After suffering a car accident, you may be left with catastrophic injuries like a traumatic brain injury (TBI) or emotional distress that make it nearly impossible to enjoy life or create a new normal. Additionally, medical treatment can be costly and may create a financial burden on you and your family. White Law PLLC is a trusted personal injury law firm that can manage your case and reduce your stress.
Our car accident lawyers in Lansing, MI, have over 60 years of combined experience fighting auto insurance companies and advocating for auto accident victims like you. We’ve recovered over $1.4 billion in fault benefits from various accident lawsuits.
If you need a compassionate, experienced attorney to explain your rights, estimate your settlement value, and present you with lucrative legal options, our Lansing personal injury lawyers can help with that and more. We’ve served over 30,000 clients nationwide and won’t charge you for services if we can’t win your case. Explore your legal options in a free case review.
Why Choose Our Law Firm for Your Lansing Car Crash Case?
Your fight is our fight. We are passionate and skilled lawyers who strive to provide thorough communication and a positive customer experience. Our lead attorney has received recognition as one of the National Trial Lawyers’ Top 100 Lawyers, and our firm stays ahead of the curve by utilizing cloud-based software to manage our cases.
Due to the complexity of Michigan’s auto insurance laws, you deserve legal representation that provides a comprehensive investigation and works with medical and vocational experts to ensure that your claim is properly evaluated. Simplify your personal injury legal claim by allowing us to negotiate on your behalf while you recover from physical and emotional trauma.
Your Fight Is Our Fight
Should I Talk to the Other Driver’s Insurance Company?
After an automobile accident, it is normally advised to use caution when communicating with the insurance provider of the other motorist. Although you have the right to speak with the insurance provider, you should be aware that their main objective is to limit their culpability and settle the claim for the least amount of money feasible.
Before contacting the insurance company or approving a recorded phone call, it is advisable to talk to a Lansing car accident attorney. Be careful not to implicate yourself or admit guilt with the details you supply if you decide to interact with them. Stick to the fundamental facts, such as the speeding, the location of the accident, and the description of the vehicle involved, and avoid discussing medical details or speculating on what occurred.
We know how to get our clients the results they need in the toughest legal arenas.
How do You Prove Negligence in a Lansing Car Collision?
There are four elements your car accident lawyer in Lansing, MI, must prove to hold the at-fault parties accountable for their actions. The four elements of negligence include:
- Duty of care: The party responsible for your injury must have owed you a duty of care, which means they should have exercised caution to avoid hurting others.
- Breach of duty: The responsible party must have been careless and ignored the duty of care or performed actions that violated it.
- Proof of injury: You must have sustained injuries as a result of the negligent party’s actions.
- Damages: As a result of your injuries, you must have suffered economic damages and non-economic damages.
If a car accident attorney in Lansing, MI, can prove all four elements of negligence, you could file a compensation claim against the negligent parties. You should know that if more than one party is liable for the crash, an experienced attorney can help you hold all the parties accountable. In turn, you could recover a higher compensation amount.
Who Can You Pursue a Personal Injury Claim Against?
Many parties can be responsible for your injuries after a Lansing car collision. Common at-fault parties that you can file a personal injury claim against include:
- A negligent driver on the road
- A car manufacturer
- A driver’s employer
- A pedestrian
- A mechanic
All of these parties can perform negligent actions that result in a severe motor vehicle accident. If one or more of the parties mentioned above caused your collision, a car accident lawyer in Lansing, MI, from our office could help you identify their negligent actions and recover compensation.
We know how to get our clients the results they need in the toughest legal arenas.
We know how to get our clients the results they need in the toughest legal arenas.
How Long do You Have to File an Auto Accident Claim in Michigan?
After you get into a car crash in Lansing, MI, you have three years to file a compensation claim. You should file as soon as possible to ensure you get fair compensation for your injuries and losses. If you wait too long to file, you may be unable to collect compensation for your losses.
As personal injury attorneys, we understand the hardships you face after a collision, so we’re ready to help you submit your claim on time. In addition, we’ll help you gather evidence for your claim so that when we present it to the insurance company, the other party’s fault is clear.
