Waterford Car Accidents

Car Accidents Attorney Waterford MI

If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Waterford, Michigan, you may have the right to financial compensation for what you’ve suffered – including your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and property damage. However, insurance companies can make the recovery process challenging, as they make their profits by denying claims instead of paying out settlements. You deserve legal support to help you fight back against their tactics and demand fair compensation for what you’ve suffered. Let Atnip & Associates, PLLC, provide it.

Ready to stand up for justice and accountability? Then contact our firm today for a free initial case evaluation to discuss your legal options with an experienced, compassionate Waterford car accident attorney.

Why Seek Legal Representation in Waterford from Atnip & Associates, PLLC?

After a car crash, you deserve to pursue accountability and justice for what you’ve suffered – and you shouldn’t have to fight for it alone. Hiring experienced legal counsel can give you the best chance of obtaining the financial relief you need. For decades, injured car accident victims have turned to the legal team at Atnip & Associates, PLLC, for help because of our:

Legal experience: Our attorneys have spent more than 85 combined years advocating for the rights and interests of our clients. We’ve developed the knowledge and insight to tackle even the most complex car accident cases.
Dedicated client service: We believe that a successful outcome is about more than just winning your case. Instead, we work tirelessly to make a difference in your life and future. You can expect personal attention and responsive communication throughout your case to ensure you have the support you need to put your life back on track after a devastating car crash.
Stellar reputation: Our award-winning lawyers have worked hard to deliver successful results to our clients, earning our firm the respect of our legal peers and top medical experts. Our tenacious approach enables us to pursue innovative case strategies and legal solutions under even the most difficult circumstances.

Common Causes of Car Accidents in Waterford, Michigan

Many car accidents occur due to drivers’ careless or reckless behavior, such as:

Speeding or driving too fast for conditions
Tailgating/following too closely
Reckless driving, such as excessive speeding or swerving through traffic
Running red lights or stop signs
Illegal or unsafe lane changes, passes, or turns
Not using turn signals or checking mirrors before turning or changing lanes
Distracted driving
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Drowsy/fatigued driving
Not yielding the right of way

Pursuing Compensation Under Michigan’s No-Fault Law

Michigan requires all residents to purchase personal injury protection (PIP) as part of their auto insurance coverage. PIP acts as a form of no-fault insurance, which means you can seek coverage from your car insurance provider regardless of who caused the crash. No-fault insurance claims will cover your lifetime medical expenses for car accident injuries up to your policy’s coverage limit. Michigan policyholders can select unlimited medical coverage or a set dollar limit, with lower limits available to those enrolled in Medicare/Medicaid. PIP also pays for wage losses and replacement services for up to three years after a car accident.

Additionally, you may have the right to file a lawsuit against the driver who caused the crash if you suffered severe injury or permanent disfigurement as a result. Injury compensation available in a car accident lawsuit may include money for:

Car repair expenses or reimbursement of the value of your totaled vehicle
Medical treatment and rehabilitation
Long-term disability care
Ongoing and future losses of wages/income and employment benefits
Pain and suffering
Lost enjoyment or quality of life caused by disabilities or disfigurement

How Do You Prove Liability in a Car Accident Claim?

Car accident claims frequently involve specific kinds of evidence to prove who caused the crash. At Atnip & Associates, PLLC, we know how to thoroughly investigate an accident to obtain valuable evidence, such as:

Police crash reports
Eyewitness statements
Surveillance/traffic camera footage of the crash
Dashcam footage
Drivers’ cell phone records
Accident scene photos/videos, including skid marks on the road, vehicle damage, visual obstructions, and traffic signals/signs
Post-accident car inspections or repair records
Maintenance records

Cases sometimes require reports and testimony from accident reconstruction experts, who can review evidence to determine the events leading to and during a crash to identify what happened and who’s to blame.

What Happens If You Share Some Responsibility for the Accident?

In Michigan, the law allows you to pursue a legal claim against a driver responsible for causing a car accident, even if you share some blame for the crash. However, under the comparative fault law, the court can reduce the compensation awarded to you in a car accident lawsuit verdict in proportion to your percentage of fault for causing the accident.

Furthermore, if your share of fault exceeds that of the other at-fault drivers, you may lose the opportunity to recover compensation for non-economic losses such as pain and suffering. If the other driver or the insurance company tries to shift blame for the accident onto you, get experienced legal representation in Waterford from Atnip & Associates, PLLC, who will push back and stand up for your rights and interests.

What Steps Should You Take to Prepare for Your Car Accident Claims?

Prompt action can help you recover the financial resources you need to treat your injuries and put your life back together. Here’s what you should do:

Report the accident and your injuries to your car insurance provider as soon as possible to preserve coverage. Do not initiate your claim or accept a settlement until you’ve discussed your options with a lawyer.
Follow your physician’s treatment plan and recovery instructions
Obtain copies of your medical records
Request a copy of the police accident report if law enforcement responded to the crash scene.
Keep all bills, invoices, and receipts of expenses you incur because of the accident
Gather your pay stubs or income statements if you need to take time off work to recover from your injuries or if you have to take a light-duty position.

Finally, contact a car accident attorney from Atnip and Associates, PLLC, for a free legal consultation to discuss your options.

How Long Do You Have to File a Personal Injury Claim?

Under Michigan’s statute of limitations, you typically have three years after a crash to file a car accident lawsuit against the driver who hit you. However, the timeline could be shorter if the at-fault party is a government entity. Furthermore, you have one year to notify your car insurance company of your accident injuries to maintain eligibility for PIP coverage. Because you have limited time to pursue compensation claims after a car crash, don’t put off speaking to a car accident attorney about your case.

Contact Atnip & Associates, PLLC, for a Free Consultation

If you’ve been hurt in a car crash in Waterford, Michigan, get the legal help you need to pursue your car accident claims. Contact Atnip & Associates, PLLC, today for a free legal consultation to learn how a car accident lawyer can help you recover compensation for what you’ve suffered.