Personal Injury Lawyers in Adrian

The easiest and best way to find the right attorney is by knowing the qualities of a good lawyer in the first place. Just because an attorney or law firm describes themselves as the 'best' in this part of town does not necessarily mean they'll live up to the expectations.

Personal injury law is broad and covers a plethora of accidents and injuries. These include car accidents, wrongful deaths, slips and falls—you name it. For this reason, you need a lawyer with vast experience in handling your specific types of cases. Such an attorney will know how best to handle the case and the unique challenges it may pose.

Winning cases is the ultimate goal of any personal injury lawsuit. That's why you should choose a lawyer with a proven track record of successfully representing clients and winning cases. Look for a lawyer with a history of securing significant settlements and verdicts. The good news is that you don't need to look too far; Morgan & Morgan has recovered over $20 billion as compensation for the injured.

Choose an attorney with access to the resources necessary to investigate your case. With the availability of powerful resources, the attorney won't be afraid to take on big insurance companies.

Do not underestimate the power of having a great reputation among clients and the legal community as a whole. The right attorney should have that. Check if they have (mostly) positive reviews from previous clients. Reviews are usually a good indicator of their ability to provide excellent legal representation. For context, Morgan & Morgan has over 28,000 5-star reviews on Google alone.

Many people actually realize the importance of choosing an attorney with powerful legal resources when it's too late. Half the time, it's usually the difference between getting total compensation or settling for anything the other party offers. In fact, that's if you're even lucky enough to receive such an offer.

Powerful legal resources can be important when investigating a case. These include paralegals, who can assist with legal research and document preparation. The last thing you want is an attorney who misses key deadlines because they're trying to do a million things simultaneously. It could damage the entire case.

Additionally, an attorney may work with accident reconstruction experts to establish the cause and severity of an accident. Depending on the specifics of the case, they may also need investigators to gather evidence, interview witnesses, and conduct other investigative duties.

Other professionals in fields such as medicine, finance, and insurance may need to provide expertise on issues related to the case. These processes aim to build a strong case and increase your chances of winning. An ill-equipped attorney or law firm won't have the luxury to put in the work and effort needed to fight big and powerful insurance companies in or out of court.

There is no specific date or time when hiring a lawyer is necessary. The unique nature of your case often comes into play when making such decisions.

That said, here are some general guidelines to follow.

Hiring a personal injury lawyer immediately is a good idea if you suffered serious injuries or incurred heavy property damage. Then, if you have a valid case, they will help you determine the value of your claim, negotiate with insurance companies, and represent you in court if necessary.

Suppose you're unsure who is responsible for your injuries. In that case, a personal injury lawyer can help you investigate and identify the parties responsible and file a third-party claim.
 
A personal injury lawyer is always a free case evaluation away if the insurance company disputes your claim. They'll swing into action, build a strong case to support your claim, and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf. Sometimes, if necessary, they may even take the case to court if the other party refuses to offer a reasonable settlement.

Importantly, if you're generally unsure of what to do, which many people usually are, a personal injury lawyer can help guide you through the legal process in Adrian. They will explain your legal rights, advise you on the best course of action, and provide legal representation throughout your case.

Yes. Like other states, Michigan has a deadline for filing a personal injury lawsuit. In the Great Lake State, you have three years from the accident date to bring your lawsuit against the at-fault party to court.

The clock starts ticking on the accident date, unless you didn't discover your injuries until some time after the accident. If that's the case, the three-year time limit would start running on the discovery date instead. It's crucial to meet the deadline for filing a personal injury lawsuit because the court may not even listen to you if you don't. The same applies to insurance companies; they may not want you contacting them again about the claim, and sadly, they will be within their rights to do so.

First, it depends on the damages you suffered, your contribution to the accident, and other factors.

Generally, in a standard injury case, plaintiffs can recover compensation for economic and non-economic damages. These include medical expenses, transportation costs, ambulance fees, lost wages (past, current, and future), pain and suffering, and more.

Also, note that the damages you may be able to recover will depend on the specific type of personal injury you suffered. For example, in a wrongful death case, you may be able to recover damages for the medical bills your loved one incurred before death, including funeral expenses and loss of future earnings. On the other hand, if it's a case of a defective product, which falls under product liability, you may be able to recover damages for the cost of repairing or replacing a defective product.

Under Michigan's modified comparative negligence law, you can still recover compensation even if you are partially at fault for the accident, just as long as you are not more than 50% responsible. For instance, suppose the court rules that you are 51% at fault. In that case, you will not be eligible for compensation. This is because being at least 51% at fault means you contributed more to the accident than the other party. 

Adrian, and the rest of Michigan, follow the state's no-fault car accident system. This means that after most car accidents, each party's insurance settles medical bills and other out-of-pocket losses, regardless of who was at fault for the accident.

You can only bypass the no-fault system and file a lawsuit against the other driver if you lost a loved one, suffered serious disfigurement, or severe impairment of bodily function. Note that these health conditions must also be objectively manifested, meaning they must be based on tangible medical evidence by someone besides the injured person.

Many people are usually concerned about whether they'll be able to afford a lawyer's services. That's understandable because good lawyers are usually expensive to work with if you pay them out of pocket. The good news is that most attorneys in this field work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you won't have to pay any upfront costs.

Instead, they will deduct a small percentage of any settlement or court award you receive in your case. If you don't win your case, your attorney won't receive any payment for their services.

To avoid paying attorney fees or, maybe, if you're just a DIY person, you may be tempted to file a claim without an attorney. For starters, Michigan laws do not require you to hire a lawyer after suffering an injury.

However, anyone who has ever dealt with insurance companies will tell you that filing a personal injury claim without a lawyer can be risky. Moreover, that shouldn't even be an option, given that most personal injury attorneys, including the team at Morgan & Morgan, work on a contingency basis.

Insurance companies are experts at negotiating settlements. For this reason, they may try to take advantage of you by offering a lowball settlement that doesn't fully cover your damages.

In addition, navigating the legal processes, paperwork, and jargon involved in a standard personal injury case is the last thing you want to deal with, especially if you don't have any legal experience. You could make mistakes or miss critical deadlines and jeopardize your claim.

Without a lawyer, you may also unintentionally do something that could harm your case. A good example is when you make a statement the other party could use against you in court or accept a settlement offer far less than what you're entitled to.

Remember, insurance companies have their own team of lawyers to represent them and protect their interests. If they know the importance of having a skilled personal injury attorney, so should you.

It is one thing to know what to look for in a personal injury attorney and a totally different thing to find one. Luckily, if you're reading this, you're in the right place. You can as well call off the search for a reliable lawyer because you've found Morgan & Morgan, America's largest injury firm.

Earlier, we mentioned the importance of hiring a specialist, not just a general personal injury attorney. That's exactly what we offer. With an army of over 800 personal injury attorneys specializing in different practice areas, there isn't any type of injury case we cannot handle.

Whether it's a case of slip and fall, a car accident, a dog bite, or even a defective product, we have the resources, experience, and track record required to fight for the injured in their darkest times.

There are many personal injury lawyers in Adrian, MI, but there's only one Morgan & Morgan. Make sure to contact us today for a free case evaluation.