Car Accident Attorneys in Dearborn

Proving that Perseverance and 150+ Years of Experience Yield Exceptional Results

Not a day in Dearborn goes by when an auto accident does not cause injury to a person. Fortunately, most injured parties recover. Also, fortunately, Michigan is a no-fault insurance state intended to help you get the money you need to recover without delays brought on by an at-fault party’s auto insurance company.

However, the problem with Michigan’s no-fault policy is this: injured parties think that whatever their insurance company provides is all that they can obtain in the form of compensation. They do not argue. And they do not argue because they fear not getting anything at all. Auto insurance companies find sneaky ways to deny coverage all the time in Michigan. Innocent injured parties are at a loss about what to do.

At Goodman Acker, these things bother us. We know what insurance companies do to maintain their profit margins. We also know firsthand how devastating it is for our community members in Dearborn, MI.

Your time, however, is limited. To take charge of your case and ensure you get what you deserve, contact us at 248-286-8100. Our team of highly skilled car accident lawyers in Dearborn wants to know about your case, and we want to know about it in your own language. So, do not let not speaking English stop you from calling us. Car accident attorney Ronita Bahri represents clients in Dearborn. She was born in Iraq and speaks Aramaic, Arabic, and English fluently.

But there is more. We do not just tell you why our clients appreciate us — we let you see for yourself. Here is why you should choose Goodman Acker as your legal advocate:

• We are routinely featured by newsgroups like Fox 2 News and Local 4 Detroit.
• We are building a family of completely satisfied clients.
• We have won millions of dollars for our clients.
• We have 150+ years of combined legal experience.
• We have a success rate of 99% for cases we conclude.
• We are available 24/7 for client emergencies.
• We offer free initial consultations to get you started.

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Understanding Auto Accident Insurance Claims in Michigan

Michigan’s auto insurance policy is part of the no-fault law. Every driver must purchase their own auto insurance coverage. The purpose is to ensure that if you are in an auto accident, you get compensation, hassle-free. Michigan, after all, has one of the highest percentages of uninsured motorists in the country, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III), so this type of policy, on the face of it, is a good one.

This policy, however, was recently changed, effective July 2020. Drivers can now choose whether they want unlimited Personal Injury Protection (PIP) – which was required before this new rule — or whether they want to cap their coverage. If the driver chooses the cap, the minimum coverage limits are:

• $50,000 if enrolled in Medicaid.
• $250,000 for bodily injury to one person in any 1 accident.
• $500,000 for bodily injury to 2 or more people in any 1 accident.

What does this mean for drivers in Dearborn? It means that if you are in a serious accident, your insurance policy may not cover all of your injury-related expenses because you may not have sufficient coverage. This is bad news for someone who did not cause a car accident but was seriously hurt in it.

There is another catch to the no-fault policy: if your own auto insurance does not cover the full costs of your injury, you can sue the at-fault party. It means you now have a hassle on your hands to get the at-fault party to cover the remainder of your losses.

But you do not have to do it yourself. We are prepared and have the experience, insight, and resources to negotiate with any auto insurance company. We are not afraid to take it as far as we must to get you maximum compensation. So, call our car accident lawyers in Dearborn today at 248-286-8100 to learn more.

What a Dearborn Car Accident Lawyer Can Recover for You

Not just any Dearborn car accident attorney, but an experienced Dearborn lawyer from Goodman Acker can help you recover maximum compensation for your injuries and additional damages stemming from them.

In a first-party claim – the claim you bring against your own auto insurance company — your no-fault benefits include:

• Medical expenses (emergency room visits, follow-up care, rehabilitation, etc.)
• Mileage (e.g., transportation to and from doctor appointments.)
• Attendant (nursing) care.
• Replacement services or domestic assistance.
• Wage loss (past and future but only up to three years.)

In a third-party claim – the claim you bring against the at-fault party – you are entitled to:

• Excess economic damages, which are past, present, and future expenses not covered by your PIP benefits.
• Non-economic damages, which include pain and suffering.

Rest assured, with Goodman Acker, if you have a car accident claim and want to move forward with it, we will put forth all our resources and efforts to help you recover full and fair compensation. As knowledgeable truck accident attorneys and motorcycle accident attorneys, we handle these cases, too.

What to Do After a Car Accident in Dearborn

Safety is always the priority after a car accident in Dearborn. Follow these basic steps to prevent further harm and protect your rights:

1. Seek medical attention. If anyone is hurt, either in your car or elsewhere, call 911 immediately.
2. Gather information. Share your contact and insurance information with any other drivers involved in the accident.
3. Gather evidence. Take pictures and video of the vehicles, road conditions, weather conditions, traffic, bystanders who may be witnesses or anything else to document the scene adequately.
4. Notify insurance. You should inform your insurance company as soon as you can — but stick to the facts.
5. Contact a car accident lawyer in Dearborn. Even if it is to make sure you know your rights and pursue the legal option best for you, it is important to speak to an experienced Dearborn car accident attorney.

