Car Accident Lawyers Michigan

You drive daily, whether it’s to work, doctor’s appointments, or the grocery store. Because driving is such a normal part of our lives, we don’t stop to consider how dangerous the activity is. According to the CDC, around 2 million individuals in the United States will sustain injuries from car accidents yearly. Even worse, more than 32,000 people are killed every year from car crashes, with over 1,100 in Michigan.

If another driver’s negligence resulted in an accident and your injuries—it’s essential that you speak to an experienced auto accident attorney, even if your injuries don’t seem that significant. Our team at Giroux Pappas Trial Attorneys can help you recover the compensation you deserve for medical expenses, lost wages, and more.

Key Points

Common Types of Car Accidents in Michigan

Car accidents can happen for any number of reasons. However, some accident types are more common than others. Common types of accidents include:

• Rear-end collisions
• Speeding
• T-bone wrecks
• Head-on incidents
• Failure-to-yield
• Wrong-way accidents
• Rollovers
• Red light accidents

Crashes due to drugged, drunk, or distracted driving also frequently occur, as do accidents involving pedestrians, including hit-and-runs. Regardless of how a wreck occurs, it has the potential to result in severe injury and costly damages. No accident is “too minor”—if you or someone you love has been injured in an auto accident, contact our firm today.

Most Common Auto Accident Injuries

Several factors affect the type and severity of injuries you might suffer in a car accident. Pre-existing illnesses and injuries, the speed of the vehicles, the size of the vehicles, and how a vehicle hits you all factor into how severe your injuries may be. An auto accident attorney can help you recover damages if you suffer injuries in a car wreck. Consider a Michigan car accident attorney if your injuries include:

• Scrapes, scratches, cuts, bruises, and bumps
• Strains, sprains, pulled and torn muscles, and other soft tissue injuries
• Simple and compound fractures
• Crushed bones and other crush injuries
• Head, neck, and shoulder injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Internal injuries
• Chemical, friction, and thermal burns (road rash is a type of friction burn)
• Face and eye injuries
• Back and spinal cord injuries
• Amputation

Michigan Car Accident Statistics

Michigan saw an increase of 15% (245,432 to 282,640) in traffic crashes from 2020 to 2021. Of the total number of wrecks, 1,068 were fatal, with 1,131 total fatalities. Additionally, in 2021 there were 51,666 injury crashes, with 71,246 injuries in the same period. According to the Michigan State Police, there were more fatalities on weekends than on weekdays, and 30,666 of the total crashes happened in November.

The counties in Michigan with the most auto accidents include:

• Berrien County: 4,385 total crashes
• Calhoun County: 4,512 total crashes
• Genesee County: 10,601 total crashes
• Ingham County: 7,887 total crashes
• Jackson County: 5,239 total crashes
• Kalamazoo County: 8,236 total crashes
• Kent County: 20,091 total crashes
• Livingston County: 4,389 total crashes
• Macomb County: 21,871 total crashes
• Muskegon County: 4,673 total crashes
• Oakland County: 32,038 total crashes
• Ottawa County: 7,651 total crashes
• Saginaw County: 5,428 total crashes
• Washtenaw County: 8,664 total crashes
• Wayne County: 50,490 total crashes

Common Causes of Car Accidents in Michigan

To recover damages after a car accident, you must be able to prove that the other driver’s negligent actions caused the accident. Negligence is a complex area of law, and it’s easy for insurance companies to put the blame on you instead of their clients. An auto accident lawyer in Michigan can help you recover the compensation you deserve when car accidents were caused by another driver’s negligence. Some common causes of car accidents include:

• Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or illicit substances. In some cases, you could recover compensation if the driver took prescription medication and wasn’t supposed to be driving
• Driving while distracted (using the phone, talking to a passenger, or looking at anything but the road)
• Poor vehicle maintenance
• Driving while tired. Someone might be tired after a long shift at work, while a fatigued person remains tired after a good night’s sleep. Over-the-road drivers and people who work 12-hour shifts may be fatigued
• Reckless or aggressive driving
• Speeding
• Following too close
• Driving too fast for conditions, whether the conditions are inclement weather or a windy, hilly road
• Inexperienced drivers
• Poor road maintenance

Types of Auto Accident Claims

In Michigan, there are two types of auto accident claims you can file:

• A no-fault, or first-party, car insurance claim with your own insurer
• A third-party claim against the at-fault party

No-Fault Claims

As a no-fault state, Michigan requires every driver to carry no-fault coverage, which almost guarantees that accident victims will receive compensation for the injuries and damages they sustain in wrecks. When you file a no-fault claim with your insurer, you may be able to recover compensation for medical expenses, vehicle repairs, and lost wages.

