When you've been involved in a car accident, dealing with car insurance companies – whether your own or the insurer for another driver – can be intimidating and confusing. Many people involved in a serious car wreck don't understand what their obligations are toward their insurers or how to proceed without hurting potential legal claims down the road.
Michigan Injury Lawyers has handled automobile accident claims on behalf of clients throughout the state, and we've dealt with countless insurance companies over the years.
Call our Michigan car accident attorneys at 313-438-4357, or contact us online for an evaluation of your claim. If there is no recovery in your case, there is no fee for our services.
Understanding Michigan's No-Fault Insurance System: What You Need to Know After an Accident
What you may not realize is that Michigan is a no-fault insurance state, which means that unless your injury is considered a "threshold injury" (serious impairment or disfigurement), the only claim you will file will be for Personal Injury Protection (PIP) with your own insurance company. Even if your auto accident was obviously caused by another driver, if you aren't considered to have suffered from a threshold injury, you cannot file a third-party lawsuit. So it's extremely important that you notify your insurance company right away and file what is known as an Application for Benefits. You have a one-year time limit in which to file this application, after which you lose the opportunity to file for any benefits.
When you notify your insurer and request the Application for Benefits form, you should ask for a claim number and make sure that a PIP file is opened for your case. Also, check your policy carefully for any additional requirements – some insurance companies have different deadlines for certain types of injuries or accidents, so it's important that you understand your obligations as stated in your policy.
Do NOT sign any release or statement regarding your injuries, however, without consulting an experienced car accident attorney. Insurance claims adjusters may contact you before you've had time to complete treatment or evaluation for your injuries, and you can end up signing away your rights to file for benefits very easily. Remember – insurance companies are not in business to pay you money; their goal is to pay as little as possible.
If your injury is of a more serious nature, it may meet the requirements for a threshold injury, making you eligible to file a third-party claim against the other driver responsible for your accident. The car accident lawyers at Michigan Injury Lawyers can evaluate the severity of your injury claim and advise you whether your injuries meet these criteria – and if so, we can represent you in a third-party claim. We have worked with many insurance companies, so we know what they look for when reviewing car accident claims, and we can use our experience to help prepare an effective claim on your behalf.
Car wrecks are traumatic events and they can cause significant injury, so it's important that you talk to a qualified automobile accident attorney. Our goal at Michigan Injury Lawyers is to ensure that you and your family obtain fair compensation based on your injuries. If you or someone you love has suffered a personal injury in Michigan from a car crash, please call the car accident lawyers at Michigan Injury Lawyers.
Contact Michigan Injury Lawyers
Based in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan Injury Lawyers represents clients across Michigan, including Macomb County, Oakland County, Warren, Clinton Township, Sterling Heights, St. Clair Shores, Mount Clemens, Utica, Roseville, Troy, Farmington Hills, Waterford, Southfield, Pontiac, Birmingham Michigan, Rochester Hills, West Bloomfield and Bloomfield Hills. Call Michigan Injury Lawyers at 313-438-4357, or contact us online for an free evaluation of your claim. If there is no recovery in your case, there is no fee for our services.