Motor Vehicle Accidents

Have you been hurt in a motor vehicle accident in Detroit, the Upper Peninsula, or elsewhere in Michigan? If so, you’re likely dealing with painful injuries, expensive medical and repair bills, lost income if you’re unable to work, and other life-altering problems. The good news is that insurance should pay for the harm you’ve suffered, providing you with the money you need to rebuild your life. The bad news is that getting the full amount of compensation you’re owed can be challenging when there’s a tight-fisted insurance company standing in the way, one whose profits depend on paying you as little as possible.

Fortunately, you don’t have to pursue your case alone, because the Detroit law firm of Atnip & Associates, PLLC, is standing by to help. Our award-winning lawyers have more than 85 years of combined experience helping car accident victims get the full and fair compensation they deserve, and we’re ready to put that experience to work on your behalf. We’re ready to take on the insurance companies, fighting hard at the negotiating table and in the courtroom as necessary to demand every cent you’re owed.

You deserve justice. Let us pursue it on your behalf. Contact Atnip & Associates, PLLC, today for your free consultation with a car crash lawyer in Detroit.

Why Choose Atnip & Associates, PLLC?

There are many Detroit auto accident attorneys out there who would be happy to provide the legal representation you need. So why turn to Atnip & Associates, PLLC? Because for others, it might be just another case – but for us, it’s personal. We genuinely care about our clients and are passionate about getting them justice. We will treat you like you’re part of our family, and we’ll fight hard on your behalf, just as we would for any family member. What’s more, we won’t charge any upfront fees for our services. Instead, we collect a fee out of the compensation we recover on your behalf. We know you have it hard enough right now, and the last thing we want to do is add to your burdens.

With law office locations in Rochester and Sanford, we’re well-positioned to handle cases throughout the Detroit metropolitan area and beyond – including the Upper Peninsula. And because our award-winning attorneys have more than 85 years of collective experience to apply to your case, you know that you’re getting a team that’s well-versed in the finer points of personal injury law.

So don’t wait another moment to secure the help you deserve. Contact us today for your free legal consultation with a motor vehicle injury lawyer in Detroit and find out what we can do for you.

Types of Motor Vehicle Cases We Handle

So, what does this information mean practically? If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Michigan, you likely have two paths to compensation. First, you’ll go up against your own insurance provider, seeking to maximize the benefits they pay you for your medical expenses, lost income, and household needs. Second, if you suffered a serious injury, you can sue the driver who hit you to recover compensation not available through your PIP benefits, including pain and suffering. The complexity of this system is why you need the help of a lawyer who understands the relevant laws, has strong negotiating skills, and isn’t afraid of going to court in pursuit of full compensation.

Michigan’s current insurance laws are relatively new, and courts are still reviewing them to ensure they conform to existing state laws. A Detroit car wreck attorney can inform you of the latest developments when you meet with them during a free consultation.

Compensation for Motor Vehicle Accident Victims

Depending on the circumstances of the accident, you could be owed motor vehicle crash compensation for your:

Past and future medical expenses
Property damage
Lost wages, including up to three years of these losses through your own PIP plan
Diminished earning potential
Pain and suffering
Lost quality of life

Our attorneys can help you seek this compensation, whether that means a negotiated settlement or motor vehicle accident damages secured through a verdict at trial.

Michigan’s Claim-Filing Deadlines for Car Accidents

Michigan auto law places three primary deadlines on how long you have to file a claim after suffering a car accident injury. First, you have one year to submit written notice of a covered incident to your insurance provider. Failure to do so could jeopardize your no-fault coverage. Second, if you filed your insurance notice on time, and the insurance company does not agree to pay for a particular accident-related expense, you have one year from the date of accruing that expense to sue them.

Finally, if you are seeking damages not covered by your own no-fault policy, you have three years from the date of the accident to file your lawsuit against the person who caused the accident. If you attempt to file suit after this deadline has passed, the court will likely dismiss your case.

Hurt in a Car Accident in Michigan? Contact Atnip & Associates, PLLC Today

The experienced Detroit auto accident attorneys with Atnip & Associates, PLLC, are prepared to handle a wide range of claims, including those that involve:

If you’ve been hurt in a motor vehicle accident, we want to help you get the money you need to cope with this challenging time.

Understanding Michigan’s No-Fault Laws

Michigan follows a no-fault auto insurance model that pays out first-party benefits after collisions. Under this system, an injured motorist files their initial claim against their own no-fault insurance policy, rather than against the liability policy covering the driver who caused the crash, as is the case in most other states. The purpose of no-fault insurance is to relieve the administrative burden on the courts by limiting the conditions under which injured motorists can sue those at fault for their injuries.

Drivers in Michigan must purchase policies that provide the following benefits:

Personal Injury Protection (PIP)– PIP benefits pay all reasonable and necessary lifetime medical expenses as well as up to three years of lost income and replacement services, like house cleaning, up to the limits of the policy. Policies are available with the following limits: unlimited, $500,000 per person per accident, and $250,000 per person per accident. There are other options with lower limits, but these are available only to people who meet specific conditions.
Property Protection Insurance (PPI)– PPI benefits pay up to $1 million for any property damage a covered vehicle does to other people’s property, like fences, buildings, and legally parked vehicles.
Residual Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability (BI/PD)– Michigan’s no-fault laws prevent motorists from being sued except in specific situations. These include when a motorist causes an accident that seriously injures or kills another person, or when the injured party does not have sufficient insurance of their own to pay for their treatment. BI/PD benefits protect the policyholder in these circumstances, paying settlement or verdict costs on their behalf. The current default BI/PD coverage pays up to $250,000 per person injured or killed in an accident, up to $500,000 for all people injured or killed in an accident, and $10,000 for out-of-state property damage. Policies with lower limits are also available.

Were you or a loved one hurt in a motor vehicle collision in Detroit or elsewhere in Michigan? If so, you deserve compensation for what you’ve suffered, and Atnip & Associates, PLLC, wants to help you demand it. Contact us today for a free consultation with a vehicle collision attorney in Detroit, and we’ll explain your options to you in detail.