Did you know that the average driver gets into a car wreck about three times in their life? It’s a roll of the dice if those accidents are a tiny bump in a parking lot or a life-altering crash with catastrophic injuries. If it’s the latter, you’ll need the help of a car accident attorney in Wyoming, MI, to get compensation.
If you live in Wyoming, MI, and you’ve been in a car wreck, contact White Law PLLC, to get legal advice and personal injury representation. Our car wreck lawyers can help you navigate Michigan’s no-fault system and help you pursue fault claims if your injuries are severe.
Do I Need a Lawyer in a No-Fault State?
No, but you lose several advantages if you don’t. Michigan’s no-fault system means that you go through your own insurance to get compensation after a car accident. Navigating this system on your own is challenging and could leave you with a lower settlement than you deserve.
By working with a car accident lawyer in Wyoming, MI, you can get guidance on how to maximize your claim with your insurer. There may be damages you don’t know about or know how to calculate, like future medical bills.
If your injuries are permanent, you can sue the other driver for the damages you’ve suffered. To do this, you will need the help of an auto accident lawyer to handle the negotiations with the other insurance company and potentially take your case to trial to get your full compensation.
Your Fight Is Our Fight
What Does Michigan’s No-Fault Insurance Cover?
The insurance laws in Michigan are complex, and you may not know what’s covered and what’s not, especially after the changes in 2020. Here is a brief overview of what’s covered.
Injuries to You
Your PIP coverage used to be unlimited, but drivers can now opt for lower coverage amounts. Drivers with qualified health insurance coverage or Medicare will have access to even lower coverage amounts or even no coverage. These reductions make insurance cheaper but less effective. The expectation is that health insurance will shoulder the burden of costs.
We encourage you to keep the unlimited coverage because you’ll be covered by the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA) if your crash-related medical expenses go beyond $600,000 (as of October 2022). You will have to pay into that system, but it’s a boon that car accident victims in many other states don’t have.
If you exceed your PIP benefits but do not meet the MCCA threshold, or you didn’t purchase unlimited coverage, you can sue for payment of your excess medical bills. If you have no insurance and must use the Michigan Assigned Claims Plain, you’ll have a cap of $250,000 for medical benefits.
Injuries to Other People
Bodily injury liability covers you if another driver gets permanent injuries and sues you. The default amounts are $250,000 for one person or $500,000 per accident. However, purchasers can choose to get lower limits.
Damage to People’s Property
This is liability coverage for damaging other people’s property. It’s usually applied to fixed structures and parked cars, not cars in motion. That’s covered by the “mini-tort” coverage. The minimum coverage amount is $1 million by law.
Damage to Property Outside the State
Property damage coverage protects you if you cause damage to a vehicle outside of the state of Michigan. This has a minimum of $10,000 in coverage. If you travel out of state often, we recommend raising this limit so that your policy can fully cover the damage to another person’s vehicle.
There are also additional coverages you can purchase, like limited property damage coverage for small accidents. This is used to pay vehicle damage costs or deductibles for collision coverage when you are at fault. It’s an alternative to broad collision coverage and can cover gaps in coverage if your repairs are more expensive than your coverage.
We know how to get our clients the results they need in the toughest legal arenas.
What About Non-Economic Damages?
No-fault insurance does not cover non-economic damages like pain and suffering, disfigurement, or loss of consortium. If you wish to claim these damages, first, you’ll need to prove that your injuries meet a particular threshold, usually some form of permanent damage or sufficient interruption to your quality of life.
If this happens, you can work with our car accident attorneys to see non-economic damages through a third-party liability lawsuit. A lawyer’s help is indispensable to the success of your lawsuit. If you feel your injuries qualify, call us, and we can fight on your behalf for non-economic damages.
We understand that you may be going through a difficult situation and we are ready to help however we can.
Work With a Car Accident Attorney in Wyoming, MI
As you’ve just read, it’s tough to know which parts of your policy apply and when. If you’re not careful when you make your claim, you could lose access to compensation you could have been owed. Once you accept a settlement, you cannot get more money.
Make sure you get what you’re owed by working with our car accident lawyers in Wyoming, MI. White Law PLLC has helped over 30,000 clients get compensation in personal injury matters. See how we can help you in a free consultation by contacting our law firm today.
We’re Experienced. We Care.
We Exceed Client Expectations.
