Personal Injury Attorneys Serving Westland Residents

Personal Injury Lawyers in Westland, MI

With a 99% Success Rate at Winning Cases, Your Success is Our Success

Some people hesitate to hire a personal injury lawyer because they believe that insurance companies will do what is right for their policyholders or claimants. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Insurance companies are businesses, and their priority is to make money, not to pay out claims. They may try to undervalue your claim or drag out the claims process to avoid paying you the full amount you deserve. The insurance company does not work for you – we work for you – and our work produces a 99 percent success rate at winning cases.

Only a committed Personal Injury Lawyer in Westland, MI, will fight for your rights and ensure that you receive the compensation you need and deserve. Contact Goodman Acker, PC today to schedule a free consultation and learn how our Westland personal injury attorneys can help.

Personal Injury Claims Versus Insurance Claims in Westland

Our Personal Injury Lawyers in Westland, MI, Are Uniquely Qualified to Represent You

A personal injury is an injury to the body, mind, or emotions. When a physical injury or emotional distress is caused by another’s negligence, the negligent person or entity can be held liable for the costs of medical treatment, lost wages, and pain and suffering, among other things. For example, if a doctor negligently fails to diagnose a disease and the patient dies, the doctor could be held liable for personal injury.

When it comes to seeking compensation for an injury, many people wonder whether it is better to file a personal injury claim in court or only file an insurance claim with an insurance carrier. Most personal injury victims will file an insurance claim first, but if a fair settlement is not reached, the next step is to file a complaint in civil court. This is also known as filing a lawsuit or suing for damages.

The person filing the lawsuit is referred to as the plaintiff, and the negligent party who caused the accident is referred to as the defendant. The term tortfeasor can also be used in demands for payment or other legal documents.

The best course of action will depend on the individual situation. For personal injury claims that are taken to court, a judge or jury will determine how much money the plaintiff should receive. This process can be time-consuming and expensive, but it offers the potential for a larger settlement. Insurance claims, on the other hand, are handled entirely by the insurance company.

The insurance company will investigate the claim and then make a decision about how much money to award the injured victim. This process is generally quicker than taking a personal injury case to court, but it also typically results in a smaller payout.

Ultimately, the decision of whether to file a personal injury claim or an insurance claim will come down to a careful weighing of the benefits. A Westland personal injury attorney from Goodman Acker is uniquely qualified to guide you on your journey of recovery and compensation.

Why Hire a Westland Personal Injury Lawyer?

We Are Known for What We Know, and How We Know to Help

1. Nationally recognized success

• Top 100 Personal Injury Lawyers, 2019, The National Trial Lawyers
• Newsgroups, like FOX 17, feature our law firm frequently because we are trusted personal injury lawyers in Westland, MI, and our surrounding communities.
• American Patriot Award (Michigan Veteran’s Foundation)
• Former and current clients send us heartfelt thanks for helping them. We’ve posted our clients’ testimonials to let people know how our work has impacted their lives.
• AV Preeminent™ Rating (Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review)
• We are available 24/7 for client emergencies, which is just another reason why we are trusted and respected in Westland and throughout Michigan.
• Best Client Satisfaction, 2015 (American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys)
• Our great reputation is also partly based on the millions of dollars we have recovered for our clients.
• Top 1% of Attorneys, 2019, National Association of Distinguished Counsel
• Goodman Acker, PC has won many awards and recognitions such as being listed as Super Lawyers™ and being recognized as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in the country.
• Leaders in Law, 2015, Michigan Trial Lawyers Association

2. We make representation affordable

If you’ve been injured in any kind of an accident, you know how stressful and overwhelming the aftermath can be. You’re trying to recover from your injuries, deal with the repairs or replacement of your car, and navigate the insurance claims process. The last thing you need is the added stress of worrying about whether you can afford to hire an attorney.

That’s why we work on a contingency basis at Goodman Acker. That means you don’t have to pay us unless we win your case. We understand that being in a personal injury accident is traumatic enough, so we want to make the process of hiring a Westland personal injury attorney as easy and stress-free as possible.

3. You can have the best representation

We believe that every client deserves the best possible representation. We’re not afraid to take on difficult cases, and we never give up until we get results. We will do everything in our power to make sure that you get the outcome you deserve. If you’re looking for a personal injury lawyer in Westland, MI, who will fight for you and get you the maximum settlement, we’re the firm for you. We have a proven track record of success in helping our clients get the compensation they deserve.

Frequent Questions for Our Westland Personal Injury Lawyers

How do you know the insurance company’s offer is too low?

