Making Sure the Injured in Our Communities Get Maximum Compensation
Interstate 696, which cuts through the heart of Warren, is one of the most dangerous roads in the state. Rear-end wrecks are the most common kind of freeway collision on Interstate 696. These wrecks, as well as other kinds of vehicle collisions, kill or seriously injure millions of Americans each and every year. These injuries are often permanent, at least to an extent. Obtaining fair compensation for those injuries is critical to recovery and getting your life back on track. A smart, experienced Warren car accident lawyer can help.
At Goodman Acker, we are committed to our communities and have dedicated our law practice to the injured. We know how an unexpected accident can overturn a person’s life and negatively impact their family members’ lives as well. Our law firm is dedicated to a high standard of excellence, achieved through diligence, knowledge, skill, and perseverance.
We have a combined 150+ years of experience in complex personal injury cases. The insight gained from that experience is the basis of our 99% success rate.
At Goodman Acker, our legal team is not just any other law firm in Warren, and our clients are not just a number. Contact us at 248-286-8100 to schedule a free initial consultation and get honest, quality representation.
Do You Need a Warren Car Accident Attorney?
Understanding Car Accident Personal Injury Claims in Michigan
Michigan is one of twelve states that have no-fault laws — as opposed to fault liability laws –governing auto accidents. No-fault generally means that, when in an auto accident, the injured party does not need to prove that the other party was at fault. Rather than file a claim against the at-fault party, injured parties file first-party claims with their own insurance company.
Michigan’s no-fault liability law leads many to believe that they do not need a car accident lawyer. They believe that their own auto insurers will protect their best interests and provide maximum compensation. Unfortunately, this is not true. Your auto insurance company is a for-profit entity. It seeks to protect its own interest: profit. A settlement eats into their profit. So, they often try to minimize or avoid a payout.
For example, your auto insurer must pay for reasonably necessary medical care, but they may try to argue that the care you get is not reasonably necessary. If you have not documented the accident and the injury well enough, any gap is wiggle room for the auto insurance company to use and manipulate.
Michigan’s no-fault law does not guarantee just and fair compensation for auto accident victims in Warren. We at Goodman Acker use our 150+ years of combined experience to get maximum compensation. Our success rate is 99%, but we persevere to make it 100%.
No-fault laws in Michigan are surprisingly complex and change relatively often. It is always in your best interests to consult with a Warren car accident lawyer first. Contact us at 248-286-8100 to schedule a no-obligation, free consultation and learn more about your specific auto insurance case.
Why Choose Our Warren Car Accident Lawyers at Goodman Acker?
>We know how painful and challenging it can be to suffer from an unexpected injury from a car accident. It affects not just you, but your children, spouse, and families. We know you just want to get well and stop the physical and emotional pain as much as the financial. As a personal injury law firm, Goodman Acker consistently prove our commitment to legal excellence through unparalleled knowledge of personal injury law and the civil court system in Macomb County and throughout Michigan. Our legacy and reputation depend on our experience and our successes. And that’s why you choose Goodman Acker to represent you or your loved one: because every injured person entitled to compensation deserves strong, consistent representation so that they can recover that compensation.
What sets our car accident lawyers apart from the rest in Warren, Michigan? It’s our standard of excellence, which includes:
- More than 150 years of combined experience
- A 99% success rate for settled cases
- Case results resulting in millions of dollars for our clients and their families
- Client-focused representation that produces strong client testimonials
- Featured regularly in the news with media outlets like Fox 2 News and Local 4 Detroit
- Commitment to and aggressive-yet-ethical, high-performing firm culture
- Availability 24/7 for client emergencies
- Free initial consultations
Our standard of excellence and the quality representation it fosters get noticed by our clients and our peers. We are consistently recognized as top personal injury lawyers by:
- Super Lawyers
- AV Martindale-Hubbell
- The National Trial Lawyers Top 100
This recognition does not come easy, but we continue to receive it because we work diligently to build compelling cases. We fight for our clients when others might retreat.
Understanding Compensation for Car Accident Victims in Warren
Our Warren Car Accident Lawyers Explain What’s at Stake
Car accident victims always wonder about the value of their accident and how much they should settle for. It’s hard to understand what’s at stake when you do not understand no-fault liability laws in Michigan, or the true nature and extent of your injuries and what this means for the quality of your life. Each case is different even when they may appear similar. Keep in mind, too, that compensation for personal injuries sustained from a car accident works differently than personal injuries sustained from other types of accidents, like slips and falls or dog attacks. Here’s a summary of what you need to know about compensation and car crashes in Warren.
Compensation through First-Party Claims
No-fault liability laws for motor vehicle accidents in Michigan aim to simplify the claims process and expedite compensation. First-party claims are mostly filed through the party’s personal injury protection (PIP).
PIP will cover:
- Medical expenses for your lifetime up to your policy’s maximum coverage amount so long as the medical care is reasonable and necessary
- Wage losses for up to three years after the date of the accident
- Replacement services –like housekeeping, meal preparation, lawn maintenance, car maintenance, etc.––for up to three years after the date of the accident
- Attendant care, but with limits––this is care provided in the home to help with daily living activities.
