The trauma of your motor vehicle accident could seep into virtually every element of your life. Between extreme emotional distress, exorbitant monetary losses, and debilitating physical injuries, moving forward from this experience can seem next to impossible. But with the right Royal Oak car accident lawyer on your side, the claims process does not need to be stressful or anxiety-inducing.
When you have White Law PLLC on your side, you can rest easier. We have successfully recovered over $1.4 billion in compensation and have represented over 10,000 injury victims across the nation.
Schedule your free consultation with a top-rated Royal Oak personal injury lawyer at our firm today and find out more about whether you have grounds for legal action and who should be sued for your damages.
How to Tell Whether Your Injuries Are Serious Enough
You may not be able to tell whether your injuries are serious enough to pursue a car accident claim. Your Royal Oak car accident lawyer can take a closer look on your behalf. In the meantime, here are a few questions you can ask yourself while you wait for your free consultation:
- Have your injuries had a significant impact on your life?
- Are you dealing with considerable non-economic damages?
- Is someone responsible for causing the collision?
- Could someone else be responsible for causing the collision?
- Do you know how to deal with the insurance company?
- Do you know how the insurance claim process works?
- Do you understand how to pursue a personal injury lawsuit?
- Do you know when it is necessary to file a personal injury lawsuit versus an insurance claim?
Generally, as long as someone else is liable for the collision, you can demand they be held accountable. The car accident claims process generally starts when you file a claim with your insurance company since Michigan is a no-fault car accident state, according to the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services. When in doubt, always consult a Royal Oak car accident attorney from White Law PLLC to find out whether you have grounds for legal action and the top mistakes to avoid when filing an auto accident claim.
Your Fight Is Our Fight
Royal Oak Car Accident FAQ
What Are Non-Economic Damages?
Non-economic damages refer to the losses you have experienced that do not have a set financial value. Because they are intangible and their value is subjective, there is no one specific amount of compensation that could be awarded for non-economic damages. Multiple types of losses may be categorized as non-economic damages, including:
- Emotional distress
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent disability
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement and skin scars
- Inconvenience and embarrassment
- Damage to your reputation
What Are the Auto Insurance Requirements in Michigan?
Michigan is a no-fault insurance state, according to MCL §500.3101. This means in addition to bodily injury and property damage, also referred to as residual liability insurance (BI/PD) coverage and property protection insurance (PPI) coverage, you will also be expected to carry personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. The minimum coverage amounts as outlined by the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services as described in the statute linked above include:
- $50,000 per person in bodily injury liability coverage
- $100,000 per accident in bodily injury liability coverage
- $10,000 in property protection insurance cover
- $1,000,000 in personal injury protection coverage
You may also be able to purchase uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. It may be in your best interest to consider adding comprehensive, collision, gap insurance, and other types of coverage that can help protect you. This is because you will be dealing with your insurance company after the accident, and your policy coverage types and amounts will determine how much compensation you recover from your insurance settlement. Learn more about the 10 tricks auto insurance adjusters use to decrease settlements before getting started.
How Long Do We Have to File a Royal Oak Car Accident Lawsuit?
Your car accident lawyer in Royal Oak must file your claim before the statute of limitations runs out. You do not have an unlimited amount of time to file your lawsuit. In fact, if your lawsuit is not filed within two years of the accident date, you could lose your opportunity to bring your case to trial.
You should not wait until the last minute to get legal help, either. We need as much time as possible to build a powerful claim against the liable party. The sooner we get started, the greater our chances of recovering time-sensitive evidence, such as traffic cam footage of the collision and witness testimony.
What Are Punitive Damages?
Punitive damages are a type of award issued when the judge presiding over your case finds it appropriate to punish the individual or entity who caused your collision. Punitive damages are not awarded lightly. In fact, punitive relief is only ordered when the defendant’s conduct is considered extreme negligence or malicious per MCL §445.911.
For example, if you were hit by an inexperienced driver, punitive damages may not be appropriate. However, if you were struck by someone who was distracted driving and they had multiple infractions for distracted driving on their driving record, punitive damages may be more appropriate, especially if someone was injured or killed in the accident. We will carefully review the details of your case and keep you informed if we believe punitive damages could be possible in your motor vehicle accident case.
What Is Modified Comparative Negligence?
Modified comparative negligence is the legal statute in Michigan that determines how shared fault claims will be handled. Under MCL §600.2959, the state allows injury victims to share up to 50% of the liability for the collision. If your portion of fault is greater than this limit, you will not be able to move forward with your claim, but if your portion of liability is less than the threshold, you can receive a settlement.
But it is not quite that simple. Expect your settlement to reflect a comparative negligence deduction. This means your percentage of blame will be taken out of your award.
We’re not just lawyers. We’re passionate advocates who will ensure that your voice is heard and your rights are protected.
Call a Leading Car Accident Lawyer in Royal Oak, MI For Help Today
You will likely remember the devastation of this motor vehicle accident for the rest of your life. Whether that is because you are dealing with catastrophic injuries or an overwhelming amount of financial losses, you should not be forced to bear the burden alone. When you turn to a dedicated car accident attorney in Royal Oak, MI from White Law PLLC, You have an opportunity to take back control of your future.
Fight for the just compensation you are entitled to with our zealous legal advocates by your side. White Law PLLC offers 100% free consultations to injury victims and car accident survivors throughout Royal Oak and neighboring communities. Claim yours when you fill out our quick contact form or call our office to get started on your personal injury lawsuit and insurance claims as soon as today.
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