Michigan Car Accident Lawyer

There is no state requirement that states you have to work with a personal injury attorney after an accident in Michigan. However, if you are seeking financial recovery from your insurance company, suffered catastrophic injuries, or if the accident resulted in wrongful death, it's in your best interest to do so.

Many accident victims work with auto accident attorneys so they can focus on their health and rehabilitation while their accident lawyer pursues legal action.

Fortunately, you can hire an experienced attorney at any time throughout the process of filing a personal injury claim.

It's important to point out that even a qualified attorney cannot guarantee you a specific outcome for your case. Still, they will do their due diligence and investigate the crash scene, gather evidence, and negotiate with insurance adjusters on your behalf.

This can go a long way in settling your accident injury claim while you focus on recovering from your accident injuries.

Michigan is a no-fault state when it comes to auto collisions. The term "no-fault" accident refers to a situation in which both parties involved in a car accident are entitled to compensation from their insurance companies, regardless of who caused the accident.

Particularly, if you are injured in an automobile accident protected under Michigan's no-fault insurance legislation, you will seek benefits from your own auto insurance carrier for your recuperation. Notably, those benefits will cover your accident-related medical expenses and lost wages in the event that your injuries prevent you from returning to work.

Michigan no-fault law is complicated because of diverse auto insurance coverage, workers' compensation, and tough personal injury threshold statutes. If you are involved in a Michigan no-fault accident, you should consult with a skilled car accident attorney.

Obtaining assistance does not require you to file an accident lawsuit against the driver who caused your collision unless:

• your damages are more than what your insurance will cover;
• it is a catastrophic loss;
• there is a wrongful death claim to be made. 

Personal Injury Protection Coverage (PIP) – For the past 40+ years, the Michigan No-Fault insurance law has required drivers to purchase "unlimited" PIP medical benefits that would cover any and all car accident-related medical care and treatment for as long as it was "reasonably necessary" for the injured person's care, recovery, or rehabilitation. After July 1, 2020, under the new law, drivers must choose whether to continue with "unlimited" coverage or cap their coverage at $50,000, $250,000, or $500,000.

Opt-Out – Drivers on Medicare have the option now of opting out of PIP medical benefits coverage entirely. The goal of this change is for these drivers to seek medical coverage through Medicare for injuries sustained in a car accident.

Medicare – Hospitals, clinics, doctors, and other medical providers will be required to adjust their charges for treatment, medical care, and medical services to the new Medicare-based fee schedule, a percentage of what is payable under Medicare.

Home Care – Auto insurance companies will not be obligated to pay for more than 56 hours per week of in-home attendant care under the Michigan No-Fault insurance law.

Bodily Injury Liability Coverage – Drivers must have bodily injury liability insurance "not less than $250,000 because of bodily injury or death of one person in an accident" and "not less than $500,000 because of bodily injury to or death of two or more accident victims". The statute also states that a driver "may choose to purchase lower limits" of $50,000 and $100,000.

Mini Tort – The maximum mini tort recovery amount for car accidents recently increased from $1,000 to $3,000. In Michigan, a mini-tort claim is an auto accident victim's right to recover accident compensation for vehicle damage from the at-fault driver – either through the negligent driver's auto insurance company or from the driver personally.

Qualified Health Coverage – Drivers and/or their family members may need health insurance coverage that qualifies as "qualified health coverage" to select specific coverage options.

"Excess" Medical Bills – Under Michigan's no-fault insurance law, drivers whose accident-related medical expenses exceed the relevant PIP medical benefits coverage level in the auto insurance policy through which they have made their claim can sue the at-fault driver in a third-party tort lawsuit for payment of their current and future "excess" medical bills.

Michigan Assigned Claims Plan – Any auto accident victim claiming Michigan No-Fault insurance benefits through the Michigan Assigned Claim Plan will have their medical benefits capped at $250,000. This plan was designed to appoint car insurance companies to provide benefits to victims who otherwise have no source of insurance coverage.

Catastrophic Claims – The Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA) will cover medical costs of car accident victims with catastrophic injuries only if "unlimited" was the selected coverage level in the auto insurance policy. The MCCA, on the other hand, will remain liable for catastrophic injury benefits payable under policies issued or renewed before July 2, 2020.

Most car accident attorneys charge for their services on a contingency fee basis.

An accident lawyer will take a percentage of your final settlement instead of the hourly fee many firms charge in other types of cases, meaning your legal representation will only get paid if you are awarded financial recovery.

Your final auto accident settlement will also include the following types of economic and non-economic damages:

• Medical expenses
• Cost of vehicle damage
• Other property damages
• Possible punitive damages
• Non-economic damages such as compensation for loss of income, pain and suffering, and emotional distress 

There are several things you need to do immediately after a car accident. What you do after your accident will directly affect your auto accident claim.

Get to Safety: If your car is creating a hazard for other motorists, move it to the side of the road if you're able to. If you can't, leave it where it is and get yourself to safety on a sidewalk or road shoulder.

Call 911: Whether you've been in a minor fender-bender or a major collision, you should always call the police. Responding officers will fill out an accident report and document the scene.

Collect Evidence: While you wait for the police to arrive at the accident scene, you can exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver.

Here is the most essential information to collect after an accident:

• Name and contact details of the other driver
• Witness statements
• Insurance company and policy number
• License plate number
• Driver's license number
• Vehicle information such as make and model

Document the Accident Scene: Take accident scene photographs of vehicle damage, accident injuries, property damage, and any other accident-related damages.

Seek Medical Treatment: Even if you don't need immediate medical care, you should always see a doctor after an accident.

Some auto accident injuries have delayed symptoms, such as whiplash, but you should still seek treatment right away. Having your injuries documented for your medical records soon after your accident will help your accident lawyer get you monetary compensation in your auto accident claim.

Contact a Michigan Injury Lawyer: There is a time limit of 3 years, known as a statute of limitations, to file your accident claim in Michigan. This three-year statute of limitations starts the day of your accident.

To get the most out of your accident claim and to make sure the at-fault party is held accountable, you need to speak with a licensed auto accident lawyer. Accident law firms specialize in personal injury claims and are well-versed in car accident law.

If you need the help of an experienced car accident lawyer, contact Helping the Hurt.

We partner with Michigan auto accident attorneys skilled in handling auto injury claims while assisting the accident victim in getting a fair accident settlement from the insurance company.

Our car accident attorneys have a long history of helping all types of injury victims take action.

Our experienced lawyers will help you recover the financial compensation you deserve no matter what you're going through after your accident. We are on your side throughout the entire personal injury process.

Our legal team will work tirelessly to achieve the best possible outcome and fair compensation to cover unexpected expenses.

Contact Helping the Hurt today for a free legal consultation with a knowledgeable accident attorney.

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