Keep in mind four important points regarding Michigan’s no-fault law:
- Some vehicle owners and motorists no longer must have PIP coverage under the new Michigan no-fault law.
- For most motorists who must have PIP coverage, they can opt for less coverage (previously coverage was unlimited for everyone).
- PIP does not cover property damage or car repairs due to an auto accident.
- PIP does not cover pain and suffering or other non-economic damages.
These points complicate many auto accident cases, making just and fair compensation harder to obtain and also requiring the policyholder to file a third-party claim.
Compensation through Third-Party Claims
Under Michigan’s no-fault policy, reasons to sue the at-fault party are limited; therefore, third-party claims are limited. But they are also increasing under the new no-fault policy.
You can sue the at-fault party when:
- your no-fault PIP medical benefits provide less than “unlimited” no-fault medical coverage; and
- your medical costs exceed your policy’s limit.
So, if you chose the $250,000 per person per accident PIP insurance option, and the sum of your damages equals $260,000. You can sue for $10,000.
You can also sue for things your PIP insurance won’t cover regardless of which policy you chose. For example, PIP does not pay for:
- excess economic damages like loss of earned income
- excess economic damages like future or ongoing medical treatment exceeding three years
- non-economic damages like pain and suffering or mental distress caused by extensive or catastrophic injuries.
You can sue but you must have a valid claim for the damages.
At Goodman Acker, we will thoroughly assess the accident and your injuries and advise you accordingly. We know from experience that our clients make better decisions for themselves and their future when they have all the information clearly laid out for them.
Car Accident FAQs
Our Warren Auto Accident Lawyer Answers Your Questions
Car insurance claims can get frustrating. It doesn’t help that Michigan’s laws regarding auto accidents are extensive, complex, and confusing. Here, we try to answer some of the most common questions we get daily about car accident claims.
There are several things you should do if you’re in a car accident.
- Injury Check. After an accident occurs, check yourself and anyone else in the vehicle for injuries. Next, check on those who may also have been involved in the accident, whether that’s the driver of another vehicle, a pedestrian, or a bicyclist.
- Safety. If you can do so, move your vehicle to a safer location off the road. If you are unable to do so, remain where you are until emergency personnel arrives.
- Call 911. Contact emergency personnel so help arrives at the scene and a report can be created to document the collision.
- Exchange information. You must exchange information (e.g., names, driver’s license, insurance, and license plate numbers) with anyone else involved in the accident.
- Gather evidence. You must memorialize the scene of the accident. Take pictures of the vehicles, any injuries, weather conditions, road conditions, etc. If relevant, obtain contact information from any witnesses.
After the accident, you should request an Application for No-Fault Insurance Benefits from your insurance agent and schedule a consultation with Goodman Acker. Via a free initial consultation, we will make sure you know your rights and all your legal options.
In Michigan, you have one year to file a claim with your insurance company. There are exceptions, but they are limited. It’s best to consult with a personal injury lawyer to understand that statute of limitations and how it applies in your specific case.
If the deadline passes before you file a claim or lawsuit, you will likely not be able to recover anything. A court will dismiss the action if you try to file.
All accidents involving automobiles fall under Michigan’s no-fault law, including truck accidents and motorcycle accidents. In some cases, it can also include auto accidents involving pedestrians or bicyclists. In the latter case, if the injured party does not have a no-fault policy and it was not their fault, they may be able to sue the at-fault party.
According to Michigan’s Traffic Crash Reporting System, car crashes occur for multiple reasons, but some of the most common involve hazardous actions that motorists take, like:
- Stopping too late
- Failing to yield
- Disregarding traffic controls
- Speeding too fast
- Passing improperly
- Using lanes improperly
- Making improper turns
- Driving carelessly or recklessly.
According to the same Michigan Traffic Crash Reporting System, one out of every five auto accidents results in bodily injury. Airbag deployment, the failure of airbag deployment, or the failure to use restraints (like seatbelts, booster seats, or helmets) leads to more injuries and fatalities.
The injuries sustained are dependent on the person and the accident. A wide range of injuries can occur, from slight bruising to life-threatening. Common injuries include:
- Bruises
- Lacerations
- Broken bones or fractures
- Whiplash
- Soft tissue injuries
- Neck and back pain
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
Injuries more likely to pose challenges to a first-party insurance claim are complex, extensive, or delayed injuries. Catastrophic injuries are more likely to shorten a person’s life expectancy and decrease overall quality of life.
The costs are purely dependent on the case. In car accident cases, it really depends on how extensive the damages are.
Also, most personal injury lawyers provide services on a contingency fee basis in Michigan—like we do. Pursuant to Michigan Court Rules Chap 8.121, personal injury lawyers cannot claim fees of more than one-third of the amount recovered. So, it’s to your benefit to hire a Warren personal injury attorney who will work hard to maximize the compensation you receive—like we do for all our clients.
Contact a Trusted Warren Car Accident Lawyer Today
Our team of car accident attorneys in Warren understands the laws and policies surrounding auto collisions in Michigan. We also have a vast history of helping our clients get just and fair compensation. Plus, we are not strangers but your neighbors. Call us at 248-286-8100 to schedule a consultation to get honest answers to your auto accident questions and smart advice on how to best move forward with recovery.
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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