With an Unparalleled Success Rate at 99 Percent
Our car accident lawyers in Grand Rapids have seen time and time again how car accidents wrack the nerves of our clients. However, the process of recovering compensation for property damage and medical bills doesn’t have to be nerve-wracking.
In Michigan, as a no-fault state, you first file a claim with your auto insurance company, not the other driver’s insurance carrier. That would seem easy enough. But is it? Generally, when damages are minimal, and injuries are straightforward and insignificant, the process goes smoothly if you know what you are doing.
But your insurance company may try to deny or reduce coverage when injuries are more extensive and complex, or if they materialize days or weeks after the accident. That’s a problem. To prevent these complications and ensure you get the compensation owed, a Grand Rapids car accident attorney is your best option.
Our Grand Rapids car accident attorneys at Goodman Acker use our combined 150+ years of legal experience, insight, and resources to achieve a 99% success rate.
At Goodman Acker, we are not just any old personal injury law firm in Grand Rapids. Our diverse team of highly skilled car accident attorneys treats each client as family. We have been representing our community members in and outside Grand Rapids for decades, so you are family in many ways.
Our reputation is backed by awards and recognition, like inclusion on the Super Lawyers list, an AV Martindale-Hubbell Rating, and a spot on the list of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers.
How We Can Help
Get an honest review of your car accident case with our committed car accident lawyers in Grand Rapids. Then get started on the path to recovery and the compensation you deserve.
Call us at 248-286-8100 to talk to our team today. We don’t get paid anything until you are awarded the best possible settlement in your case.
Understanding No-Fault Liability for Car Accidents in Grand Rapids
Our Grand Rapids Car Accident Lawyers Explain What’s at Stake
Unlike most states, which follow the theory of fault liability, Michigan has joined a handful of states that adhere to the theory of no-fault liability for automobile accidents. Instead, claims are handled through personal injury protection (PIP).
In simple terms, this means you file an insurance claim with your own auto insurer––even if you were not at fault for the accident. In at-fault states, the responsibility for covering car accident damages falls on the driver who caused the collision and their respective insurance company.
A demand letter is sent to the at-fault party’s auto insurer to recover damages. The auto insurance company will do everything possible to attribute fault to the injured party/victim. It’s the company’s way of reducing or denying claims.
The process can become a real hassle when an injured person is trying to recover and pay bills.
Is No-Fault Liability in Michigan Better than Fault Liability?
On the face of it, no-fault liability is better. Without proving liability, the claims process often does not involve negotiation with the other parties. However, the policyholder may still have to prove their case. Coverage is not guaranteed.
Also, insurance companies prioritize profit regardless of whether in Michigan or a fault-based state. As such, they will still try to deny or reduce benefits to injured parties in Grand Rapids.
One way insurance companies deny or reduce benefits is the same here as in fault-based states. They try to attribute fault to the injured party. Michigan follows a modified comparative negligence policy.
This policy holds that you won’t recover anything if you contributed to an accident and were 51% or more at fault. However, if you were at fault for anything under 51 percent, you can recover, but the value of compensation will be reduced accordingly.
For example, if your auto insurer accuses you of being 25% at fault for the collision, your coverage can be reduced by 25%. Just because we are a no-fault state does not guarantee just and fair compensation for auto accident victims.
To ensure you get that compensation, you need an aggressive car accident attorney in Grand Rapids with a 99% success rate and 150+ years of experience from which to draw insight.
Contact us online or call us at 248-286-8100 for your free consultation.
Can an Auto Accident Victim in Grand Rapids Still Sue the At-Fault Driver?
Under Michigan’s no-fault policy, lawsuits against the at-fault party are rare. If negotiated by a talented Grand Rapids auto accident lawyer, auto insurance companies will adequately compensate their own insured clients for:
- Property damage
- Medical bills
- Lost wages.
Your auto insurance company, however, will not pay you for excess economic damages (like loss of earned income, ongoing or future medical treatment, etc.) or non-economic damages for pain and suffering. When you have a valid claim for these damages, you can sue the at-fault party.
But so many injured people fail to understand that they have a claim. The no-fault policy in Michigan adds to this confusion––victims think they can only recover the amount that their own insurance company will settle for.
If you have been in a car collision and were injured, it is in your best interest to speak with us. We offer a free, no-obligation consultation. Plus, you don’t pay anything unless we win.
We are Highly Familiar with the Grand Rapids Area
Grand Rapids is one of the Midwest’s most popular convention destinations. In Grand Rapids, you may find all the amenities of a much larger city, including a conference complex that’s only twenty minutes from the Gerald R. Ford International Airport.
DeVos Place Convention Center, a state-of-the-art convention center with approximately 250,000 square feet of space on a 13-acre riverside property, is part of the campus. The “Class A” exhibition hall is 162,000 square feet, the ballroom is 40,000 square feet, there are 35,000 square feet of sub-dividable meeting space, and the Grand Gallery pre-function space is 75 feet in height.
As part of the campus, visitors can enjoy events, concerts, family shows, ice performances, seminars, and conferences at Van Andel Arena, a $75 million entertainment center in the heart of Grand Rapids and home to the Grand Rapids Griffins hockey club.
