Author: Jason Waechter | Date: March 6, 2026 | Category: Insurance, Motorcycle Laws
Legal Insight from Jason Waechter, The Motorcycle Lawyer®.
If you were injured in a motorcycle crash and have questions about
who pays medical bills after a motorcycle accident in Michigan, you can
Get a Free Case Review
or call 1-877-BIKER-LAW.
A major Michigan Court of Appeals ruling is changing how Michigan motorcycle insurance may work after a crash involving a car. The case, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital v. Esurance Property and Casualty Insurance Company, may allow injured motorcyclists to access additional insurance coverage when medical bills exceed the limits of one policy.
Many Michigan riders are now asking a simple question: if a car hits me, will my medical bills actually be covered?
This development has created significant interest among riders trying to understand how Michigan motorcycle medical coverage works and who ultimately pays medical bills after a serious crash.
If you would like a full explanation of the ruling itself, you can read our detailed breakdown of the
Michigan motorcycle law and how the court decision may affect injured riders.
Michigan’s no-fault insurance system treats motorcycles differently than cars, trucks, and other motor vehicles.
While drivers and passengers in cars receive no-fault Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits through their own auto insurance policies, injured motorcyclists often must rely on the insurance policy covering the motor vehicle involved in the crash.
This difference has long been one of the most confusing aspects of Michigan motorcycle insurance law.
When a motorcyclist is injured in a crash involving a car, the insurance company responsible for paying medical bills is determined by what Michigan law calls the order of priority.
Under Michigan law, several possible insurance policies may be responsible for paying medical benefits after a motorcycle accident.
In simplified terms, the priority order may include:
This system determines how Michigan no-fault motorcycle benefits are accessed when a rider is injured.
For decades, Michigan drivers carried unlimited medical coverage through no-fault insurance. This meant that when a motorcyclist was injured in a crash involving a car, the available medical coverage was generally unlimited.
That changed in 2020 when Michigan adopted a system allowing drivers to choose lower levels of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) medical coverage.
Under the current system, some drivers now carry as little as $50,000 in medical coverage.
Because motorcyclists often must rely on the insurance policy of the driver involved in the crash, many injured riders suddenly found themselves limited by the coverage choices of someone else.
This created situations where severely injured riders were left with enormous medical bills after serious crashes.
The Michigan Court of Appeals addressed this issue in the case of Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital v. Esurance Property and Casualty Insurance Company.
The court ruled that when one insurance policy responsible for medical benefits is exhausted, it may be possible under certain circumstances for injured motorcyclists or medical providers to pursue additional benefits from another policy in the priority order.
This interpretation of Michigan law could significantly affect how Michigan motorcycle insurance works when serious injuries are involved.
The decision may help prevent situations where injured riders are left without adequate medical coverage simply because the driver who caused the crash selected a low insurance limit.
However, the interaction between multiple insurance policies can be complicated, and insurance companies often dispute which company is responsible for payment.
Understanding how Michigan motorcycle medical coverage works after a crash is critical for protecting your rights.
One important takeaway from the recent court decision is that riders should carefully review their own automobile insurance coverage.
Carrying higher levels of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) medical coverage on your own automobile policy may provide an additional layer of protection if you are injured in a motorcycle crash involving a motor vehicle.
Insurance decisions made today can have major consequences after a serious accident.
If you want to understand how this decision affects injured riders, read our full explanation of the
Michigan motorcycle law update and court ruling.
You can also read our article explaining
who pays medical bills after a motorcycle accident in Michigan.
In many motorcycle crashes involving a motor vehicle, medical benefits may be paid according to Michigan’s no-fault order of priority. Depending on the circumstances, this may include the insurance policy covering the vehicle involved in the crash, the motorcyclist’s own automobile insurance policy, a resident relative’s insurance policy, or the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a motorcycle crash and have questions about Michigan motorcycle insurance, medical coverage, or your legal rights, our office can help.
Attorney Jason Waechter, The Motorcycle Lawyer®, has spent decades representing injured motorcyclists and fighting insurance companies.
If you were injured in a motorcycle accident and have questions about Michigan motorcycle insurance, Michigan motorcycle medical coverage, or Michigan no-fault motorcycle benefits, our office can help you understand your legal options.
Attorney Jason Waechter, The Motorcycle Lawyer®, has spent decades representing injured riders and fighting insurance companies.
Contact our office for a free consultation and case strategy session.
Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Provide a few simple details about your injury and our team will take it from there.