Matz Injury Law: Midland MI Car Accident Attorney
Key Takeaways
- Michigan is a “no-fault” insurance state.
- The statute of limitations for taking legal action after a car accident in Michigan is three years.
- One of the most common causes of injury accidents in Michigan is distracted driving.
- Midland personal injury lawyers can investigate your case to determine negligence.
No one anticipates becoming a victim of a car accident, yet it can happen to anyone at any moment. When you or a loved one suffers injuries due to someone else’s reckless driving, the experience can take a toll not only on your physical health but also on your mental well-being.
Your catastrophic injuries may force you to miss work while seeking medical treatment, leaving you burdened with mounting hospital bills, lost income, and the overwhelming stress of the situation. These stressors can leave you feeling helpless and frustrated.
At Matz Injury Law, we understand the physical, emotional, and financial challenges you face after a car accident. Our compassionate and experienced Midland, Michigan, car accident lawyers are committed to standing by your side and fighting tirelessly to protect your rights. Contact us now for a free case evaluation.
Why Midland, Michigan Residents Choose Matz Injury Law
Matz Injury Law has decades of combined experience representing personal injury and car accident cases in Midland and across the region. We have years of experience and have won multiple judgments and settlements totaling millions of dollars combined for our clients all across Michigan, including Midland County, Mount Pleasant, Grand Rapids, Bay City, Flint, Saginaw, and other cities.
If you need an auto accident lawyer who genuinely cares about their victims and a law firm dedicated to fighting insurance companies that refuse to pay your medical bills and other damages from your Midland, MI car accident, we’re ready to listen.
Matz Injury Law Has a Lower Attorney Fee
Matz Injury Law champions a significantly lower contingency Fee. Imagine ending up in a minor accident that sidetracks your life and receiving a small $50,000 settlement due to minor bruising and PTSD. The lawyer representing you makes a big difference in what you take home.
- Standard 33 1/3% fee: You would receive $33,333 (50,000 – (50,000/3)).
- Matz Injury Law 22% fee: You would receive $39,000 (50,000 – (50,000 x .22)).
In this case, an extra $5,667 remains in your pocket. This financial advantage can provide significant relief so that you can take the time to recover emotionally and physically. We want you to receive justice and the most compensation possible because we truly care about you and want to fight for your rights.
Matz Injury Law is a Decorated Petoskey Car Accident Lawyer
Our attorneys earned many awards over the years due to the care we put into representing our clients and how we communicate and react with our clients. Some of the awards we won include:
- Super Lawyers: 10 years
- Michigan’s Top Attorneys
- Peer-rated AV Preeminent
- Avvo Rating 10.0 Superb Top Attorney Lawsuits and Disputes
- The National Trial Lawyers Top 100
- Expertise.com Car Accident Lawyers
Our Recent Case Settlements Include
- A $4.15 million settlement for a wrongful death claim arising from a motorcycle accident in Washtenaw County
- A $3.45 million settlement in a Genesee County truck accident claim in which a cement truck collided with an oncoming vehicle
- A $1.74 million settlement in a Calhoun County car accident case involving a drunk driver who killed a father of three
Midland Motor Vehicle Accident Attorney Services
Matz Injury Law handles claims involving a wide variety of motor vehicle accidents and other personal injury cases, including the following:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bus accidents
- Drunk driving accidents
- Pedestrian and bicycle accidents
- Boat accidents
- No-fault & uninsured motorist claims
- Car accident passenger claims
- Wrongful death claims
- Slip-and-fall accidents
- Dog bites
The Most Common Causes of Car Accidents in Midland, Michigan
To win a settlement or a trial award, you must be able to show that the at-fault driver’s actions or inactions are negligent. Some of the most common causes of car accidents in Midland, Michigan, include:
- Distracted driving
- Drunk driving
- Drivers impaired by legal and illegal drugs, including illegal prescription drugs
- Speeding
- Driver fatigue
- Reckless driving
- Poor road conditions
- Weather conditions (driving too fast for conditions)
- Sudden and reckless lane changes
- Improper turns
- Vehicle malfunctions, including those due to poor maintenance
- Inexperienced drivers
- Driving the wrong way
What Are My Rights in a Car Accident in Midland, Michigan?
Michigan is a “no-fault state,” which provides a straightforward way for you to claim certain damages, but you may have other options as well. Your rights in a Michigan car accident case include:
- The right to recover no-fault damages from your own insurance company.
- The right to claim damages from an at-fault driver’s insurance or file a lawsuit against them if you have serious injuries that meet the legal standard for “serious impairment of body function.”