Grand Rapids is a Safe City, But Accidents Still Happen
With a total population of just under a million in the greater Metro Grand Rapids area, Grand Rapids is Michigan’s second-largest city. Unfortunately, a growing population means an uptick in auto accidents. You need time to heal if you’ve been hurt or worse in an automobile accident.
When you’re healing and adjusting to new circumstances, it may be hard to understand the inevitable vagaries of Michigan law. That’s why you need an expert car accident lawyer in Grand Rapids.
Why Choose Us
If you’ve been hurt on the roads of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and believe it was someone else’s fault, Goodman Acker can help. As a result, we will be able to acquire information about your case more quickly.
Apart from this, there’s more to know about us that distinguishes our car accident lawyers in Grand Rapids from the rest:
- We have 150+ years of combined legal experience.
- We have a success rate of 99% for cases we conclude.
- We are routinely featured by newsgroups, like Fox 17 News and Local 4 Detroit.
- We are available 24/7 for client emergencies.
- We have won millions of dollars for our clients.
- We offer free initial consultations to get you started.
- We treat our clients like family, and their testimonials reflect that.
With a 99% success rate at Goodman Acker, your odds of winning your case are good if our Grand Rapids car accident attorney takes your case.
Injuries that Pose Challenges to Auto Accident Claims in Grand Rapids
According to Michigan’s Traffic Crash Reporting System, up to 20,000 auto crashes occur in Kent County annually. Of that number, one-fifth involve injuries and, to a minimal extent, fatalities. The injuries most likely to pose challenges to your first-party insurance claim are complex, extensive, or delayed.
For example, if you have an existing health condition and that condition exacerbated the injury, the insurance company may try to argue against full compensation. The same is true if, as another example, you suffered whiplash, but the symptoms only appear a few days after the accident.
In this example, the insurance company may argue that the whiplash is related to another matter and not necessarily a car accident.
Insurers will also not compensate for pain and suffering or emotional distress caused by an extensive bodily injury like:
- Disfigurement and severe scarring
- Nerve damage resulting in a loss of sensation
- Spinal cord injury
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord damage resulting in paralysis.
At Goodman Acker, we are committed to you. We do not settle unless it’s in your best interests. We take on these challenges and pursue whatever course is necessary. And we do it with determination and the strength of our shared 150+ years of experience.
FAQs About Car Accidents
Our Grand Rapids Car accident lawyer answers your questions. Car insurance claims in Grand Rapids can be tricky and confusing, especially since the no-fault policy is rather new in Michigan.
Here, we try to answer some of the most common questions we get daily about car accident claims.
Damages for car accidents typically fall into one of two categories: compensatory damages and punitive damages. The purpose of compensatory damages is to make up for your losses. Both economic and non-economic factors can be involved.
Economic losses stem directly from your injury. These may consist of:
- Medical costs
- Damage to property
- Lost earnings.
Although they may be a little more challenging to estimate, non-economic damages are also connected to your injury. These consist of:
- Distress and suffering
- Emotional and mental distress
- Loss of community.
Punitive damages are unique damages that are only awarded in specific circumstances. When a defendant’s egregiously negligent actions caused you harm, these damages are intended to punish and prevent that behavior.
Damages can be difficult to estimate, but your skilled automobile accident lawyer will work to assess the just compensation you should receive.
The amount of compensation for an automobile accident is not “average.” There are specific elements used to estimate the value of your case because each automobile accident claim is unique.
These variables may include:
- The seriousness of the injuries received
- The full cost of medical care
- How much property has been damaged
- Total wages lost in their entirety
- If your accident was caused by your conduct.
Your vehicle accident claim’s value is assessed based on these and other factors.
Injury cases are almost always resolved outside of court. Some issues are resolved rather quickly. An early settlement is typically not in your best interest, though. Early in the process, it is frequently impossible to access the best evidence.
Additionally, if the total payment doesn’t cover all anticipated future medical bills, the sufferer can be financially liable for them. Thus, most auto accident lawsuits are resolved in mediation, a bargaining process that is overseen by the court.
About 90% of mediations are successful because the insurance company is required by law to bargain in good faith.
Modified comparative fault is Michigan’s standard. A person who contributed more than 50% to their accident cannot be paid under this legislation.
An accident victim who is somewhat at fault may nevertheless receive compensation. A thorough investigation will determine the accident’s cause and extent.
Car accident claims are subject to a statute of limitations. A statute of limitations is legislation that provides a short window of time before someone can initiate a lawsuit.
The statute of limitations for car accidents in Texas is two years from the accident’s date (TX C.P.R. 16.003). You can forfeit your chance of financial recovery if you don’t submit your lawsuit by the deadline.
Contact Our Trusted Grand Rapids Car Accident Lawyer Today
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, reach out to Goodman Acker today. Our team of experienced Grand Rapids car accident attorneys provides clients with the representation and results they deserve. Our focus is always on you.
There’s always a light on at our Grand Rapids office. We are ready to sit down and listen to you. Call us at 248-286-8100 or use our contact form to schedule your free consultation. Goodman Acker. Good decision.
LEGALLY REVIEWED BY BARRY J. GOODMAN
Barry J. Goodman has devoted his professional life to keeping courthouse doors open for victims seeking justice. Always a tireless advocate for his own clients, Goodman sees his responsibility as a Detroit personal injury attorney in a broader sense as well. [ Attorney Bio ]
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