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Auto Accident Lawyers in Sterling Heights

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Macomb County has one of the highest vehicular accident rates in Michigan. Drivers in Macomb County experienced 21,741 accidents in 2021, with Sterling Heights having 4,020 accidents. As of 2021, there were 707 accidents involving injuries in Sterling Heights, compared to 559 in 2020.

If you sustain an injury in Sterling Heights because of a serious motor vehicle accident, medical bills and lost wages can cause you financial strain. You may also experience emotional pain and suffering and physical injuries that can diminish your quality of life. Emotional distress can be just as incapacitating as physical pain and deserves financial compensation.

If an accident leaves you with long-term disability or emotional stress, it’s time to contact a personal injury lawyer. The auto accident lawyers at Cochran, Kroll, & Associates, P.C. law firm can help you file your personal injury claim with your insurance company and pursue a third-party liability lawsuit if necessary.

What Causes Michigan Car Accidents at Intersections

In 2020, more than 31.2% of all fatal accidents in Michigan occurred at intersections. Some of the leading causes of car accidents include:

Failure to notice the traffic signal

The most common cause of intersection accidents is drivers who ignore traffic signals. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that drivers disregarding a traffic signal accidentally cause 44% of intersection accidents.

Running a red light

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), drivers involved in fatal red light accidents are skewed younger and have a history of crashes and alcoholic-impaired violations.

They were also speeding or had alcohol in their bodies at the time of the accidents. Red light running accounted for 5,521 crashes in Michigan in 2020, or 2.2% of all crashes that year.

Ignoring the right-of-way

In Michigan, drivers must yield the right of way at intersections to vehicles already present on the right. They must also stop for oncoming traffic and pedestrians before making a left turn.

A driver who doesn’t yield to oncoming traffic puts themselves in danger of an accident at an intersection.

A rear-end collision that ends up at an intersection

At an intersection, a car behind a stopped driver may rear-end it. This can lead to a chain of events. The stopped vehicle is pushed through the intersection, colliding with moving traffic. When a rear-end collision occurs in Michigan, the responsible driver may be guilty of prima facie negligence based on competent evidence.

Distracted driving

Drivers need to pay attention to their surroundings and oncoming traffic. A driver might make a driver error because of distracted driving if they are answering a call or eating a snack. In 2020, 37.2% of accidents involving cellphones took place at intersections.

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How to Drive Safely Through Intersections

Every intersection poses a certain risk to drivers. More than 50% of serious or fatal crashes occur at or near an intersection, according to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Following these guidelines will enable you to safely negotiate dangerous intersections and remain defensive against other drivers.

Watch out for hazards around you

Watch out for other drivers in other lanes, obstructions in your field of vision, and traffic coming from the other direction. If you spot a speeding driver approaching an intersection, use proper judgment to steer your vehicle safely out of the path of the reckless driver.

Do not drive while distracted or tired

Driver fatigue or distraction may cause you to take your eyes off the road for five seconds. If you are traveling at 55 mph, you can travel the length of an entire football field during this time. This increases your risk of driver error, such as running a red light or rear-ending another car.

Use your turn signal

A turn signal provides a safer travel experience for you and other drivers when used as intended and as required by law. Failure to signal may lead to you being hit by another vehicle.

Adjust your driving distance

Keeping a safe following distance from other vehicles and people can prevent you from having time to stop in case of a collision. Maintain a distance from motorcyclists to prevent motorcycle accidents, and you should always be attentive to pedestrians and bicyclists.

Obey the posted speed limits

If you speed through an intersection, you have no time to pay attention to your surroundings or identify potential hazards. It becomes perilous in inclement weather, during road repairs, or when driving at night in an unlit intersection.

By hiring an experienced attorney, you can seek fair compensation for injuries suffered at an intersection. Your Michigan car accident lawyer can help you put together an auto accident claim to ensure you receive the benefits you deserve after your accident.

How a Sterling Heights Auto Accident Attorney Can Help You

Following an accident, you may need the help of a lawyer to ensure your long-term recovery. When you work with one of our skilled attorneys, they can help you file a claim under your auto insurance policy limits. If your medical bills exceed your policy limits, your Michigan car accident lawyer can work with you to file a lawsuit against the liable party.

File for compensation with your insurance company

Michigan’s auto no-fault insurance law allows you to file a claim for no-fault benefits for your injuries. A Michigan car accident lawyer can help you understand your no-fault insurance benefits, such as no-fault wage loss benefits, medical and rehabilitation expenses, and attendant services.

After an automobile accident, they can help you apply for no-fault benefits with your insurance company. They can answer your questions about any legal issues you may encounter when completing your application.

Investigate the accident at issue

Auto insurance companies may argue that your injuries were not serious and did not result from the accident. An experienced personal injury attorney can collect all the evidence to prove that your accident resulted from the negligent actions of the other driver.

They can ask for surveillance videos of the actual accident scene from local businesses nearby the accident site. Police reports are essential for your lawyer to understand the type of accident you endured.

Our senior partner and nurse attorney, Eileen Kroll, can review your medical records to assess your accident injuries and the amount of medical care you need.

Negotiate with the insurance company

If they do not pay you the full amount, the insurance adjuster may offer a lowball settlement that may not cover all your medical bills. They may also deny your insurance claim. Negotiations may become complex if multiple parties are involved in a motor vehicle accident.

It is best to have legal representation to help you deal with the insurance company. If your claim is denied, an experienced lawyer can help you appeal. They can work with the insurance company to see if there is a chance to reverse the decision.

Contact Your Auto Accident Attorney Today

If you or a loved one were auto accident victims in Sterling Heights, Michigan, and have not filed a claim yet, contact the law office of Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. We can help you get the no-fault benefits you deserve after your accident during this challenging time.

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.

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