At the Lee Steinberg Law Firm, we understand how frustrating and even traumatic a car accident can be when you have so much else to do and worry about. Let our Grand Rapids car accident lawyers help you handle your case. We can help you get back on your feet as quickly as possible with the compensation you need to pay for your financial losses.
Grand Rapids is a bustling city with lots to do and see. It is an excellent area to raise a family. However, the downside of being in a growing city with lots to do is that there tends to be a lot of traffic. Heavy traffic also means more car accidents, which can result in costly medical expenses for injuries, property damage repair, and other financial losses.
Winning Grand Rapids Car Lawyers
Our law firm handles a wide range of Michigan car accident cases around Grand Rapids and West Michigan. Our team of experienced and compassionate car accident lawyers gets the job done. We walk in our client’s shoes, making sure they are constantly updated on their cases, receiving updates, and working with compassion to obtain the best result.
Grand Rapids Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers
Drunk driving accidents can have devastating results. Not only could you suffer from severe and even life-threatening injuries, but you could also experience emotional distress, both of which can be debilitating and make it hard to live your life. There’s also the financial burden to consider, especially the cost of medical treatments for your injuries. In 2023, there were 783 crashes in Kent County involving alcohol, resulting in 411 injuries and 23 fatalities.
Our Michigan drunk driving attorneys understand the tragedy of these cases and can help you seek justice and get the compensation and justice you need to recover.
Grand Rapids Rear-End Collisions Lawyers
Rear-end collisions are among the most common types of accidents across Michigan. Not only do these accidents often leave your car severely damaged, but they can also result in painful injuries. Contact our legal team immediately if you need help with a Michigan rear-end accident claim. We can help you get the compensation you need for the damages you suffered.
Grand Rapids High-Speed Accidents Lawyers
Speeding is a problem everywhere, but it is especially common in cities with more traffic, like Grand Rapids. Unfortunately, high-speed collisions can have devastating results. Many victims of Michigan high-speed accidents face life-threatening injuries and extensive car damage.
Contact one of our Michigan car accident attorneys to help. We’ll handle your case from beginning to end so you can focus on your health and getting better.
Should I File a Police Report After a Car Accident?
Yes, you should ALWAYS file a police report after a car accident in Grand Rapids. A police report is not admissible evidence at trial but is the basis for most insurance claims. Here are some reasons why it is essential to file a police report after a Michigan car accident.
To Support Your Car Insurance Claim
If your car was damaged in the accident, you would also need to file a claim to be compensated for the cost of repairs. However, most insurance companies won’t provide this compensation if there isn’t a police report that proves your car was damaged in the accident.
To Support Your Personal Injury Claim
When you file a personal injury claim, you will need as much evidence as possible to help you recover the compensation you need. Not only will you have medical bills after an accident, but you will also need to be compensated for lost wages while you recover, your emotional distress, out-of-pocket expenses, and overall pain and suffering.
A police report serves as substantial, reliable evidence that the accident did happen and that you were a victim, thus making you eligible to file a claim for your injuries and other damages.
To Protect Yourself From a Lawsuit
Even if the accident was minor and all parties involved agree that it’s not a big deal and to avoid getting the police involved, you never know what might happen later. The other person could file a lawsuit against you and make false claims about what happened. Without a police report, there is nothing to show that you are not responsible for what happened. So, no matter the situation, you should always call the police to avoid a potential lawsuit.
To Make an Uninsured Motorist Claim
In cases involving a hit-and-run crash or an accident caused by a driver without insurance, a person can turn to their own insurance company for pain and suffering compensation. These cases are called uninsured motorist (UM) claims. One requirement of filing a UM claim is making a police report. In fact, most insurance companies require a police report within 24 hours of a hit-and-run accident.
What Expenses Get Paid By an Insurance Company After a Car Accident?
When you file an accident claim, there are standard economic and non-economic damages for which you can receive compensation. This includes medical bills, property damage, lost wages, and pain & suffering.
However, depending on your individual situation, there are often other expenses related to the accident. For example, individuals who take the time to help an injured person can receive payment for their time. In Michigan, this is called household replacement services and attendant care.
