MICHIGAN MOTORCYCLE INSURANCE LAW

A motorcycle is not considered a motor vehicle in Michigan. 

MCL 500.3101(2)(e) requires that a vehicle have more than two wheels to be considered a motor vehicle.  This requirement was meant to exclude motorcycles and therefore exempt motorcyclists involved in accidents from the legal requirement under Michigan law to purchase no fault insurance coverage.   However, being exempt from having to purchase Michigan No Fault insurance for motorcycle accident victims is not a good thing for motorcyclists after they have been involved in a serious motor vehicle accident.  As motorcyclists are statistically far more likely to suffer serious injuries, this means more often than not that there will not be Michigan No Fault benefits to pay for the medical treatment, attendant care, and lost wages for the injured motorcyclist.  If the injured motorcyclist does not have health insurance, too often necessary medical treatment for serious injuries becomes extremely difficult to receive.

Although a motorcycle is not considered a motor vehicle, motorcycle accidents often involve other cars and trucks on the road.  As such, Michigan no fault insurance benefits will generally be available to Michigan motorcycle accident victims. These benefits are designed to provide medical benefits, wage loss, attendant care and replacement services to Michigan motorcycle accident.
Michigan law only allows one year to file a proper claim for these no fault first party benefits after a motorcycle accident. Michigan law allows three years to file a lawsuit for injuries and economic loss against a negligent driver who causes a motorcycle accident.  This is referred to as a third-party, or tort, claim.