How Much Compensation Can I Expect For My Michigan Personal Injury Case?

Sustaining life-altering injuries from an accident or act of negligence often leads to overwhelming financial burdens. These can include thousands of dollars in medical bills, lost wages, and prescription costs. For many people in Michigan, managing these expenses out of pocket is simply impossible. As a result, individuals may turn to a personal injury attorney, hoping they will advocate on their behalf and secure the compensation needed to cover these expenses. But just how much compensation can one realistically expect?

Compensation after an accident can depend on several factors.

Severity of Injuries:

The severity of an individual’s injuries sustained in an accident plays a crucial role in determining the compensation awarded in a pain and suffering case. This is largely based upon the extent of medical treatment required for recovery, as well as the pain and suffering the injuries created.

Medical Expenses:

As previously mentioned, current and future medical expenses play a critical role in any personal injury claim. These costs include hospital bills, rehabilitation, surgeries, and ongoing therapy. Thorough documentation of these expenses is crucial for supporting your claim and ensuring you receive the compensation necessary to effectively cover these costs.

Lost Wages:

Compensation can often also include the income lost during recovery. If the injuries have long-term effects that prevent you from returning to work or limit your ability to earn at your previous capacity, this should also be factored into the compensation amount. Lost earnings can also include loss of overtime, pension, 401k benefits, and other fringe benefits.

Liability:

The degree of liability assigned to the other party is crucial. If the other party is found to be fully responsible for the accident, you will receive higher compensation than if you were to share some fault in the incident.

In Michigan, the parties' fault is apportioned for damages purposes. This means if a plaintiff is 25% at fault for causing their own injuries, then the amount of money a jury awards will be reduced by 25%. This is called comparative fault.

Under Michigan law, if a person is more than 50% at fault for causing their injuries from an auto accident, slip and fall, or some other personal injury incident, that person is not entitled to any pain and suffering compensation.

Insurance Coverage:

This is important. The amount of compensation you can receive will be influenced by the limits of the at-fault party's insurance policy. Understanding the insurance details can help set realistic expectations for your claim. Although an injured person can obtain a judgment above the defendant’s insurance policy limits, getting that money is an entirely different matter. First, most people who have little insurance also have little in the way of assets. Also, a person can declare bankruptcy and get the excess verdict discharged in bankruptcy court.

This is especially true for auto accident cases. In Michigan, it is estimated that approximately 20% of drivers drive without insurance. And even the individuals who do have insurance often carry the state minimum. This is not helpful if a negligent driver causes serious injuries, such as a broken leg, severe low back pain, concussion, or other medical problems. If the negligent driver only has a $50,000 insurance policy, you may be stuck with that amount, even if your medical bills and injuries are worth much more.

That is why it is important to purchase uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist coverage. It’s very inexpensive and provides the opportunity to obtain actual justice for your pain and suffering following a crash.

Impact on Daily Life:

Finally, it is important to reflect on how the injury has impacted your daily life. Compensation can cover not only lost enjoyment of life and emotional distress but also the changes in your ability to participate in activities you were once able to perform. This includes everyday chores, self-care routines, and hobbies like exercising, gardening, or hunting. All these factors contribute to the understanding of how much this injury has taken away from you, and how much you deserve to be compensated because of it.

What is the Fair Price of Pain and Suffering?

A generation ago, lawyers and insurance companies usually based pain and suffering on a ratio of medical bills and lost wages. A lot of cases were settled with a ratio between 3-5. This means if you had $10,000 in medical bills and lost wages, your pain and suffering case was worth $30,000 to $50,000.

This way of analyzing the value of a personal injury case is no longer accurate. Although there are no laws or rules on what a fair settlement entails, it is important to hire an aggressive Michigan personal injury lawyer who is not afraid to take on the big corporations and insurance companies.

Get the Most Compensation For Your Injuries

Remember, every case is unique, and while there is no one-size-fits-all answer to how much compensation to expect from a personal injury case, understanding these factors can help you set realistic expectations. Consulting with a skilled personal injury attorney can provide clarity and guidance throughout the process, ensuring that you pursue the compensation you truly deserve.
The personal injury attorneys at the Lee Steinberg Law Firm have decades of experience getting victims the compensation that they deserve due to another person’s negligence. Call 1-800-LEE-FREE today to speak with an expert attorney who will be able to answer any questions that you may have regarding compensation.

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