Can a Car Accident Lawyer Provide a Free Estimate for My Claim?
Legally Reviewed and Edited by: Terry Cochran

After a car accident, most people know that one of the first steps they need to take is reporting the accident to their insurance carrier and filing a claim. But when it comes to car accident settlements in Michigan, the state has specific proceedings.
Michigan’s no-fault laws and auto accident threshold laws provide the car accident victim with one year from the date of the incident to file for no-fault PIP benefits and three years from the date of the incident to file a personal injury claim. The process of filing a claim can be overwhelming while you’re attempting to recover from an injury. To avoid confusion and delays in your compensation, it’s important to contact a personal injury lawyer familiar with auto accidents and personal injuries.
A personal injury attorney can answer any questions you have regarding a vehicle accident claim, including the potential value of a claim. You can receive a free, reasonable estimate of your claim amount from a car accident lawyer in Michigan based on the details of your case.
The Value of Your Car Accident Claim
Your attorney will arrive at the free estimate of your claim based on several factors.
Economic and Non-economic Damages
If you have suffered severe injuries or mental trauma resulting from your auto accident, you may be entitled to damages. Examples of out-of-pocket costs with a specific value are damage to property, lost wages, or medical expenses. Michigan personal injury lawyers are knowledgeable about how to structure your claim for the highest settlement amount possible.
Economic damages are calculable and can be given a precise value. Some of these damages are as follows:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Car replacement or repairs though they are limited to $3,000 (as of July 1, 2020) in the case of car damages
To seek compensation for vehicle damage, you need to provide your personal injury lawyer with details of your car’s condition and repairs, including:
- Your car’s original purchase price
- Pre-accident condition of the car
- Mileage of the vehicle during the crash
Non-economic damages you might pursue in a car accident case include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental or emotional distress
- Loss of companionship
Personal Injuries
If the cost of treating an injury is to be determined, you need to establish a market value for the kind of injury and body part. It is possible that in an accident, one of the two people with the same injury would experience more suffering and anguish than the other. Compensation may be higher for the person who experienced the most pain.
You can receive compensation based on the following:
- Lost wages due to inability to return to work
- Assistance with home health care
- Transport for medical purposes
- Service replacements for tasks you are no longer able to perform due to your injury
- Pain and suffering
Insurance Policy Limits
The insurance policy limits of the at-fault driver and the vehicle owner also affect your claim with your insurance provider. If you have limited coverage on your uninsured and underinsured motorist policies at the time of the accident, you may have to pay the amount out of your own pocket in some circumstances.
Leverage Your Claim With a Car Accident Lawyer
It is in the best interest of insurance companies to make offers quickly following an accident, often just a few days or weeks after it occurs. An insurance provider may try to prevent you from receiving full compensation for damages. Some tactics include:
- Delay in processing the claim
- Suggesting you are at fault in the car accident
- Doubts about the cause and severity of the injuries
There is no point in rushing into an accident settlement if you have severe pain, cannot work, or have any disability related to traumatic brain injury or neck and back injuries. Even if you know the exact value of your case, this does not always guarantee that your insurance company offers you that amount.
Injured people often readily accept offers for settlements that do not cover their damages and are too low, simply because they want the compensation faster. In settling too early, you may forfeit thousands of dollars that could have helped you now and in the future. You may also give up your legal rights and protections.
A car accident attorney can help you get the compensation you deserve by reviewing your case. It’s helpful to have a free consultation with an attorney since minor problems can often require surgery and result in significant medical complications increasing the amount of your settlement.
Car Accident Lawyers Who Will Fight for Your Compensation
To fully understand your legal rights under the no-fault law, speak with a knowledgeable and experienced Michigan car accident lawyer at Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. Our car accident attorneys can determine the value of your case and offer you advice on your personal injury claim.
An experienced and skilled lawyer who examines every option is vital if you want to get full and just compensation in your case. We address your legal concerns and protect your rights. We also ensure an insurance company is not taking advantage of you, especially if you have suffered severe injuries in a car crash.
Call the law firm of Cochran, Kroll, and Associates, P.C. at 1-866-MICH-LAW for a free case evaluation. We work on a contingency basis, so you do not pay any attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.
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.