Oak Park Car Accident Lawyers

Key takeaways:

Michigan’s auto laws create two distinct paths for recovery: no-fault benefits for your own medical bills and wage loss, and a third-party claim against the at-fault driver for pain and suffering.

Insurance companies are for-profit businesses that protect their bottom line by minimizing payouts. Their first offer is almost never their best offer.

You have a limited time to act. Failing to meet Michigan’s strict deadlines for filing a claim or a lawsuit will permanently bar you from receiving the compensation you deserve.

Common Causes of Devastating Oak Park Car Accidents

Every collision is unique, but most are caused by a driver’s decision to act carelessly behind the wheel. Establishing this negligence is the foundation of a successful personal injury claim.

Our investigations frequently uncover that crashes in and around Oak Park stem from preventable actions.

• Distracted driving: This goes far beyond texting. It includes adjusting the radio, using a GPS, eating, or talking to passengers. Any activity that takes a driver’s eyes, hands, or mind off the road is a form of negligence.
• Speeding and aggressive driving: Exceeding the speed limit or driving too fast for road conditions dramatically reduces reaction time and increases the severity of impact. Actions like tailgating, unsafe lane changes, and ignoring traffic signals also lead to serious wrecks.
• Driving Under the Influence (DUI): A driver impaired by alcohol or drugs has diminished judgment, coordination, and response time. These crashes often result in catastrophic injuries, and the at-fault driver may face both criminal charges and civil liability.
• Drowsy driving: Fatigued driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving. A tired driver may have slower reflexes or even fall asleep at the wheel, leading to devastating head-on or lane-departure collisions.
• Failure to yield: Many serious accidents happen at intersections when one driver disregards traffic signs or signals, or fails to yield the right-of-way when turning left.
• Poor weather conditions: While drivers cannot control the weather, they have a legal duty to adjust their driving to match the conditions. Driving too fast on icy, snowy, or wet roads is a form of negligence.

Protecting Your Claim After Returning Home from an Oak Park Collision

Your health is the top priority. Following your medical team’s advice is not only best for your recovery, but it also creates a vital record for your injury claim. Beyond your treatment, there are specific actions you must take in the days and weeks after the crash to protect your legal rights.

• Follow your treatment plan religiously: Attend every single doctor’s appointment, physical therapy session, and follow-up consultation. Gaps in treatment are something insurance companies use to argue your injuries are not as severe as you claim.
• Create a central file for all documents: Gather every piece of paper related to the accident and keep it in one place. This file should include:
  • The police report or incident exchange form
  • All medical bills and explanation of benefits (EOB) statements
  • Receipts for prescriptions, medical devices, and other out-of-pocket costs
  • Your vehicle repair estimates and receipts
  • Any letters or emails from any insurance company
• Start a daily journal: Document your experience in a notebook or a private digital file. Each day, write down a few notes about:
  • Your physical pain levels on a scale of 1 to 10
  • The location and type of pain you are feeling
  • Daily activities you have trouble with or can no longer do
  • How the injuries are impacting your sleep and emotional state
• Preserve key evidence: Do not rush to repair your vehicle. The damage to your car is powerful evidence of the force of the impact. Take clear photos from multiple angles before any work is done. Also, save any damaged personal property that was in the car, such as a broken phone or laptop.
• Limit communications: You must report the accident to your own insurer. When you do, provide only the basic facts. Do not give a recorded statement to any adjuster, from any company, without first consulting a personal injury attorney. These statements are used to find inconsistencies in your story and devalue your claim.

The Critical Role of an Oak Park Auto Accident Attorney

Attempting to handle a car accident claim by yourself means facing off against a massive insurance corporation and its team of adjusters and lawyers. Their objective is to pay you as little as possible.

An accomplished attorney completely changes this dynamic.

