Troy Personal Injury Attorneys

Injured in Troy? Talk to an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer Today

Troy is the largest city in Oakland County and one of Michigan’s 15 most populated cities. Founded in 1827, it has grown steadily, attracting diverse families, professionals, and others seeking a safe, prosperous city to call home.

Troy regularly ranks among the safest cities in Michigan, making it a popular destination for those seeking to move and anyone looking for an enjoyable weekend getaway. Yet despite its reputation for safety, not everyone in Troy practices the care required to avoid injuring others due to negligent or reckless behavior.

If another’s negligence has caused you harm, don’t wait. Talk to an experienced personal injury lawyer in Troy as soon as possible. The Sommers Schwartz, P.C. team is here to review your case, explain your legal options, and fight for the justice and compensation you deserve.

Troy Personal Injury Statistics

Troy’s reputation as one of Michigan’s safest cities is primarily due to its low crime rates. These numbers indicate that Troy residents, workers, and visitors may face fewer crime-related incidents than residents of other cities. Yet the numbers don’t accurately portray how many Troy residents suffer severe injuries from others’ negligence.

For example, a Fox 2 Detroit investigation found that Michigan’s second most dangerous stretch of I-75 passes through Troy. Between 2016 and 2020, 196 crashes on southbound I-75 between Maple and Rochester Roads resulted in 58 injuries. The stretch of southbound I-75 between Maple Road and the 14 Mile Road exit ramp saw 146 crashes and 30 injuries, placing it at number eight on the list of the top ten most dangerous stretches of I-75.

Troy is also the site of other serious injuries not reported under crime statistics. Serious workplace injuries can also cause life-altering bodily harm or even death.

The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) recorded three fatal workplace accidents in Troy in 2022. Workplace injuries also occurred on Troy worksites in 2022.

Does My Case Warrant a Personal Injury Claim?

Most personal injury cases result from negligence. When one person or company fails to take due care to reduce the risk of harm, another person pays the price.

In Michigan, proving negligence in a personal injury case usually requires the injured person and their lawyer to demonstrate four things:

• The other party had a duty to use reasonable care to prevent the injury.
• The other party “breached” or failed to fulfill that duty.
• That breach of duty caused the victim’s injuries.
• The situation can be resolved with compensation or another power in the court’s control.

Some types of personal injury cases in Michigan have additional or altered requirements. An experienced Troy personal injury lawyer can help you understand how these requirements might apply in your case.

Auto, Bicycle, and Pedestrian Crashes

Michigan’s auto accident death rates reached a 16-year high in 2021, according to the Michigan State Police. The rate of injury-causing accidents increased even more. Injuries increased by 17 percent over 2020, and the rate of serious injuries rose by 10 percent from the previous year.

According to the MSP, thirty-one percent of all traffic deaths in 2021 were alcohol-related. Drunk driving represents a clear decision to disregard the safety of others while on the road. Yet it’s not the only way a driver may fail to use due care – and cause serious harm.

Slips, Trips, and Falls

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 800,000 U.S. residents need hospital care yearly after a fall injury. About one in five falls cause a broken bone, head injury, or other serious harm.

In Michigan, slip-and-fall accidents may fall under premises liability law. Owners of businesses and homes must take specific steps to reduce the risk of a slip-and-fall injury. If they do not, the property owner or user may be liable in a personal injury case.

Dog Bite Incidents

Dog bites are among the most expensive, painful, and lasting personal injuries. The average cost of a dog bite claim rose 124 percent between 2003 and 2019, driven by increasing healthcare costs. On average, a hospital stay for a dog bite injury costs 50 percent more than a hospital stay for other injuries.

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) ranks Michigan in the top ten worst states for dog bite injuries. The Metro Detroit area also ranks highly among the worst cities and municipal areas for dog bites. Yet anyone, not just mail carriers, may be injured when a dog’s owner doesn’t keep the dog under control.