Third-Party Claims

Michigan only allows third-party claims to cover the pain and suffering prompted by death, permanent disfigurement, and any serious impairment of a body function. Typically, these claims are filed following a motor vehicle accident caused by general negligence, distracted driving, drunk driving, or a vehicle defect, and they are often the type of claims that go to trial.

Types of Recoverable Financial Compensation

If you suffer injuries or lose a loved one in a car accident, you could recover economic and/or non-economic damages. Economic damages have a set monetary value and include medical expenses, therapy expenses, lost wages, loss of future earning capacity, replacement of personal property, and death-related expenses, including funeral and burial expenses and probate attorney’s fees and costs.

Non-economic damages do not have a set monetary value and include:

• Pain and suffering, which includes emotional distress, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and other psychological issues caused by the wreck
• Loss of consortium and/or companionship
• Loss of quality of life
• Inconvenience
• Money for excessive scarring, disfigurement, and/or amputations
• Loss of use of a bodily function or a body part

What to Do After a Car Accident

After a car accident, you need to immediately get off to the side of the road and assess yourself and others for injuries.

Next, call 911.

While you wait for help to arrive, do the following:

1. Exchange information with the other driver.
2. Identify witnesses and gather their names and contact information.
3. Take pictures of your injuries, vehicle damages, and the accident scene.
4. When the police arrive, give your statement and request a written report.

Once you get home, schedule a medical assessment immediately. Even if you do not have visible injuries, you may develop delayed injuries and complications. Your medical records will serve as crucial evidence for your claim. Report the crash to your insurer and request an application for no-fault insurance benefits. Finally, contact an experienced auto accident attorney.

When Should You Hire a Michigan Car Accident Lawyer?

Ideally, you should hire an auto accident lawyer as soon after the accident as possible. When you work with a lawyer early in the process, you can avoid mistakes such as exceeding the statute of limitations that may cost you part or all of your claim.

For instance, you cannot recover benefits twice for the same accident. If you plan to file a third-party claim instead of a claim for no-fault benefits, your insurer may try to get you to sign a release form. This release relieves your insurer of its responsibility to pay out your no-fault benefits. This could have devastating consequences for you. Likewise, if you use your health insurance benefits to pay for medical expenses while your case is pending and you end up recovering compensation, your health insurance company may place a lien on your award.

Also, a 2012 study from the Insurance Research Council revealed that car accident victims who hire attorneys right away recover a substantially larger car accident settlement than those who do not. This is the case even after paying the contingent fee.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The personal injury claims process with an insurance adjuster and the court system can be confusing and complex, and you are likely to have many questions along the way. Our team is prepared to address your concerns at every stage, and we have answered some of the more frequently asked questions below.

How Do I Find an Experienced Car Accident Attorney?

After your accident, it’s important that you find an experienced attorney who listens to you and has trial experience. During your search, look for firms who have handled cases similar to yours, have trial experience with auto accidents, and offer free case evaluations. Note how their legal team interacts with you during the case evaluation, do you feel comfortable with this team? Are they listening to your concerns? Be sure to also look at their memberships, awards, and past case results. 

Lastly, when searching, also be sure to read reviews and seek referrals from friends and family.

Do I Even Need to Hire a Lawyer?

If you hope to recover fair compensation, the answer is yes. When you hire a lawyer, they can educate you on what you need to do immediately following the collision to help your case. They can also inform you of common mistakes to avoid. 
 
Additionally, your lawyer can help with the investigation process. The strength of your case relies heavily on the evidence you provide, such as photographs, eyewitness accounts, video surveillance from nearby cameras, debris, police reports, and vehicle damages. Without an attorney to advise you, you may unwittingly destroy evidence or fail to gather what you need.
 
Finally, a lawyer can assist you with every aspect of the claims process, from the initial filing to the acceptance of a settlement. The right attorney will prepare from day one to go to trial so that, if it comes to this, they can present your case in the best possible light in court.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire an Auto Accident Attorney?

Most personal injury law firms — including Giroux Pappas Trial Attorneys — work on a contingency fee basis. What this means is that you do not have to pay anything upfront. In fact, you do not have to pay any fee unless we’re successful.

What Happens When I Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?

