What To Look For In a Canton Car Accident Lawyer

Canton, MI Finding a good car accident lawyer is an important decision if you have been severely injured in a car accident.  The performance of your attorney can be the difference between winning a significant settlement and receiving zero dollars.

So, what should you look for in a Canton car accident attorney? Here are some ways to find a reliable car accident attorney to handle your auto accident claim.

Find a lawyer who specializes in car accident injury cases.

Small law firms typically take any type of case, but motor vehicle accident cases can be confusing. Thus, you need a lawyer who is 100% devoted to personal injury cases related to auto accidents.

Visit the firm’s website.

Does it look professional or cheap? Can you easily look up each lawyer and their specialty, or is there limited information on who they are and what they do? These are signs of how law firms carry themselves and treat their clients.

Check out the firm’s settlement record.

Does the firm have a long history of successful verdicts? You want an experienced lawyer to stand by your side when you are fighting for a favorable settlement.

Contact the firm and see how they respond to calls or emails.

You should look for someone else if the lawyer does not return your call or reply to your email. Timely communication between the lawyer and client is essential throughout the legal process.

Make an appointment to get a vibe of your prospective lawyer.

Some cases can take months to settle, so make sure you are comfortable with your lawyer. If your first meeting doesn’t go well, then continue searching.

Am I Eligible To Receive Compensation If I’m In a Car Or Truck Accident?

Michigan is a no-fault state, so if you get injured in a car accident, your insurance company will pay your medical bills and lost wages regardless of who caused the crash.

If your medical bills and lost wages exceed your insurance benefits, then you can sue the at-fault driver for your injuries, pain and suffering, and any excess economic losses. Make sure to discuss your options with a Canton car accident attorney before you move forward.

Leading Causes Of Car Crash In Michigan

In the state of Michigan, the leading causes of car crashes:

Canton car accidents can also be attributed to the following:

  • Lack of driver experience
  • Fatigue
  • Failure to yield
  • Vehicle defects
  • Seatbelt malfunctions
  • Deer collisions
  • A sudden change of lanes
  • Improper turns
  • Driving the wrong way
  • Stalled cars
  • Dangerous weather conditions

What to Do After a Motor Vehicle Accident in Canton, MI

If you get hurt in a Canton car accident, here are seven things you must do right after the crash.

Call the police.

Right after a Canton car accident, you must file a police report if:

The accident report will document every detail of the accident, including witness statements. The police report is crucial to your car accident case and for you to recover fair compensation.

Seek medical treatment immediately.

Even if you think you do not have serious injuries, you must still seek medical attention after a car wreck. Some life-threatening injuries have delayed symptoms and are not immediately apparent, so do not take your pain and discomfort for granted. Document all your symptoms as soon as they appear. They can help prove that the crash caused your injuries.

If you want to ensure you recover compensation for your medical costs, tell your physician what happened and any pain you may have.

Report and document ALL injuries.

As soon as the first responders arrive, report all of your injuries and insist that they document everything. Accident reports must include the time you are taken by ambulance to when you are treated at the emergency room.

Some injuries that you should not dismiss include:

Don’t talk to insurance reps without a trusted car accident lawyer.

Insurance adjusters will always try to find a reason not to pay you or pay you less than the fair compensation. So, never give any statements or sign releases until you have personal injury lawyers present.

File a No-Fault benefits application.

You must file an application for No-Fault benefits with your auto insurance company to seek compensation for your medical bills and lost wages. In Michigan, you have one year from the date of the accident to complete this process.

Attend all medical appointments.

Attending medical appointments, physical therapy sessions, and follow-ups with your doctor are keys to a speedy recovery process. They are also important when claiming damages since insurance adjusters may contend that you no longer need financial compensation since you have stopped getting medical attention.

Keep good records.

Take photos of all of your injuries right after the car accident.

Document all doctor’s visits, prescriptions, laboratory tests, and physical therapy, including dates and fees you were charged.

Keep a diary of your symptoms, including any discomfort, fatigue, and emotional distress.

Write down how your car accident injuries have affected your quality of life.

How a Canton Car Accident Lawyer Can Help You

There are a number of reasons why you should hire a car accident lawyer, such as the following:

  • Car accident attorneys will help you understand your rights.
  • Personal injury lawyers will offer legal advice.
  • Car accident lawyers will investigate the details of the car crash and gather photos, police reports, and witness statements in order to build your case.
  • Experienced car accident attorneys will file a personal injury claim.
  • Personal injury lawyers will negotiate for a fair settlement if the insurance company tries to lowball you.
  • Car accident lawyers will represent you in court and file a lawsuit if the insurance company refuses to negotiate.

How Michigan’s No-Fault Law Impacts Car Accidents

Because Michigan is a no-fault state, all car owners are required to purchase some basic coverage. It is illegal to drive a motor vehicle without no-fault insurance.

The no-fault law means that regardless of which driver is at fault, no-fault insurance pays for all medical expenses, lost income, and property damages.

Injuries That Can Take Time To Appear After Motor Vehicle Accidents

Wounds and bruises appear right away after a car accident, but some symptoms do not manifest immediately. Some of the injuries that can take days or weeks to appear include the following:

If you have been involved in a car accident, continue monitoring your health for days and even weeks after an accident.

Economic Damages Versus Non-Economic Damages

Economic damages refer to monetary losses, such as medical expenses and lost earnings.

Non-economic damages refer to experiences after an accident, such as:

  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional trauma
  • Mental anguish and distress
  • Poor quality of life
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • Disabilities and permanent impairments
  • Loss of consortium

Evidence You Need to Get Maximum Compensation

To ensure your auto insurance company pays your benefits, gather as much evidence as possible to prove your claim. These include:

  • Pictures and videos at the scene
  • Eyewitness testimony
  • Police report
  • Medical records

Filing a Car Accident Claim Versus Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit

What is a claim?

A claim is a demand filed against an insurance company to force them to cover the costs of an accident.

What is a lawsuit?

If the financial compensation from a claim does not seem fair, you may file a personal injury lawsuit and prove in court that the other driver was negligent or careless, which resulted in your injuries.

Is There a Statute of Limitations For Car Accident Claims In Michigan?

If you have been injured in a Canton car accident, you should file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver within three years from the date of the crash. The statute of limitations applies to both bodily injury and wrongful death claims.

Get a Free Consultation with a Canton Car Accident Lawyer Who Has Your Back.

If you have been injured in a car accident, consider hiring car accident lawyers to remind you of your rights to compensation, economic damages, and no-fault insurance benefits. Call our personal injury attorneys at The Clark Law Office at (517) 347-6900 for a free consultation.

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