Hit-and-run accidents are very common. Individuals who cause a crash will take off from the scene because they are afraid of fines and criminal penalties. They also don’t want to be held responsible for what they did. Traverse City hit-and-run lawyers know how to handle these very complicated cases.

If the hit-and-run driver can be identified, then he or she is clearly liable. However, if this doesn’t happen there is still a way to get compensation. This is by filing an uninsured motorist claim. These are also known as UM cases.

Uninsured motorist is a type of insurance coverage. It covers the driver and even passengers in case they are injured by a hit-and-run driver. In these cases, the insurance company for the vehicle is responsible for paying pain and suffering compensation for injuries.

For example, if you are injured in a hit-and-run crash, and you have State Farm Insurance, then State Farm steps into the shoes of the hit-and-run driver and pays out pain and suffering compensation. However this only happens if the vehicle has uninsured motorist coverage. It is not mandatory in Michigan, but we highly recommend everyone purchase this coverage. In the grand scheme of auto insurance, it is inexpensive.

An important thing to know about hit-and run-accidents is that it is vital to file a police report within 24 hours of the crash. Because of fraud, almost all car insurance carriers require the claimant to at least try to make a police report within 24 hours. If no report is made, this can jeopardize a person’s ability to get UM benefits.

When you file a personal injury claim in Michigan, you can recover compensation for what’s known as “damages.” These damages are the things that have caused you to suffer losses as a result of the accident.

Such damages can include:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Physical pain & suffering
• Emotional distress or trauma
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Disability and impairment
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Reduced quality of life
• Cost of attendant care and household services
• Loss of consortium or companionship

If you need help understanding what damages you are owed for a personal injury claim, one of our Traverse City car accident lawyers can assist you.

Many different kinds of evidence can be beneficial in a personal injury case. Generally speaking, the more evidence you have to prove what happened, the better. However, one piece of evidence that is perhaps most important is the police report.

While other kinds of evidence can help support your claim, a police report is the one piece of evidence that insurance companies will almost always require you to provide for them to process your claim and award you a settlement. This is especially true when you are filing a no-fault claim for PIP benefits.

provides proof of a car or truck accident occurred. Without a police report, insurance companies  are much slower to pay a claim or will deny it all together. A Traverse City car accident lawyer can help you obtain a copy of the police report if needed.

Technically, there is no easy way to calculate your car accident settlement upfront. The truth of the matter is that many factors can play a role in how much your personal injury claim is worth. And there is no way to just come up with an estimate before all those factors have been thoroughly evaluated and taken into account.

Each and every car accident claim is unique, and no lawyer can truly guarantee that you will win a specific amount. However you can potentially get somewhat of an idea of how much your case is worth by sitting down with an honest and experienced attorney.

They can review the medical treatment, bills, injuries, how the crash occurred and affect the crash has had on your life and provide you with a range of settlement. . No matter what, it is vital to have an aggressive and winning car accident lawyer on your side who is not afraid to go after the insurance company. A good Traverse City car accident law firm will meet with their client, their family members, witnesses, hire experts and do whatever it takes to win your case

Michigan law used to require ALL drivers to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage. This benefit provided compensation for things like medical bills andprescriptions, no matter who was at fault for the accident.

However, recent changes now allow drivers to opt out of the PIP coverage if they qualify. . These changes went into effect in July 2020, and they allow you to either fully opt out or allow you to have more control over your level of PIP coverage.

Though opting out is now an option, it’s still wise to consider PIP coverage. Even if you can only afford the lowest level of coverage, these benefits can be critical in helping you get the money you need to help pay for your injuries and other damages should you be involved in an accident.

Immediately following an accident, in most situations you can see any doctor of your choice to address your injuries. This includes going to your general practitioner, seeing an ER doctor at a hospital, or an urgent care doctor. It is really important to follow-up with a doctor after a car crash. Michigan law requires medical documentation to back up injuries. Subjective complaints to family members and friends are not enough.

When you see a doctor or physicians assistant, make you point out the car accident and the pain you are experiencing from the crash. It is important they know this is a new injury or pain, and not something you have just been dealing with.

Usuallywhen you file a personal injury claim, at some point most insurance companies will require you to undergo an Independent Medical Examination (IME).

So even if you are already seeing doctors, you may be required to see another doctor hired by the insurance company or the other party’s defense lawyer to get a second opinion about your injuries. This doctor then writes a report after a brief examination. The doctor’s report can be used by the insurance company to stop paying benefits or say your injuries are not accident related.

If you have questions or concerns about an IME doctor, especially if you believe they are downplaying your injuries, you should talk to a lawyer. A Traverse City car accident lawyer can protect your rights and ensure your injuries are honestly evaluated and represented.

In almost all cases, if the car accident or truck crash occurred in Traverse City, then the lawsuit will be filed in Grand Traverse County Circuit Court. This is because under Michigan’s venue statute, MCL 600.1629, the location of the accident is very important in determining where the lawsuit must be filed.

An exception to this rule is if the defendant is an out-of-state defendant. In these cases, often the lawsuit must be filed in federal court. In Michigan, the federal court for Michigan is split into an Eastern District and Western District. Therefore, depending on the location, your case may be in Bay City, Grand Rapids, Lansing or in Marquette if in the Upper Peninsula.

So if an accident occurs in Kalkaska, most of the time the lawsuit must be filed in Kalkaska County. Other places our team of Northern Michigan car accident lawyers handle cases includes Petoskey, Charlevoix, Alpena and Gaylord.

In most cases, it is almost always beneficial to work with a personal injury attorney after being in a car accident. If you sustained an injury and intend to file a compensation claim, you should work with an attorney.

Insurance companies are notorious for undervaluing claims and may even try to find ways to fully deny your claim if possible. They don’t care about your wellbeing; they only care about saving money.

You should especially consult with an attorney if the insurance company is trying to offer you a quick settlement. They often do this to avoid the hassle of dealing with back-and-forth negotiations, but the amount they are offering in these cases is almost always much lower than what you actually deserve.

Aside from dealing with the insurance company, there are so many other elements involved in car accident cases, many of which are challenging to handle without professional legal guidance. Working with an attorney ensures that your case is handled efficiently andyou receive every benefit you are entitled to receive. You are also more likely to get a higher-value settlement when you work with an attorney.