
Car accident injuries can be devastating on so many levels. From the pain and emotional complications to the mounting financial pressures, it can quickly feel like you’re fighting a losing battle. Our Kalamazoo car accident lawyers can fight to recover compensation for your losses on your behalf.
Since 1991, the Kalamazoo personal injury lawyers at Christensen Law has been providing strong yet compassionate representation to the people of Michigan. We will be the advocates for your car accident case, so you can focus on recovering. Call now for a free case review.
Our Car Accident Attorneys Protect Kalamazoo Residents Like You
Some Kalamazoo County car accidents occur on a busy highway, like I-94 or US 131. Others happen only a few blocks from home. Both kinds of accident can be equally catastrophic. When an accident is caused by someone else’s negligence, you can seek fair compensation for all that you’ve lost.
Holding the person who hit you accountable can relieve some of your from your financial losses. Our car accident law firm can help you do this by:
- Giving you plenty of time to tell us your story. We will listen attentively and sympathetically as you explain what happened.
- Gathering evidence against the at-fault party. Our team will prove that they, not you, displayed negligent behavior that caused the collision.
- Evaluating your losses, both economic and non-economic. You are only allowed to sue over a car accident once, so our legal representatives will work hard to make sure that you ask for the right amount of financial compensation.
- Negotiate with the insurance companies. All too often, car insurers may try to offer you less of a settlement than you deserve. We’ll offer you guidance on any offers you receive.
- Preparing a team to go to trial, as necessary. While not every case goes to court, the attorneys at our office are always ready for this possibility.
When to Call Our Kalamazoo Car Accident Lawyers
There are many reasons to act quickly after an injury. One of the biggest is that the sooner you seek a personal injury claim from an insurance company, the sooner you can begin focusing on your recovery without worrying about how to pay your bills.
Some things that you can do immediately following your accident to help your claim include:
- Getting medical attention right away. Not only will doing so protect your health, it will also create an official medical record that we can use to prove your case.
- Calling the police. Officers from the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office or the Michigan State Police will ensure the safety of everyone involved in the accident, collect evidence, interview witnesses, and create a crash report. This report is often a highly valuable piece of evidence for helping to prove liability.
- Collecting any evidence that you can. This might include the contact information of the person who hit you and photos of the injuries you sustained.
- Speaking to a personal injury law firm. Only after taking care of your immediate needs, especially medical care, should you contact a Kalamazoo car accident attorney.
Working Within the Car Accident Statute of Limitations
In most situations, you have only three years to begin a legal action, per Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 600.5805. This deadline for Michigan car accident cases places a strict deadline on your right to damages. In other words, while you should prioritize receiving medical care, you should not delay receiving legal advice any longer than necessary.
Recoverable Damages in a Kalamazoo Car Accident Settlement
Our Kalamazoo car accident attorneys will fight for you to get all of your recoverable losses by looking at all the ways the accident affected your life. As we investigate your situation, we will consider the economic and non-noneconomic losses from the accident.
Compensation for Money You Lost Because of the Car Crash
Financial damages may include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages (this can include benefits and bonuses)
- Lost earning capacity, which can compensate you if you are unable to return to your old job or to find any other employment
- The cost of hiring others to help you with things you once did by yourself
Compensation for Emotional Harm Caused by the Car Crash
Non-financial damages, or the physical and psychological toll of the collision, may include:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Reduced quality of life
- Disability
- Disfigurement and scar tissue
Compensation for Fatal Car Accidents in Kalamazoo County
If your loved one passed away from a catastrophic car crash injury, you can file a wrongful death claim. Our Kalamazoo wrongful death lawyers will fight hard for justice in your case, which might include damages such as:
- Funeral bills
- Other end-of-life expenses
- Loss of society or companionship
- Loss of financial support
We Help Figure Out What Caused Your Auto Accident in Kalamazoo
If a negligent driver caused your car accident in Kalamazoo, we must why the driver caused the accident. It is possible that they were driving under the influence or were distracted. It is also possible they experienced a car malfunction, which would mean their car’s mechanic or manufacturer may be at fault for your damages.
Knowing who caused your accident and whom to sue as a result is key if you hope to receive the settlement you deserve for your suffering.
Evidence We Look for After Kalamazoo Motor Vehicle Crashes
Our Kalamazoo law firm will go to many different sources and may even visit the accident scene as we build out your casefile. Helpful forms of evidence include:
- Witnesses who saw your accident take place
- The police report filed with the Michigan State Police or the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office
- Photographs and video taken by you, witnesses, or news reporters
- Surveillance footage from traffic or dash cams, or security camera footage from nearby businesses
- Records of any prior traffic violations against the liable party (e.g., a drunk driving arrest against a negligent driver)
Did Multiple At-Fault Parties Cause Your Auto Accident?
Sometimes, you cannot pin fault on a single person or party for your car crash. There are some situations where, for example, the actions of a negligent driver were exacerbated by an unsafe road that the local government should have repaired.
These types of cases are often more complex than others, but our Kalamazoo personal injury attorneys are up to the challenge.
Did You Share Fault in Your Kalamazoo Car Accident?
If you shared fault in your accident, the court will calculate your percentage of fault and include this in your claim. Under Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 600.2959, courts in this state use modified comparative negligence to determine fault in personal injury cases. In short:
- As long as you were less than 50 percent at fault for causing the accident, our Kalamazoo car crash attorneys can sue the defendant, and your percentage of fault will be deducted from your claim.
- For instance, if you are found to be 10 percent responsible for the accident, your total award will be reduced by 10 percent (e.g., if you asked for $100,000, you will only receive $90,000).
- If you are found to be 51 or more percent responsible for the accident, you cannot receive anything.
The other party may try to blame you for your accident, which means you could receive a reduced payout or receive nothing at all. Our team will fight to make sure your percentage of fault is accurate to make sure we seek full compensation.
Let Our Lawyers Protect You After a Kalamazoo Car Accident
A car accident can be life-changing, but you don’t have to struggle alone as you seek compensation for what you’ve lost. The Kalamazoo car accident attorneys at Christensen Law are here to help you Our client testimonials show that we are dedicated to improving the lives of accident victims.
Our staff will work as a team to pursue the money you and your family needs. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.