What Our Dearborn Car Accident Lawyers Can Do for You

Whenever you have legal matters — be it handling an estate, signing a contract, or pursuing a car accident claim – it is advisable to contact an experienced lawyer. After a car wreck, you obviously have more pressing matters, including settling your medical bills and recovering from your injuries. You do not have to deal with cunning insurance adjusters who will not offer you a fair settlement.

This is why you need an experienced lawyer by your side to help you with your personal injury case. That is where Goodman Acker comes in. Find out how our lawyers can help with your injury claim.

Listen to Your Story

At Goodman Acker, the first step we take is to compassionately listen to you during your free initial consultation. This is your opportunity to tell us what happened and who you believe may be responsible for your injuries. This is also an opportunity for you to ask questions or raise any concerns regarding your case.

For example, if a claims adjuster keeps calling you to ask for a written statement, this would be an appropriate time to inform our lawyers. Our Dearborn car accident lawyers will answer your questions as we evaluate the facts surrounding your case to determine if you have a valid claim.

Investigate Your Car Wreck

The personal injury attorneys at Goodman Acker will work with police, investigators, and accident reconstructionist to understand what caused your Dearborn car accident. To build a strong case, we will gather crucial evidence, including photos and videos from the accident scene, CCTV footage, witness statements, medical records, and cell phone records.

Prove Negligence

To recover damages in a car accident claim, your car accident lawyer in Dearborn, MI, must prove that the other driver’s negligence led to your accident. To do this, your lawyer must establish these four elements:

1. Duty: The accused owed you — the plaintiff — a duty of care. In car wreck cases, all drivers in Michigan have a duty to drive their vehicles in a reasonably careful manner. They are required to follow all federal and state traffic rules. For example, all drivers in Michigan must not operate their vehicles with a blood alcohol content (BAC) at or above 0.08.
2. Breach: Here, our Dearborn, MI, car accident lawyers must demonstrate that the defendant breached their duty of care by acting negligently. For example, if a driver operates their vehicle with a BAC above 0.08, they are breaking the law and breaching their duty to care for other road users.
3. Causation: If the defendant’s actions or failure to act led to your crash, they are considered responsible for the accident. For example, if a drunk driver runs a red light and T-bones your vehicle, leading to a rollover accident, they are at fault and liable for the accident.
4. Damages: Finally, our personal injury lawyers must prove that you suffered damages due to the accident. These may include medical bills, vehicle damage, and lost wages.

Calculate Damages

At Goodman Acker, we will work with other professionals, including doctors and mechanics, to calculate the entire scope of your damages. This ensures that you receive the compensation you deserve. We will not only factor in your past and present medical bills and lost income, but also any future expenses relating to your injuries and missed workdays.

Handle Negotiations with the Insurance Company

The legal team at Goodman Acker has over 150 years of combined experience fighting against insurance companies that try to shortchange injured victims into accepting lowball settlements. We will aggressively negotiate on your behalf and will not accept any settlement without your consent. We will always keep you updated with such settlement talks.

Litigate Your Case in Court

If the defendant’s insurance company declines to offer an appropriate settlement, we have experienced trial attorneys who will defend your rights in court. We have the resources, skills, and knowledge to take your case to trial and convince a judge or jury why you deserve compensation for your injuries and other losses.

How To Protect Your Claim After an Accident

What you do in the hours and days following an accident can make or break your case. Here are several things to keep in mind to protect your Dearborn car accident claim:

1. Request a Copy of the Police Report

This report contains all the information you may need about the accident. It also contains the opinions of police officers regarding what they think happened and who may be at fault. Your insurance provider may use this report to assign fault. You can purchase this report online on the Michigan State Police website.

2. Contact Your Insurance Company

Even if it is a minor fender bender or you believe you were not at fault, make sure you contact your insurance company. Let them know that you were in an accident and severely hurt. Just be sure not to go into too much detail and end up harming your claim.

3. Keep a Record of All Expenses

If you have been involved in a car accident, make sure you track all your accident-related expenses, including medical bills, pain medications, hospital trips, and any other miscellaneous expenses that you may incur. Do not forget to keep a record of your time off from work as well as vehicle repair costs.

4. Respect Your Medical Appointments

Under no circumstances should you disregard medical treatment. Attend all your medical appointments and follow your doctor’s orders. This will also help you understand how long it will take for you to recover and help your car accident lawyer get a better sense of your damages.

