The Step-by-Step Guide to the Michigan Car Accident Legal Process

Legally Reviewed and Edited by: Terry L. Cochran

Introduction

Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. has guided hundreds of Michigan families through the aftermath of getting hurt in a car crash. The legal process that goes with car accidents isn’t easy to figure out, so this guide explains what happens after a collision and why it’s so important you talk with a car accident lawyer in Michigan.

Understanding Spinal Cord Injuries from Car Accidents

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, many spinal cord injuries start with car accidents, and a lot of folks don’t even realize that a low-speed crash can cause damage, and you may not notice anything right away.

How serious the injury is depends on what actually happened inside the vehicle. Where you were sitting and how the impact happened both play a role. If it was a rear-ender, you might get whiplash and cervical spine injuries; T-bone crashes often cause thoracic spine damage.

Symptoms and Long-Term Effects of Spinal Cord Injuries

Even if you felt fine at the scene, you might have a spinal injury and not notice the symptoms until later on, like severe pain or mobility issues. If you’ve got numbness, tingling, weakness, or loss of bladder or bowel control, you need to see a doctor ASAP and call a lawyer.

Some effects can improve faster than others, but often, you need long-term treatment. Spinal cord damage can even mean permanent paralysis. And getting compensation isn’t just about covering the costs of your medical bills, it’s also about covering your lost wages if you can’t work, pain, emotional damage, and more. Talk to a Detroit auto accident attorney before you settle for any amount an insurance adjuster offers, because it probably won’t be near enough.

Common Causes and Types of Spine Injuries in Motor Vehicle Accidents

Spine injuries are different depending on what your accident looked like. With head-on collisions, there are often compression fractures because the body moves forward against restraints. Side-impact crashes can cause rotational injuries because your torso gets twisted.

Way too many Michigan vehicle accident cases have to do with distracted driving, and if drinking’s involved, injuries tend to be more severe because a lot of drunk drivers drive at high speed.

We see a lot of herniated discs, where the cushioning between the bones in your spine bulges or ruptures and starts pressing on nerves. The pain or numbness from that won’t go away on its own. Fractured vertebrae are common, too, which means one or more of the spinal bones break and sometimes need surgery. In rear-end crashes, the neck snaps back and forth and stretches the muscles and ligaments, which is whiplash, and can turn into long-term pain if it isn’t treated right away. In more serious cases, the spinal cord itself can be bruised, and that kind of injury can lead to lasting nerve problems. The sooner you get a diagnosis, the better your chances are of successful treatment and recovery.

Medical and Legal Considerations After a Spine Injury

The first thing you need to do after an accident is get emergency medical attention. It doesn’t matter if you think you’re fine or that your symptoms are minor; see a doctor within 24 hours of the crash. If you end up being hurt and need compensation, your insurance company will use any delay in treatment as an excuse to downplay or deny that your injuries had anything to do with the accident.

Michigan’s no-fault insurance system means your own insurer has to cover medical bills and wage losses through Personal Injury Protection coverage, plus, if your injuries meet Michigan’s serious impairment threshold, you can file a Michigan car accident claim against the driver who caused the accident for pain and suffering. You can hire a car accident lawyer to do that.

Spinal cord injuries almost always meet this standard, since the law defines serious impairment as an objectively manifested condition that affects your ability to live normally.

Document everything; save medical records, bills, prescriptions, and photos, and even keep a journal of your symptoms and how they’re affecting your daily life. All of that will help your lawyer build a strong case.

Filing a Claim for Spine Injury After a Car Accident

First, your insurance company gets notified of the claim. Make sure you stick to the facts and don’t say anything that could be construed as an admission of guilt or a downplay of your injuries. Your insurer might want you to make a recorded statement, but you should really get car accident legal advice before you do that, so you don’t say anything that could hurt your case.

If there’s another driver involved, their insurer may contact you, too. You’re not required to speak with them, and those adjusters work to reduce or deny claims.

Michigan law gives you three years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit for non-economic damages, and settlements usually wait until after your doctors determine the extent of your injuries and long-term impairment.

How a Detroit Auto Accident Attorney Can Help

Insurance companies do their best to pay as little as possible, so look for a car accident lawyer Michigan residents trust that can take over and challenge low-ball offers with strong evidence.

Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. handles all the communication with insurance companies for you, plus we get medical records and work with experts to document your future care needs to make sure settlements cover lifelong consequences.

Our firm works on a contingency basis, so there are no upfront costs, and you owe nothing unless you get compensation.

Get the Legal Support You Deserve

Spinal cord injuries from car accidents change lives forever. You shouldn’t have to fight insurance companies alone while trying to recover. The legal system provides pathways to compensation through Michigan’s no-fault insurance system, but navigating them requires knowledge and persistence.

Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. has decades of experience helping Michigan accident victims get the resources they need for full recovery. You’ll work directly with an experienced Michigan no-fault insurance lawyer who will protect your rights. The sooner you reach out to our team, the stronger your case becomes.

Call us anytime, 24/7, at 1-866-MICH-LAW for a free consult. We’ll review your situation and explain your options so you can make the best decision for you. You pay nothing unless we win your case.

Disclaimer : The information provided is general and not for legal advice. The blogs are not intended to provide legal counsel and no attorney-client relationship is created nor intended.