East Lansing Car Accident Lawyer

We Have Decades of Experience Fighting for the Rights of Car Accident Victims

We understand that being involved in a car accident can be a traumatic experience. The aftermath of an accident can leave you dealing with physical injuries, emotional stress, and financial burdens. Our dedicated team of East Lansing car accident lawyers is here to help you navigate this challenging time and fight for the compensation you deserve.

Insurance companies are crafty and have devised ways to reject legitimate claims. Therefore, it is always advisable to work with an experienced attorney. Our East Lansing car accident lawyer is experienced with this type of case and can help you secure a favorable outcome. Contact us at 248-286-8100 to book a free case evaluation.

Why Choose Our East Lansing, Michigan, Car Accident Lawyers?

Car accidents can result in severe or catastrophic injuries, leaving victims with medical bills, months of physical therapy, and financial strain from being away from work. Our lawyers understand the devastating effects this can have on you and your family. Therefore, we immediately start the claims process when you retain our firm.

We have represented numerous car accident victims, and our satisfactory service is seen in the positive testimonials from our clients. Also, we have recovered millions of dollars in combined settlement and verdicts, which has helped our clients get their lives back. Our legal team consists of experienced negotiators and trial lawyers, so we have the skills to represent you whether you want a settlement or to go to trial.

At Goodman Acker, we have a 99% success rate and personalize every case we handle.

Our initial consultations are free, so do not hesitate to contact us. Call us at 248-286-8100 to schedule one and begin the process of getting financial compensation.

Understanding Car Accident Claims

Car accidents happen when a car collides with a stationary object, another vehicle, an animal, person, bicycle, or motorcycle. It could be a single-vehicle crash or involve multiple vehicles. In single-vehicle accidents, the driver relies on their insurance to cover whatever losses or damages they suffer.

In multi-car collisions, the driver who did not cause the accident is termed the ‘victim,’ and the one who caused the crash is the ‘at-fault’ party. The victim can file a claim against the at-fault party for financial compensation, which the responsible party will pay through their insurance carrier. However, identifying the at-fault party in multi-car accidents can be complex.

In some cases, there might be more than one person responsible, and you need to identify them all to know who to file a claim against. This might be challenging, especially when dealing with your injuries. But our car accident attorney in East Lansing, Michigan, can help you identify the party or parties responsible for your accident and commence the claims process.

Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle

• Rear-End Collisions: These common accidents can result in serious injuries such as whiplash, spinal damage, and more. We help victims hold negligent drivers accountable.
• Head-On Collisions: Often resulting in severe injuries or fatalities, head-on collisions require experienced legal representation to ensure justice and fair compensation.
• T-Bone Accidents: Side-impact crashes can lead to significant injuries. We work diligently to establish fault and secure the compensation you need for recovery.
• Hit-and-Run Accidents: If you’ve been a victim of a hit-and-run, we will use all available resources to identify the responsible party and pursue justice on your behalf.
• Drunk Driving Accidents: We stand firm against drunk drivers and work to ensure they are held responsible for the harm they cause.

What Should You Do After a Car Accident?

After a car crash, there are steps to take to protect yourself, gather and preserve evidence, and improve your chances of receiving compensation. They include the following:

• Get yourself to a safe place if you can, and call 911.
• While waiting for the first responders, try to gather evidence of the crash. Take pictures of the crash scene, and make a video if possible. Speak to witnesses for their statement and contact information, and get the other driver’s name, vehicle registration number, and insurance information.
• Speak to the responding police officers to give them an account of what happened while it is still fresh in your mind, and allow the EMS personnel to examine you.
• If your injuries are severe, allow the EMS personnel to take you to the hospital to treat your injuries. Your medical record is crucial to your claim, so ensure you receive treatment and follow all your doctor’s instructions.
• Hire an experienced attorney to represent you.

Having a legal team you can trust is crucial, as you may be unable to take these steps yourself. At Goodman Acker, P.C., we help clients gather the proof to establish their claims and prove the at-fault party’s negligence.

Who Pays Compensation After a Car Accident in East Lansing?

Michigan is a no-fault insurance state for car accidents, meaning fault does not play a role in crashes. Irrespective of who caused the accident, each person has to rely on their personal injury protection (PIP) insurance policy. The insurance benefits will cover your medical bills, a percentage of your lost wages, and the cost of replacement services.

However, if the collision leads to a severe or catastrophic wound, disfigurement, or disability, you can file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver. A successful lawsuit means you will receive economic and noneconomic damages, which pay for your monetary losses and how the accident affected your life.

Essentially, you may receive the following:

• Medical expenses
• Lost income
• Loss of earning capacity
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Disfigurement
• Loss of consortium.

The above list does not cover all the compensation you are entitled to, and you can get more depending on your case facts. In cases where the at-fault party acted with malice or was grossly negligent, you might receive exemplary damages.

Our car accident lawyers in East Lansing, Michigan, take a compassionate but aggressive approach to every case.

East Lansing Car Accident Lawyer FAQs

Car accident victims often have questions about the compensation claims process, and we answer some of the frequently asked ones below:

How long will it take to conclude my car accident case?

There is no fixed time frame for when a case concludes. However, settlements close faster than litigation, which is why settlement is preferred. Most settlements take weeks to months, while lawsuits take years as they are subject to the court’s calendar and involve several processes.

I was partly at fault for the accident. Can I still receive compensation?

Yes. However, under Michigan’s comparative negligence doctrine, your compensation will take into consideration your fault percentage. So, if you were 20% at fault, you would receive 80%. Also, your fault percentage must not be more than 50%.

When should I hire a car accident attorney?

The best time to hire a lawyer is immediately after the accident. The insurance company will not allow you to recover before they swoop in to get you to take a settlement, which might be less than you deserve. Having a lawyer ensures your rights and interests are protected.

How much does it cost to hire a lawyer? 

Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning we only take a percentage of your settlement and get paid when you do. The percentage is usually 33% to 40%.

These may not be your only questions; our attorneys will discuss your specific concerns in your initial consult.

How Our East Lansing Car Accident Attorney Can Help You

At Goodman Acker, P.C., we take every case seriously and do not place one client above the other. We will carefully assess your case facts, investigate how the accident happened, and gather evidence to prove your case. If needed, we will consult expert witnesses, like accident reconstruction experts.

Also, we will handle the settlement negotiations with the insurance company. If the negotiations fall through, we will file a lawsuit, handle the discovery process, and argue your case before a jury. We will keep you updated throughout the process and guide you in making the best decisions for you.

Let Us Help You with Your Car Accident Case

If you or a loved one suffered severe injuries in a car accident, you can file for compensation from the at-fault party, and our attorneys at Goodman Acker, P.C., can help you with it. We will protect your interests from start to finish and are available 24/7 to attend to you. Call us at 248-286-8100 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.

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 ]