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Suffering a personal injury can be traumatizing. After, it is often difficult for people to focus on their recovery while also navigating the legal process to pursue compensation.

Our Michigan personal injury lawyers understand that you probably have many questions if you or a loved one has been injured because of another person’s negligence.

We try to answer many of these questions below to help guide you in the initial steps of your personal injury case process. Some common questions we get asked include:

  • How do you calculate injuries for a claim?
  • What is the statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit?
  • How is liability determined after an accident?
  • How do you find the right lawyer for your Michigan personal injury case?
  • What damages can be recovered in a claim?

Get the Answers You Need after a Personal Injury in Michigan

Personal injury claims arise more often than most people think. They can occur as a result of car accidents, bicycle accidents, accidents involving pedestrians, defective products, and many more.

No the matter the circumstances, filing a personal injury claim is a complex process that involves many steps, so it is important to work with an experienced personal injury attorney in Michigan that can guide you through the legal process and answer all of your questions.

Of course, you probably have specific questions relevant to your situation that require the attention of an attorney who has experience in these types of cases.

We encourage you to contact us for a free, no-obligation case review to tell us your story.

Call us now. We are friendly and eager to help you.

Personal injury refers to a category of law.  It is a general term for any type of injury that occurs to a person, rather than a piece of property, land, or commodity.  Personal injury refers to cases involving both bodily injury and psychological harm.  In most cases, a claimant has both types of injuries.

The amount of time to file a lawsuit is referred to as the statute of limitations.  In Michigan, the statute of limitations depends on the particular case type.  Some case types include:

There are some exceptions to these deadlines. For example, the deadline for many cases involving minors and children can extend to their 19th birthday.  Cases involving wrongful death related to medical negligence can extend to 5 years under some circumstances.

It is best to contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to avoid missing a deadline.  If you wait too long, your ability to sue and win a settlement may be gone forever.

You do not need to hire a personal injury lawyer after an accident.  First, if you were not injured in an accident then there is no need to retain an attorney.  Second, if you have a minor injury or small case you can try to settle it on your own with the insurance company.

However, if you have a serious injury then you are much better off being represented by an experienced personal injury lawyer.  There are many mistakes that non-lawyers make trying to handle cases on their own.  Many times, the injury victim inadvertently destroys the case by giving recorded statements to adjusters, not filing timely claims, or signing away their rights without proper compensation.

Studies show that injury victims receive much higher settlements when they have a top-rated lawyer.  And, they even end up with more money in their own pocket after paying lawyer fees.

Most personal injury lawyers get paid on a contingent fee basis.  This means the attorney only earns a fee when the client wins a settlement.  And, the fee is based on a percentage of the settlement amount.

The majority of cases do not go to court, meaning they do not end up with a trial.  A large number of cases are filed as lawsuits in court.  They go through the legal process but end up in a settlement before a trial.  The attorneys for the parties typically negotiate a settlement before going to court for trial.

The amount of time to get a settlement varies in every case.  Some cases can settle within a matter of months and others may take years.  There is no set amount of time from start to finish.

For example, a small dog bite claim with minimal injuries can settle with the insurance company within 60-90 days.  However, a large truck accident death case may take two years to get settled because of disputed liability issues and the large demand for damages.

Claimants who are patient and let their lawyers do the work often end up with higher settlements.  People in hurry for a quick settlement can sometimes get one, but the amount is often less than the true value of the case.  You lawyer will give you a reasonable expectation on the time to get a settlement.

There really is no “average” settlement amount in a personal injury case.  Every case is completely different and has a number of factors that determine the compensation payout amount.  Factors include the strength of the liability, the extent of the bodily injuries and emotional trauma, the permanency of the injuries.  In addition, the amount of insurance coverage available is a major factor.

Our personal injury lawyers will evaluate your case to determine if you qualify for a settlement.  If you have a case, we will give you our best estimate as to a reasonable settlement range if possible. Many times, we do not get a true understanding of the value of a case until we have reviewed all medical records and other materials.  At that time, we can provide a reasonable settlement range to you.