- Open 24/7 for a FREE Consultation (800) CALL-SAM®
Why Serious Injury Lawyers Are Important for You and Your Family After An Accident
UPDATE: Michigan Slip & Fall Law has changed. The information on this page was written prior to the change in the law and may be out of date. Please Click Here for updated information on the new law for Slip & Fall cases in Michigan.
UPDATE: Michigan’s New No-Fault Law went into effect July 1, 2020. The information on this page was written prior to the change in the law and may be out of date. Please visit https://callsam.com/No-Fault-law/ for updated information on the new No-Fault law in Michigan.
What is a serious injury lawyer?
Serious injury lawyers represent individuals who have been injured in various types of accidents. The goal of a personal injury attorney is to win the maximum amount of compensation for their clients. To accomplish this, serious injury lawyers perform a number of tasks, which vary according to the specifics of each case.
Here are some of the functions serious injury lawyers will undertake:
- Investigating claims
- Gathering evidence
- Obtaining medical records and other supporting documentation
- Interviewing witnesses
- Procuring testimony from expert witnesses
- Negotiating with insurance companies
- Preparing and filing necessary court documents according to deadlines and legal requirements
- Representing clients in court when a case goes to trial
What kinds of cases do serious injury lawyers typically handle?
Almost any type of accident can result in a serious injury, from a car crash to a seemingly simple slip-and-fall. Therefore, it is the severity of the injury rather than the circumstances that determine whether you need an attorney.
Nevertheless, here are some of the most common categories of cases typically handled by serious injury lawyers:
- Dog Bites
- Asbestos & Mesothelioma
- Motor Vehicle Accidents, including trucks and commercial vehicles
- Bicycle and Pedestrian Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Birth Injuries
- Slip & Fall Accidents
- Wrongful Death
- Defective Products
- Broken Bones
- Head or Brain Injuries
- Back Injuries
- Burn Injuries
- Amputations
Why hire serious injury lawyers?
If you’ve ever been involved in an accident, even a minor one, you know how distressing it can be. And, if you’re seriously injured, you are in no shape, mentally or physically, to make important decisions.
Here are some of the numerous advantages a serious injury lawyer can provide you and your family:
- Helping you avoid a rushed or “low-ball” settlement
Insurance companies do not typically have your best interests at heart. Insurance company representatives may try to pressure you into settling for far less than you deserve. An experienced serious injury lawyer will help you avoid this pitfall and make sure you receive the maximum possible compensation.
- Peace of mind
If you have been badly injured, your priority is receiving the medical treatment you need to recover. This may include surgery and rehabilitation therapy. You should not have to worry about the complicated legal process that filing a serious injury claim requires. Hiring a knowledgeable lawyer allows you to focus on your recovery while your attorney does what is necessary to win the compensation you deserve.
- Meeting deadlines
Filing a serious injury claim involves completing and submitting numerous forms according to strict deadlines. If you fail to meet the statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits, you may lose your right to receive compensation. You will also have to furnish volumes of medical records and supporting documents. In addition, your case may require gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses or obtaining testimony from expert witnesses. An experienced serious injury lawyer will ensure that all of the paperwork is completed in a timely and professional manner.
- Winning non-economic (pain and suffering) damages
Non-economic damages, commonly referred to as pain and suffering compensation, can be substantial. However, receiving this compensation can be challenging. In an auto accident, your medical bills and lost wages are typically provided by the Personal Injury Protection (PIP) portion of your No-Fault insurance policy. On the other hand, recovering pain and suffering damages usually requires a lengthy and complicated legal process. These claims are further complicated by Michigan’s “comparative negligence” statute, which requires plaintiffs to be less than 50% at fault to receive pain and suffering damages. Hiring a serious injury lawyer with a proven track record will greatly increase your chances of success.
- You won’t have to face the insurance company alone
It’s a sad fact that auto insurance companies don’t usually have your best interests at heart. This is true of your own insurance company as well as the other driver’s insurer. An experienced car accident lawyer will protect you from agreeing to a premature settlement or accepting less than you deserve.
- No-Fault know-how
If you were injured in a motor vehicle accident, your medical bills, lost wages and related expenses will likely be covered under your Michigan No-Fault insurance policy. While the Personal Injury Protection (PIP) portion of every policy provides unlimited lifetime medical care, the No-Fault system is extremely complex. And, recent and upcoming reforms to the law are creating even more confusion. A skilled serious injury lawyer who handles car accidents regularly will be up-to-date on this intricate system and how the law affects your specific case.
- Winning the maximum amount of compensation
Studies show that plaintiffs who are represented by serious injury lawyers receive larger settlements and verdicts than those who represent themselves.
Will a personal injury lawyer help me win compensation for emotional and psychological damage (pain and suffering)?
In personal injury claims, pain and suffering represent the emotional distress or “mental anguish” a person endures after being injured by the negligent acts of the at-fault party. Pain and suffering is a term used for non-economic “general” damages that can’t be calculated by adding up bills and receipts
When is the right time to contact a serious injury lawyer?
