Getting the money you need after a car accident can be challenging, especially if you suffered a serious injury. Filing insurance claims can be exhausting, and dealing with insurance agents can be intimidating.
You have enough on your plate caring for yourself or your hurt loved one. Atnip & Associates, PLLC, can make the process of seeking compensation easier for you and your family by shouldering your legal burden on your behalf. We can put 85 years of case experience in Michigan behind your claim. We do the work while you rest and recover.
Complete our online request form or call (248) 599-1607 for a free consultation with our car accident attorney serving Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The Michigan State Police (MSP) reports that in a recent year, traffic accidents in Kent County resulted in 55 deaths and 5,094 injuries. According to the MSP, some of the leading causes of Michigan car accidents include:
In addition, intersections can be some of the most high-risk locations for motor vehicle accidents. Dangerous intersections in Grand Rapids include:
If you suffered injuries in a car accident, truck accident, motorcycle accident, or any other type of auto accident in Grand Rapids or throughout the state, our personal injury lawyers can help. We offer a full range of legal services and can stand by your side through every step of your case.
Michigan is a no-fault insurance state, meaning you must turn to your own insurance policy first for car accident compensation, regardless of who caused the crash. You can only pursue a claim against a negligent driver if you have severe injuries and significant expenses that exceed your personal injury protection (PIP) policy limit.
According to the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS), PIP pays for most medical treatment. It also pays for replacement services and provides wage replacement benefits. PIP also pays death benefits for fatal accidents. PIP does not compensate for pain and suffering and other intangible losses.
If you qualify to step outside the no-fault system, you can seek compensation from a liable driver. In addition to PIP, motorists must have residual bodily liability insurance to pay for collisions they cause. How much liability insurance a driver must carry depends on their policy’s date of issuance.
If your situation entitles you to step outside the no-fault system, you can pursue the following losses after a motor vehicle accident:
Furthermore, if your loved one died in an accident someone else caused, you can pursue a wrongful death claim against that at-fault party. A successful claim could recover money for medical expenses, funeral and burial costs, and loss of the deceased’s financial contributions, services, support, and society.
Every car accident case is different, and various factors specific to your claim could affect your financial recovery, including the extent of your injuries and medical treatment, the length of your recovery and time missed from work, and the effect of your accident on your daily life.
Michigan’s comparative fault law can also influence how much money you receive. Under the law, a plaintiff can seek injury compensation from liable parties proportionate to those parties’ degree of fault. Plaintiffs can also be partially liable for the accident, and any degree of liability assigned to a plaintiff will reduce their award.
For example, if you win $100,000 but are found to be 10 percent responsible for the accident, your compensation would be reduced to $90,000. Insurance adjusters and imposing counsel will often look for reasons to blame victims for an accident in order to reduce their clients’ financial liability.
We can defend you against tactics designed to lessen your claim.
In most motor vehicle accident cases, the liable party is a negligent driver. However, other parties might also share liability or be entirely liable for an accident. For example, a manufacturer may be at fault if the accident involved a defective vehicle or auto part. If poor road maintenance or dangerous road conditions contributed, liability could rest with a government entity. In instances where an at-fault driver was on the job at the time of an accident, a driver’s employer could be financially responsible.
You’ll need considerable evidence to prove that another party is to blame for your injuries and liable for what they’ve cost you. Evidence in a car accident case may include:
Thoroughly investigating a car accident takes a lot of work, and building a solid case can be challenging for anyone without legal experience. If you are also coping with an injury, handling everything yourself can seem impossible. Thankfully, you do not have to act alone.
Our experienced car accident lawyer serving Grand Rapids can focus on your claim so you can focus on your health. Our firm can:
There are deadlines for seeking compensation. According to Michigan law, you have one year to take action to recover PIP benefits through your own policy. Another Michigan law allows three years to file a lawsuit for personal injury or wrongful death. If you do not act before the statute of limitations expires, the court will likely refuse your case, and you will lose your insurance bargaining power if you can no longer sue.
At Atnip & Associates, PLLC, we take your case as seriously as you do. We know your health and financial future are on the line, and we will aggressively fight for you. Everyone deserves quality legal representation, and no one should be taken advantage of by insurance companies.
For a free consultation with a car accident lawyer serving Grand Rapids, call (248) 599-1607 or contact us online today.