5. Do Not Accept the First Settlement Offer

The first settlement offer is usually the lowest amount the insurance company is willing to pay. If the insurance adjuster offers a settlement at the accident scene or soon after the accident, do not accept it without speaking to a car accident attorney. This settlement may not be a true representation of your damages. You may have sustained severe injuries that will cost you thousands of dollars to treat. If you accept a lowball offer, the compensation may not be adequate to treat and manage your injuries.

6. Do Not Post on Social Media

After an accident, it is ill-advised to go on platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, or Twitter to talk about your accident and injuries. Insurance companies use social media posts to undermine car accident claims. You can harm the credibility of your case by sharing pictures and videos of yourself online.

For example, if you were involved in an accident and you are actively pursuing a compensation claim, posting photos of you on a night out with friends or on a ski trip may do more harm than good to your case. Claims adjusters and lawyers may argue that your injuries weren’t severe enough to warrant compensation.

Car Accidents FAQs

Our Resourceful Dearborn Car Accident Attorney Answers Your Questions

Car accident claims can leave people in Michigan frustrated and confused. Here, we answer some of the most common questions we get. For answers to your specific questions, contact us at 248-286-8100 to schedule a free initial consultation.

How much does it cost to hire an attorney?

Goodman Acker will only collect a fee once we win your case. This way, you can afford to work with experienced Dearborn car accident lawyers, and the cost won’t hinder you from going after negligence parties to get the justice you deserve.

What is a fair settlement for my Dearborn car accident case?

We cannot tell you the exact value of a car accident claim without first knowing all the facts and circumstances. By reviewing your case with our Dearborn car accident attorney, however, you will get a better idea of what it may be.

Generally speaking, you can add the value of missed work with all medical bills for a rough idea. Remember, it is only a starting point. There may be other factors that could decrease or increase the compensation you are owed.

Who is liable in a multi-vehicle accident?

If you are injured in an accident involving more than two vehicles, it may be difficult to establish the at-fault party. Such accidents typically involve lengthy police investigations to determine what led to the accident. At Goodman Acker, our Dearborn, MI, car accident lawyers will protect your rights as we conduct our investigations to determine if someone else’s negligence led to the accident.

How quickly will I receive compensation for my car accident?

How soon you receive compensation depends largely on whether you pursue only a first-party claim or also file a third-party claim. Third-party claims can take much longer.

It will also depend on the severity of your injury. If you require extensive care over a long period of time, it will take longer to negotiate and calculate the full worth of your claim.

Why should I work with a Dearborn car accident attorney at Goodman Acker?

Our Dearborn car accident lawyers at Goodman Acker have the experience, skills, and commitment necessary to win cases that secure maximum compensation for our clients. We never look to settle for an auto insurer’s alleged best offer, but we are always working to obtain more of what you should receive.

Additionally, we do not back down from serious car accident cases involving spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and other catastrophic injuries. We handle these tough cases with the same determination and resolve as we do all our other personal injury cases.

What if I was the passenger in the car accident?

If you were involved in a single-vehicle accident, you might be able to seek compensation for damages from the car driver if they were negligent. Contact Goodman Acker today to fully understand your rights and options if you were injured as a passenger in a car crash.

Do I still have a case if I was partially at fault for my Dearborn car accident?

Yes, you can receive compensation even when partially at fault. Michigan follows a modified comparative negligence rule. If you are found not to have contributed more than 50% to the accident, you can recover, but compensation will be reduced accordingly. If you are found to have been 50% or more at fault, you will be barred from recovering compensation.

Will I always be able to obtain compensation after an accident?

Not every car accident in Dearborn will result in a successful claim for compensation. First, you must have monetary damages. This means you must have paid for something, like property repairs or medical treatment. If there’s not a scratch on your car or on your person, you likely won’t have a claim to make.

Furthermore, you will not be eligible for compensation if you are more than 50% or completely at fault for the car accident.

How long do I have to file a Dearborn car accident claim?

Time really is critical. For a first-party claim, you have one year. For a third-party claim, you have three years. The latter is a significant difference. In either case, time will go by fast. If you miss the deadline to file a car accident claim, you will not be compensated.

Call Goodman Acker Today to Discuss Your Options

Being involved in a car wreck can be a stressful and frightening experience, especially if you sustain catastrophic injuries or lose a loved one. But before agreeing to a settlement from the insurance company, you need to speak to a car accident lawyer from Dearborn, MI, who will guide you through the process and protect your rights.

If you or someone you care about has been injured in a car crash, our experienced lawyers at Goodman Acker are ready to fight for you and help you obtain a fair settlement for your injuries and other damages. Call us today at 248-286-8100 to book your free case review.

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 ]