Personal Injury Lawyers in Grand Rapids, MI

Grand Rapids is known for many things, including being the second-largest city in Michigan. Former President Gerald R. Ford grew up here and was a Grand Rapids representative in Congress before his presidency. There are some well-known art exhibitions and competitions that take place here every year, such as ArtPrize. Beautiful city skylines and gorgeous nature year-round make it a wonderful place to live.

However, not everyone knows it’s also home to the Goodman Acker Law Firm. Accidents happen every day in cities across the world, and with different laws surrounding claims and negligence, it’s essential to have a team behind you that understands your state’s laws. Our team is ready to help the residents of our city and surrounding areas and serve as their representation in many different types of legal matters.

What is a Personal Injury Lawyer?

We understand that accidents happen, but sometimes there’s more to it than being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Accidents can occur due to various reasons, such as a distracted driver, someone being under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or failure to follow proper traffic laws. These circumstances can result in any number of accidents involving vehicles. If you’ve been the victim of an accident due to someone else’s negligence, reach out to the team at Goodman Acker today.

These accidents can result in lost wages due to missed days or the inability to work. Serious injuries may result in thousands of dollars worth of medical expenses, with no idea when the bills will stop coming or how you’ll be paying for them. The good news is that you don’t have to face this stress alone. A personal injury lawyer will be able to listen and help you decide whether or not you have a personal injury claim. If so, we’ll work hard to get you the compensation you deserve and help you regain your life.

What Qualifies as a Personal Injury Claim?

“Personal injury” is a legal term that can be defined as a case which involves harm to the body and/or emotional wellness of a person. In a personal injury claim, there is generally at least one plaintiff who pursues a case for recovering damages from at least one defendant. Personal injury cases are usually focused on the question of negligence. Through litigation, interested parties work to discover who is responsible for the injuries, calculate the extent of the damages, and compensate the victim for those damages.

Types of Personal Injury Cases

The definition of “personal injury” constitutes a wide variety of different situations. The main qualifications for personal injury are an injury and a negligent party — because the definition of personal injury is rather broad, there are a lot of circumstances that can be considered as eligible for a claim.

A person may be able to pursue a personal injury claim to recover damages following incidents such as:

• Car accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Bus accidents
• Truck accidents
• Birth injuries
• Motorcycle accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Dog bites
• Premises liability
• Product liability
• Spinal cord injury
• Wrongful death
• Medical malpractice
• Nursing home abuse
• Slip & fall accidents
• Traumatic brain injury
• Disability

What are Damages?

“Damages” in a personal injury case include the financial expenses and non-economic harm that results from an injury. The majority of damages that result from a personal injury incident are medical expenses. Of course, there are other costs that can result from an injury that are not medical. Additionally, personal injury cases often take non-financial costs into account, such as pain and suffering and emotional distress. In some cases, an injury victim may be able to recover punitive damages which are meant to serve as a consequence of a defendant’s negligence. However, punitive damages are rare in personal injury claims.

When an injury is expected to last for an extended period of time, or contribute to long-term expenses, litigation attempts to project the total costs of the incident.

A person who is injured because of another person’s negligence, and files a personal injury claim, may be able to recover damages such as:

• Medical bills (including surgery, medication, rehabilitation, therapy, etc.)
• Property damages
• Transportation costs
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering

Who is Liable for Damages?

The people who are responsible for causing a personal injury incident can vary greatly. In vehicle accident cases, one of the drivers is usually at fault. It is possible — even in collision claims — that a manufacturer, municipality or government entity, or medical professional may be liable for damages. These examples are only some of the most common — as types of personal injury cases differ widely, there are a number of people who may be liable in a case.

Personal Injury Claims in Michigan

The terms of personal injury cases can vary across the country, as states and localities have different laws concerning negligence and claims. The MI personal injury statute of limitations is three years. Therefore, injury victims have three years from the date of an incident to file a personal injury claim.

About the Goodman Acker Law Firm

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At Goodman Acker Law Firm, you’ll find a team of accomplished attorneys and support staff who are ready to serve you. We have over 150 years of combined legal experience, meaning we’re well-versed in the laws surrounding a variety of case types and will do our best to get you the compensation that you deserve.

Our achievements include:

• Inclusion on the Super Lawyers list.
• An AV Martindale-Hubbell Rating.
• A spot on the list of Top 100 Trial Lawyers.

With that in mind, know that our highly decorated team will do everything we can to provide you with the best representation possible. If you need a lawyer, don’t hesitate to reach out to us today.

Michigan No-Fault Lawyers

In July of 2020, the state of Michigan put into place a new No-Fault Law. This law can impact every driver on the road, especially those who are injured in car accidents, bus accidents, or truck accidents. Understanding these laws, or having an attorney who is knowledgeable on the new law, can make all the difference if you’re forced to file a personal injury claim after a car accident.

The No-Fault Law states that all drivers are now required to purchase and carry basic insurance coverage that would pay for expenses resulting from an accident. Our knowledgeable team believes that you have the right to have an attorney on your side who is aware of new laws that can impact your right to a claim.

Medical Malpractice Attorneys

Medical malpractice is an all too common occurrence. It’s estimated that 98,000 people per year die from a mistake made in a health care setting. These mistakes include:

• Drug mistakes: This includes wrong medication, wrong delivery, and wrong doses. An improper drug administration can cause harmful results. One mistake can cause an interaction with another of the patient’s medications, causing potentially lethal interactions.
• Birth injuries: Babies and mothers are both in a vulnerable state during the birth process. A quick mistake or lack of monitoring can cause potential issues that may result in lifelong problems for the child.
• Diagnosis errors: A delay in treatment, testing, or diagnosing an illness or disease can cause lifelong issues, even death. Heart issues, cancer, and blood conditions are commonly missed or mistaken for another issue.

If a loved one or yourself has been injured or suffered due to negligence in a health care setting, you may have a claim. Having the team at Goodman Acker beside you will help you during the process and ensure that you get the representation you need and a settlement that you deserve.

Other Types of Claims

Not only are we experts at personal injury and wrongful death claims, but we also excel at the representation of various other legal cases. These include:

• Dog bites: If you’ve been a dog bite victim and sustained trauma or medical expenses, reach out to us so that we can help you get fair representation and the compensation you’re entitled to.
• Disability: If your disability claim has been denied, we can help you through the appeal process to get the funds you need.
• Workers compensation: If you’ve been injured on the job and your employer refuses to pay, we can help you get your compensation.
• Nursing home abuse: Our nation’s frailest call these assisted living facilities home. They, and their families, deserve to have the peace of mind they’re receiving proper care. If your family member’s being neglected or abused, contact us today.

Contact Our Grand Rapids Office Today

If you need a personal injury attorney, reach out to our team at the Goodman Acker Law Firm today. Our risk-free, no-obligation consultation will help determine whether you have a claim and what we can do for you. We’re dedicated to working hard and getting you the representation that you need for a settlement that you deserve.

With two convenient locations, we can serve the Grand Rapids, Detroit, and surrounding areas. Our office is located at 1500 E. Beltline Ave. SE, Suite 235. We are also available online 24/7 or by phone at 248-965-4795. We look forward to welcoming you to the Goodman Acker family.

Directions to Our Office

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