No one wants to get into a car crash, but sometimes it just happens. Many people walk away from car crashes with nothing but bruises and scrapes. Others are not so lucky. Any major collision creates the risk of a potentially serious head injury. It only takes moderate force in a crash to generate a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Maybe you struck your head against the window. Perhaps you hit it on the steering wheel. It’s even possible that you got shaken really badly in the collision.
Any of these scenarios could result in a traumatic brain injury, which could leave you with substantial medical bills and an inability to continue working. If you suffered a TBI in a crash, you need to familiarize yourself with your rights under Michigan’s no-fault insurance laws.
No-fault insurance protects you from risk related to uninsured drivers
In many states, people who get injured by negligent drivers are at the mercy of the insurance company that covers the other driver. Sadly, the kind of people who engage in dangerous driving practices, such as impaired driving or distracted driving, may also fail to secure adequate vehicle insurance.
That can leave the victims of a crash without adequate compensation from an insurance policy. Even if there is an insurance policy that covers the other driver, many states allow drivers to have very small maximum coverage limits for both bodily injury and property damage.
In Michigan, however, there are better protections in place. Drivers must obtain no-fault insurance policies. These policies provide protection for the person driving and anyone else in their vehicle. Regardless of who causes the crash, each driver’s policy will cover their injuries, their property damage losses, and the injuries and losses of passengers.
Make sure you understand your rights before you settle
Many insurance companies are quick to offer mediocre settlements to victims of brain injuries. People with TBIs may jump at an initial offer, because they are out of work and have steadily accruing medical bills. Taking a low settlement offer can be a mistake with long-lasting consequences.
After all, a TBI can be permanently debilitating. It can change everything from your memory to your personality. It could also leave you unable to continue working in your chosen profession.
You need to consider all of these financial expenses and losses when reviewing a settlement proposal from an insurance company. Chances are good that the first settlement offer will be low. You should carefully evaluate any insurance offer after a crash.
You deserve compensation after a TBI from a crash
If the offer doesn’t adequately cover the expenses related to your crash and the TBI that resulted, you may need to consider taking further action. You can politely decline the initial settlement proposal and look into other options for compensation.
In some cases, you may need to negotiate with your insurance company. In others, you may have the right to seek compensation via a personal injury lawsuit against the other driver. How you proceed will depend on the insurance policy you have and the details of your accident.
