Washington Michigan Personal Injury Lawyer

Personal Injury Attorneys in Macomb County

Helping the Injured in Washington, MI, with a 99% Success Rate

Fundamentally, a personal injury case forces negligent drivers, property owners, and other parties to take responsibility for their mistakes. We all make mistakes, and we should all accept the consequences of those mistakes.

If Ben promises to water his neighbor’s plants and he does not follow through on that promise, for whatever reason, he should pay compensation (replace his neighbor’s plants) if they die.

Likewise, if Ben promises that customers will be safe when they visit his store and a customer slips and falls on a wet spot, he should pay compensation, as outlined below. The compensation is much higher in that latter instance because a person is worth infinitely more than a plant.

These principles seem simple, but once insurance company lawyers get involved, they suddenly become complex.

These lawyers often dispute liability (legal responsibility for an injury), damages (extent of the victim’s injuries), and/or both of these things.

Insurance company lawyers use legal loopholes, like comparative fault, to deny liability. They use “second opinions” from doctors who are usually insurance company employees to dispute damages. Insurance companies earn over $1 trillion a year. So, they can fight claims with almost unlimited financial resources.

In this environment, an experienced Washington personal injury lawyer from Goodman Acker is an invaluable partner. Our legal team has decades of combined experience. So, we quickly evaluate your case and determine your legal options.

At the same time, because we have such strong connections in the business community, we connect victims with doctors, mechanics, and other accident-related providers. Generally, these professionals do not charge any money upfront.

Then, the real work begins. We diligently collect evidence that supports your claims and refutes insurance company defenses. Because we take the time to build a strong case, we usually settle personal injury matters out of court, and on victim-friendly terms.

If a favorable settlement does not happen, we do not take the easy way out. Instead, we go the distance for you.

What Sets Our Washington, MI, Personal Injury Law Firm Apart?

We realize that Macomb County accident victims literally have hundreds of legal choices. Before you partner with just any lawyer, consider what the legal team at Goodman Acker has to offer you.

Almost ant Macomb County lawyer could successfully resolve a simple dog bite, car crash, or other personal injury cases. However, as outlined above, there is no such thing as a “simple” injury case. Advanced personal injury cases require advanced skill sets, including:

• Experience: During law school, students learn about basic legal principles and theories. But your personal injury case is not an example in a book or a theoretical concept. Injured victims need help. Only experienced lawyers know how to use these ideas to get victims the help they need.
• Dedication: Many attorneys handle a few personal injury matters on the side, mostly to make money. Only a dedicated Washington personal injury lawyer picks up on important details that make a big difference. Furthermore, your attorney should be committed to upholding victims’ rights. Everything else should come second.
• Accessibility: Simply getting around town is difficult for many injury victims, especially on their bad days. Victims have enough to worry about. Getting to a lawyer’s office should not be an additional burden. Additionally, your lawyer, not a less-experienced associate or non-lawyer paralegal, should be available to meet with you about your case.

At Goodman Acker, we check all these boxes. Because of our years of experience, we have developed proven methods that obtain life-changing results for families just like yours. Furthermore, personal injury law is all we do.

We have received numerous awards and recognitions in this area, such as inclusion on the Super Lawyers list, an AV Martindale-Hubbell Rating, and a spot on the list of Top 100 Trial Lawyers.

Finally, we have several office locations in Greater Detroit, and at Goodman Acker, your lawyer always assumes primary responsibility for all the work done in your case.

Our experience, dedication, and accessibility pays off for our clients. Over the years, we have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for injury victims. This compensation usually includes money for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering. Additional punitive damages are available as well, in some extreme cases.

People recognize our commitment to injury victims and our strong track record of success. Our attorneys regularly speak on injury-related topics and train other lawyers in this area. Furthermore, media outlets regularly feature our law firm, its people, and its accomplishments.

On top of all this, we offer free initial consultations. We thoroughly review your case and honestly assess your legal options. We do not take shortcuts and we do not tell people what they want to hear.

We urge you to reach out to us if you were injured in an accident. You do not know if you are seriously ill until a doctor examines you, and you do not know how much compensation you may be entitled to until you speak with a Washington personal injury lawyer. We are committed to obtaining the money you need and deserve, so you can move on with 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 for recovering 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. If a fair settlement is not reached, a personal injury lawsuit can be filed. One of our skilled personal injury attorneys in Washington, MI, will make sure your rights and interests are secured by a strategic, well-supported personal injury claim.

Compensation for Personal Injuries in Michigan

In Michigan, the law allows injured parties to seek compensation for the damages they suffer. “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, there are other costs that can result from an injury that are neither medical nor property related. Pain and suffering and emotional distress are non-economic damages.

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, and
• Pain and suffering.

Washington, MI, Personal Injury FAQs

Our Personal Injury Lawyers in Macomb County 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 Washington, MI?

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 Washington 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 put into place 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 by your side to represent your interests and advocate for your rights. Even if you are dealing with your own auto insurance company, their priority is profits and not 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 Washington, 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, and
• Product liability.

How do I know I have a Washington, MI, personal injury claim?

That is 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 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 Washington, MI, 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 Macomb 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.

Contact Our Trusted Washington, MI, Personal Injury Lawyer Today

If you need a Washington 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 ]