If your insurance carrier has issued an initial settlement offer, there’s a good chance that the offer is far less than you’re actually owed. Insurance companies often make lowball offers as a standard practice, knowing full well that the initial offer is really only a fraction of what an injured person is entitled to.

Don’t be fooled by an insurance company’s lowball offer. Instead, consult with an attorney to negotiate a fair settlement that fully compensates you for your losses. With the help of an experienced Westland personal injury lawyer, you can get the settlement you deserve.

How long do you have to file a personal injury claim in Westland, MI?

The statute of limitations is the amount of time you have to file a claim after sustaining an injury. For example, in Michigan, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is three years. This means that if you are injured in an accident, you have three years to file a claim in court. If you do not file within this timeframe, you will likely be barred from doing so. However, the following are some exceptions to this rule:

• The injured victim was considered to be insane (not able to understand their rights) at the time of the accident;
• The injured victim was under the age of 18 at the time of the accident; or
• The liable party/defendant has left the state and cannot be reasonably served with a lawsuit.

For medical malpractice cases, however, Michigan law sets a two-year limit. Our experienced personal injury lawyers in Westland, MI, will help make sure you file your claim in a timely manner.

How does Michigan’s no-fault law impact my personal injury claim?

In July of 2020, the State of Michigan put into place a new auto insurance policy, also known as Michigan’s no-fault law. 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.

Michigan’s no-fault law is designed to minimize the legal disputes that can occur after a car accident. Under this law, each driver’s own insurance company pays for their medical expenses and lost wages, regardless of who was at fault for the accident. This can simplify the claims process, as drivers do not need to prove that the other driver was at fault in order to receive benefits.

However, there are some situations where a driver can file a personal injury claim against the other driver. These include cases of serious injury, death, or property damage.

Can I file a personal injury claim for my accident?

Any time you are injured due to the negligence of another person, you may be able to file a personal injury claim. Examples of the types of personal injury accidents include:

• Car accidents
• Truck accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Bus accidents
• Premises liability
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Wrongful death
• Bicycle accidents
• Birth injuries
• Pedestrian accidents
• Dog bite injuries
• Slip and fall accidents
• Nursing home abuse
• Products liability
• Traumatic brain injuries

A Westland personal injury lawyer from Goodman Acker, PC will be able to review the details of your accident and advise you on how to proceed on your claim for damages. We can help you to file the necessary paperwork and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf. In many cases, it is possible to settle a personal injury claim without going to court. However, if the insurance company is unwilling to offer a fair settlement, your lawyer may recommend taking the case to trial.

Local Attorneys Helping our Westland Community

We Are Westland Personal Injury Lawyers, But We Are Also Your Neighbors

The whole team at Goodman Acker, PC is proud to be a part of the Westland and surrounding communities. We understand the importance of giving back, and we are committed to helping those in need.

Along with providing legal services to our clients, we also work with local organizations to provide assistance to those who might not otherwise have access to it. We believe that everyone deserves a fair chance, and we are dedicated to making sure that our community has the resources it needs to thrive.

If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, we encourage you to reach out to us. We are here to help, and we are always happy to lend a hand.

Community Service

We’re grateful to be able to participate in community service. From helping renovate community centers to collecting water and other supplies for Westland to sponsoring events and conferences throughout Detroit, our team regularly participates in philanthropic efforts. We believe that being active community members is just as important as working hard for our clients.

Public Legal Advice

Goodman Acker, PC is privileged to be one of the leading sources of public legal advice in Michigan. You may be familiar with our partnership with news anchor Diana Lewis on WXYZ Channel 7 or WMYD Channel 20 to bring you the show, Good Decision. With the legendary Ms. Lewis, we’ve educated locals on their rights after accidents as well as the best way to approach insurance adjusters. Our team members and noteworthy cases have also been featured on Fox 2 Detroit, The Detroit News, and Local 4 Detroit.

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Personal Injury Attorney in Westland

A 99 percent success rate means that the personal injury lawyers in Westland from Goodman Acker, PC have a history of winning most of the cases they take on, which gives their clients a better chance of getting a favorable outcome in their cases.

Working with a Westland personal injury attorney also means that you don’t have to go through the legal process alone, because we know that dealing with unfair insurance companies and trying to navigate the legal system on your own can be complicated and frustrating.

We are happy to extend a helping hand to Westland injury victims and offer a complimentary case review, face to face, with one of our Westland personal injury attorneys. We will discuss the details of your case in greater depth and answer all of your questions.

To take advantage of this opportunity, contact us by calling our office at (248) 306-8729 or by using our online contact form. Our friendly team is eager to get started on your case so you can focus on what’s most important — healing and moving on with your life.

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.