Detroit Car Accident Lawyer

GOODMAN ACKER. GOOD DECISION.

Detroit Car Accident Lawyer by Your Side

When you’re in serious accident, your life changes in an instant. Our Detroit car accident lawyers understand how it affects more parts of your daily life than most people think it would. We’ve helped thousands of clients through this difficult time, and we would like to help you, too. We know how a car accident can affect you and your loved ones: suddenly, you need to negotiate medical care, time away from work and lost income, and new challenges in tasks that were once routine.

Soon after the accident, it’s important to also start thinking about whether you have a legal case. You might feel nervous about speaking to insurance company representatives. You should be. Having dependable legal guidance as early as possible after your accident is essential. Knowing you have an experienced attorney by your side will put your mind at ease so you can focus on healing. Our Detroit car accident lawyers at Goodman Acker have a track record of success when it comes to representing car accident victims.  We are successful in 99% of these cases.  If you’ve been injured in a crash, let us do the legal heavy lifting while you focus on getting better.

Goodman Acker. Good Choice.

Reasons to Choose Our Detroit Car Accident Lawyer Above all Others

There are so many reasons to choose a Detroit car accident attorney at Goodman Acker.   Our legal team is top-notch, and we treat every client like a valued human being.  We hire the best and the brightest lawyers who focus on exceptional client service.  We are proud of the positive testimonials we receive from satisfied clients, and our law firm has achieved outstanding results. 

Our Car Accident Lawyers Have a Proven Record

We’ve won millions for clients injured in car accidents. Ask us about the value of your case.Some car accident cases are complex and require detailed understanding of Michigan laws. The ideal attorney to help you should have experience with a large number of cases. Your car accident lawyer should have the skills to negotiate with insurers or to litigate in court. That’s why your best choice is Goodman Acker. Our Detroit car accident lawyers know Michigan laws inside and out. We also know how to mount a winning strategy, and our track record shows it.

Here are some examples of significant results our car accident attorneys have obtained:

• $15.3 Million in a Wayne County car accident case when a woman was catastrophically injured by an exploding manhole cover
• $2 Million for a victim of a terrible crash involving a truck in Oakland County
• $1.9 Million for a woman who suffered a debilitating back injury in a car accident
• $1.4 Million for the survivor of a terrible wreck when they were T-boned by a truck in an intersection
• $1 Million for a woman seriously injured in a head-on collision while driving her work vehicle in Westland, MI
• $890,000 for a person injured in a multi-vehicle accident in Ann Arbor
• $875,000 for man catastrophically injured by an exploding manhole cover.

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Goodman Acker Is Not Your Ordinary Law Firm

How Our Detroit Car Accident Lawyers Are Different

We care deeply about our clients and their loved ones. When you work with our team, you’ll learn quickly that we are more than just skilled, attentive attorneys. We have compassion for you and understand the upheaval the accident caused in your life and that of your loved ones. Our Detroit car accident lawyers are empowered with legal insight that only comes from experience, and experience is what we have. We focus solely on personal injury law and have won significant car accident cases.

Our winning team has an unparalleled 99% success rate.We have built relationships in the Detroit community and developed extensive resources who can help us in legal battles. From our experience, we know strategies insurance companies may try to employ to minimize or avoid a payout. Our experience with car accident cases also means we are your best choice when you have a complex situation. We are uniquely positioned to take on tough car accident cases, because we have both the talent and the resources to handle them. With a combined 150+ years of experience, we have heard about and seen nearly every type of car accident case.

Damages You Can Win in Your Case

Compensation for Your Car Accident Injuries

When it comes to your accident, we understand that money may be a central concern. You have medical bills, you’re losing pay as your injuries prevent you from working, and all these financial concerns simply pile on stress to an already difficult situation. After all, you’ve been injured and that has changed your life. If your injuries are severe, they may change your life indefinitely. That’s why our Detroit car accident lawyers are so dedicated to fighting for the maximum compensation in your case. Our job is to leverage our experience and knowledge of the law to your benefit. We want your only job to be healing, not worrying.

Understanding Michigan Car Accident Laws

There are some laws that impact the compensation you can receive after your car accident. When another person’s negligence caused your accident, you can get compensation in a legal claim. However, by law, you must first file an insurance claim.

Michigan is a “modified comparative negligence” state, also known as a “comparative fault” state. The comparative fault rule (M.C.L. §600.2959) states that if you are partially at fault for the accident, your compensation will be reduced by the percent of fault that is yours¹. For example, if the total compensation in your case is $100,000 and you are deemed 20% at fault, the amount of compensation you can receive is $80,000. If you are over 50% at fault, you cannot pursue any compensation in a legal case.

