- October 19, 2021
Being involved in an accident can be scary and overwhelming, and filing a personal injury claim can add to your stress. It's challenging to know just how much you should ask for when it comes to compensation for your injuries, lost wages, and more. If you or someone you love has been involved in an accident that resulted in injuries, reach out to the knowledgeable team at Goodman Acker to review your case and determine whether or not you should file a personal injury claim.
What Is a Personal Injury Claim?
A personal injury claim is a legal claim against someone responsible for injuries incurred in an accident. After you're injured in an accident, you can file a claim with the at-fault party's insurance company for compensation for any damages due to the injuries sustained in the accident. Once you've filed a claim, the insurance company will investigate the accident to determine fault, damages, and a value to your damages. The at-fault party's insurance company is not looking out for your best interests and is, in fact, trying to pay out as little as possible in compensation.
Types of Personal Injury Claims
There are many different types of accidents that you can file a personal injury claim for, including:
- Car accidents.
- Truck accidents.
- Motorcycle accidents.
- Pedestrian accidents.
- Dog bites.
- Slip and fall.
- Medical malpractice.
- Premises liability.
- Product liability.
- Short- and long-term disability.
- VA benefits.
- Workers' compensation.
- Nursing home abuse.
- Wrongful death.
The team at Goodman Acker offers over 150 years of combined experience in these types of personal injury claims and more.
Do I Need a Lawyer for a Personal Injury Claim?
The short answer to this question is no. A lawyer is not required to file a personal injury claim. However, it's important to note that working with an experienced personal injury attorney will provide you with the best possibility of winning your case and taking home the compensation package you deserve. The team at Goodman Acker is well-versed in the ins and outs of personal injury claims and can help you determine a fair value of damages, investigate the accident to determine fault, and work with the at-fault party's insurance company on your behalf.
A personal injury lawyer will take care of filing any necessary paperwork, following up with information, negotiating a possible settlement, advising you on the potential settlement, and keeping you apprised of the progress of your claim. The at-fault party's insurance will have a team of attorneys working with them to keep compensation paid out to a minimum; you need an experienced lawyer on your side to fight for you.
What Damages Can I Seek in a Personal Injury Claim?
Damages from an accident can include both compensatory and punitive. Compensatory damages can also be economic and non-economic in nature. Economic compensatory damages include medical bills, lost wages, transportation to appointments, rehabilitation, future medical bills, future lost wages, and chiropractic care. Noneconomic damages cover pain and suffering, emotional anguish, mental distress, and loss of joy in activities. Beyond compensatory damages, you may also be awarded punitive damages. Punitive damages are added when the party at fault is found to be grossly negligent, malicious, or reckless and are designed to be further punishment for their actions.
Should I Accept the First Offer on a Personal Injury Claim?
The blunt answer here is no. You should never accept the first offer on a personal injury claim. Remember that the at-fault party's insurance company is trying to pay out as little as possible for the personal injury claim, so they are going to come in with a low offer as their initial settlement. In order to get you the compensation you deserve, you need an attorney with experience and knowledge of personal injury cases. A personal injury lawyer knows what to request for compensation when it comes to all aspects of compensatory and punitive damages.
When you hire a personal injury attorney from Goodman Acker, you're getting the expertise that comes with having handled numerous personal injury cases. Our team can provide you with an estimated value for your claim during our free consultation. Your personal injury lawyer will negotiate with the at-fault party's insurance company to get you a fair compensation package to cover current and future expenses. It's not unusual to see several offers tossed back and forth before an agreement is reached, and your personal injury attorney will be with you every step of the way.
How Much Can I Expect to Receive in Damages?
There's no one answer to this question, as everyone's case is different. Damages are awarded based on several factors, including severity and type of the injuries, prognosis, rehabilitation time, current and future medical needs, and the ability to return to work. Examples of settlements that Goodman Acker has secured for their clients in the past include:
- Wayne County pedestrian versus motor vehicle $1,925,000.
- Wayne County medical malpractice $1,200,000.
- Wayne County products liability $750,000.
- Wayne County motorcycle accident $1,900,000.
- Oakland County auto accident $225,000.
- Oakland County nursing home negligence $145,000.
- Oakland County premises liability $220,000.
- Oakland County slip-and-fall $365,000.
- Wayne County bicycle accident $750,000.
- Oakland County dog bite $100,000.
- Macomb County truck accident $1,425,000.
- Ypsilanti burn injury $450,000.
These results, and more, prove that our experience pays off when it comes to personal injury claims.
Why Should I Hire Goodman Acker?
All of the attorneys at Goodman Acker strive to provide our clients with the highest quality of legal services available. We are hardworking, driven, and take great pride in our work, providing our clients with highly successful results. We have a 99% success rate in winning cases and offer over 150 years of combined experience. We offer 24 hours a day, seven days a week availability both via phone and online. We have recovered millions of dollars for our clients, and our goal is always to maximize compensation awards to relieve the financial strain on our clients.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, reach out to the team at Goodman Acker for a free consultation. You can give us a call or complete our convenient online form, and someone will get back to you as soon as possible to discuss your case.