Personal Injury Lawyer in Lansing MI

We start with an in-depth consultation to understand what happened, review your injuries and medical treatment, and assess the strength of your claim. This meeting costs you nothing, and you’re under no obligation to hire us. We provide honest assessments about your case’s viability and potential value.

Our team immediately begins gathering evidence to support your claim. This includes obtaining police reports, interviewing witnesses, photographing accident scenes, reviewing medical records, consulting with accident reconstruction experts when necessary, and identifying all potentially liable parties. We work quickly because evidence can disappear and memories fade.

We ensure all your injuries are properly documented by qualified medical professionals. When appropriate, we consult with medical experts who can explain your injuries, prognosis, and future care needs to insurance companies or juries. We also work with economists and life care planners in catastrophic injury cases to accurately project lifetime costs.

Insurance companies employ experienced adjusters and lawyers whose job is to minimize payouts. We level the playing field by handling all communications with insurers, presenting comprehensive demand packages with full documentation of your losses, and negotiating aggressively for fair settlement offers. We push back hard against lowball offers and tactics designed to undervalue your claim.

While most personal injury cases settle without trial, we’re always prepared to file a lawsuit and take your case to court if insurance companies refuse reasonable settlement offers. Our trial-ready approach often motivates insurers to make better offers during negotiations. When we do go to trial, you’ll have experienced litigators fighting for you before a judge and jury.

Once we secure compensation through settlement or verdict, we handle all the paperwork to ensure you receive your money promptly. We also help coordinate with medical providers regarding outstanding bills and navigate the complexities of health insurance liens to maximize the funds you keep.

Economic Damages represent financial losses with specific dollar amounts. These include all medical expenses from the accident, both past and future. This covers emergency room treatment, hospitalization, surgery, doctor visits, prescription medications, physical therapy, mental health counseling, assistive devices, and home modifications. You can also recover lost wages for time you’ve already missed from work, plus compensation for reduced earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous job or working at the same level.

Property damage to your vehicle or other belongings is also compensable. In cases involving permanent disabilities, economic damages may include the cost of ongoing care, home healthcare services, and other long-term expenses that will continue for years or even the rest of your life.

Non-Economic Damages compensate for intangible losses that don’t have specific price tags but are very real. Physical pain and suffering accounts for the hurt you’ve endured and will continue to experience. Emotional distress includes anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and other psychological impacts of your accident and injuries. Loss of enjoyment of life recognizes that your injuries may prevent you from participating in activities you previously loved. Loss of consortium compensates spouses for the impact injuries have on their marriage relationship.

These non-economic damages often represent a substantial portion of personal injury settlements, especially in cases involving severe or permanent injuries. Michigan does not cap non-economic damages in most personal injury cases, though caps do apply in medical malpractice claims.

Future Damages are particularly important in catastrophic injury cases. If your injuries will require ongoing medical treatment, you’re entitled to compensation for those future costs. Similarly, if your ability to earn income has been permanently reduced, you can recover damages for that future lost earning capacity. Life care planners and vocational experts help calculate these future losses accurately.

In wrongful death cases, Michigan law allows recovery of additional damages including funeral and burial expenses, loss of financial support the deceased would have provided, loss of services the deceased performed for the family, and the loss of companionship and guidance.

Michigan law generally gives you three years from the date of your injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. This deadline is strictly enforced by courts. File even one day late, and your case will almost certainly be dismissed regardless of its merits. Some situations involve shorter deadlines. Medical malpractice claims must typically be filed within two years of the malpractice or within six months of discovering the injury, whichever comes later. Claims against government entities require filing a notice of claim within much shorter timeframes, sometimes just 120 days. Because these deadlines are so critical, you should consult an attorney as soon as possible after any accident.

Michigan follows a modified comparative negligence rule under MCL 600.2959. This means you can still recover damages even if you share some fault for your accident, as long as you’re not more than 50 percent responsible. However, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For instance, if you’re awarded 100,000 dollars but found to be 30 percent at fault, you receive 70,000 dollars. If you’re 51 percent or more at fault, you recover nothing. Insurance companies often try to exaggerate your comparative fault to reduce what they have to pay, making skilled legal representation crucial.

Michigan’s no-fault auto insurance system affects how car accident cases work. Under this system, your own insurance company pays for your medical expenses and lost wages through Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage, regardless of who caused the accident. However, you can still pursue a claim against the at-fault driver for pain and suffering damages if your injuries meet certain thresholds. Michigan law requires that you suffer death, serious impairment of body function, or permanent serious disfigurement to step outside the no-fault system and sue for non-economic damages. Recent changes to Michigan insurance laws have made these cases more complex, underscoring the importance of working with an attorney who stays current with evolving legal standards.

