Do I Need A Lawyer For A Car Accident In Kalamazoo, MI?
If you are injured in a crash in Kalamazoo, MI you are not required to hire a car accident lawyer but it is in your best interest. An experienced attorney can help protect your legal rights to collect Michigan No-Fault wage loss, PIP benefits and get your medical bills paid. Unfortunately, Michigan’s No-Fault law can present many potential hurdles for the uninformed consumer.
For example, take the need to provide “notice” if you’re injured in a hit and run crash or injured by an uninsured driver. Insurance policies can legally include contract language that requires 30 days notice, in order to recover uninsured motorist protection when injured in a hit and run collision or in a motor vehicle crash with an uninsured negligent driver. (Uninsured drivers are very common in our state, with approximately 20% of drivers in Michigan driving uninsured.) Failing to comply with the 30-day “notice” requirement in your “uninsured motorist” policy can result in your policy getting voided, so that you lose your ability to recover compensation for injuries or losses. The insurance company to whom you have been paying your premiums won’t hesitate to leave you with nothing – or worse yet, with huge medical bills to pay out of pocket and no insurance to pay for necessary medical care and/or treatment in the future. The worst part? You’re probably not even aware that such language appears in your auto insurance policy. (Don’t feel bad. Many consumers don’t read through the details of their insurance coverage!)
An experienced attorney will protect you from some recent insurance industry practices that can harm consumers. For example, we’ve encountered auto insurance companies and claims adjusters trying to trick vehicle crash victims, who are already under financial pressure after a personal injury from a vehicle crash, into “settling” their injury claims for significantly less than they’re worth. These same adjusters have also been asking injury victims to sign away future legal rights to No-Fault benefits, along with pain and suffering compensation.
Our Kalamazoo car accident lawyers are here to help you and to protect you from these types of tricks and traps after an automobile crash. We make sure you receive everything you’re entitled to after a crash – both from your insurance company and from the insurance company for the careless driver. It’s a good idea to call for a free consultation with an experienced attorney after any motor vehicle crash in which someone is injured.