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Fighting for Your Fair and Full Compensation
A car accident is a stressful and traumatic experience. It also has the potential to turn your life into a financial disaster. You might be burdened with huge medical bills, loss of income from the time you must take off work, and other expenses and effects that can be financially damaging. In such cases, do not waste sleepless nights worrying about how you are going to get by.
Contacting a White Lake car accident lawyer is vital. They may help you recover compensation and make sure that you are not held financially responsible for an accident that you did not cause.
Finding car accident lawyers in White Lake and in Michigan is easy. However, finding a law firm with a reputation for success and a team of compassionate, experienced attorneys is not always easy. At Goodman Acker, our White Lake car accident lawyers have a record of standing up for their clients, pursuing justice, and accepting only maximum settlements for clients.
Time is of the essence if you have been in an automobile accident. Contact our car accident lawyers in White Lake for immediate assistance. They can oversee your claim and secure the damages that you are owed. Call Goodman Acker at (248) 286-8100. You will not pay a dime with our free consultation, where we will tell you how we can help you and your family.
Here is what you should know about the White Lake car accident lawyers at Goodman Acker:
- We have 150+ years of combined legal experience.
- We have a success rate of 99% for cases we conclude.
- We are routinely featured by newsgroups, like Fox 2 News and Local 4 Detroit.
- We are available 24/7 for client emergencies.
- We have a growing group of completely satisfied clients we have served.
- We have won millions of dollars for our clients.
- We offer free initial consultations to get you started.
Damages that Our Car Accident Lawyers in White Lake Can Help You Recover
Car accidents result in injuries and numerous expenses for accident victims. By filing a claim or lawsuit, our White Lake car accident lawyers can help you to recover damages resulting from your accident. Damages are the expenses incurred because of an accident. The damages that our attorneys can help you recover include economic damages, which are quantifiable, calculable expenses, such as:
- Medical bills, therapy costs, and future medical expenses
- Loss of income if you missed work while recovering
- Loss of future earning capacity if your accident affected your ability to perform your job.
Our White Lake car accident lawyer can also help you to reclaim non-economic damages, which include non-quantifiable and non-monetary losses that still warrant compensation. Non-economic damages following a car accident frequently include:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of quality of life
- Permanent disability and scarring
- Loss of consortium and companionship for married victims.
Every car accident case is unique, and you may have additional damages that your case qualifies for. Consulting with our car accident lawyers in White Lake can help to determine what types of compensation your case involves. As knowledgeable truck accident attorneys, motorcycle accident attorneys, and bus accident attorneys, we can handle accident cases involving these vehicles, as well.
I have Been in a Car Accident in White Lake. What Should I Do Next?
Advice from Our White Lake Car Accident Attorney to Keep You Safe and Your Case Strong
Knowing what to do after a car accident is critical to keeping you safe, preventing further harm, and protecting your case. Follow these steps to help ensure that you take all actions possible to recover full compensation after an accident.
- Seek medical attention– If you have been hurt in a car accident, call 911, or have a bystander call 911. You should obtain immediate medical attention. Nothing is more important than your health and safety. Also, seeking medical attention establishes a record of medical care and evaluation, which is critical to your case.
- Contact information– It is imperative to record the contact information and insurance information of any other drivers involved in the accident. You should also try to get the contact details of any witnesses to the accident. This is only if ability and health permit.
- Documentation– Document the scene by taking pictures of your car’s damage and of your injuries. Be sure to take photos of the surrounding area. Again, this is as abilities and health permit. Never ignore pain and medical attention to dally at the scene and collect information.
- Notify insurance– Notify your insurance company that you were in an accident. Stick to the facts, as insurance companies often use what you tell them to minimize the value of your claim.
- Contact attorney– Do not delay in contacting our White Lake car accident attorneys. We will deal with the insurance companies, so you do not have to. And we will ensure that your case is timely filed and competently litigated to ensure the best possible financial outcome for you.
Understanding Michigan’s No-Fault Insurance
Michigan is a no-fault insurance state. Michigan car owners must purchase car insurance. So, if there is an accident, the insurance company will pay certain medical bills and lost wages. This is true no matter which party caused the accident.
The purpose of Michigan’s no-fault insurance is to allow victims of accidents to receive compensation quicker so that they can rebuild their lives faster. Victims can turn to their insurance companies, instead of going through the court system by bringing a claim against the other party to the accident.
But you do not have forever to file a claim with your insurance company. On the contrary, the laws are extremely strict. In Michigan, you must file a notice of the injury with your insurance company no later than one year after the accident. Once, that date passes, you can no longer bring the claim (unless the insurance company already paid benefits for the injury).