In cases involving multiple at-fault parties, Michigan generally follows a joint and several liability rule. This means defendants found more than 50 percent at fault may be responsible for the entire judgment, even if other parties share blame. This rule can be strategically important in cases with multiple negligent parties or where one defendant lacks adequate insurance coverage.

Michigan does not cap non-economic damages in most personal injury cases, meaning there’s no limit on pain and suffering awards. However, medical malpractice cases are subject to caps on non-economic damages that adjust annually for inflation. These caps don’t apply if the plaintiff suffers certain catastrophic injuries like paralysis or permanent severe brain damage.

Someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing clearly caused your accident. The stronger and more obvious the at-fault party’s responsibility, the better your chances of substantial compensation. Cases with disputed liability become more challenging and sometimes require extensive investigation and expert testimony.

You suffered injuries requiring medical treatment beyond basic first aid. While even relatively minor injuries can support claims, cases involving serious injuries, permanent disabilities, extensive medical treatment, or long recovery periods typically justify higher compensation and are more economically viable to pursue.

The at-fault party has insurance coverage or sufficient personal assets to pay a judgment. Unfortunately, even when liability and injuries are clear, collecting compensation becomes difficult if the defendant lacks resources. Our attorneys investigate all potential sources of recovery, including multiple insurance policies and all potentially liable parties.

Strong medical records connect your injuries directly to the accident, police reports or incident reports document what happened, photographs preserve evidence of accident scenes and injuries, and witness statements corroborate your version of events. The more documentation available, the stronger your case becomes.

You sought prompt medical attention, followed treatment recommendations, didn’t exaggerate or fabricate symptoms, and avoided statements admitting fault. Insurance companies look for reasons to deny claims, so how you handle matters after your accident affects your case’s strength.

More serious injuries generally result in higher settlements. Broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and other severe injuries that require extensive treatment and cause long-term impairment justify greater compensation than soft tissue injuries that heal within weeks.

Both past and future medical costs contribute to case value. Cases involving hundreds of thousands in medical bills typically settle for significantly more than those with minimal treatment expenses.

Time missed from work and reduced earning capacity factor into settlements. High earners who lose substantial income due to their injuries may recover more than those with lower wages, all else being equal.

Cases with clear, undisputed fault typically settle for more than those involving comparative negligence or disputed liability. When the at-fault party’s responsibility is obvious, insurance companies have less room to negotiate downward.

Available insurance limits often create practical ceilings on case values. Even in cases involving catastrophic injuries, if the at-fault party only carries minimum insurance and has no personal assets, recovery may be limited.

Well-documented injuries with clear treatment records from qualified providers support higher valuations. Gaps in treatment, inconsistent complaints, or lack of objective findings can reduce case value.

Permanent disabilities, visible scarring, inability to participate in previously enjoyed activities, and other quality-of-life impacts increase non-economic damages.

You’ll have the opportunity to explain what happened, describe your injuries, and share your concerns in detail. We take time to understand your situation fully rather than rushing through a checklist. Bring any questions you have about the legal process, timelines, and what to expect.

Bring any documents you have related to your accident and injuries. This might include police reports, medical records and bills, photographs, insurance correspondence, and witness contact information. Don’t worry if you don’t have everything yet. We can help you obtain missing documentation.

We’ll tell you candidly whether we think you have a viable case, what challenges you might face, and what kind of outcome is realistic based on the facts you’ve presented. If we don’t think pursuing legal action makes sense for your situation, we’ll tell you that directly rather than wasting your time.

We walk you through how personal injury cases typically proceed, what steps are involved, how long cases generally take, and what’s required from you. We want you to understand exactly what you’re getting into before you make any decisions.

This is your opportunity to ask anything that concerns you. Common questions include how attorney fees work, how long the case might take, whether you’ll have to go to court, and how much your case might be worth.

There’s absolutely no pressure or obligation. After hearing about your case and understanding the process, you’ll have time to think about whether you want to move forward. If you decide to hire us, we can usually get started right away. If you need time to consider your options, that’s perfectly fine too.

Personal injury attorneys at Monument Legal work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no upfront costs or hourly fees.

We only receive attorney fees if we successfully recover compensation for you, typically taking a percentage of your settlement or verdict. This arrangement ensures everyone has access to quality legal representation regardless of their financial situation.

You’ll never receive a bill for our time if your case doesn’t succeed. We also advance all case expenses like expert witness fees, court filing costs, and investigation expenses, recovering these only if we win your case.