Serious injury cases fall under the statute of limitations governing personal injury claims. In Michigan, plaintiffs have three years from the date of the accident to file a claim. However, there are exceptions for cases where the injury or illness was not discovered until later. The three-year limit does not apply to minors, who have until their 19th birthday, regardless of when the accident occurred.
Nonetheless, you should not put off contacting an attorney to initiate your serious injury claim. These cases are often lengthy and complex, so it’s better to begin sooner rather than later. Furthermore, evidence can disappear and witnesses may be forgetful or unavailable if too much time goes by.
Moreover, if you’re unable to work because of your injuries, your family may experience financial hardship. A serious injury lawyer will ensure you receive the maximum compensation in the shortest possible time.
How should I contact a serious injury lawyer?
You can request a free consultation with a member of our legal team by clicking here or calling 1-800-CALL-SAM (1-800-225-5726).
While we normally enjoy meeting all of our clients in person, our entire staff is working remotely during the current pandemic. This means you can start a new case or receive updates on an existing case from the safety and comfort of your home.
What if I’m partially responsible for the accident that caused my injury?
Michigan is a “modified comparative negligence” state. If you were partially at fault for an accident, your compensation could be proportionately reduced. This is a complicated concept that becomes more confusing when applied to a real-life situation. In addition, the opposing party will do everything in their power to prove you were more than 50% responsible, which makes you ineligible for non-economic damages such as pain and suffering.
Therefore, it’s crucial to have an experienced serious injury lawyer on your side to achieve the best financial outcome.
How do I choose the right serious injury lawyer?
If you want to receive the maximum amount of compensation for your injury, it’s important to choose the right lawyer.
Here are some things to look for:
- A proven track record of winning large verdicts and settlements for clients in similar situations
- Extensive experience handling similar cases
- Personal service
- Access to resources such as investigators and support staff
- Trial experience
What kind of settlement can I expect when I hire serious injury lawyers?
In a serious injury case, settlements and verdicts are determined by a number of factors such as the severity and duration of the injuries. In a motor vehicle accident, the insurance coverage of the at-fault party may limit the amount a victim can recover.
Additionally, plaintiffs who suffer long-lasting or permanent harm are often entitled to compensation for pain and suffering, providing they were less than 50% at fault.
What is more, some injuries or symptoms are not immediately apparent.
For these reasons, retaining the services of an experienced serious injury lawyer will significantly increase your chances of success.
What will it cost me to hire serious injury lawyers?
You should not have to pay anything in advance when you hire a lawyer who specializes in serious injury cases. Generally, reputable personal injury attorneys don’t ask clients for payment when they begin a case. Instead, these lawyers work on a contingency basis. This means they take a percentage, usually one-third, of the settlement or trial verdict after the case is won.
What are some questions I should ask before I decide which lawyer to hire?
- How much experience do you have with cases like mine?
You would not go to a gastroenterologist to treat a sprained wrist. Like medicine, law is a specialized field. If you are injured in a car crash, you need a lawyer who specializes in motor vehicle accidents. Ask the lawyer you are interviewing how many years of experience they have with cases like yours. Ask how many similar cases they have handled in the past year, or in the past several years.
- Who will be working on my case?
This is an important question. In some large firms, the lawyer you meet with initially is not necessarily the one who will handle your case. Often, a team will be assigned to your case. Members may include one or more attorneys in addition to a paralegal and other support staff. Some firms use case managers, who may or may not be lawyers. Before you decide, make sure you’re comfortable with the way a firm handles and supervises its cases.
- How often will my lawyer communicate with me about my case?
Some law firms provide frequent communication with clients via phone or email. Others may contact you only if there is a new development or additional information is required. If being updated about your case on a regular basis is important, you may want to consider that factor when choosing an attorney.
- What kinds of verdicts and settlements have you obtained for clients in similar situations?
While reputable lawyers won’t reveal details about their clients, they can disclose how much they recovered in cases with comparable circumstances. An experienced lawyer with a strong winning record should be able to provide many examples of large settlements and verdicts.
- Do you have trial experience?
If your case proceeds to court, you want an experienced trial lawyer to represent you in front of a judge and jury.
- What happens if I lose my case?
Again, this depends on the policy of the individual lawyer or firm. Many firms do not charge a client if they fail to recover any compensation. However, some firms require clients to pay for out-of-pocket expenses such as filing fees, expert witnesses or court costs. Make sure you find out your lawyer’s policy at the beginning to avoid costly surprises.
Serious injury law is complicated, but finding the right personal injury lawyer is simple.
Call 1-800-CALL-SAM today for a free, no-obligation remote consultation from the safety of your home.
Sources:
https://www.allbusiness.com/questions-to-ask-when-interviewing-a-lawyer-1328-1.html
HAVE YOU BEEN INJURED?
Get The Bernstein Advantage® today!
Free. Simple. Quick.