In Michigan, you should get an attorney after a car accident as soon as possible if you were injured, a loved one was killed, liability is disputed, the insurance company is delaying or denying benefits, or you are being blamed for causing the crash. An experienced lawyer can protect your rights, preserve critical evidence, help you obtain No-Fault benefits, and pursue compensation for pain and suffering and other damages. The sooner a lawyer becomes involved, the better the chances of building a strong case and avoiding costly mistakes with insurance companies.
The following chart shows common crash scenarios and whether it is advisable to handle the claim on your own or speak with a Michigan car accident attorney.
| Scenario Following Crash | Can Handle On Your Own? | Why You Need A Michigan Car Accident Attorney Immediately |
|---|---|---|
| No Injuries (Property Damage Only) | Yes | Can typically resolve vehicle repairs directly through standard Mini Tort or collision coverage lines. |
| Injuries Sustained (Even Minor) | No | Latent injuries (like TBIs or herniated discs) often worsen. Requires precise medical documentation to legally tie the injury directly to the crash. |
| Insurance Offers Quick Cash Settlement | No | Signing a release waiver can permanently forfeit future No-Fault PIP medical or wage loss claims. Insurance companies often aim for quick, low-value settlements to close files before the full extent of your injuries is known. |
| Adjuster Delays, Requests Examination Under Oath (EUO) or IME | No | Insurance tactics like unreturned calls, repeated record requests, EUOs, or defense IMEs are actively used to delay or deny your legal benefits. |
| Hit-and-Run / Uninsured Motorist | No | Contractual notification periods can be as short as 30 days. Missing this window entirely bars you from policy recovery. |
Michigan’s unique No-Fault insurance system gives injured crash victims important rights that do not exist in many other states. Depending on the circumstances, you may be entitled to Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits for medical expenses, lost wages, replacement services, and other crash-related losses. Additionally, some uninsured motorist coverage policies require notice to the insurance company within a very short period of time,sometimes as little as 30 days after the crash. Missing these deadlines can jeopardize your ability to recover benefits.
You should not assume that an insurance adjuster will explain every benefit, right, or deadline that may apply to your claim. An attorney can identify all available sources of compensation, ensure legal requirements are met, and protect you from insurance company tactics that could reduce or deny your recovery.
Beyond your claim with your own insurance company, you may also have the right to bring a lawsuit against the at-fault driver for pain and suffering and other economic damages. That is why it is often beneficial to speak with a Michigan car accident attorney as soon as possible after a crash.
When Should I Get An Attorney For A Car Accident In Michigan?
The “rule of thumb” on when you should get an attorney after a car accident in Michigan is when: (1) you have questions about your legal rights or what you should do; (2) you’ve been injured; (3) the auto insurance company is not treating you honestly or fairly; and (4) you’re not getting the medical care you need.
Based on over 25 years of helping victims from around the state of Michigan, my own advice is simple: it never hurts to pick up the phone and ask a question.
People should not be afraid of this costing them money because the call is always free and almost all lawyers are paid by a contingency fee – meaning they only get paid if you do. People should seek legal advice after a motor vehicle crash for any questions they have or any reason they think necessary. Below are some specific reasons on when you should get an attorney after a car accident in Michigan:
- You should get an attorney after a car accident if it resulted in serious personal injury or wrongful death. It’s also critically important to remember that some serious injuries, such as a traumatic brain injury, are not always immediately apparent at the crash scene. Spinal injuries, such as ruptured or herniated discs, can also seem minor or insignificant but can quickly become more serious as more disc material pushes through the tear in the days that follow your crash. The list of seemingly minor injuries that can become life-altering after a collision is unfortunately quite long.
- Questions about your own legal rights and No-Fault insurance benefits after a collision. Our car accident attorneys hear from victims who have suffered personal injuries that are preventing them from returning to work and they want to know if and how Michigan No-Fault insurance can help them pay their bills.
- Any release you are asked to sign. Your own insurance company or the insurance company for the person who caused the crash is asking you to sign a release.
- If you have uninsured motorist and/or underinsured motorist coverage and you have been involved in a collision, a legal adviser will help you understand what you need to do and what you must show to recover the benefits you’re entitled to.
- If you were involved in a hit-and-run collision, then you should get a hit and run lawyer as they will be able to explain how your uninsured motorist coverage can help you and anyone else in your family that was injured.
- You should get an attorney after a car accident in Michigan immediately whenever an insurance company is offering you money to settle your claim. This could be the at-fault driver’s insurance company or your own No-Fault auto insurance company. Do not agree to settle and do not sign any settlement agreements without reviewing the settlement first with an experienced lawyer. IMPORTANT: The insurance industry’s own data shows that having an experienced legal counselor results in settlement amounts that average four times higher than settlements without having professional legal representation. They are not calling you to try to settle to be nice. They are calling you to try to settle because they know it will save them money.
- If there is any question as to who is at fault or who caused the crash. The police report isn’t always accurate. You should get an attorney after a car accident immediately if there’s any disagreement regarding who is at fault in causing a crash.
- Injured people can always call with questions about how to get their crash-related medical expenses paid through their No-Fault auto insurance coverage. As I wrote above, you unfortunately cannot always depend on your own claims adjuster to be honest and upfront with you about what you are entitled to.
- Many of the calls we get from victims involve their frustration and desperation when their auto insurance companies refuse to pay or cut-off payment of No-Fault benefits. If they just did their job and did what they are supposed to do, we’d be a lot less busy.
- Michigan crash victims need to hire a car accident attorney after a crash when they experience delays from their insurance claims adjuster. Sadly, it is normal to experience unreturned phone calls, getting your claim file passed along to different insurance adjusters, and multiple medical record requests for the same information over and over again as a way to delay or deny claims.