Learn more about Michigan laws related to car accidents:

• Understanding Michigan’s No-Fault Law
• How Is Fault Determined in a Car Accident?
• Who Can You Sue for a Car Accident?
• Car Accident Checklist

What Are the Types of Damages in a Car Accident Case?

When you’ve had a serious accident, you’ll have more financial concerns than simply your medical bills. The possible expenses related to an accident vary from case to case. To learn about what types of damages you can expect in yours, talk to our Detroit car accident attorney. Here’s a brief overview to help you understand the three general categories of damages that may apply to your car accident case.

Economic Damages

Economic damages address specific financial costs associated with your car accident that are easy to calculate. They can compensate you for your financial losses and out-of-pocket costs such as:

• Current and future medical expenses, including on-going costs for physical or occupational therapy
• Lost wages
• Loss of future earnings potential
• Property damage.

There are limitations to property damage claims for your car. Claims for damage to a vehicle, above the amount covered by insurance, have a $3,000 limit (M.C.L. §500.3135)².

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages cover losses that aren’t so clear-cut in calculated amounts. Michigan law sets a threshold to pursue these types of damages in a car accident case. They apply only in car accident cases with severe injuries or a fatal accident. State law limits pursuit of non-economic damages to cases where “the injured person has suffered death, serious impairment of body function, or permanent serious disfigurement” (M.C.L. §500.3135).

Non-economic damages compensate for more abstract losses such as:

• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Loss of consortium, in the case of a fatal accident, which is the loss of your loved one’s affections and companionship.

In some states, you can receive punitive damages for particularly egregious or malicious negligence that leads to severe injuries in an auto accident. Punishing a defendant may prevent them from engaging in that same type of dangerous behavior in the future. Unfortunately, Michigan does not allow you to pursue punitive damages.

Want to learn more about damages in your case? Talk to our car accident attorney today to find out. You can reach our team at (248) 286-8100.

What Outcome You Can Expect

How Much Can I Get in a Car Accident Settlement?

After being injured in a crash, you’re probably asking, “How much can I get in a car accident settlement?”  Getting an idea of the amount you can recover is helpful and comforting as you navigate the legal process. Keep in mind that every case is different, and the amount of money you receive will depend on a variety of factors.  These include:

• The severity of your injuries
• The cost of your medical bills and future medical treatment
• The amount of lost wages and any loss of future potential earnings
• The number of defendants
• The amount of property damage.

Our Car Accident Attorneys in Detroit Caution Against These Mistakes

TIPS – What Not to Do After a Car Crash

It’s important to know what things not to do after a wreck so they don’t come back to haunt you later.  Every Detroit car accident attorney will caution you against doing or saying things that will hurt your case and may impact how much compensation you can receive.

1. Avoid conversations with those involved in the accident or who witnessed it. You don’t want to let slip information that may not be accurate. Be careful not to admit any fault. Responsibility for the accident will be determined with a full investigation. When you speak with the police, answer questions succinctly and honestly, but do not over-explain. Resist the temptation to tell a long story about what happened and what led up to the crash.
2. Do not refuse medical attention. In most situations, it is best to allow medical professionals to assess and treat your injuries. Even if you think your injuries are not serious, you should still get checked by a medical provider. Sometimes, injuries can be more obvious with passage of time, such as certain types of brain injuries.
3. Do not post pictures, videos, or comments on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or other social media showing or discussing the crash. Avoid making these social media mistakes. The insurance company may be watching to find evidence that the story you told to their adjusters, or the police, differs from your comments on social.

Goodman Acker. Good Decision.

What Our Detroit Car Accident Attorneys Will Do for You

When you choose to work with our car accident lawyers at Goodman Acker, you’ve made the right decision. Our attorneys are deeply committed to getting the justice you deserve, and we will not rest until we achieve the best outcome possible.  We will …

• Answer all your questions, including who is responsible for your medical
  bills and whether or not you need an attorney to represent you.
• Represent you under a contingency fee agreement, which means there are
  no costs or fees unless we win a settlement or recovery for you.
• Charge no upfront fees, so you never have to worry about picking up the
  phone and being billed when you ask questions or want to learn whether you have a case.
• Handle your no-fault insurance claim and help you obtain the benefits you
  deserve, such as reimbursement for medical bills and lost wages, attendant
  care services, and more.
• Work with the insurance adjuster so you don’t have to and can concentrate
  on your recovery.
• Obtain all necessary evidence to help you win your case, including police
  reports, medical records, witness statements, and more.
• Guarantee first-hand, personal attention so you achieve the best possible settlement for your case.

