Frequently Asked Questions

At Thurswell Law, you pay nothing unless you receive compensation.

You should not discuss your case with anyone except your attorney. Do not talk to friends or family about your legal claim because anything you say to them can be turned around and used against you. If your insurance company wants to discuss your case before they pay your medical bills, you should refer them to your attorney. During your free consultation, you will learn about your legal rights and how to file for compensation. And there’s never a fee unless we collect money for you.

If you (or a family member) suffer an injury, it may be necessary to file a lawsuit to recover compensation for that injury. This is a legal decision that is best made in consultation with an experienced lawyer. Before filing suit, a Thurswell Law attorney will obtain your permission and help you navigate the legal complexities involved. A settlement is always possible. Negotiations continue even after a lawsuit has been filed, and only a small percentage of lawsuits actually go to trial.

Michigan laws are extremely complicated and are continuously changing. Without an experienced Thurswell attorney on your side, insurance companies can twist the law to take advantage of you and your situation. If you sign an insurance settlement release without advice from an attorney, you could very well lose your right to collect the money damages to which you are entitled. It’s best to hire an experienced Thurswell lawyer as soon as possible to avoid making mistakes that could cost you money. Protect yourself: There is absolutely no fee to discuss your legal rights. It’s time to claim your compensation.

When it comes to deciding whether or not to keep your legal claim records, the rule of thumb is to keep them. You should retain all records regarding lost work time and wages, expenses resulting from your injuries, all medical bills regarding your claim, and a running list of physical limitations you are experiencing and activities you can no longer participate in but could before the accident. Copies of checks and receipts of payment will prove helpful when you are asked to explain your pain, physical limitations, and out-of-pocket expenses, such as medication and co-pays. If you are not sure about which records to keep in regards to your legal claim, we will help you navigate the process.

When you are involved in a lawsuit, your case relies on accurate accounts for your claim. Do not give written, oral, or recorded statements regarding your accident or injuries to anyone without first obtaining approval from your attorney. Do not make inaccurate statements regarding prior injuries or accidents to doctors who treat or examine you. If you don’t remember something, then say so. Do not make an incorrect statement to doctors about your current medical condition.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is supposed to consider the information in your medical records, along with your age, education and work experience, to determine whether or not you are considered “disabled.” Many claims are denied initially, but you do have the right to appeal. Hiring a lawyer who has experience with Social Security benefits claims is the best way to win an appeal.

Your Social Security Disability benefits may decrease if you are on sick leave or receiving workers’ compensation or other disability insurance.

Social Security claimants delay benefits claim submissions for a variety of reasons. One of the biggest mistakes is waiting too long to apply for those much-needed disability benefits. If you have a serious illness or injury that you expect will disable you for a year or more, file your claim as soon as you can. It can take months to obtain a decision. And although no benefits will be paid for the first five months from the onset of disability, benefits can be paid retroactively for up to one year from the date a disability claim was filed.

Many SSDI (Social Security Disability) and SSI (Supplemental Security Income) claimants have no idea how to properly prepare a disability case for a hearing, so the odds of winning before an administrative law judge (ALJ) are better if you do. Our experienced attorneys will give your case the attention it needs to get you the benefits you deserve.

An individual who becomes disabled and is unable to work may be able to collect disability benefits for the family. These benefits include Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, widow/widower benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, Medicaid, Medicare, and benefits for adults disabled before age 22.

Social Security defined disability can be difficult to understand. According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), disability is defined as “the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.”

In Michigan, the spouse, children, or parents of the deceased are typically given priority in serving as the personal representative of the estate. If there is a dispute between family members about who should serve in this capacity, then the court will look to the statute and other factors to decide whom to appoint in that role. The person who sues for the wrongful death may recover monetary damages from the party responsible for the death.

Under Michigan law, a wrongful death lawsuit may pursue compensation for several types of damages, including damages for the pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of companionship, loss of future earnings, and loss of benefits, such as pensions or medical coverage, that would have helped support the victim’s spouse, children, and other dependents.

The first thing you should do is seek treatment for your injury. Immediately after that, you should contact an attorney. The amount you collect for dog bite injuries is determined by the severity of your injuries and whether or not you have significant permanent scars. It’s also important to determine what type of insurance coverage the dog owner or property owner has – a task best left to our experienced staff.

