It can happen to anyone at any time. You are out for a lovely afternoon with the family, driving to Red Oaks Waterpark or spending a day playing disc golf at River Bends Park, when suddenly another driver plows into you and your whole life changes in an instant. Even when you are not at fault, car crashes can have disastrous consequences for your finances and your health. It gets even worse when you seek compensation, and the insurance provider does anything and everything to get out of paying your fairly.
The process can be extensive and stressful. You cannot count on your insurance company, and you have no idea where to turn. That is where Matz Injury Law comes in. Our car accident lawyers serving Sterling Heights residents boast decades of experience winning fair settlements for our clients. We have earned over $300 million in settlements, judgments, and compensation for clients all across the state of Michigan.
5 Sterling Heights Car Accident Statistics Every Driver Should Know
You can be in an accident in Sterling Heights at any time, from Mile Rd. to Mound Road and beyond. Here are some car crash statistics from Sterling Heights that might surprise you.
- The most dangerous intersection across Macomb County is the intersection of 18 1/2 Mile Road and Van Dyke Avenue. At this roundabout in 2019, 229 crashes were recorded. In 2020, 131 accidents were recorded here.
- A study in 2019 named I-94 the deadliest road in the county with 10 fatal accidents recorded there from 2017 through 2019.
- In 2019, 61% of crashes in the county happened on local roads and not highways.
- The year 2019 saw six fatal accidents in Sterling Heights.
- That same year, 10 vehicles were involved in fatal accidents, and two pedestrians were involved.
From just these statistics, you can understand how quickly an evening drive can escalate to severe injuries and a total vehicle.
Award-Winning Car Accident Attorneys Serving Sterling Heights, Michigan
At Matz Injury Law, our personal injury lawyers have been listed as Super Lawyers for their excellence, and we got there by putting our attorney-client relationship first. We charge a lower contingency fee because we want our clients to use as much of their compensation as possible to recover. In fact, our firm obtained the largest reported motor vehicle accident settlement to date in 2009: $3 million for a motor vehicle accident victim. We continue to fight our hardest to protect the legal interests of our clients.
Our attorneys have won such awards as the America’s Top 100 Attorneys Lifetime Achievement Award, AVVO Clients choice rating 10/10, and others. If you need representation in a vehicle accident case, we want to carefully choose a law firm that you know cares for you. Choose award-winning attorneys who are your friends, neighbors, and family. Contact Matz Injury Law at 866-226-6833 or by filling out our easy online form for your free case review today.
Why Is Having a Personal Injury Attorney Important?
Insurance companies are not your friend. Adjusters will go to any length to get you to sign away your rights to greater compensation. They will bully you, try to blame you for the accident, claim your injuries are not severe, and even try to trick you into self-incriminating.
Auto accident attorneys can deal with the insurance company on your behalf. They provide legal advice and legal representation when you need it the most. They can keep you from making critical errors during your accident claim, like saying the wrong things or signing the wrong papers. The right attorney will stand up and fight back against insurance adjusters, reminding the insurance company that you are indeed the victim and that you deserve fair compensation for your injuries. An attorney will get you the best opportunity at getting the significant compensation you deserve.
Is Sterling Heights, Michigan a No-Fault City for Auto Accidents?
There is no such thing as a no-fault city. No-fault laws are determined by state, and Michigan is a no-fault state for car accidents. This does not mean that nobody can be held accountable for the accident. No-fault laws simply mean that everyone is required to carry no-fault coverage like personal injury protection, or PIP, on their auto insurance policy, and that when you are in an accident, you submit your claim first to your insurance company to get the process started.
It is important to note that Michigan no-fault laws apply only to motor vehicle accident cases like Michigan car accidents, motorcycle accidents, and truck accident cases. Other types of personal injury cases are not covered by no-fault statutes.
Can I Sue for a Car Accident in Sterling Heights?
Yes, despite Michigan being a no-fault state, you can still sue the other party for the damages you have suffered in your car accident case. Suing for a car accident begins when your attorney puts together a demand letter stating what we think your injuries are worth, why they are worth that much, and submits it to the insurance company. The insurer will usually respond by picking apart the offer and issuing an inadequate counteroffer.
