Southgate Personal Injury Lawyers Fighting for the Injured

Personal Injury Attorneys in Southgate

Helping the Injured in Southgate with a 99% Success Rate

Southgate’s name has a controversial history. Some say the town got its name because it was the “south gate” entrance to metro Detroit. Others say the town was named for a shopping center that opened in the area in the late 1950s. Still, others say it got its name from Southgate, California, a south suburb of Los Angeles.

No matter how the town got its name, all residents of Southgate have fundamental legal and financial rights.

Similarly, a personal injury claim is controversial. Liability (legal responsibility) for injury is one common dispute. For example, insurance company lawyers might claim that a dog bite victim provoked the animal, or a pedestrian darted out in front of a car.

Damages are controversial as well. Professionals have different opinions about items like a reasonable amount of lost wage compensation, proper compensation for emotional distress, and the need for future medical treatment.

Likewise, regardless of these controversies, Wayne County residents have certain legal rights. They have the right to a thorough and impartial free consultation with the experienced Southgate personal injury lawyers at Goodman Acker.

Our legal team reviews the facts of your case, the legal principles involved, and determines your legal options. Working together, we develop a litigation plan. Properly worked, this plan leads to maximum compensation for your serious injuries.

Because of our proven methods, we have successfully resolved 99 percent of the injury claims we have handled in the past. We are confident these methods will also produce life-changing results in your claim.

What Sets Our Southgate Personal Injury Law Firm Apart?

Experience may be the most important quality in a Southgate personal injury lawyer. Experienced attorneys have litigation and negotiation skills that they do not teach in law school. There is so much at stake in these cases that your Wayne County personal injury claim should never be a training tool for a well-meaning yet inexperienced lawyer.

The Goodman Acker legal team has over 150 years of combined experience. So, we know what works in personal injury cases. We know how to evaluate cases, collect evidence, and effectively advocate for clients. Perhaps just as importantly, we know what does not work.

Dedication is almost as important as experience. If you have severe stomach pain, you should see a gastroenterologist (stomach doctor), not a general practice doctor. Likewise, if you were seriously hurt in a personal injury, you should see a personal injury lawyer, not a general practice lawyer.

At Goodman Acker, we exclusively practice personal injury. This dedication gives us insight into personal injury cases that other lawyers do not have. Specifically, our team finds important details that other lawyers often overlook in your case.

Do not forget accessibility. Many area personal injury lawyers are little more than heads on billboards. These firms delegate most of the everyday work to a less-experienced associate or even a non-lawyer paralegal or secretary.

At Goodman Acker, your lawyer is your lawyer. S/he assumes personal responsibility for all the work done in your case. Furthermore, when you have questions about your case, your lawyer is there to answer them.

On a related note, we have several office locations in the Detroit area. We understand that simply moving from place to place could be challenging for many accident victims. Chances are, one of our offices is near your home or place of business. That’s just one of the many ways we try to make the litigation process as accessible as possible.

Our team brings all our experience and dedication to bear in every case we handle. We do not relent until we obtain maximum compensation for your serious injuries. As a result, we have a strong reputation in the community.

• Newsgroups, like FOX 17, feature our law firm regularly — we are a trusted name in our communities.
• Former and current clients thank us for our help — and you can read our client testimonials to get a better understanding of how our work has impacted their lives.
• We are available 24/7 for client emergencies, which is just another reason why we are trusted and respected in Southgate and throughout Michigan.
• Our reputation is also partly based on the millions of dollars we have recovered for our clients.
• Our reputation is backed by awards and recognition, like inclusion on the Super Lawyers list, an AV Martindale-Hubbell Rating, and a spot on the list of Top 100 Trial Lawyers.

This compensation usually includes money for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering.

Rest assured, with Goodman Acker, if you have a personal injury claim in Southgate and want to move forward with it, we will work hard so that you can regain your life.

Personal Injury Claims versus Insurance Claims

“Personal injury” is a legal term that can be defined as a case that involves harm to the body and/or emotional wellness of a person due to another person or entity’s wrongdoing. At least one plaintiff pursues a case to recover damages from at least one defendant.

Through litigation, interested parties work to discover who is responsible for the injuries, calculate the extent of the damages, and compensate the victim for those damages.

Insurance claims, on the other hand, do not involve the courts. When a person is injured, they file a claim with an insurance company, either their own or the insurer representing the negligent party.

Depending on the type of accident, a claim may be filed against an auto insurance policy, a homeowner’s or property owner’s policy, a renter’s policy, or a professional liability policy.