Despite the statute of limitations being three years for a car crash, the details of your crash may give you more or less time to file. By discussing your case with a car accident attorney in Lansing, MI, you can gain clarity on your filing timeline.
Will I Have to Go to Trial for My Car Accident Lawsuit?
Several factors determine whether your auto accident claim will proceed to trial. Despite the fact that many auto accident cases are resolved outside of court through negotiation and other forms of ADR, some cases do go to trial. A few of the following elements could determine whether your case proceeds to trial:
- Liability dispute: Your case may be more likely to proceed to trial if there is a disagreement over who was responsible for the accident. A trial may be required in order for a judge or jury to determine fault if the parties involved in the accident are unable to agree on who is to blame.
- Insurance company cooperation: It could be necessary to move on with a case and possibly go to trial if the at-fault party’s insurance company is uncooperative or reluctant to provide a fair settlement. Sometimes insurance companies will try to limit their responsibilities and won’t accept a settlement that fully compensates you for your damages.
- Injury severity: Your injury severity may have an effect on whether you will go to trial. It could be more difficult to achieve a fair settlement outside of court if you suffered serious injuries that call for considerable medical care, rehabilitation, or long-term impairment. To obtain the compensation you are entitled to in such circumstances, a trial may be necessary.
- Negotiation efforts: The majority of courts mandate that parties undertake dialogue or take part in mediation before proceeding to trial in order to settle the disagreement. The case may move to trial if these efforts are unsuccessful or if the opposing party is unwilling to negotiate in good faith.
You will always work directly with your attorney throughout your case.
Understanding Michigan’s No-Fault Insurance
Michigan operates under a “no-fault” car insurance system. This means drivers carry personal injury protection (PIP) coverage that pays their medical bills and other out-of-pocket expenses related to the car crash, regardless of who was at fault. The minimum PIP coverage drivers in Michigan must carry includes $20,000 per individual, $40,000 per collision, and $10,000 for property damage in an accident.
However, when a person sustains a serious injury and medical bills are more than what PIP benefits cover, it may be possible to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver to recover economic and non-economic damages. Victims of a car accident in Lansing may also be able to file a lawsuit against an at-fault driver if the driver is from another state.
Car Accident Statistics for Lansing, MI
Each year, statewide traffic data is collected and reported by the Michigan State Police. Current data shows an uptick in crashes overall and common car accident causes by area. Our crash lawyers are knowledgeable about Lansing personal injury law and other information relevant to your case, such as:
Frequency of Car Crashes in Lansing
As the capital of the state of Michigan, the roadways in and around Lansing can get incredibly crowded. Unfortunately, car crashes are not uncommon. With major highways in this area, including I-69, I-96, and I-496, car crashes happen at a high volume.
According to data available from the Michigan Traffic Crash Reporting System, there were more than 283,000 total traffic collisions during the latest reporting year across the state. Out of these incidents, 1100 were fatal crashes, and there were more than 71,000 injuries
As the capital of Michigan, the area in and around Lansing has more traffic collisions than most other regions around the state. Encompassing three counties (Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton), drivers in this area face a relatively higher risk of accidents than those in less populated places in Michigan.
Top Five Causes of Car Crashes in Lansing, MI
Unfortunately, most accidents are completely avoidable. Some of the most common causes of car accidents in Lansing include drivers:
- Operating while distracted by their phones or other devices.
- Operating while impaired by alcohol or drugs.
- Failing to follow traffic laws.
- Operating too fast for conditions.
- Failing to yield the right of way.
Automobile Accident Crash Types Influence Financial Compensation
The cause of the accident and the type of collision can greatly impact your settlement amount. Both factors help insurance adjusters determine who was at fault and corroborate the injuries sustained by the victim. Familiarize yourself with the following accident types to better understand your legal options as an injury victim:
- Rear-end accident: rear-end collisions frequently occur as a result of the trailing vehicle failing to keep a safe distance from it or stopping suddenly. Whiplash, back injuries, and, in severe cases, brain damage are just a few of the injuries that can arise from rear-end collisions.