Related Article: What Does Uninsured Motorist Insurance Cover in Michigan?
Can You Sue for a Car Accident in Midland County, Michigan?
You may sue an at-fault driver in Michigan, despite the state’s no-fault law, if you can show the following:
- The driver was negligent.
- Their negligence caused your injuries.
- Your injuries create a “serious impairment of body function” or “permanent serious disfigurement.”
State law defines “serious impairment of body function” as an injury that:
- Is noticeable by others;
- Impairs an important bodily function, and
- Interferes with your ability to lead a “normal life.”
Related Article: Can You Sue For Aggravated Injuries Due to an Accident
Why Car Accident Victims Trust Matz Injury Law in Midland, Michigan
No one is immune to life-changing events, and at Matz Injury Law, we believe everyone is due compensation after a car accident. Steven Matz and his team have been practicing law in Midland, Michigan, for decades. We have logged hundreds of thousands of miles traveling to virtually every county in Michigan’s lower and upper peninsulas, meeting with clients, and doing the work necessary to earn significant settlements on our client’s behalf.
Recent Client Testimonials
“I reached out to Steve after my car accident, and even without paying him, he was there for me. They offered me advice and told me everything I needed to know about what my insurance company owed me. He cares about people, and it shows!” – Ky W.
“I was struck by an SUV while riding my HD motorcycle. When I was released from the hospital, I contacted Lawyer Steven Matz, who came to our home and assisted us with all the paperwork. Steve also gave us top dollar for my totaled bike and the maximum amount allowed in our financial settlement. Steve was always available to help with questions and gave answers that contained compassion. He was always upbeat and energetic! I highly recommend his services to anyone who may need them.” – Dan F.
“Following a near head-on collision that left my wife with serious injuries to her leg and a head injury from the airbag that caused “instant onset dementia,” she has been deteriorating and needs constant supervision. Hats off to Steve Matz and all the work he and his firm have done to secure the compensation needed from the insurance company to facilitate her care. Without his tireless help, I don’t know where we would be today. I highly recommend Matz Injury Law and, if needed, would definitely utilize the firm again.” – Thomas C.
When Should I Hire a Midland Car Accident Lawyer?
While the law does not require you to obtain legal representation in a motor vehicle accident case, representing yourself can be a serious mistake. Insurance companies are in business to make money, which means any claim they pay cuts into their profits. They use many tricks to avoid paying what they owe you – all in the name of profits.
An experienced Michigan personal injury attorney can spot these tricks a mile away and help you overcome them, giving you the chance to recover the compensation you deserve.
You should retain an attorney for your personal injury claim if:
- You have any questions about your legal rights
- You have questions about what your next steps should be
- The insurance company is not treating you fairly (we recommend not speaking to them at all, as they are known to twist your words to put more blame for the accident on you)
- You are not getting the medical care you need
- The accident caused serious injuries or the death of a loved one
- You have questions about no-fault insurance benefits
- The insurance company asks you to sign a release
- You have uninsured motorist / underinsured motorist coverage
- You were involved in a hit-and-run accident
- An insurance company offers you money to settle. The amount they offer is almost never the amount you deserve
- You do not know who is at fault for the accident. Police reports are not always accurate. The police can only write down what accident victims tell them
- The insurance company refuses to pay (again, it is better to let an experienced lawyer handle the claim from the beginning)
- The insurance company delays taking action
- The insurance adjuster tells you that you must submit to an Examination Under Oath or that you need to see the insurance company’s doctor
- The insurance company denies medical tests and referrals to specialists
- You may have to sue the insurance company if it does not pay any reimbursable expenses
Related Article: Without a Lawyer, Can I Settle My Auto Injury Case?
Contact Matz Injury Law If You Have Been Injured in A Midland Car Accident
Steve and Jared at Matz Injury Law have decades of combined experience fighting for victims of reckless and negligent drivers on Michigan roads. We have recovered millions of dollars in settlements for their clients over the years and are ready to stand up and fight for you.
When you’re involved in a car accident, you need Midland car accident lawyers who are compassionate, caring, and ready to fight for you every step of the way. Call us at 1-866-22Not33 or use our online contact form to schedule a free consultation. Let us go up against the insurance companies so you can focus on your recovery.
Frequent Answered Questions
Car accidents happen far too frequently throughout Michigan. Unfortunately, this includes Midland.
- According to Michigan Traffic Facts, our state saw 293,341 crashes in 2022 alone, resulting in 1,053 fatalities and 51,066 injuries.
