Car Accident Lawyer Serving Jackson, Michigan

It can happen at any time to anyone, without warning. You head out in the morning to shoot some golf at Ella Sharp Park or take the family out to Gilletts Lake for a picnic, when a reckless motorist veers out of control, resulting in a catastrophic car crash. In 2020, one out of every 163 people in Michigan suffered a serious injury in auto collisions.

These types of collisions happen all the time, but few people stop to think about contacting a personal injury attorney. When they try to go it alone, they can end up paying out of pocket for many damages that should be covered by their insurance. The auto accident personal injury lawyers at Matz Injury Law can help erase these financial burdens by bringing years of experience in personal injury law to the table.

Our law firm has a 10/10 rating in Avvo client satisfaction and is consistently rated as Super Lawyers in Michigan. Our practice areas cover motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, and other motor vehicle injuries. We always put our client relationship first and are ready to help. From Ann Arbor to Lansing to here at home in Jackson, Michigan, Matz Injury Law is here to listen and fight for you contact us today at 866-226-6833 or fill out or online form.

5 Surprising Jackson, Michigan Car Accident Statistics

1. In 2020, Jackson County saw 4,466 motor vehicle accidents.
2. 14 of these accidents were fatal.
3. 86% of car accidents in Jackson County resulted in property damage.
4. 611 accidents in 2020 resulted in injury.
5. 2,771 accidents in 2020 occurred on local streets, while 709 occurred on highways.

For more surprising car accident statistics in Jackson, Michigan, check out the 2020 Year End Traffic Crash Statistics from the Michigan State Police.

Do I Need Car Accident Lawyers in Jackson, Michigan?

No law states that you must secure a car accident lawyer for your personal injury case. If you do not, however, you are putting yourself at a serious disadvantage. Insurance adjusters will try many different tricks and tactics to get you to sign a paltry offer, or even to get out of paying you at all. They know how to use the law against you, like claiming the accident was your fault, which, according to Michigan’s modified comparative fault law, could bar you from compensation.

A qualified and experienced attorney who represents motor vehicle accident victims can level the playing field. Matz Injury Law knows how to fight back against bullying insurance adjusters. We can help you avoid making incriminating statements, and we can even take over the communication with insurance companies completely so you do not have to deal with the extra stress. We will make sure all the paperwork is correct and on time, and we will remind everyone who the real victim is. We will give you the best shot at significant compensation for your injuries.

What Happens If I Sue After a Car Accident in Jackson, Michigan?

You are  taking your kids to Sparks Foundation County Park when suddenly a reckless driver t-bones you at SW Avenue and Morrell Street. Your whole life changes catastrophically, but you can sue the negligent driver for your car accident injuries. To do this, we will have to prove negligence. This means demonstrating that the other driver had a duty of care that they violated. This part is easy enough; every driver has a duty of care to behave responsibly and not put others in danger on the road.

Next, however, we must prove that their violation of this duty of care led directly or proximately to the accident. We also must prove that you got hurt as a result of the crash. These three things together are called negligence.

In Michigan, your award can be reduced  if you hold any responsibility for the accident. If you are more than 50% responsible, you may be barred from compensation entirely. That is why it is so important to have an attorney in your corner.

What Damages Can I Recover After a Jackson, Michigan Car Accident?

The two types of damages you can recover after a Jackson, Michigan car accident are economic and noneconomic. You may also hear them called special and general damages, respectively. Special or economic damages include your medical bills, medical treatments, lost wages, and loss of potential future earnings. These are all items that are obvious or easy to value. In a wrongful death case where you lose a loved one to another’s negligence, economic damages can also include burial costs and funeral expenses.

Can I Sue for Pain and Suffering?

Noneconomic or general damages are also sometimes called pain and suffering. You can sue for pain and suffering, which is a blanket term for all of your noneconomic damages. Noneconomic damages may include your physical pain, any emotional trauma or PTSD, mood swings, inability to enjoy life, loss of comfort and companionship, loss of support, loss of consortium, and all the other invisible injuries you suffer.

Sometimes these conditions result from things like traumatic brain injury. Other times they are simply from trauma. Since noneconomic damages  can be just as debilitating as physical injuries, you can receive compensation for them. These types of injuries can be hard to value, but your personal injury attorney with practice areas in motor vehicle accidents can help you put a value on them.

Each attorney and insurance company has a different way of valuing these damages, which they usually keep secret. This is the part of the case that can usually get the most contested and take the longest to negotiate.

Will I Get Compensation for My Injuries if I Was Found at Fault for My Accident?

Michigan is a no-fault state, but this does not mean that nobody is at fault. Rather, it means that you must carry no-fault insurance, also called personal injury protection, or PIP, and that you submit your accident case to your insurance company for compensation. No-fault only applies to auto accident cases, not to other types of personal injury like dog bites, premises liability, or medical malpractice.

All too often, however, insurance companies look for reasons to deny coverage. If someone else was at fault for the accident, you can sue them for the economic and noneconomic harm that you have suffered.

If, however, you are partly at fault, your award can be reduced. In Michigan, the state uses the concept of modified comparative fault. Besides reducing your award by the amount of fault you hold, you can be barred from any compensation at all if you are found to be more than 50% at fault for an accident. That is another reason it is so important to contact the law office of Matz Injury Law at 866-226-6833 or through our online contact form to get a free consultation with no obligation and no disclaimer today.

What Is the Statute of Limitations for a Personal Injury Claim in Michigan?

A statute of limitations is a time frame and deadline to file your injury lawsuit. In the state of Michigan, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is three years. The clock starts ticking on the date of the accident, or in the case of wrongful death, the date of death. It is, however, always better to file your lawsuit sooner rather than later. Evidence can fade quickly, and it will be much easier to build a solid case if you file early. This is another reason it is important to call an attorney right away.

What Is the Average Cost of Car Accident Lawyers in Jackson, Michigan?

Most car accident lawyers work on a contingency fee, meaning you will not pay anything at all for the initial consultation and you will not  pay a dime unless you win compensation. The contingency fee will depend on the size of the award, so there is no real average since every case is individual and unique. For the most part, however, injury lawyers tend to charge 33% of your award for their fee. Matz Injury Law firm, however, charges only 22%.

What Is the Most Important Thing to Do After an Auto Accident in Jackson, Michigan?

Time is of the essence. Calling a lawyer as soon as you can may help prevent you from making critical errors like failing to fill out paperwork or making incriminating statements to the insurance company. At the scene of a car accident, you should first call 911 to have medical needs attended to and to file a police report. Next, collect any evidence you can at the scene, including photos, diagrams, and any contact information of witnesses.

After you get home, call a lawyer immediately. Insurance companies are not your friend. They look for reasons to deny you coverage. Let your Jackson car accident lawyers at Matz Injury Law firm take care of communicating with the insurance adjuster on your behalf.

Receive an Average of $60,000 More by Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer

Legal representation can make a huge difference in the compensation you receive. A recent survey showed that those who hire car accident lawyers walk away with an average of $77,600, while without representation receive just $17,600. That is more than four times the award for having a lawyer in your corner.

Steve and Jared are knowledgeable attorneys with years of experience representing personal injury claims across Michigan. They are consistently rated among Michigan’s Super Lawyers. The legal professionals at Matz Injury Law firm have provided legal advice and representation for clients as far away as Lansing and Ann Arbor, and, of course, Jackson.