- When people are told by their claims adjuster that they must submit to an Examination under Oath (EUO) or that they will have to see an insurance company doctor for a one-time independent medical exam (IME) before they will be paid any further No-Fault benefits.
- You should get an attorney after a car accident when important medical tests and referrals to specialists are denied or unreasonably delayed by a victim’s own insurance company.
- Understanding the complex relationship between a person’s auto insurance policy and health insurance policy is difficult enough under normal circumstances. Victims can greatly benefit when they get an attorney for a car accident because they can get advice on who pays for what and which insurance company bills should be submitted first.
- You should get an attorney after a car accident if you were injured because many crash victims don’t know that if any reimbursable expenses are not paid by their Michigan No-Fault insurance carrier, a lawsuit must be filed by a legal representative in our state within 12 months from the date the expense was incurred. If not, the victim will forfeit and permanently lose the right to reimbursement from the insurance company – and the crash victim will be responsible for the incurred bill or expense.
- Victims and their families frequently have questions about No-Fault attendant care benefits. Questions such as how many hours of attendant care are covered and how much will the insurance company pay to care providers are very common. The amount of money that an insurance company will pay for attendant care can vary wildly depending on the company. In these situations, a good attendant care can often double or triple the amount that an insurance company will pay.
- It’s very common – and completely understandable – that victims will call for legal advice to learn what their rights are and what their legal options may be. If we conclude that you do not need to get a lawyer after a crash, we will tell you. It’s not in your interest, or ours, to start an unnecessary lawsuit. But it is always a good idea to be fully informed on what you are entitled to.
These are just some of the reasons why a person might need to get an attorney after a car accident in Michigan. There are a lot more. It is never a waste of your time to talk to an experienced legal expert. One free phone call can save you from countless future lawsuit mistakes.
Why Should You Get A Lawyer After A Crash In Michigan?
You should get a lawyer after an automobile crash in Michigan to help avoid legal loopholes. Most victims don’t know or aren’t aware of them and if the loopholes are not dealt with properly, then victims could be denied the benefits and compensation they are entitled to.
Many of these loopholes take the form of “notice” requirements which is why it is important to know when to get an attorney after a car accident. For instance:
- Victims have a limited amount of time to file an application for No-Fault benefits (which is commonly referred to as a “written notice of injury”) with their auto insurance companies.
- Bus crash lawsuits against transportation companies require very early, specific notice.
- Notice of claims for uninsured motorist coverage after a hit-and-run crash must frequently be made within 30 days of the crash.
- Underinsured motorist coverage often has the same requirement.
- There are very specific notice requirements for personal injury claims against the State of Michigan and against the federal government.
- Timing of notices in truck crash cases is crucial because trucking companies are allowed to legally destroy critical evidence that can prove negligence as early as three months following a serious truck crash.
When To Hire A Car Accident Attorney in Michigan?
You should hire a specialized car accident attorney immediately if any of the following apply to your crash:
- You sustained injuries: Even if your auto injuries seem minor at first, conditions like traumatic brain injuries or disc herniations often worsen over time.
- Fault or liability is disputed: If the other driver, the police report, or the insurance carrier disputes who caused the crash.
- You are asked to sign a release: Never accept a quick cash settlement or sign an insurance waiver without a legal review, as you may permanently forfeit your right to future No-Fault PIP benefits.
- Your No-Fault benefits are delayed or denied: If your insurance claims adjuster is stalling medical bill payments, withholding wage loss reimbursements, or demanding an Examination Under Oath (EUO).
- The crash involves complex policy issues: This includes hit-and-run crashes, uninsured motorists, underinsured drivers, or commercial trucking crashes.
Does Timing Matter When Getting An Attorney After A Car Accident In Michigan?
In Michigan, waiting to consult a car accident attorney after a crash can severely jeopardize your injury claim. In the days following a motor vehicle crash, critical evidence can disappear from the scene, physical black box data can be overwritten, and witness memories quickly fade.
Furthermore, medical records must be meticulously documented immediately to establish a legal link between the crash and your injuries. Waiting too long allows insurance adjusters to argue that your injuries were caused by an unrelated event. Beyond the physical evidence, Michigan has strict statutory deadlines: you have a maximum of one year to file a No-Fault application for PIP benefits, and missing this window bars you from recovery forever.
What Is The Practical Rule For Michigan Car Accident Victims To Hire An Attorney?
In Michigan, the safest rule of thumb is to consult a specialized car accident attorney the exact same day or within a few days of the crash. Even if your injuries initially seem minor, or if you are entirely unsure whether you need to file a lawsuit, an early consultation costs nothing and prevents devastating legal mistakes. Speaking with a legal professional right away ensures you do not sign an insurance release waiver, miss a critical filing deadline, or say something to a claims adjuster that could permanently damage your case.
Why Do Insurance Companies Track When And Why Claimants Hire Lawyers?
Insurance industry organizations like the Insurance Research Council (IRC) regularly study claimant behavior to better understand the factors driving legal representation. Their research often highlights that many claimants seek counsel not just due to dissatisfaction, but because they recognize the complexity of navigating a claim alone.
While industry-funded reports may suggest that lawyer involvement is driven by external suggestions or a desire for higher settlements, our experience shows that these studies often overlook the critical protection a Michigan car accident attorney provides against insurance company settlement tactics. In fact, while the industry may frame lawyer involvement as a ‘cost’ to the system, our primary goal is to ensure you do not forfeit your rights,such as future No-Fault PIP medical or wage loss claims,by signing a premature release waiver.
Injured In A Car Accident In Michigan And Need An Attorney? Call Now For A Free Consultation!
If you were injured in a crash in Michigan, call now (800) 968-1001 for a free consultation with an experienced car accident attorney. There is no cost or obligation. You can also visit our contact page or use the chat feature on our website.
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