Auto-Accident-Lawyers-in-Ann-Arbor
Menu
Call Toll-Free 24 Hours:

Auto Accident Lawyers in Ann Arbor

Recovering from the severe injuries you suffered in a motor vehicle accident requires extensive medical attention and time off from work. An Ann Arbor, Michigan car accident lawyer can help you navigate Michigan’s complicated auto insurance laws.

To hold an at-fault driver responsible for your injuries or the wrongful death of your loved one, personal injury attorneys at our law firm can help you file an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. Your experienced lawyer will work hard to get you the maximum compensation you deserve.

If you or a loved one are auto accident victims, the skilled attorneys at the law offices of Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. can use their expertise to help maximize your settlement. We have extensive experience handling drunk driving accidents, crashes between a car and a semi-truck or other commercial vehicle, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, motorcycle accidents, and rear-end collisions.

We offer a complimentary, confidential consultation to discuss the requirements for legal action. We can help you understand Michigan’s no-fault insurance benefits and what documents you need to support your personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit.

Michigan’s Auto Insurance Requirements

Michigan is a no-fault insurance state, meaning drivers and passengers in each car must have their injuries covered by the no-fault benefits of the car’s owner or driver, regardless of who caused the accident. The state requires your no-fault insurance to cover at least:

  • $20,000 for one injured person
  • $40,000 for more than one injured person in the same wreck
  • $10,000 for property damage for accidents in other states.

Your no-fault insurance policy also includes the following coverage:

Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

PIP can pay for all appropriate medical expenses with no limit. It also covers 85% of your lost wages up to 3 years after the accident. This coverage also pays $20 per day for household replacement services from someone to perform your chores, like cleaning, cooking, or yard work.

PIP covers in-home attendant care for up to 56 hours per week from a family member, household member, friend, or business associate for injured auto accident victims who need ongoing medical care. Michigan law requires injured people to contract with the insurance companies to pay for attendant care if it goes over 56 hours per week.

Property Protection (PPI)

If your vehicle damages another person’s property, such as a building, the PPI may cover up to $1 million. This does not include coverage for damage to cars.

Residual Liability Insurance – Bodily Injury and Property Damage

This type of coverage compensates you for losses caused by another driver, including compensation for pain and suffering. It pays for excess medical costs beyond your PIP policy’s coverage. It also covers future medical costs.

There are certain situations in which Michigan drivers can be sued:

  • The accident resulted in serious injuries, permanent disfigurement, or death
  • A non-resident who is an occupant of a vehicle not registered in Michigan gets into an accident
  • The accident took place in another state

A car accident attorney at our law firm can determine whether your situation qualifies you to sue the other driver’s insurance company.

What if No-Fault Insurance is Unavailable?

People injured by an uninsured driver can file an accident claim for benefits under the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan. Those who are injured in auto accidents and do not have an available insurance to provide can also claim benefits under MACP. It provides the same benefits as PIP insurance. This coverage includes reasonable medical expenses, recovery, and rehabilitation services according to the no-fault insurance law.

When an uninsured vehicle causes a motorcycle accident, the motorcycle operator or passenger can also file for MACP benefits. Injury accidents involving motorcycles often result in catastrophic injuries. Because motorcycle riders face prejudice from insurance adjusters, police, and juries, having aggressive representation from an experienced team is crucial to getting fair compensation.

3915763

Proving Liability in Michigan Car Crashes

To file a personal injury claim against the other driver, your lawyer must use evidence to show the driver’s liability. Medical records can also show the extent of your injuries and the treatments used to understand the maximum compensation you deserve.

1. The Driver Was At Fault for the Accident

Michigan uses a modified comparative negligence law. Your lawyer must prove that the negligent driver’s actions contributed more to the accident than you did to sue for non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering.

Evidence such as surveillance footage, witness testimonies, police reports, and photos and videos of the accident can prove that the other driver was negligent, careless, or reckless. Surveillance footage can show the driver exhibited negligent behavior like talking on a cell phone and speeding at the time of the accident.

The police report can detail reckless driving by the other driver, such as drunk driving and drowsy driving.

2. There Were Serious Injuries

Your Ann Arbor car accident lawyer must prove that the driver’s actions caused your mental and physical injuries. Medical records, invoices, and prescriptions to treat your injuries can support this claim. Using these records, your lawyer can assess the total amount of compensation to cover your medical expenses.