Typically, an insurance claim is filed first. A personal injury lawsuit can be filed if a fair settlement is not reached. One of our skilled personal injury attorneys in Southgate will make sure a strategic, well-supported personal injury claim secures your rights and interests.

Compensation for Personal Injuries in Michigan

In Michigan, the law allows injured parties to seek compensation for their damages. “Damages” in a personal injury case include the financial expenses and non-economic harm that results from an injury.

Most damages that result from a personal injury incident are medical expenses and property damage. When an injury is expected to last for an extended period or contribute to long-term expenses, litigation attempts to project the total costs of the incident.

Of course, other costs can result from an injury that is neither medical nor property related. Pain and suffering, and emotional distress are non-economic damages that a personal injury claim can recover.

In rare cases, punitive damages (also known as exemplary damages) may be recovered if the liable party acted with malice or willful disregard for the victim’s rights.

In general, a person injured by another person’s negligence may be able to recover any or all of the following:

• Medical bills (including surgery, medication, rehabilitation, therapy, etc.)
• Property damages
• Transportation costs
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering.

Southgate Personal Injury FAQs

Our Personal Injury Lawyers in Southgate Answer Common Questions

Personal injury claims can leave people frustrated and confused. The process itself can be overwhelming. Here, we try to answer some of the most common questions we get daily.

How Long Do You Have To File A Personal Injury Claim In Southgate?

In Michigan, the statute of limitations for personal injuries and wrongful death, M.C.L.A. § 600.5805, allows you three years from the date of an incident to file a personal injury claim. Limited exceptions allow for additional time, like cases where:

• the victim is considered insane at the time of the accident;
• the victim was under the age of 18 at the time of the accident; or
• The liable party/defendant is out of state and cannot be reasonably served with a lawsuit.

For medical malpractice cases, however, M.C.L.A. § 600.5805(8) sets a two-year limit. Our experienced medical malpractice attorneys in Southgate will help make sure you timely file a strong claim.

How Does Michigan’s No-Fault Law Impact My Personal Injury Claim?

In July of 2020, the State of Michigan implemented a new auto insurance policy, also known as Michigan’s no-fault law. It affects personal injury claims involving car accidents, bus accidents, or truck accidents.

The no-fault law states that all drivers are now required to purchase and carry basic insurance coverage that would pay for expenses resulting from an accident.

Because this law is so new, it is important to have an attorney to represent your interests and advocate for your rights. Even if you are dealing with your auto insurance company, their priority is profits rather than fair compensation.

For What Types Of Accidents Can I File A Personal Injury Claim?

Though Michigan now limits personal injury lawsuits in motor vehicle cases, you can still sue when necessary and in accordance with the law. You are still permitted to sue for full and fair compensation for injuries sustained in other types of accidents in Southgate, such as but not limited to the following:

• Medical malpractice
• Premises liability
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Wrongful death
• Bicycle accidents
• Birth injuries
• Pedestrian accidents
• Dog bite accidents
• Slip and fall accidents
• Nursing home incidents/accidents
• Product liability.

How Do I Know I Have a Southgate Personal Injury Claim?

That’s what we at Goodman Acker are here for. We will help you understand, at no cost to you, whether you have a personal injury claim. In brief, however, you may have a personal injury claim if:

1. A duty was owed to you;
2. That duty was breached;
3. The breach caused you to suffer a bodily injury; and
4. The injury can be monetarily quantified (meaning you had to spend money on a medical evaluation or treatment.)

How Much Is My Personal Injury Claim Worth?

The damages you can seek in a personal injury claim in Southgate are fully dependent on the damages you suffered considering all the facts and circumstances. At the initial free consultation, we will review your case and clarify expectations.

The real worth of any given personal injury claim, however, cannot be realized until after a full investigation into the accident or incident.

Our highly skilled staff members and personal injury lawyers in Wayne County have the resources to conduct a thorough investigation. We will uncover all the facts so that the real worth of your claim is revealed and you receive what you deserve.

If you have additional questions, contact our Southgate personal injury lawyers today.

Contact Our Trusted Southgate Personal Injury Lawyer Today

If you need a Southgate personal injury attorney, contact our team online or at 248-286-8100. Our risk-free, no-obligation consultation will help determine whether you have a claim. If so, we will outline what we can do for you.

LEGALLY REVIEWED BY BARRY J. GOODMAN

Barry J. Goodman has devoted his professional life to keeping courthouse doors open for victims seeking justice. Always a tireless advocate for his own clients, Goodman sees his responsibility as a Detroit personal injury attorney in a broader sense as well. [ Attorney Bio ]