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Experienced Car Accident Lawyer in Grand Rapids
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The days after a crash on a Grand Rapids road can fill up fast. Medical bills may arrive while you are still in pain, missed work can leave a gap in your income, and an insurance adjuster may ask questions before you understand what your policy covers.
Michigan’s no-fault system adds another layer. Personal injury protection benefits may cover medical care and lost income, while a separate claim against the at-fault driver may cover pain and suffering and certain excess losses. Different rules and deadlines apply to each claim.
At Matz Injury Law, our Grand Rapids car accident lawyer can help you identify the correct source of PIP benefits, preserve evidence, document your medical care and income loss, and pursue each claim that may apply. We also explain how the no-fault and third-party claims fit together, so you understand what comes next.
Why Injured Grand Rapids Drivers Choose Matz Injury Law
When you hire us for your car accident case, Steven Matz or Jared Matz handles it personally from start to finish. You work directly with the lawyer responsible for gathering your evidence, communicating with the insurers, and moving your claim forward.
We have represented injured people across Michigan since 1977 and recovered more than $300 million for our clients. That experience includes Michigan no-fault disputes, contested liability, and serious injuries that require careful documentation. Prior results do not predict what your case may bring.
You Keep More With Our 22% Fee
Michigan Court Rule 8.121 sets one-third as the maximum allowable contingency fee for personal injury, wrongful death, and no-fault claims, while allowing lawyers to charge less. We only keep 22%. On a $100,000 recovery, the difference between those rates is $11,333 before case costs and other deductions.
You do not pay an attorney’s fee up front. We receive a fee only if we recover compensation for you.
Client Testimonials
“Steve Matz was there when I needed him. Nobody expects to be a victim of a car accident but when I found myself in that situation it was overwhelming. Steve made everything easy. Steve did not accept the insurance Company’s first offer. He held out and got me a better settlement. Steve is very kind and professional. I highly recommend Matz Injury Law.” — Sharon K.
“My family is grateful for Steve Matz’s professional handling of our case. Steve was very thorough, candid, responsive, and strategic in his approach throughout our legal proceedings. If ever in a situation again like my family has experienced over the past year, we would immediately retain Matz Injury Law to represent our interests. Thank you Steve.” — John P.
“Mr Matz was great helping me after my auto accident. I had no idea what was going on or where to turn but he led me the correct direction and to the right kind of doctors I needed to treat my injuries. He was there to answer any questions and still is, even if its not to do with the case he represented me on. His son is very helpful and caring also!” — Judy W.
Meet Our Grand Rapids Car Accident Lawyers
Car Accidents in Grand Rapids and Kent County
Grand Rapids drivers regularly travel busy routes such as I-96, US-131, and the S-curve through downtown. A collision on one of these roads may involve highway cameras, nearby business footage, witnesses, emergency response records, and vehicle data that can help explain what happened.
The location of the crash can guide the investigation. We identify possible evidence sources and send preservation requests when footage or records may disappear. You can also read about common crash locations across Michigan and the factors that contribute to collisions in those areas.
When Kent County is the proper venue and a case falls within the circuit court’s jurisdiction, the lawsuit may proceed in the 17th Circuit Court in Grand Rapids. We represent injured drivers and passengers in Grand Rapids, Wyoming, Kentwood, Walker, Grandville, and communities across Michigan.
What a Grand Rapids Car Accident Lawyer Does for You
A car accident claim can involve medical records, wage documentation, policy terms, deadlines, and evidence from several sources. We coordinate that work while you focus on treatment.
We can:
- Identify the insurer responsible for personal injury protection benefits
- Request the accident report and available photographs or video
- Gather medical records and proof of lost income
- Document current losses and reasonably anticipated future needs
- Handle insurer questions and settlement negotiations
- File a lawsuit when the evidence and circumstances support that step
We also evaluate whether your injuries meet Michigan’s serious-impairment threshold for a claim against the at-fault driver. The crashes we handle in and around Grand Rapids include:
- Rear-end collisions on congested streets and highways
- Intersection and left-turn crashes where the drivers dispute fault
- Hit-and-run crashes where the other driver leaves the scene
Commercial vehicle cases can involve additional evidence and responsible parties. Our Michigan truck accident attorneys handle those claims as well.
How Michigan No-Fault and PIP Benefits Work After a Grand Rapids Crash
Michigan’s no-fault system provides personal injury protection benefits without regard to who caused the crash. The amount and source of those benefits depend on the injured person’s coverage, policy elections, and place in Michigan’s legal order of priority.