3. You Suffered Serious Impairment of a Bodily Function

The serious impairment of body function describes a condition that medical experts can observe and measure. In Michigan, the serious injury threshold must meet three factors:

  • Your injury has observable symptoms
  • The impairment affects an important or significant bodily function
  • The serious injury adversely affects your ability to live your life normally

Some examples of a serious impairment include the loss of a limb, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, or nerve damage. Our senior partner, Eileen Kroll, can use her nursing background to review your records to connect your injuries to the accident. She can recommend additional medical testing and visits to your provider to prove the extent of your injuries.

4. You Experienced Pain and Suffering

Your accident lawyers need to prove that you experience significant non-economic damage from your accident. This damage might include loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium, mental anguish, physical pain, and permanent disability.

  • Loss of enjoyment of life describes your inability to participate in the routine activities of your everyday life, such as recreational sports, social activities, and household chores.
  • Loss of consortium describes your spouse’s loss of companionship, physical intimacy, and love or your children’s loss of parental guidance.

An Ann Arbor car crash victim can hire an experienced Michigan car accident lawyer from Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. to file a personal injury lawsuit against a drunk driver or reckless driver. Your experienced lawyer can negotiate with the auto insurance carrier to get financial compensation for your pain and suffering, medical care, and lost wages.

266342377

What Evidence Do I Need to Document Claims?

To accurately document your claims for an insurance adjuster or jury, you need several pieces of evidence. This evidence can range from medical documents to witness testimony. Getting documentation of your emotional distress from your mental health provider can also show the effect of the accident on your mental health.

Your Ann Arbor attorney can work with you to compile all evidence for your case, including the following items:

  • Medical bills from your doctors’ visits and prescriptions
  • Medical records of your history, clinical tests, and treatment plan
  • Medical diagnoses from your healthcare providers
  • Psychiatric records
  • Pictures and videos of your injuries
  • Testimony from expert witnesses
  • Police reports detailing the accident and all parties involved
  • Testimonies from family and friends who can describe the impact of the accident on your quality of life

You can expect the trucking company to aggressively fight your liability claim if you were injured in a semi-truck accident. Accurate and complete records are crucial if you want your case to proceed.

Any claims must be fully documented, and an experienced car accident attorney may need to help you. You can meet with a personal injury lawyer to discuss your options for receiving a fair settlement.

Wrongful Death in an Auto Accident

If a car accident resulted in the wrongful death of another driver or passenger, you can pursue a wrongful death claim on behalf of the surviving family members. A wrongful death claim includes these damages from the loss of a loved one in an accident:

  • The accident victim’s pain and suffering from the time of the accident until their death
  • Loss of companionship for the victim’s family members
  • Income loss for family members, including lost benefits and wages
  • Hospitalization, funeral, and burial expenses

If the driver was responsible for the death of your loved one, your Michigan car accident lawyer can help you file a wrongful death lawsuit. When you do so, you can recover all the financial hardships incurred as a result of the death.

Our Lawyers Have the Experience to Handle Your Injury Claim

As an injury victim in an Ann Arbor auto accident, you deserve the best legal representation possible to help you obtain compensation to restore your normal life. You can work with an experienced attorney with the law offices of Cochran, Kroll, & Associates, P.C. to help you seek damages for your accident injuries and hold a negligent driver responsible for their actions.

Our law firm has a strong track record of success in obtaining compensation for auto accidents that include:

  • $1.4 million to a pedestrian struck by a commercial van that resulted in a TBI
  • $1.3 million for the death of a 5-year-old who was struck by a semi-truck
  • $400,000 to a Monroe, Michigan woman with a spinal cord injury who recovered excess attendant care benefits
  • $80,000 to a Bay City grandmother who suffered a broken leg after an auto accident

Contact Our Ann Arbor Accident Attorneys Today

The law firm of Cochran, Kroll, and Associates, P.C. can help you file a claim with your insurance provider. However, if your no-fault benefits do not cover all the costs associated with a severe injury, we can take the other driver to court. We believe victims of a motor vehicle crash caused by negligent actions deserve fair compensation for their injuries and loss of income.

Our contingency fee basis means we only get paid if we win your case, so there is no financial risk to you to get started. Call our law firm today at 1-866-MICH-LAW and schedule your no-obligation, free case evaluation.

RESULTS-DRIVEN TRACK RECORD

Testimonial Image

FREE CONSULTATION NO FEES UNTIL WE WIN

There is no obligation for a case evaluation & no fee is charged unless a recovery is made.
  • Disclaimer: Please note that we are currently accepting cases for Michigan residents only, except for product liability cases, which we handle nationwide.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Your privacy is important to us. Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. does not share, sell, rent, or trade personally identifiable or confidential information with third parties for any purpose.
Call Now Button