Michigan law generally gives you three years from the date of your injury to file a personal injury lawsuit under the statute of limitations. However, some situations involve shorter deadlines.

Medical malpractice claims typically must be filed within two years of the malpractice or six months of discovering the injury. Claims against government entities require filing a notice of claim within much shorter timeframes, sometimes just 120 days. Missing these deadlines usually means losing your right to pursue compensation entirely.

Contact an attorney as soon as possible after your accident to protect your rights.

Case values vary significantly based on multiple factors. Minor injury cases might settle for a few thousand dollars, while catastrophic injury cases can reach millions.

Key factors affecting value include the severity and permanence of your injuries, total medical expenses, lost income and reduced earning capacity, the clarity of the at-fault party’s liability, available insurance coverage, the quality of medical documentation, and how your injuries impact your daily life and relationships.

During your free consultation, we can provide a more specific assessment based on your particular circumstances.

Most personal injury cases in Michigan settle within 12 to 18 months, though timelines vary considerably.

Simple cases with clear liability and relatively minor injuries might resolve in a few months. Complex cases involving catastrophic injuries, disputed liability, or multiple defendants often take longer. Cases that go to trial typically take 18 months to two years or more from the date of filing.

Several factors affect timeline including the need for ongoing medical treatment, the insurance company’s responsiveness, whether litigation becomes necessary, and court scheduling. We work efficiently to resolve your case as quickly as possible while still maximizing your compensation.

While you’re legally allowed to handle your own claim, hiring an experienced attorney almost always results in substantially better outcomes.

Insurance companies employ professional adjusters and attorneys who handle these cases daily, and they know exactly how to minimize payouts to unrepresented claimants. Studies consistently show that accident victims with attorneys recover significantly more compensation on average, even after paying attorney fees, than those who handle claims themselves.

Attorneys also handle all the complex legal procedures, gather necessary evidence, consult with experts, and aggressively negotiate on your behalf while you focus on recovering from your injuries.

Michigan’s modified comparative negligence rule allows you to recover damages even if you share some responsibility for your accident, as long as you’re not more than 50 percent at fault.

Your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you’re awarded 100,000 dollars but found to be 20 percent at fault, you would receive 80,000 dollars. If you’re 51 percent or more at fault, you cannot recover any damages.

Insurance companies often try to exaggerate your comparative fault to reduce what they pay, making experienced legal representation important to protect your interests.

Most personal injury cases settle through negotiation without ever going to trial. However, if the insurance company refuses to offer fair compensation, filing a lawsuit and potentially going to trial may become necessary.

Your attorney will keep you informed throughout the process and explain your options at each stage. If your case does go to trial, your attorney will thoroughly prepare you for testimony and represent you in court.

Having an attorney who’s fully prepared to take your case to trial often motivates insurance companies to make better settlement offers during negotiations.

The value depends on numerous case-specific factors that we evaluate during your free consultation. Generally, cases involving more severe injuries, extensive medical treatment, significant lost income, clear liability, and adequate insurance coverage settle for higher amounts.

Minor soft tissue injuries might result in settlements of a few thousand dollars, while catastrophic injuries causing permanent disability can justify settlements or verdicts exceeding one million dollars. Non-economic damages for pain and suffering, which aren’t capped in most Michigan personal injury cases, often constitute a substantial portion of total compensation.

We’ll provide a more specific assessment once we review your particular circumstances.

Contact an attorney as soon as possible after your accident, ideally within the first few days or weeks.

Early legal representation protects crucial evidence before it disappears, prevents you from making statements that could damage your claim, ensures you understand your rights and obligations, helps you avoid common mistakes that can reduce your compensation, and guarantees you don’t miss important deadlines.

The sooner we begin working on your case, the stronger position we’re in to build a compelling claim and secure maximum compensation.

Uninsured at-fault parties create challenges, but you may still have options.

Your own auto insurance policy’s uninsured motorist coverage can provide compensation in car accident cases. We can investigate whether other parties share liability, such as employers in commercial vehicle accidents or property owners in some situations.

In rare cases, pursuing collection directly against the at-fault party’s personal assets may be worthwhile if they have significant resources. During your consultation, we’ll evaluate all potential sources of recovery based on your specific circumstances.

Yes, you can still pursue a personal injury claim even without a police report, though it makes your case more challenging.

Police reports provide important third-party documentation of what happened and who was at fault. Without one, gathering other evidence becomes even more critical. This includes photographs of the accident scene and your injuries, witness contact information and statements, your own detailed written account created as soon as possible after the accident, medical records documenting your injuries immediately after the incident, and any other documentation showing what occurred.

The sooner you involve an attorney, the better we can preserve available evidence.