Michigan has a “strict liability” dog bite law. Strict liability laws like Michigan’s do not consider whether the dog has a history of acting aggressively. In Michigan, an injured person can hold a dog’s owner liable if:

• The injured person didn’t provoke the dog.
• The injured person was in a place they had a legal right to be when the dog attacked.

Medical Negligence

Medical negligence, also known as medical malpractice, occurs when a medical provider provides care that falls below the “standard of care” for a particular patient, condition, or situation. If the failure to meet the standard of care causes harm, the injured person may have a claim for medical malpractice.

Common medical errors that may lead to malpractice claims include:

• Diagnosis errors, including misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose.
• Surgical errors, like operating on the wrong site.
• Medication errors, like giving the wrong medication or dose.
• Charting errors, such as failing to list a known allergy, resulting in the patient’s exposure to the allergen.

Michigan also limits, or “caps,” the damages an injured person can recover in a medical malpractice claim. These caps apply to damages like pain and suffering, also known as “non-economic damages.” They are adjusted each year for inflation. The caps do not affect “economic damages,” like medical bills or lost wages. Ask an experienced attorney to help you understand how damages caps may affect your case.

Product Liability

When you buy an item, you trust it will do its job without causing severe injuries. You can seek compensation by filing a product liability claim if a product injures you.

A product liability claim may focus on three different issues:

• Manufacturing. Is the product’s manufacturing a direct cause of its defect? Examples include bolts made with steel that is too brittle to withstand the pressure of everyday use.
• Design. Is the product designed in a way that makes it unreasonably dangerous? Examples include a crib or car seat with sharp edges instead of rounded or padded ones.
• Warnings. Does the product fail to warn users about unavoidable risks? Examples include a circular saw that doesn’t warn users to use eye protection or keep their fingers away from the blade.

Michigan limits non-economic damages in product liability cases. However, these limits may not apply in cases where the product’s manufacturer knew about the defect and the risk it posed.

Work-Related Injuries

According to the National Safety Council, common types of workplace injuries include:

• Slips, trips, and falls at work, whether from a height or while walking on a floor or the ground.
• Contact with objects or equipment, such as hitting or being hit by an object or a body part trapped in equipment or other objects.
• Labor-related injuries like pulled muscles or repetitive stress injuries.
• Exposure to harmful substances, including toxic chemicals or pathogens.
• Temperature-related injuries, like frostbite or heatstroke.
• Energy-related injuries, like electrocution, burns, and radiation exposure.

Recent data for on-the-job injuries show a trend toward greater safety. However, researchers warn that workplace closures during the COVID-19 pandemic account for this difference, which doesn’t mean workplaces are getting safer overall.

Michigan’s workers’ compensation system covers many on-the-job injuries and illnesses. Workers injured on the job may also have a claim against other parties who caused their injuries. For example, if defective equipment or tools caused your work injuries, you may have a case against the manufacturer.

Time Limits for Michigan Personal Injury Claims

If you’ve been injured, it’s critical to act promptly. Michigan law limits how long an injured person has to bring their claim to court.

In Michigan, injury victims must file most personal injury claims within three years of the date of injury. Medical malpractice claims typically must be filed within two years. Additional time to file a medical malpractice case is allowed in cases of death or when the existence of a claim was not discovered until less than six months before the two-year anniversary of the date of the malpractice.

Even if you think you’ve missed the deadline, it’s important to consult with a lawyer. These time limits often have exceptions, and one of them might be relevant to your case. A skilled attorney can assist you in examining all potential avenues for compensation.

What To Do if You’ve Been Injured

Were you injured in Troy and suspect someone else is to blame? Don’t wait: Talk to an experienced Michigan personal injury lawyer immediately. At Sommers Schwartz, P.C., our attorneys have dedicated themselves to helping our neighbors in Troy and Metro Detroit understand their options and fight to protect their legal rights. To learn more, contact us for a free and confidential consultation today.