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A Michigan car accident can cause a lot of stress for victims. You probably have a stack of medical bills, may no longer have a vehicle, and you’re struggling to go about your daily life. Now you’re stressing about how you will overcome this accident. You’re worried that your PIP won’t cover all your losses, but you’re not even sure of the full extent of your damages.
Figuring out how to calculate a car accident settlement in Michigan is tough. You must add up the value of all your financial losses, come up with an estimate for intangible losses using various methods, and make sure you account for expected losses in the future. but a Michigan car accident lawyer can take on this and other tasks to make your life a little easier.
We Consider All Factors When Determining a Michigan Car Accident Settlement
When coming up with a value for your claim, there are many factors that our team will consider:
- How severe are your injuries? What are the monetary, physical, and emotional effects of the crash? The more serious the injuries, the more likely it is that you will have a high settlement value. The medical expenses and pain and suffering alone can be quite high.
- Who is at fault, and what is their percentage of fault? Sometimes, car accident victims may be partially at fault, or the at-fault party may try to blame them for the accident. Regardless of which scenario applies to your case, Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 600.2959 can determine how much you can seek and win. This law can reduce your winnings by the percentage of your fault. If you are more than 50 percent liable for the accident, you cannot seek non-economic damages. Your other damages are still reduced by your percentage of fault. A car crash lawyer will work to have a settlement amount that is fair and accurate.
- What does your insurance cover? Auto insurance policies, both mandatory and optional, can impact how much we seek.
So, what does that look like in practice?
Our Attorneys Work to Calculate Your Car Accident Settlement
Car accident settlement amounts involve many kinds of losses, some with financial values, and others with intangible effects. It’s challenging for the average auto accident victim to figure out the value of their claim alone, but there are some steps our lawyers take to lay the groundwork for your claim.
We Gather Your Documents to Tally Your Economic Losses
When calculating a car accident claim, proof of monetary losses is easier for victims to gather. If you have your own records, make sure you give them to your attorney. Even if you don’t have complete records, we can help obtain whatever you could not. We’ll work with you to determine what information we need to look for.
Some important documents include:
- Medical bills and insurance claims documents
- Receipts for various purchases, like medication, assistive devices, and office visits
- Transportation and lodging expenses related to your accident and injuries, especially if you need to go out of town or state to receive specialized care
- Home modification bills or estimates if you need accommodations for your injuries
- Pay stubs, proof of income, and other documents that help prove you are losing income while recovering from your injuries
If you have any expenses or are losing any money, any proof of these losses can help us determine the full extent of your economic damages. We can also talk to various experts and professionals, including your care team, to help figure out expect future losses and expenses.
We Establish Proof of Non-Economic Losses
Some of your damages do not have a direct monetary value, but they are still valid losses. These are extremely difficult to calculate without legal experience and resources that can provide estimates. Here are some tips for supporting your claim for non-comic damages:
- Keep a record or journal of how you are feeling and how your injuries and other losses are affecting your life. Your own words and experiences are powerful, and they can help detail what you are going through. For example, your injuries make it impossible to participate in favorite hobbies or maintain a relationship with a spouse. Write down how you feel and how your injuries hurt your quality of life.
- Speak to your lawyer and any medical professionals about your suffering. Be honest with your doctors about your issues, physical, mental, and emotional. They can provide valuable testimony about your progress and future needs or issues. Keep our team in the loop, too, so we can make sure we’re accurately assessing all of your losses.
Witnesses, experts, and various medical records can all support your need for these intangible damages.
What Damages Do Lawyers Seek in a Car Accident Settlement in Michigan?
Although you have an idea of how these losses are calculated, you may still not know what our team can seek compensation for. Every case is different, but some of the damages we seek reimbursement for include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and anguish
- Any related medical expenses, current and future
- Lost income
- Lost earning potential
- Disfigurement
- Household expenses
If a loved one passed away after their crash, our Michigan wrongful death lawyers will make sure to seek economic and non-economic damages for your and your family. These losses can include funeral expenses, pain and suffering of the deceased, and loss of support for surviving family.
Do Michigan No-Fault Affect Car Accident Settlement Calculations?
Michigan drivers must follow the state’s auto insurance laws, and these policies can and do impact payouts. Michigan follows a No-Fault system, which means that all drivers turn to their own personal injury protection (PIP) policy for certain damages, regardless of fault.
PIP covers medical expenses, some lost wages, and some daily expenses, but not losses like pain and suffering. PIP medical coverage can be limited depending on the coverage option you chose. This policy covers some, but not all, of your lost wages and only for a few years. Serious injuries and losses could mean that PIP and other insurance is simply not enough.
If this is the case, our Michigan auto accident lawyers can pursue damages from the other driver. We can work to calculate a settlement that meets all your needs.
Get in Touch with a Car Accident Lawyer in Michigan
Although you have the basic information on how to calculate a car accident settlement in Michigan, a legal professional can make sure you seek the maximum possible amount. Call a Michigan car accident lawyer for help calculating your settlement and filing a car accident claim.
Act quickly to avoid missing the statute of limitations. Call Christensen law now to get started.