Choosing the right Detroit car accident lawyer can make or break your case.  You want a legal team that is skilled and experienced and a law firm that is large enough to commit resources to aggressively represent you.  Goodman Acker has helped thousands of Detroit auto accident victims get the justice they deserve and win the maximum settlement for their injuries.  We can help you, too. Call at (248) 286-8100 to speak with us today.

Proving Negligence in a Detroit Car Accident Case

Rely on the strength of our experience and success in car accident cases.To develop a strong legal case, our attorneys will need to prove negligence occurred. Our car accident lawyer will ask for your version of what happened in the accident. We will then begin to examine the available evidence and conduct additional research. Based on the facts and the injuries you sustained, we can estimate whether you have a strong case. Our research will also inform the amount of a car accident settlement we can pursue. Or, if the settlement offer by the insurance company is too low, we will discuss taking your car accident case to court.

Car accident cases can be complex and it’s important to prove who holds what portion of fault. At the core of your case will be the need to prove that the other driver, or another party, was negligent and that their negligence caused the accident. Our Detroit car accident attorney will work meticulously to build your case around these four elements:

• Duty of care: The other driver owed you a duty to exercise reasonable care and caution while driving. For example, a reasonable person would stop at a red light.
• Breach of duty: The driver was not sufficiently careful and thus did not uphold their duty to behave as a reasonable person would. Failing to stop for a red light is a breach of a duty of care.
• Breach of duty caused injury: The next step is to prove your injury happened because the driver was not as careful as a reasonable person should have been. In keeping with the same example, a person suffered injuries when a driver running a red light T-boned their car.
• Show the breach of duty caused damages: The last component of building your car accident case will be showing that the injuries you suffered resulted in financial damages for you.

We always build an exceptionally strong case before we proceed to the negotiations with an insurer for your settlement amount. That way, when we seek your car accident settlement, we can obtain the best possible compensation. If the insurer doesn’t provide a reasonable amount, we’ll discuss your next options. If we need to take your case to court, you’ll find our Detroit team of car accident lawyers are fierce litigators.

Our Detroit Car Accident Attorney Answers Client Questions

FAQs about Car Accidents

A lot of our clients ask our Detroit car accident lawyers the same questions.  It is crucial to understand Michigan accident laws and how they affect your case. To better prepare you for your initial consultation, following are answers to some commonly asked questions.

These are just a few of the more common questions, but we expect that you will have more. Contact us at (248) 286-8100 to discuss your case and our car accident attorney can address your questions and concerns in your free consultation.

Goodman Acker. Fighting the Good Fight.

Put 150+ Years of Combined Experience on Your Side

For more than 150 years, our Detroit car accident lawyers at Goodman Acker P.C. have been dedicated to helping crash victims recover compensation for their injuries and get back on their feet. We understand that you’ve been through a traumatic event, and it can be life-altering for both you and your family.  Our legal team is compassionate and understanding, and we’ll walk beside you throughout the legal process. 

Our car accident attorneys in Detroit will fight hard to get the compensation you deserve.  To find out more about how we can help, call us for your free initial consultation at (248) 286-8100.

Sources

¹  Michigan Compiled Laws 600.2959. Comparative fault; reduced damages. (M.C.L. §600.2959). http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(oftojrotudaymamkxhfknko4))/mileg.aspx?page=getobject&objectname=mcl-600-2959

²  Michigan Compiled Laws 500.3135. Tort liability for noneconomic loss; exceptions; cause of action for damages; “serious impairment of body function” defined. (M.C.L. §500.3135).  https://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(x2i5n2s5og4jdahuhkljskml))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=mcl-500-3135

³  Michigan Compiled Laws. 257.622. Report of accidents resulting in death, personal injury, or property damage; forms; analysis; use; retention.  (M.C.L.  §257.622)  https://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(kbfxvul3q24an34pcqrg3zv3))/mileg.aspx?page=GetObject&objectname=mcl-257-622

⁴  State of Michigan. “Auto Insurance.” https://www.michigan.gov/autoinsurance

⁵  Michigan Compiled Laws. 600.5805 Injuries to persons or property; period of limitations; “adjudication,” “criminal sexual conduct,” and “dating relationship” defined.  (M.C.L.  §600.5805)   https://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(ugeh0lh5k1dgxxuleynmt43w))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=mcl-600-5805&highlight=pain%20AND%20suffering

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.