This notice must include the following:
- Name and address of the claimant
- Name of the person injured
- The time and place of the accident
- The nature of the injuries.
Another rule is that once notice of the injury has been given, you cannot take legal action to recover any unpaid benefits more than one year after the expenses were incurred.
These restrictions significantly narrow your window for financial relief. Michigan no-fault insurance laws can get complicated fast. It is essential that you contact our White Lake car accident attorneys as soon as possible so we can preserve your claim.
How long do I have to file a claim?
Your insurance company might not cover all the expenses and damages you incurred from the car accident and therefore a civil action against the other party to the accident may be warranted.
The time to file a civil action for compensation in Michigan is also limited. Michigan law permits claimants to bring a lawsuit up to three years from the date of the accident. After this time, you can no longer bring a claim against the other party in the accident for your injuries and lost wages.
In these situations, it is best to speak with our White Lake car accident lawyers about filing a claim against the responsible party.
Car Accidents FAQs
Common Questions for Our White Lake Car Accident Lawyers
If you have been in a car accident, you probably have more than just a few questions for our White Lake car accident lawyer. Below are several frequent questions, and their answers, which can help you find answers to your inquiries:
What Is a Fair Settlement for My Car Accident Case?
No two car accident cases are the same. So, it is not possible to know the exact value of a case without looking at the conditions and factors involved. By reviewing your case with our car accident attorneys in White Lake, you can have a clearer picture of how much your case is worth. As a general estimate, take the sum of all your damages (meaning medical bills, missed time at work, auto repairs, and more) and multiply it by three. That figure may approximate the value of your case.
How Quickly Will I Receive Compensation for My Car Accident Case?
If you are pursuing an accident claim or lawsuit, the duration depends on several factors. The extent of your injuries and complexity of treatment, your ability to return to work, and figuring out liability and negotiating with other parties all affect a case’s length.
Why Should I Work with a White Lake Car Accident Attorney at Goodman Acker?
Our White Lake car accident lawyers at Goodman Acker not only have the experience and knowledge needed to win cases and to help secure compensation for accident victims, but we also have the resolve and dedication needed to fight for maximum compensation. We offer first-hand personal attention for each client and case because our legal team wants the best outcomes for everyone we serve. Additionally, we don’t back down from serious accident cases involving spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, other catastrophic injuries, and wrongful death. We can handle the tough cases that require determination and resolution.
Do I Still Have a Case If I Was Partially at Fault for My White Lake Car Accident?
Yes, in many cases. Michigan follows a modified comparative negligence rule. This means that even if you were partially to blame for your accident, you may still be able to recover compensation via a claim or lawsuit as long as the extent of your fault does not exceed 50%. Your compensation will be reduced by the percentage that you were deemed at fault, however.
Will I Always Be Able to Obtain Compensation After an Accident?
Not all car accident cases result in compensation awarded. Car accident victims must have actual damages, meaning monetary expenses, which resulted from the accident. If you were solely to blame for your car accident, there is no one to file a claim or lawsuit against. Therefore, you will not be able to obtain compensation beyond any money that your insurance company provides. To obtain compensation from other drivers and entities, it is necessary to demonstrate their negligence and show that their negligent actions caused the accident.
What Happens if I Miss My Deadline to File a Claim in Civil Court?
The time you have to file a claim is called the statute of limitations. As stated above, in Michigan this period is three years from the date of the accident. If you miss this timeline, you forfeit the right to bring a claim.
The reason for this rule is to promote fairness in the legal system. Over time, memories fade. Recounts of how the accident happened are not as reliable. Witnesses to the accidents may be unreachable and evidence may be lost.
Having said that, you should contact one of our White Lake car accident attorneys even if your three years have expired. The reason for this is that there are a few exceptions to this rule. Our attorneys will analyze your case to determine if you meet one of those exceptions.
Get Help from Our White Lake Car Accident Lawyer
By teaming up with our car accident attorneys in White Lake, you will give yourself and your case the best chances at full compensation. Our experienced legal team at Goodman Acker will answer all your questions, handle insurance negotiations for you, review evidence to build a compelling case, and, in short, help you obtain the damages that you deserve.
With a success rate of 99% for the cases that we conclude, we are confident that we can help you and your situation. We would be glad to take the opportunity to learn more about you. Feel free to give our White Lake car accident attorneys a call at 248-286-8100 and ask for a free consultation today.
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 ]
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