Serious personal injuries in Lansing, Michigan, can happen when others act carelessly and irresponsibly, such as in a premises accident or motor vehicle crash scenario.
If you sustained injuries in one of these occurrences, the skilled legal team at Michigan Injury Lawyers is ready to fight for your rights and pursue the maximum compensation available for your injuries.
For a free case evaluation and legal consultation with an experienced Lansing personal injury attorney, please call us at (517) 435-9370 or contact us online for more information.
Lansing Personal Injury Guide
- Why Should Our Lansing Personal Injury Lawyers Represent You?
- How Much is My Lansing Personal Injury Case Worth?
- Common Categories of Personal Injury Cases in Lansing
- How to Prove a Lansing Personal Injury Case Successfully
- Most Common Injuries That Accident Victims in Lansing Suffer
- Fighting the Insurance Company in a Lansing Personal Injury Claim or Lawsuit
- Most Important Steps to Take after an Accident in Lansing
- Call an Experienced Lansing Personal Injury Lawyer Today
Why Should Our Lansing Personal Injury Lawyers Represent You?
When it comes to a personal injury claim or lawsuit in Lansing, you want the best possible legal team in your corner advocating for you.
At Michigan Injury Lawyers, we will carefully review the circumstances of your occurrence with you, gather appropriate documentation, and aggressively fight the insurance company on your behalf. We have a strong track record of success, not only with settling personal injury cases but also with litigating them to a resolution at trial.
You can see our most recent client reviews and case testimonials on this site. Our office is conveniently located at 1223 Turner Road #333, Lansing, MI 48906.
How Much is My Lansing Personal Injury Case Worth?
Determining the value of a personal injury claim or lawsuit in Lansing, Michigan, depends on various factors, including the severity of your injuries, the effects on your life, and the extent of the other party’s liability.
In Michigan, personal injury claims generally cover both economic and non-economic damages.
Here’s a breakdown of these types of damages and how they contribute to the overall value of your claim.
Economic damages refer to measurable financial losses resulting from your injury.
These typically include:
- Medical Expenses: This includes hospital bills, doctor visits, surgeries, physical therapy, medications, and any future medical care you might need. In Michigan, if you suffered an injury in a car accident, your no-fault insurance may cover your medical costs, but you can also seek additional compensation for out-of-pocket expenses.
- Lost income: If your injury prevents you from working, you may recover compensation for lost income. This includes past lost earnings as well as any future earnings you may lose if you cannot return to your previous job – or if your earning capacity decreases.
- Property Damage: If your injury damages personal property, such as your car in a car accident, your claim may include the cost of repairing or replacing that property.
Non-economic damages compensate for the more subjective, non-financial effects of an injury.
These include:
- Pain and Suffering: This refers to the physical and emotional distress you experience due to your injury. It may account for chronic pain, mental anguish, or the inability to engage in activities you once enjoyed.
- Loss of Consortium: If your injury affects your relationship with a spouse or family member, they can seek damages for loss of companionship or support.
- Emotional Distress: Beyond physical pain, emotional distress can cover anxiety, depression, or other psychological effects resulting from the injuries.
The overall worth of your claim depends on the nature of your injuries, the costs involved, and how the injuries affect your quality of life.
Common Categories of Personal Injury Cases in Lansing
In Lansing, Michigan, several types of personal injury cases arise from accidents or incidents where someone else’s negligence causes harm.
Some of the most frequent types of personal injury cases in the area include car accidents, truck accidents, pedestrian accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, premises liability (such as slip and fall accidents), dog bites, and medical malpractice.
Car Accidents
Car accidents are one of the most common types of personal injury cases. Lansing, like many cities, has busy roads, and collisions often occur due to distracted driving, speeding, or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
In Michigan, the no-fault insurance system allows people to seek compensation for medical expenses and lost income from their own insurer after an accident. If another party’s negligence caused the crash, a person can file a third-party claim or lawsuit if their damages exceed their PIP coverage.
Truck Accidents
Truck accidents often involve larger vehicles, such as semi-trucks or delivery trucks, and can lead to severe consequences. These accidents frequently happen because of driver fatigue, poor vehicle maintenance, or improper loading. Truck drivers and trucking companies may need to pay damages in these cases.
Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian accidents occur when a person is struck by a vehicle while walking on or near a road. These accidents may result from driver inattention, poor road conditions, or failure to yield to pedestrians. Pedestrians are especially vulnerable to injury in collisions with cars or trucks.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle crashes can be particularly dangerous because riders are less protected than those in cars. Common causes include driver inattention, speeding, or road hazards.
Bicycle Accidents
In Lansing, cycling is popular, and accidents often happen when drivers fail to notice cyclists or don’t give them enough space on the road.
Premises Liability/Slip and Fall
Premises liability cases occur when property owners fail to maintain safe conditions on their property. Slip and fall accidents are typical in these cases, where an individual may trip or fall due to hazards like wet floors, uneven sidewalks, or poorly maintained stairways.
Dog Bites
Dog bites occur when a pet attacks or injures someone. Michigan law holds dog owners responsible for the injuries that their pets cause – particularly if the dog has a history of aggression.
Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice cases arise when a healthcare professional provides substandard care and harms the patient. These cases may involve misdiagnosis, surgical errors, or improper treatment.
How to Prove a Lansing Personal Injury Case Successfully
In a Lansing, Michigan, personal injury case, proving liability (who is at fault) and damages (what you’ve lost or suffered) is key. To win a personal injury claim, the plaintiff (the injured person) must establish several legal elements through evidence.