From there, a back-and-forth process of negotiation takes place until the sides come together, and we can agree on a settlement that is acceptable to everyone. Usually, these cases do not go to court, but if they do, Matz Injury Law always stands by our clients. Car accident cases can take some time to resolve, but we will keep you informed and involved every step of the way.
What Damages Can I Recover in a Sterling Heights, Michigan Auto Accident?
The two types of damages you can sue for in a motor vehicle accident are economic and noneconomic damages, sometimes called special and general damages, respectively. Economic damages cover items like lost wages and medical bills, which are easy to value.
Medical bills refer to all of your expenses and medical needs. This means doctor’s office visits, medication, medical procedures like diagnostics, physical therapy, and surgery, transportation to and from medical visits, and even the cost of any necessary in-home care you need. Lost wages cover the wages you have already lost from not being able to work as well as those you may have earned in the future but now will not because you cannot go back to work.
In the case of a wrongful death claim where you lose a loved one to someone else’s negligence, you may be able to collect funeral and burial expenses in addition to other economic damages.
Noneconomic damages cover those things that are more subjective and can be quite difficult to value. These are also generally referred to as pain and suffering.
Can I Sue for Pain and Suffering?
You can sue for pain and suffering. These invisible, noneconomic, or general damages can be difficult to value. They come from things like emotional harm, physical pain and suffering, loss of ability to enjoy life, mood swings, PTSD, loss of consortium, comfort, and support, and other aspects that are more subjective but still debilitating. Often, these result from things like brain injury, but they can also occur simply from trauma.
Your attorney can help you value these things. Often, pain and suffering is valued using a multiplier of economic damages, though not always. Each attorney and insurance provider has a different way of valuing these things, and they are often a point of contention in negotiating your case. That is another reason why it is important to have a qualified attorney in your corner. They know how to value pain and suffering, and they know how to challenge the insurance company’s undervaluing of your pain and suffering.
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Contact Us Today. How Long After a Car Accident Can I File a Claim in Sterling Heights, Michigan?
Every state has a time limit for filing lawsuits, called a statute of limitations. This statute covers everything from criminal cases to civil cases like car accidents. The statute can be different for different types of cases. In Michigan, the statute of limitations for personal injuries is three years. This means you have three years from the date of your car crash to file an injury case. If the car crash results in a wrongful death suit, you have three years from the date of death.
It is always, however, better to file sooner rather than later. The sooner you file, the more likely your evidence will be fresh, and the easier it will be to build a solid case. This matters because Michigan uses a modified comparative negligence statute, which means that your award can be reduced by the amount of fault you hold in the case, and if you are more than 50% responsible, you may not get any award at all.
What Are the Costs of Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer in Sterling Heights, MI?
When you first call, your initial free consultation with an attorney at Matz Injury Law will be at no cost with no disclaimer and no obligation whatsoever. We work on contingency, which means that if we do not win your case, you will not owe us anything at all. If we do win, we take only a 22% contingency fee from your award, rather than the 33% that most other attorneys and PLLC firms take. That is why our slogan is “22, Not 33.” We believe you should keep more of your award.
When Should I Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?
It is imperative that you hire a car accident lawyer right away. In fact, your call to a car accident attorney is the most important call you can make after your accident.
While at the scene of a car crash, first call 911 and be sure any medical needs are addressed. Get yourself evaluated even if you do not feel hurt. This shows you take the situation seriously, and it can help identify injuries you may not know you have. File a police report. It cannot be used as evidence but can form an important touchstone for remembering details later. Gather all the evidence you can from the scene including making diagrams, taking as many photos as possible, and getting the contact information of any witnesses.
As soon as you get home, call for help from Sterling Heights car accident attorneys right away.
Matz Injury Law: Fighting for Clients’ Best Interests Since 1977
Matz Injury Law is a personal injury law firm with decades of experience all across Michigan from such places as Troy, Warren, Southfield, Macomb County, Clinton Township, and, of course, at home in Sterling Heights. We have won millions for our clients, including $1 million for a rear-end accident, $3,450,000 for a commercial vehicle accident, and $750,000 for a car accident case.
We will get to know you and be a friend and an ally when you need it. Our practice areas cover all manner of personal injury claims, including car accidents. Contact us at 866-226-6833 or by filling out our online contact form for your free consultation today.
