When someone else's actions lead to your injuries, that person is considered to be negligent. If those injuries led to costs such as medical bills and lost wages, then you might want to consider filing a personal injury case. After all, most personal injury cases hinge on proving negligence. Your first step will be to contact a personal injury attorney, but before you do that, you might want to browse this website and learn a little more about personal injury law and personal injury attorneys, in general. We've provided plenty of helpful articles to ensure you are well-informed, so start reading.
3 Times You Can Sue After A Car Accident In The State Of Michigan
The state of Michigan is a no-fault insurance state, which means that drivers are required to carry no-fault personal protection insurance benefits.
What that means is that if you get into an accident in the state of Michigan, it doesn't matter if you are at the at-fault driver or not, your insurance will cover your medical expenses and lost wages. This system is set-up to reduce the burden of car accident lawsuits on the legal system. However, there are still situations under which you can sue someone after a car accident in the state of Michigan.
Time #1: You Can Sue If No-Fault Medical Benefits provide Less Than Unlimited Coverage
When you get into an accident in the state of Michigan, the No-Fault PIP benefits are designed to cover all your medical bills. If for some reason you are not provided with unlimited No-Fault medical coverage and your medical costs exceed the limits of your policy, then you can sue the other driver. You can sue the at-fault driver, and their insurance company, for excess medical benefits.
This includes medical bills that exceed the limits of your personal injury protection insurance under your policy. So basically, if you exceed the medical limits of No-Fault Personal Injury Protection under your own policy, you can sue the at-fault driver and their insurance company to cover the rest of the costs.
Time #2: You Can Sue for Pain & Suffering
Second, in the state of Michigan, you can sue the at-fault driver for pain and suffering if you suffered an injury that meets the standards of a serious impairment of body function.
Basically, you can only sue the at-fault driver for pain and suffering if you suffered an injury that was so serious that it impacted your body's ability to allow you to lead the life you had before the accident.
Time #3: You Can Sue for Vehicle Damage Repair Costs
If your vehicle was damaged in the accident, you can file up to the state maximum for vehicle damage repair costs. This is considered a mini-tort case. You will only get a couple of thousand dollars, but the money could help pay your deductible or help pay the costs of fixing up your vehicle. This type of lawsuit is generally quick and easy and can help you recover some money spent fixing up your vehicle after an accident that you were not at fault for.
To better understand your legal right to sue someone after a car accident in the state of Michigan, talk to an auto accident attorney. They will be able to help you navigate these complicated legal waters.