- Speeding is among the leading causes of car accidents nationwide.
- The National Safety Council reports that speeding was a contributing or major cause of 29 percent of all traffic fatalities across the nation in 2021.
- Across the country, 12,330 people died in 2021 because of speed-related accidents, an average of 30 people per day.
- Michigan Traffic Crash Facts reports that speed was a factor in 10.6 percent of all accidents involving drivers aged 20 and under.
Related Article: Where Do Most Michigan Car Accidents Happen?
Car accidents can change your life in an instant. Some car crashes even threaten the course of history. In 1977, a car accident nearly sidelined the career of Mark Hamill, who had just risen to worldwide fame for playing Luke Skywalker in Star Wars. The accident’s impact, particularly on the actor’s face, has become the stuff of legend, and rumors still abound about how it affected the filming of The Empire Strikes Back a few years later. Regardless, the classic saga still stands, as does your case in Midland, Michigan.
Michigan law sets a time limit of three years after the date of a car accident, known as the statute of limitations, to file a lawsuit.
Several parties could be responsible for your injuries or the loss of a loved one in a car accident, including:
- The driver of the vehicle you are riding in
- The driver of another vehicle
- The vehicle manufacturer
- A parts manufacturer
- A government entity
- A motor carrier or trucking company
You can recover two types of damages after a car accident in Midland, Michigan: economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages have a monetary value, while non-economic damages do not.
Economic damages include:
- Current and future medical expenses related to the accident
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
- In some cases, replacement or repair of personal property
- Death-related expenses
Non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering, including emotional distress
- Loss of quality of life
- Loss of consortium or companionship
- Inconvenience
You may also recover compensation for amputations and excessive scarring and disfigurement.
You can also recover punitive damages if you can prove the at-fault driver’s actions or inactions were grossly negligent or malicious. Instead of making you “whole” like economic and non-economic damages do, the court orders the at-fault driver to pay punitive damages as a punishment for his or her actions or inactions.
You can pursue legal action against a hit-and-run driver in Michigan for damages incurred in the accident, including medical expenses and property damage. If you cannot locate the driver, you may be able to recover damages if your insurance policy includes uninsured motorist coverage.
Yes, if you are rear-ended in Midland, you can file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver if you suffered serious injuries as a result of the collision.
If the person driving your car has auto insurance, it could pay for injuries and property damage up to its policy limits. Michigan law holds the owner of a vehicle liable for injuries caused by someone they allow to use the vehicle. Your insurance would provide coverage for the damages in that situation unless the driver falls under an exclusion in your policy.
Yes, if an insurance company in Michigan pays damages to its insured as part of an uninsured motorist claim, the company can sue the uninsured motorist for reimbursement.
If you were a passenger in a Midland, Michigan, car accident, you may have the right to sue any at-fault driver to seek compensation for your injuries and damages.
Yes, you can ask for emotional distress after a car accident in Midland, Michigan, whether you are going after your own insurance company or the at-fault driver’s insurance company. However, even when dealing with your own insurance company, it does not matter how loyal you are to them – it is in business to make money, and paying a claim cuts into its profits. It will do anything it can, even resorting to tricks to deny your claim or offer you a pittance.
If an insurance company denies your claim, not all is necessarily lost. Depending on the facts of the case, a car accident lawyer in Midland, Michigan, can challenge the denial by filing an appeal or pursuing a lawsuit.
A good personal injury lawyer will not charge you anything for your initial consultation.
At Matz Injury Law, you won’t pay a thing unless we win your case. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means that we take a percentage of your winnings, so you don’t have to pay out of pocket. Our slogan is “22, Not 33,” which means we take 22 percent of the winnings rather than the 33 percent that most attorneys take.
Michigan law states that you must stop and remain at an accident scene if you are involved in the accident. It also states that you must check others involved in the accident, call first responders, and offer any reasonable aid possible to those who suffered injuries. After calling first responders and checking others involved, you can help your case by taking the following actions:
- Take photos and video of the accident scene.
- Allow first responders to check you over, even if you do not feel as though your injuries are serious. This is the first step in documenting your case, as injuries can manifest hours or even days later.
- Exchange information with the other drivers involved in the accident.
- Obtain information from witnesses, including their contact information and what they may have seen.
- Seek medical attention immediately. First responders can only check so much. Your doctor or the emergency department can do a more thorough check.
Contact the legal team at Matz Injury Law for a free case review.
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Southfield, MI 48075