Conducting a thorough investigation:

We leave no stone unturned. Our team gathers every piece of evidence to build a rock-solid case that proves the other driver’s fault. This includes:

• Securing the official police report and witness statements
• Obtaining traffic and security camera footage of the crash
• Hiring accident reconstruction professionals to analyze the scene
• Subpoenaing the at-fault driver’s cell phone records
• Downloading data from the vehicles’ “black boxes” (Event Data Recorders)

Calculating the full value of your claim:

Insurance adjusters will not tell you what your car accident claim is truly worth. We work with your doctors and other professionals to calculate the total cost of your losses. This includes not just current bills, but the projected cost of future surgeries, lifelong therapy, and lost earning potential.

Managing all communications and paperwork:

From the moment you hire us, we take over completely. All communication from insurance companies, medical providers, and bill collectors will come through our office. This stops the pressure and frees you to focus on your recovery. We handle all of the complex forms and deadlines for you.

Negotiating from a position of strength:

We prepare a comprehensive demand package that details your injuries, our legal arguments, and the full amount of compensation you are owed. We use our reputation and preparation to negotiate aggressively for a top-dollar settlement.

If the insurer refuses to be fair, we are always prepared to file a lawsuit and present your case to a jury.

Michigan Car Wreck Legal Options

Michigan’s auto insurance system is unique. After a crash, you may have two separate but related claims. A knowledgeable attorney helps you pursue all available avenues for compensation.

Your no-fault (first-party) benefits

This claim is filed with your own auto insurance company, regardless of who caused the accident. These benefits, called Personal Injury Protection (PIP), are designed to cover your direct economic losses.

• Allowable medical expenses: This pays for all reasonable and necessary medical care related to your accident injuries. This includes hospital stays, surgeries, doctor visits, physical therapy, prescriptions, and in-home attendant care. The amount of medical coverage you have depends on the policy you chose.
• Wage loss benefits: If your injuries prevent you from working, PIP benefits will reimburse you for a portion of the income you have lost. These benefits are payable for up to three years from the date of the accident.
• Replacement services: This benefit pays up to $20 per day for help with routine household tasks that you can no longer perform because of your injuries. This includes things like cooking, cleaning, child care, and yard work.

Your negligence (third-party) claim

This claim is filed against the at-fault driver and their insurance company. This is where you seek compensation for the losses not covered by your own no-fault policy, primarily your pain and suffering.

To succeed in a third-party claim in Michigan, your injuries must meet a certain level of severity. You must show that the crash caused one of the following:

• Death
• Permanent serious disfigurement
• A serious impairment of body function

A “serious impairment” is an injury that affects your general ability to lead your normal life.

Why Choose Goodman Acker for Your Accident Claim?

When your future is on the line, the law firm you choose matters. You need a team with a demonstrated history of winning and a commitment to its clients.

• We have a 99% success rate: Our results speak for themselves. We have a consistent and verifiable record of achieving successful outcomes for thousands of injury victims across Michigan.
• We bring 150+ years of combined experience: Our team’s collective legal knowledge is a powerful asset. This deep experience allows us to anticipate insurance company tactics and develop effective strategies for every type of car accident case.
• We have recovered hundreds of millions for our clients: We have a proven history of securing significant car accident settlements and trial verdicts. This financial recovery gives our clients the resources they need to pay their bills, support their families, and rebuild their lives.
• You pay no fee unless we win: We operate on a contingency fee basis. This means you will never pay us a single dollar out of your own pocket. Our fee is a percentage of the money we win for you. If we do not secure a recovery, you owe us nothing.

Your Fight is Our Fight

After a traumatic car accident, you deserve a legal team that will treat you with respect and fight tirelessly for your rights. At Goodman Acker PC, we have dedicated our careers to helping people in Oak Park and across Michigan stand up to insurance companies.

We manage every detail of the legal process so you can focus on what is most vital: your health and your family. Let us take the burden off your shoulders. We offer a free, confidential case review to discuss what happened and explain how we can help.

There is no cost and no obligation. Contact us today.

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 ]