Car accidents are very common in Wayne County. Westland is no exception. With a mix of residential homes and commercial buildings, the city has its fair share of traffic and car crashes. The Westland car accident lawyers at the Lee Steinberg Law Firm have been helping Westland residents for decades.
Wayne County Car Accident Statistics
Wayne County had over 50,000 car accidents in 2021. This led to over 16,000 injuries and 219 fatalities. Alcohol was a factor in close to 1,500 crashes and almost 1,000 injuries, the most by far out of any county.
In 2021, 2,480 crashes were the result of distracted driving. These accidents can include texting, using social media or playing with apps or the radio inside the car. 562 pedestrians were involved in a car accident in Wayne County, resulting in 481 injuries and tragically 62 deaths.
Wayne County is the most populous county in Michigan, so naturally it has more crashes and injuries due to car, truck, and motorcycle accidents. And Westland gets its fair share of these accidents.
Dangerous Intersections in Westland
Westland is mostly a residential community, but naturally it does have busy commercial areas. This particularly true along Ford Road. In fact, Ford Rd. and Wayne Rd. is one of the most dangerous intersections in the city. Other dangerous intersections include Ford Rd and Newburgh Rd. and Warren Rd and Newburgh.
These areas are dangerous because there are lots of cars stopping to turn into shopping malls and restaurants. Traffic also causes backups. When people are not paying attention, rear-end collision can occur. Drivers who texting while driving or using their cell phones while driving also run red lights or fail to yield to oncoming traffic.
Motorists who fail to obey the law are guilty of negligence if they cause a crash. And under Michigan law, they may be held responsible for paying compensation for any injuries that arise out of the accident.
There are two types of compensation for injuries from a car accident. The first is called “economic damages” and comprise of things like no-fault benefits or first-party PIP benefits, as explained below.
The other type of compensation is “non-economic” damages. These are the harms and losses that cannot be so easily quantified. They include things like physical pain and suffering, emotional pain suffering, emotional distress, anxiety, depression, loss of society and loss of consortium.
Because Michigan is a no-fault state, getting compensation after a car accident is not so simple. Usually, two different insurance carriers are involved. One pays the no-fault benefits, while another pays the pain and suffering.
A knowledgeable Westland car accident lawyer can make sure you get everything you deserve quickly and get your life back on track.
Michigan is a no-fault state. This means in Michigan, a person can obtain first-party no-fault benefits, even if they cause the accident. Another name for no-fault benefits is personal injury protection or PIP.
These benefits are even available to individuals who do not have auto insurance. In fact, all people injured in a car or truck accident in Michigan are entitled to no-fault benefits so long as they were not in an accident involving their own uninsured car.
So what kind of things do no-fault benefits include? First, is the payment of medical bills that are related to the crash. These medical expenses can include hospital bills, doctor bills, rehab, surgeries, medications and co-pays
Another benefit is lost wages. Under MCL 500.3107(1)(b), the car insurance company must pay 85% of your gross wages for up to 3 years from the date of the accident. This is true even if you lose your job due to the crash.
A third benefit is replacement services. Under MCL 500.3107(1)(c), a friend or family member who is doing the household chores you cannot do because of your car accident injuries is entitled to receive $20 per day for this work. This benefit is also available for up to 3 years.
The Westland car accident lawyers at the Lee Steinberg Law Firm can answer any questions you may have about the no-fault benefits you are entitled to receive. Auto insurance companies don’t like paying benefits. We can make sure they pay what they are supposed to pay.
Most of the time, a car accident only involves minor damage and no injuries. However, if the crash is serious and an injury occurs, an experienced Westland car accident lawyer is a good person to turn to make sure you do not get taken advantage of.
A knowledgeable car accident can help you open a claim for first-party benefits as well as get money for your car damage.
Insurance companies try to take advantage of individuals who are not experts and may understand the claims process. They will often try and low ball a person to get them to settle cheap and fast. They will do this by promising to send a check immediately. But in return the injured person is giving up all their rights and often getting pennies on the dollar.
It is important to consult with a great car accident lawyer who knows the tricks of the trade and what car insurance companies do to get out of paying.
Car accidents can be minor or lead to serious injuries. In suburban areas like Westland, they can occur for a number of different reasons, including:
- Failing to pay attention
- Running a red light
- Running a stop sign
- Making an illegal turn
- Speeding
- Making an illegal U-turn
- Drinking and driving
- Texting while driving
The key to getting compensation for paying and suffering is to ensure your attorney proves the other driver was negligent for the crash. The police report that is made after the accident is important, but is not admissible evidence. In fact, even a ticket is inadmissible hearsay.
Therefore, it takes a thorough investigation by an experienced Westland car accident lawyer to ensure fault is placed on the other driver. This is done by interviewing witnesses, hiring accident reconstruction experts, taking the deposition of the police officers who responded to the crash, and the depositions of the other drivers and witnesses.
In many crashes, proving liability is not difficult. A person who rear-ended the car in front of them at a red light is negligent for not stopping in time. However, sometimes crashes are not so clear cut. This is particularly true when both drivers are turning at the same time or a car is changing lanes.
In these situations, an aggressive Westland car accident law firm can make the different between proving liability, and winning your case, or getting nothing.
Lee Steinberg Law Firm: Westland Car Accident Lawyers You Can Trust
Our dedicated team of Westland car accident attorneys and legal professionals have been helping Westland residents for almost 50 years. We have a deep base of experience and talent. We know the law and we know how to push your case so you get the most money possible.
Call our office toll free at 1-800-LEE-FREE (1-800-533-3733). We never charge anything until we win your case. That means there are no costs or fees unless there is a recovery for you.