Personal Injury Law in Detroit, MI

Were you hurt due to another’s negligence in Detroit? If so, it may have far-reaching consequences such as a loss of wages or extensive medical treatment. Personal injury law allows an injured person to get damages if the responsible person acted recklessly. A personal injury attorney in Detroit, MI can help navigate the lawsuit to make sure you receive all of the compensation you deserve.

What Is Personal Injury Law?

Personal injury law in Detroit relates to the legal process of getting compensation for an injury caused by someone else’s negligent behavior. These cases involve one party, the plaintiff, trying to seek financial compensation for expenses incurred and money lost as a result of the defendant’s reckless behavior. These cases involve both parties’ insurance companies and may even settle before proceeding to litigation.

Examples of Personal Injury Claims in Detroit, MI

Some personal injury claims are more common than others. However, almost any incident that ends with a physical or mental injury could qualify, depending on the circumstances.

A few of the most common personal injury claims are:

• Car Accidents
• Slip and Fall
• Dog Bites
• Medical Malpractice
• Workplace Accidents
• Burn Injuries

Most Common Injuries in Detroit 

According to Michigan’s Core Violence and Injury Prevention Program Burden Report, on an average day, 160 people were hospitalized and 17 people died in Michigan from an injury. In fact, injuries are the leading cause of death for Detroit, Michigan residents between 1 to 49 years of age. The most common injuries in Michigan that lead to either emergency room visits or hospitalizations are motor vehicle crashes, falls, and poisonings.

Steps in a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Detroit, MI

Once you determine that you wish to proceed forward with a personal injury action in Michigan

A lawsuit begins when a complaint is filed with the court and served on the defendant. The complaint alleges your assertion as the plaintiff that the defendant’s negligent behavior resulted in damage to your body or mental state. As the process proceeds forward, you may have to go through depositions, independent medical evaluations and document production. This discovery process is lengthy and ends in either settlement or a court appearance.

After filing your lawsuit in Detroit, Michigan with the civil court, you will enter the discovery, or evidence gathering process. Next comes a case evaluation and meditations which could lead to a potential settlement. If no settlement can be reached at this point, your case may proceed to trial.

Michigan Personal Injury Settlement

With most personal injury cases, insurance companies and injured parties prefer settlement negotiations rather than going to court for a trial. You may wonder how much you should seek in your settlement and factors that impact the final amount.

According to the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services, 18% of personal injury claims closed with payment that had the appearance of fraud and/or buildup. Michigan Courts offer a case record search service that allows you to see the public records of cases heard by the Michigan Civil Court. While there is no true average settlement amount for personal injury cases, across the nation, personal injury cases tend to settle between $3,000 and $75,000.

If the other party has insurance, the insurance company likely wants to settle out of court to avoid leaving the final settlement decision to a jury. Settlements benefit injured parties as much as they do insurance companies. This is because accepting a settlement means you receive compensation sooner rather than later. Also, by going to court in MI, that means you risk not receiving any compensation at all.

Damage Awards in Michigan

If your Michigan personal injury lawsuit goes before a judge or jury, your legal team will be ready with a request for damages. In personal injury cases, there are three types of damage awards a court may order the defendant to pay. In order to compensate you for the damage that he or she inflicted.

Special compensatory damages reimburse you for things such as lost income, medical bills and insurance deductibles. You submit receipts proving these losses.

General compensatory damages are subjective. If you receive special compensatory damages, you may also collect general damages. If your injury was particularly painful, you might request that the judge order the defendant compensate you for the pain and anguish.

Punitive damages are the most rarely awarded and are up to the court. The judge or jury may determine that the defendant’s negligence was particularly heinous and the resulting injury to you was equally horrific. 

Michigan does not set a cap on economic damages or non-economic damages. However, the state does have varying damage caps on both medical malpractice and product liability settlements.

Statute of Limitations in Detroit, MI Personal Injury Law?

The injured party may have a set amount of time to file suit for a personal injury case. State law establishes statutes of limitation. Commonly, the plaintiff’s injury or discovery of the injury begins the statute of limitations. However, the latter factor is trickier, as the plaintiff will have to prove when the injury was first realized.

The statute of limitations in Michigan gives all personal injury cases three years to file a suit. In Detroit, this means you have three years from the date of your injury to file any relevant suit.

We recommend you speak with a personal injury lawyer for this matter. Don’t wait too long and miss out on receiving the compensation you deserve for your injury. 

Work With an Experienced Detroit, MI Lawyer

Pursue a personal injury claim in Detroit against the responsible person if you are dealing with an injury caused by someone else. One of our experienced lawyers can help you navigate your personal injury claim. We can even help you connect with an attorney across Michigan state lines.

Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!