Michigan car owners must carry basic no-fault insurance to cover damages after an accident. However, this coverage may not be enough to cover your injuries when they are severe. Finding out the other driver is uninsured requires a significant evaluation of the damages suffered and the potential for future costs, particularly when they exceed your insurance limits.
Speak with an Okemos car accident lawyer at White Law PLLC to discuss your options for compensation. The reality of impending financial debt when an uninsured motorist causes an accident is frightening. We are here to help you determine if pursuing an uninsured motorist claim is the best option.
A Michigan Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawyer Can Help
Injuries in a Michigan car accident are not limited to damages defined by a dollar amount, such as medical costs. Injuries can include pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and other damages that are more challenging to assign a value to. The option to file a claim through your personal insurance may be possible if you opted into purchasing uninsured motorist coverage.
Your medical costs may also exceed the limits established through the policy under which the claim is filed. Excess medical expenses and other non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, are generally sought by filing a claim against the at-fault driver. This claim for compensation would typically be filed with the driver’s third-party insurance company.
Opting to purchase uninsured motorist coverage will provide specific compensation from a lawsuit when a verdict is decided in your favor, but the other driver is uninsured. These policies are often sold within limits as to the coverage they offer. This insurance will not pay for damage to your automobile but can be vital in compensation for other damages.
Your Fight Is Our Fight
Damages You May Be Entitled to in an Uninsured Motorist Claim
The law makes it more challenging to secure compensation for some injuries. Additionally, you are fighting against insurance companies that will try to minimize a claim to reduce the compensation they owe even though you have paid your insurance premiums on time and have a clean driving record. These factors make it vital to speak with a Michigan uninsured motorist accident lawyer to pursue an uninsured motorist claim for the following damages:
- Excess medical expenses beyond policy limits
- Lost income extending beyond the time limits
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement
- Loss of bodily function
- Loss of companionship
If your injuries are significant, then pursuing a claim can be worth it. No-fault laws in Michigan limit the actions an injured party can take against the driver who is at fault but is uninsured. A review of your injuries and whether they meet the criteria defined by the state will determine if a lawsuit can be filed.
Coverage Benefits Available Through Personal Insurance
Besides it being the law, automobile insurance in Michigan can be the difference in a future of financial stability or medical debt. Even though driving without insurance is a punishable crime, individuals still choose to disregard the financial safety of others. When an uninsured driver hits you in Michigan, you can still obtain benefits up to the limits of a policy from your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage if you have not opted out of this coverage.
There are multiple options for PIP coverage, and it is vital to consider what might happen in an accident involving a driver without insurance. PIP insurance will also cover any passengers in the car who may be family members. It may also be possible to file a claim with the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan.
Each driver can purchase various optional policies to ensure coverage of your damages. In addition to uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, a collision policy can help cover the damage costs to your vehicle. These varying options can be discussed with your insurance agent.
We understand that you may be going through a difficult situation and we are ready to help however we can.
Your Right to Pursue a Lawsuit vs. the Potential of Recovery
As previously discussed, limits are placed on the ability to sue for damages unless they meet specific criteria. The damages must result in severe impairment of body function and are defined by tort threshold law. It is required by law to prove the other driver was at fault and their negligence caused the following injuries:
- Death resulting from the actions of an uninsured driver
- Severe or permanent disfigurement stemming from their actions
- A critical impairment occurs, such as amputation or traumatic brain injury
- The injuries were an intentional act of the uninsured driver
When the death of a loved one results from a car accident, contact a Michigan wrongful death lawyer at White Law PLLC. Our experience and support of our clients allow us to strive to obtain the compensation you deserve. At a time of significant loss, your focus should be on your personal needs.
You will always work directly with your attorney throughout your case.
Seeking Damages Under Mini-Tort Laws
When the other driver is found to be 50% at fault or more, a lawsuit may be filed to recover up to $3,000 in damages to compensate for the cost of your deductible. The ability to file a claim for deductible costs will allow additional compensation for your expenses. At this point, it is also necessary to review the benefits of a lawsuit with the help of a Michigan car accident attorney, even when a car accident is not your fault.
Determining Available Assets and Proof of Negligence
When personal insurance coverage has been exhausted, negligence exists, and the injuries are determined to be severe enough under the law’s guidance, it may be necessary to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver. However, it is critical to determine whether or not the at-fault driver possesses the assets to compensate you if a court rules in your favor. Unfortunately, recovering financial compensation from drivers without insurance who do not possess significant assets can still result in a loss of time and money.
Discuss an Uninsured Motorist Claim with a Michigan Car Accident Lawyer
If the following information makes you doubt that recovering compensation is possible, discuss your unique situation with the determined, experienced team at White Law PLLC. Michigan law does make it challenging to pursue damages, but there are options available. A consultation will help us determine your compensation rights and how we can assist you.
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