These elements are duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and damages.
- Duty of Care: The first step in any personal injury case is proving that the defendant (the person or entity being sued) owed the plaintiff a duty of care. This means that the defendant had a legal obligation to act in a way that would prevent harm to others.
- Breach of Duty: The plaintiff must show that the defendant breached that duty. This means the defendant acted recklessly or negligently.
- Causation: The plaintiff must also prove that the defendant’s actions directly caused the injury. This means showing that the breach of duty led to the harm suffered.
- Damages: Finally, the plaintiff needs to show that they suffered actual harm, whether physical, emotional, or financial. This may include medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, or other losses.
The following evidence often helps in personal injury cases:
- Medical records
- Witness testimony
- Police reports
- Photographs or video footage
- Testimony from experts (such as accident reconstructionists)
Most Common Injuries That Accident Victims in Lansing Suffer
In Lansing, Michigan, some of the most common types of injuries that lead to personal injury claims include:
- Whiplash and Neck Injuries: Whiplash is a common injury in car accidents, especially rear-end collisions. It occurs when the head is suddenly jolted forward and then back, causing strain on the neck muscles and ligaments. Neck injuries can also include strains, sprains, or even more serious spinal cord injuries.
- Broken Bones: Broken bones, or fractures, are common in car accidents, slip and fall incidents, and motorcycle crashes. A broken bone may require medical treatment such as a cast, surgery, or physical therapy and can lead to long-term disability, depending on the severity.
- Back and Spinal Cord Injuries: Injuries to the back and spine, including herniated discs, can be severe and life-changing. These injuries can occur in a variety of accidents, such as falls or car crashes, and may cause chronic pain or even paralysis if the spinal cord is damaged.
- Head and Brain Injuries: Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are among the most serious injuries in personal injury cases. A blow to the head in a car accident, motorcycle crash, or fall can cause concussions, contusions, or more severe brain damage. TBIs can lead to long-term cognitive, emotional, or physical challenges.
- Soft Tissue Injuries: Soft tissue injuries involve damage to muscles, tendons, or ligaments and are often seen in slip and fall accidents or car crashes. These injuries can cause bruising, swelling, or long-term pain, even though they may not always be visible.
- Knee and Joint Injuries: Knee and joint injuries, such as torn ligaments or fractures, are common in accidents, especially car crashes or falls. These injuries can require surgery and extensive rehabilitation.
- Burns: Burns, whether from fire, chemicals, or other sources, are severe injuries that can cause permanent scarring and disability. Burn victims may require skin grafts and long-term medical treatment.
- Emotional Distress and PTSD: In some cases, personal injury victims suffer from emotional distress, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – especially after traumatic events like accidents or violent encounters. These emotional injuries can sometimes be part of a personal injury claim.
Fighting the Insurance Company in a Lansing Personal Injury Claim or Lawsuit
Experienced legal representation can make a big difference when fighting the insurance company after a personal injury in Lansing, Michigan
Insurance companies are often focused on protecting their profits, which means they may try to offer you a low settlement or deny your claim altogether.
At Michigan Injury Lawyers, here’s how we can fight for you in a personal injury claim or lawsuit:
- Complete Investigation: We start by fully investigating the details surrounding the occurrence. This includes gathering evidence such as police reports, medical records, witness statements, and any available video footage. We aim to build a strong case that clearly shows the other party’s negligence and how it directly caused your injuries.
- Accurate Valuation of Your Claim: Insurance companies may downplay the extent of your injuries to minimize their payout. We’ll work with medical professionals and experts to accurately assess the full scope of your injuries, including future medical needs, lost earnings, and pain and suffering. This ensures that we pursue your claim’s true value.
- Negotiating with the Insurance Company: We handle all negotiations with the insurance company on your behalf. Our attorneys can counter lowball offers and push for a fair settlement. We’ll make sure the insurance company doesn’t take advantage of you, and we won’t accept a settlement until it adequately covers all of your losses.
- Filing a Lawsuit if Necessary: If the insurance company refuses to settle your case favorably, we can take your case to court. We will represent you throughout the legal process, presenting the evidence and making a compelling argument for compensation.
Most Important Steps to Take after an Accident in Lansing
In a personal injury case in Lansing, Michigan, taking the right steps here are the most important steps to follow:
Complete All Medical Treatment
Your first priority should always be your health. Follow your doctor’s advice and complete all recommended treatments, even if you start feeling better. Injuries can worsen over time, and incomplete treatment may hurt your claim later on. Be sure to document all visits and treatments thoroughly.
Obtain and Retain Documentation
Gather and keep all evidence related to your case. This includes medical records, bills, photographs of the incident scene and your injuries, witness statements, and any police reports. This documentation establishes the severity of your injuries and the cause of the occurrence, which you need for a strong case.
Consult a Knowledgeable Lansing Personal Injury Lawyer
At Michigan Injury Lawyers, we will guide you through the legal process, ensuring that your rights are protected. Our attorneys will handle all communications with insurance companies, negotiate settlements, and, if necessary, represent you in court.
Call an Experienced Lansing Personal Injury Lawyer Today
At Michigan Injury Lawyers, we will aggressively fight for your rights and maximize the compensation you receive in your personal injury claim or lawsuit. For a free case evaluation and legal consultation with a knowledgeable personal injury attorney in Lansing, please call us at (517) 435-9370 or contact us online.