Household replacement services are the out-of-pocket expenses you agree to pay a person for the household chores you cannot do because of your injuries. Under Michigan law, a friend or family member can receive $20 per day for replacing the household chores you cannot complete.
Attendant care is another out-of-pocket expense. It is more personal care following a Kent County car crash. These items include driving, helping with hygiene, bathing, changing bandages, and other personal care. The attendant care provider can get paid hourly. Friends and family are eligible to provide attendant care services. They do not have to be a licensed medical professional.
Will Posting on Social Media Hurt My Car Accident Case?
A good rule of thumb after any car accident is to avoid posting anything about the accident on social media. Social media posting is a modern-day example of the classic “anything you say or do can be used against you.”
Posting on social media can hurt your accident claim because insurance companies and defense lawyers for the other party will look for anything they can to deny claims. So anything you post is fair game. If something is taken out of context, it could be used against you.
No matter how innocent you think a photo or video may be, it could be used to claim that you are faking the accident, malingering, or trying to commit insurance fraud. Defense attorneys may also try to look for things that could be used to claim that you are at fault instead of their client.
Should I Accept the First Settlement Offer from the Insurance Company?
Accepting the insurance company’s first settlement offer is generally never a good idea. In most cases, insurance companies offer quick settlements to get out of paying the victim the full settlement they deserve.
They will likely try to make you feel like it’s a good offer like you aren’t going to get anything better, but this is almost always untrue. They may also try to make it seem like things could get messy, complicated, or drawn out if you don’t accept the first offer. But all of these are tactics to get out of paying you what you are owed.
Insurance companies know that if you work with a lawyer and decline their first offer, you will likely be able to prove that you deserve a higher settlement. They don’t want that to happen. So they will do whatever it takes to get you to accept their first offer.
In any case, you should first consult with an experienced personal injury attorney. They can review your case and offer you guidance. If they think you can get a better offer, they will tell you so and do what they can to help you win the settlement you deserve.
Can I File a Car Accident Case for My Child?
Michigan has what is called the No-Fault Act, which was created to allow anyone injured in a car accident to be covered in case of injury, including injured children. However, children are not capable of filing a claim on their own. Instead, a parent or legal guardian can file for their injured child.
However, which insurance carrier will pay the claim and how it will be handled will depend on the individual situation. For example, things can get complicated if the parents are divorced and have shared custody. In most cases, the parent that has the child the majority of the time is the one who will be eligible to file the claim.
Just like adults, children are also eligible for pain and suffering compensation following an auto accident. A Grand Rapids auto accident attorney can walk you through the process and get your child the money they deserve.
Case Summary – Wrongful Death
A family from Muskegon retained our law firm after their child was tragically killed in a multi-car accident. The drivers involved in the accident were all pointing fingers at each other for causing the wreck. Our law firm obtained a significant settlement for the girl’s family using experts and a thorough investigation.
Why Do I Need a Grand Rapids Car Accident Lawyer?
While anyone can file a claim on their own, it is generally not advised as you are more likely to make mistakes and errors that could negatively affect your claim. Without a lawyer, your claim could get denied, or you could be awarded a much lower settlement than you deserve.
So, why should you hire a Grand Rapids lawyer for your car accident case?
- Lawyers have in-depth knowledge of the legal system that can benefit your case.
- They can thoroughly evaluate and work with experts to build up your claim.
- They can handle communication and negotiations with the other parties involved for you.
- They can negotiate a fair settlement without needing to go to court.
- They can protect your rights and offer you fair representation if a lawsuit is necessary.
Top Rated Grand Rapids Car Accident Lawyer
For over 50 years, the Lee Steinberg Law Firm has helped families throughout West Michigan and the Grand Rapids area obtain the compensation they need and deserve. We care about our clients’ health and well-being. The results of a car accident in Michigan can be traumatic – let us help you get the money you need to recover and move on as comfortably as possible.
Please call The Lee Steinberg Grand Rapids auto accident attorneys at 1-800-LEE-FREE (1-800-533-3733) or fill out the Free Case Evaluation Form so we can answer any questions you may have about your accident. You pay nothing until we settle your Grand Rapids car accident case.