Depending on your policy and losses, PIP benefits may cover:
- Reasonable and necessary medical care up to the medical coverage level the policyholder selected
- 85% of qualifying lost income for up to three years, subject to a monthly maximum
- Attendant care when crash-related injuries make personal assistance reasonably necessary
- Up to $20 per day in replacement services for up to three years
- Reasonable mileage for travel to crash-related medical care
Your declarations page should identify the medical coverage level selected for the policy. Available levels include unlimited coverage and capped options, while eligibility requirements apply to the $50,000 level and an opt-out.
For many people injured while occupying a motor vehicle, the order of priority starts with their own insurer, then a resident relative’s insurer. The Michigan Assigned Claims Plan may provide coverage when no applicable policy exists. Exceptions can change that order, so identifying the correct insurer early can prevent avoidable delays.
Motorcycle claims follow different priority rules because Michigan’s no-fault act does not classify a motorcycle as a motor vehicle. Our Michigan motorcycle accident attorneys can determine which coverage may apply after a bike crash.
An insurer may also request a defense medical exam (DME). Whether the request concerns a PIP claim or a third-party lawsuit affects your options, so review the request with your lawyer before you respond.
When You Can Hold the At-Fault Driver Responsible
No-fault benefits do not prevent every claim against the driver who caused the crash. Michigan law allows claims for non-economic losses, such as pain and suffering, when an injury satisfies a statutory threshold.
You may also pursue certain economic losses that PIP does not cover, including allowable expenses and work loss that exceed applicable no-fault limits. We review both parts of the case together so the evidence supports the full scope of the losses you can legally claim.
What Counts as a Serious Impairment
MCL 500.3135 permits a claim for non-economic loss when the injured person suffers death, permanent serious disfigurement, or a serious impairment of body function. A serious impairment must be objectively manifested, affect an important body function, and affect the person’s general ability to lead a normal life.
The analysis depends on how the injury affected your life, not on a required period of disability. Medical records, work restrictions, treatment history, and testimony about changes in your activities can all help establish the claim.
Fault also affects recovery. Michigan reduces damages by the injured person’s percentage of fault, and someone who is more than 50% at fault cannot recover non-economic damages. Michigan’s mini-tort law may also allow up to $3,000 for vehicle damage that insurance does not cover, subject to the facts and available coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions About Grand Rapids Car Accidents
Do I Need a Lawyer After a Car Accident in Grand Rapids?
You may benefit from legal help if you suffered a serious injury, the driver disputes fault, an insurer delays or denies PIP benefits, or an insurer requests a recorded statement. We can review the claim during a free consultation and explain whether representation would add value.
How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Michigan?
You generally have three years from the crash date to sue the at-fault driver. PIP timing works differently. You generally must provide written notice of the injury within one year, and the one-year-back rule limits recovery of unpaid benefits. Exceptions may apply, so review your deadlines early.
How Much Does a Grand Rapids Car Accident Lawyer Cost?
We offer a free consultation and charge a 22% contingency fee. You pay no attorney’s fee up front, and we receive a fee only if we recover compensation for you. We will explain how case costs and other deductions could affect your net recovery before you hire us.
Can I Still Recover If I Was Partly at Fault for the Crash?
Yes, in most cases. Michigan generally reduces damages by your percentage of fault. If you are more than 50% at fault, you cannot recover non-economic damages. Photos, witness statements, video, and vehicle data can help us evaluate and respond to allegations that you contributed to the crash.
Get Help With Your Grand Rapids Car Accident Claim
An insurer may request a statement or send an offer while you are still receiving treatment. Before you sign a release, we can review what the offer includes, what it leaves unpaid, and which claims the release would end.
We offer free consultations for injured people in Grand Rapids and throughout Michigan. Call 866-226-6833 or use our contact form to tell us what happened. You pay no attorney’s fee unless we recover compensation for you.
Written By Steven Matz
Steven J. Matz is the founder of Matz Injury Law, specializing in personal injury litigation with a focus on car accident victims. With over 40 years of legal experience, Mr. Matz has achieved numerous million-dollar settlements. He holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has been recognized among Michigan’s Top Attorneys. Steven J. Matz is a frequent lecturer on legal ethics and personal injury law, and serves on the Michigan Attorney Discipline Board.
