Getting injured unexpectedly can put your life to a halt, but when someone else is the reason for your pain, it can be even more devastating. This can lead to financial difficulties, a long time commitment, and overwhelming emotions. But it doesn’t have to be when you have an attorney by your side.
A personal injury lawyer in Midland, MI, can help you know if you have a valid personal injury case. White Law PLLC is dedicated to protecting your rights under the law and helping you recover all the compensation that you qualify for.
The Amount of Time You Have to File a Personal Injury Claim
When you suffer an injury as a result of another person’s negligence, you only have so much time. In Michigan, you have three years to file your personal injury claim. You should file as soon as you can to meet the deadline.
The statute of limitations under Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5805 is strict, but there are some situations where you may have more or less time.
To find out if this applies to you, you can speak to one of our attorneys. They can tell you exactly how much time you have. If you don’t file your claim on time, you will not be able to collect any type of compensation or file another personal injury claim.
This is why it’s so important to get in touch with a lawyer soon after your accident.
Your Fight Is Our Fight
How Negligence Is Established in a Personal Injury Case
To establish negligence in a personal injury case, four elements must be present. The elements are:
Duty of Care
You must prove that the party that harmed you had an obligation to exercise a reasonable amount of caution to avoid causing harm to others. It also means that it’s logical that the negligent party should have been cautious.
For example, if you suffered injuries in a car accident because the other driver ran a stop sign. The driver should have been following the laws of the road because that is the logical thing to do.
Breach of Duty
The second element you must prove is that the negligent party broke the duty of care by participating in the negligent action. This usually means that the at-fault party knew what was expected of them but chose to disregard it anyway.
Continuing with the example of another person running a stop sign, the driver broke the duty of care by not following the rules of the road. By doing so, they endangered themselves and other drivers.
Proof of Injury
To qualify as negligence, there must be proof that the negligent party’s actions are the direct result of your injuries. To do so, you can think about it as such: if the negligent actions did not occur, you wouldn’t have been injured.
In our car accident example, you would need to compile evidence such as medical bills, traffic cam footage, and photos of the crash scene. A lawyer can help you compile the necessary evidence.
Damages Suffered
The last element that must be present is the proof that you’ve suffered actual damages because of your injuries. This means that your injuries caused you to suffer financial and non-financial losses.
In a car accident, the most common damages are loss of property use, vehicle repair, medical expenses, and pain and suffering. Proving negligence can be a challenge, but a Midland personal injury lawyer can help. They can identify the negligent parties and compile evidence that supports your claim.
We know how to get our clients the results they need in the toughest legal arenas.
Losses You Can Recover With the Help of a Personal Injury Attorney
After you get injured, there’s a high chance that you have bills to pay and require time to recover. But if you’ve suffered injuries so severe that you can’t work, it can quickly become a difficult situation. However, our team can help you recover the following damages:
- Loss of income
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Loss of earning capacity
- Mental anguish
- Medical expenses
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of property use
Depending on the severity of your injuries and what type of accident you were in, you may be able to recover different damages. If you’d like to know what damages you qualify for, one of our personal injury lawyers can help you.
We understand that you may be going through a difficult situation and we are ready to help however we can.
Why You Should Hire a Passionate Personal Injury Lawyer
A personal injury attorney in Midland, MI, can help you navigate your case if you qualify. Holding the negligent parties accountable can be difficult without the help of a lawyer. One of the ways we can help is to make sure that you have all the information, evidence, and paperwork in order before you file your claim.
If your injuries were from a car or truck accident, you’ll have to meet with the insurance company of the other driver. This can be nerve-wracking, but our attorneys can be there to negotiate a fair settlement for you. We can also defend you and your settlement against the tactics that the insurance adjuster may try to use.
Approaching a legal case can be complicated, but our lawyers can provide you with advice and guidance along the way. Whether it be a question you have or you need support, we can be there for you.
You will always work directly with your attorney throughout your case.
Contact White Law PLLC, to Get a Free Case Consultation Today
If you were injured as a result of negligent actions, our Midland personal injury attorneys at White Law PLLC, can help. We can make sure you get your claim filed in time, have the right evidence, and that you recover all the compensation that you qualify for.
Call us or fill out the contact form on our website to schedule a free consultation.
We’re Experienced. We Care.
We Exceed Client Expectations.