for motorcycles, compared to cars and trucks. You cannot make the at-fault driver even pay your deductible like a car owner can. Therefore, choose your deductible amount as if it will never be returned to you in the event of a loss.  

There are three exception where you can pursue the negligent driver for motorcycle damage. The exceptions are: the negligent driver was uninsured, your motorcycle was reasonably parked or the damage was caused by a negligent motorcyclist.