- Head-on collision: A head-on collision occurs when two moving objects, frequently moving in opposite directions, collide front to front. These collisions can be caused by a number of things, like a driver cutting across the middle line, going the wrong way down a one-way street, or losing control of the car.
Due to the power of impact, head-on crashes frequently result in injuries that require physical therapy or fatalities. Broken bones, spinal cord damage, internal injuries, and head trauma are among the injuries frequently linked to head-on collisions.
- Accident involving a left turn: A left-turn accident usually happens when a car turning left and a car going straight through an intersection clash. The turning motorist frequently causes these collisions by failing to surrender the right-of-way or by miscalculating the speed or distance of incoming traffic. Broken bones, brain injuries, and neck injuries are just a few of the injuries that can come from left-turn accidents.
- Sideswipe accident: A sideswipe collision occurs when two cars that are going parallel to one another crash, usually in a side-to-side motion. This kind of collision frequently happens when a car tries to change lanes without paying attention or signaling, colliding with another car as a result.
Depending on the speed and angle of impact, sideswipe incidents can cause small scrapes or more severe collisions. Cuts, bruising, and whiplash are common wounds caused by sideswipe collisions.
These general descriptions are not inclusive of every type of automobile accident crash that may happen, but our car crash attorneys in Lansing can provide personalized advice based on the unique factors of your wreck.
Accident-Prone Intersections in Lansing
The Federal Highway Administration reports that intersections are the most dangerous roads for car accidents to occur, often resulting in severe injuries and, more commonly, death. Local news reports confirm this trend, reporting the following list of accident-prone intersections in Lansing and Ingham County:
- East Saginaw Street and North Homer Street in Lansing Township
- East Saginaw Street and North Clippert Street in Lansing
- East Grand River Avenue and South Hagadorn Road in East Lansing
- East Grand River Avenue and North Howard Street in Lansing Township
- South Martin Luther King Boulevard and West Holmes Road in Lansing
- East Grand River Avenue and North Clippert Street in Lansing
- East Jolly Road and South Cedar Street in Lansing
- Abbot Road and Saginaw Street in East Lansing
What Kind of Compensation Is Available for a Lansing Car Accident Case?
If you or somebody you love has been involved in an accident caused by the negligent actions of another person, there may be various types of compensation available for your case. We regularly help clients recover the following types of economic losses for their cases:
- Medical expenses related to the car accident
- Lost income if a victim cannot work while they recover
- Loss of medical benefits
- General out-of-pocket household expenses due to the injury
- Permanent disability
If it is necessary to file a personal injury lawsuit to recover compensation, we will also work to recover the following types of non-economic losses:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional pain
- Loss of consortium
- Car repair costs
If the grossly negligent actions of another driver caused your car accident, our car accident lawyers will also work to secure punitive damages on your behalf. Our wrongful death attorneys can also recover damages for cases in which loss of life was the result. In a free, no-risk consultation, we can discuss the recovery of funeral expenses, burial costs, loss of services, and the deadline for filing a wrongful death claim.
How Much does a Lansing Car Accident Lawyer Cost?
Our Lansing car accident lawyers understand that victims in these cases may find themselves in precarious financial situations. That is why we take all Lansing car accident cases on a contingency fee basis.
As our client, you won’t pay any fees upfront. We only collect legal fees if we secure the compensation our clients need through a favorable settlement or verdict. This contingency fee arrangement helps ensure that any car accident victim can stand up to negligent parties and hold them accountable for their actions.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Experienced Lansing Car Accident Attorneys
The law office of White Law PLLC is located in the greater Lansing metropolitan area for your convenience. We’re close to important local interstates like I-96 and I-496 and just east of Michigan State University. If you or somebody you care about has been injured in a car wreck near Lansing or Ingham County, schedule a free consultation with one of our Lansing car collision attorneys today.
Our legal office has the resources to cover the costs of your case and hire specialists that will uncover additional monetary compensation that is owed to you. We are not afraid to take on aggressive insurance companies or at-fault parties, and we will take your matter to trial if necessary. Contact us when you are ready to discuss maximum compensation with an experienced auto accident lawyer.
We’re Experienced. We Care. We exceed client expectations.
We’re Experienced. We Care.
We Exceed Client Expectations.
