Personal Injury Law in Saginaw, MI

Were you hurt due to another’s negligence in Saginaw? 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 Saginaw, 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 Saginaw 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 Saginaw, 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 Saginaw 

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, around 195,500 people lived in the Saginaw area in 2019. A publication from the Department of Health and Human Services says that traffic accidents tripled for women during this time.

Steps in a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Saginaw, 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.

Before you go to court over a personal injury in Saginaw, a mediation process begins that attempts to settle out of court. Most cases do not go to trial and reach an agreement during or before this time. However, your lawyer may attempt to reach a deal at any time. If neither party can find common ground, a judge and jury may have the final decision.

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.

The amount of damages you receive begins with direct compensation for the cost of items like medical bills or out-of-pocket bills. Your attorney may base the amount in their filings on recent precedent as well. For example, the Saginaw Police Department currently has a lawsuit filed against it for $75,000 for neglect, according to MLive. Non-economic damages like pain and suffering often become determined during a settlement or by a judge and jury.

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 to compensate you for the damage 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 to 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.

There is no limit currently to the number of damages a plaintiff can receive after winning a personal injury lawsuit. Only cases of medical malpractice or product liability have caps on the award received from a Saginaw court.

Statute of Limitations in Saginaw, 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.

You can file a lawsuit up to 3 years after suffering physical, emotional, or financial injury because of another party’s action or inaction. However, if you wait too long to file your lawsuit with a court in Saginaw, you may lose any opportunity to receive compensation for damages.

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 Saginaw, MI Lawyer

Pursue a personal injury claim in Saginaw 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!