If you then choose to hire this attorney, you’ll have to sign various forms allowing them to obtain information relevant to your case, such as your medical records. They will then contact the other party in your case, your insurance company, and your medical providers, and individuals and organizations with evidence for your case, such as the local police department.
 
From there, your attorney will guide you through every step of the case, acting as your voice and your advocate. They will meet you wherever you need them, whether that’s at home, in the hospital, or anywhere else that’s convenient for you. They will also make sure that you always understand what’s going on with your case so that you can decide how to proceed.

How Much Is My Claim Worth?

Every case is different, so it is impossible to know just how much your claim is worth until a member of our team has reviewed all the evidence. That said, certain factors affect the amount of potential compensation including: the severity of your pain and suffering, whether you sustained psychological injuries, whether you sustained scars or permanent disfigurement, whether your injuries resulted in a disability or affected your ability to work during and after recovery, and the amount of fault assigned to you.

Who Covers Medical Expenses if I Am Uninsured?

Your health insurance company covers your medical expenses if you don’t have auto insurance.

What Does It Mean If the Driver That Hit Me Doesn’t Have No-Fault Insurance?

Michigan is a no-fault state. In no-fault states, you must look to your own insurance company for no-fault benefits, regardless of who is at fault for the accident. No-fault benefits include wage loss, payment of medical bills, and replacement services. Your insurance company may subrogate the claim by filing a claim against the other driver to recover the money paid out to you.

What If the Accident Was My Fault?

If you believe the accident was your fault, you should still consult an attorney, as there can be many causes for an accident. You should not admit fault for an accident until a full investigation has been conducted. Generally, your health insurance company will cover the cost of treatment for injuries sustained in the accident. Sometimes, you can then seek reimbursement from your auto insurance company as part of the settlement.

Can I Recover Damages If the At-Fault Driver Was Uninsured?

If you are involved in an accident with an individual who doesn’t have insurance, you will likely have to collect from your own insurance company. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage may also help to supplement damages caused by a driver with no or low insurance coverage.

What Information Should I Collected From the Other Driver?

When you interact with the other party involved in the accident, you should acquire all of the following information:

● Name
● Address
● Email
● Phone number
● Driver’s license
● Insurance information
● Registration information
● Make, model, and identifying details of the other car
 
Do not simply write down the other car’s license plate number–insurance companies cannot look up the other car on this information alone. 
 
Whether you’re talking to the police or to the other part, it’s important to not admit fault under any circumstances. Keep in mind that even innocuous statements may later be construed as an admission of fault, including apologies. While you may want to apologize if only out of shock, an apology could be used against you. Instead, keep your interactions brief but polite. Ask if the other needs assistance, collect their information, and communicate details of the accident to responding officers.

Do I Need to Report the Accident to My Insurance Company?

Yes.

Every auto accident policy requires policyholders to immediately report accidents, regardless of how minor they may seem. Many policyholders do not report minor accidents because they do not want their insurance rates to go up.

However, failing to report an accident can have serious penalties in the future. From an attorney’s perspective, failing to report an accident only to later file a personal injury lawsuit significantly weakens your case, since the other side can easily argue that you did not think the accident was important enough to report. Worse, your refusal to immediately report the accident makes you look untrustworthy.

How Do I Know If I Have an Auto Accident Case?

Every car accident is different, which means every case is different. Generally, an auto accident attorney will look at two factors to determine if you have a case:

1. Liability
2. Damages

Legal liability refers to a person or entity’s legal responsibilities under the law. In personal injury law, liability is the concept of fault. Essentially, when someone is held liable for an accident, they are deemed to be at fault for the accident. Liability also usually hinges on the concept of negligence. 

Establishing negligence in personal injury has four components:

1. Legal standard of care between the two parties
2. Breach of that duty of care due to negligence, careless action, or inaction
3. Damages (physical and emotional injuries, property damage, lost income, etc.)
4. A causal link between negligence and damages

Request a Free Auto Accident Case Evaluation Today

Don’t wait—if you’ve been in an accident, it’s important that you consult with an experienced car accident lawyer as soon as possible. Giroux Pappas Trial Attorneys has been helping clients in Michigan for over three decades.

Since our founding, we’ve assisted in over 2,000 auto accident cases and have helped clients recover millions of dollars in damages. Our team has also achieved the coveted AV Peer Rating from Martindale-Hubbell® for our legal ability and ethical standards, as well as recognition from the U.S. News, the Detroit Premier Business Journal, and America’s Top 100 Attorneys. 

No matter how complicated your case may be, we’re here to help you move forward.