Michigan Attorneys at Law
All it takes is one negligent act and a person’s life – your life – can change forever. The personal injury attorneys at Sommers Schwartz have helped thousands of victims in Michigan and elsewhere obtain proper compensation for their injuries.
Auto accidents. Slips and falls. Dangerous products. Other people’s negligence. They can all cause devastating harm resulting in significant personal injury damages. A serious injury can keep you from home or work for weeks, months – even years. An injury can also keep you from enjoying the same quality of life that you once had.
When you are severely injured, there’s no guarantee the mounting hospital bills and the cost of medical treatment, doctor visits, therapy and rehabilitation, and prescribed medications will be covered by insurance. In addition, you may suffer financial loss because you cannot work, as well as pain and emotional distress damages.
To be fully compensated for your losses, you should consult with a Michigan personal injury lawyer, who can assess the facts of your case and pursue the proper legal remedy.
If you have been injured by another person’s actions, it may be unclear who was at fault. Most often, the responsible party did not intend to cause you any harm. Intent, however, is not the key factor in a personal injury lawsuit – you only have to establish the other party’s negligence.
Negligence is the failure to exercise the care that a reasonable person would use under the same circumstances to ensure the safety of others. Whether you are bitten by a dog, injured in an auto accident, harmed by a defective product, hurt in a slip and fall accident, or injured at a construction site, negligence must be shown.
When it comes to negligence cases, Michigan law recognizes what is called “modified comparative negligence.” Under this concept, any amount awarded to a personal injury victim is reduced by the victim’s own percentage of fault. For example, if you are awarded $200,000 but are determined to be 40 percent at fault for the accident, then you will be entitled to $120,000. However, if you are found to be 50 percent or more at fault for the accident, then you are not entitled to any compensation.
In most cases, personal injury victims in Michigan have three years to file a lawsuit against the responsible party. This three-year period begins on the date the injury occurred. If an injury is not immediately recognizable, then the three-year period begins on the date the injury was discovered. If a personal injury claim is brought beyond this three-year time limit, the suit will be automatically dismissed.
When a person is injured in an accident, particularly motor vehicle crashes, an insurance company will usually get involved. It is important to remember that insurance carriers (even your own) are not necessarily on your side when tragedy strikes. In fact, auto insurers are known for denying and dragging out benefit claims filed by car, motorcycle, boating, and trucking accident victims.
Sometimes the party responsible for the injury is a governmental agency. Michigan law allows injured persons to seek compensation from a governmental entity that negligently caused an accident. These types of personal injury actions include claims for dangerous highway conditions and dangerous conditions in public buildings. Because these lawsuits are governed by special procedures and strict time limits, you need to immediately consult an experienced personal injury lawyer.
In cases where a loved one tragically dies due to another person’s negligence, a relative of the deceased may file a wrongful death claim. In wrongful death suits, damages typically include medical expenses, funeral costs, property damage, lost wages and benefits, and the emotional suffering of the victim’s surviving family members.
Accidents forever change people’s lives. Not only is the victim’s life altered, but the lives of family members are impacted, too, and they need to know they will be compensated appropriately for their losses. Without experienced legal representation, a personal injury victim may end up with a verdict or settlement that is much lower than what is deserved.
Personal injury lawsuits frequently pit David against Goliath – the victim against a large company. That’s why you need Sommers Schwartz on your side. During the past 40 years, our attorneys have recovered more than $1 billion for our clients – a testament to their skills, zealousness, and commitment to the rule of law.
Trust Sommers Schwartz to deliver fair and just results for you. Contact us today.