Many slips and trips on public streets are caused by weather conditions – rain, ice, snow – and just as many occur because the city has not done its job. Your city has an obligation to its citizens to keep sidewalks and streets in reasonably good condition. If your fall is caused by a poorly maintained sidewalk or street, then you should take pictures of the site and contact an attorney immediately. The city must be notified about your fall within 120 days.

Your first step after a slip and fall accident is to seek medical treatment for your injuries. Tell the doctor or hospital staff that you were injured as the result of a fall. Your immediate next step is to get in touch with a lawyer who has experience with premises liability cases. In Michigan, you must file your lawsuit within a specific period of time after your fall or injury. Your attorney will want to take action immediately in order to preserve any evidence related to your fall or injury.

Erb’s palsy is the result of an injury that occurs when the nerves in a baby’s upper arm become damaged during the labor and delivery process. If a baby’s head or neck are pulled too hard during labor or delivery, or if the head or neck is twisted or bent too far, a brachial plexus injury may occur, resulting in Erb’s palsy It can cause partial or complete paralysis of the shoulder, upper arm, elbow, forearm, wrist, hand, or fingers.

About seven in every 1,000 births result in serious injury to the mother or child. This means that there are a staggering 30,000 birth injuries in the United States each year.

During the labor and delivery process, any number of birth injuries can occur, including brain injury, Erb’s palsy, fetal distress, premature birth, spinal cord injury, facial paralysis, oxygen deprivation, untreated jaundice, and stillbirth. Parents of children who’ve suffered birth injuries have the right to file a lawsuit if those injuries were caused by the negligence of a doctor, nurse, anesthesiologist, or other healthcare professional.

A birth injury is harm to the baby that occurs as a result of a doctor’s negligent actions or inaction. Birth injuries can happen during pregnancy, labor, delivery, or the moments following birth. A birth defect is a problem that occurs during pregnancy. It can result from genetics, infection, the mother’s lifestyle, or exposure to toxins. A doctor’s negligence does not cause a birth defect, but doctor’s should be held accountable for detecting the abnormality and treating it accordingly.

Cerebral palsy can result when the baby suffers a lack of oxygen during the birth process. It is a motor coordination problem that results from injury to the part of the brain that controls voluntary muscle use and coordination. The condition is often associated with seizures and some degree of mental impairment. Cerebral palsy can be different from one individual to another, depending on the area of the brain affected and the severity of the injury. Children with cerebral palsy need ongoing medical treatment, physical and occupational therapy, medical supplies, supervision, and educational support.

There is a statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim in Michigan. If a lawsuit is not filed before this time period expires, the victim is no longer eligible to pursue legal action. Beyond the statute of limitations, is the need to obtain medical care for your child’s birth injuries.

If your child struggles with Erb’s Palsy, and you believe the condition is a result of negligence on the part of the doctors or nurses who assisted in the delivery, then your family may be eligible to recover monetary damages. The medical and legal knowledge involved in a Michigan birth injury cases is very complex. Insurance companies, whose goal is to pay you as little as possible, may use tricks and tactics that you’re simply not equipped to handle. Having an experienced Michigan birth injury attorney on your side ensures that you have the legal and medical knowledge to make a strong case.

In order to win a case for the failure to timely diagnose cancer, it must be proven through expert testimony that the delay in treatment has significantly affected your outcome. These cases present many challenging medical and legal issues.

If a Michigan hospital gave you the wrong medication or an overdose of medications, and the mistake caused you to suffer further injuries or complications, then you may have a medical malpractice case against the hospital.

Under Michigan law, a patient can sue a hospital under limited circumstances. If the medical malpractice was committed by a hospital employee, then the patient can sue the hospital. Such cases include negligence committed by nurses, radiologists, anesthesiologists, emergency room physicians, and other hospital employees. If the malpractice was committed by a surgeon who was not directly employed by the hospital, then the hospital is only liable under certain circumstances.

Medication mistakes occur when negligent doctors or nurses misdiagnose your condition, give out the wrong medicine, administer an incorrect dosage, or prescribe a medicine to which you are allergic. In these cases, you may be able to recover damages from the negligent medical professionals. This financial compensation may cover the resulting medical bills, therapy, and lost wages for missed time at work.

Michigan is a no-fault state. That means both parties are entitles to benefits from their insurance companies, regardless of who caused the accident. Unfortunately, if you are the driver of a vehicle registered in Michigan, but your vehicle is not insured, you might not be able to collect. You should check with an attorney who has experience with Michigan no-fault laws to determine whether or not you are entitles to benefits (and who will pay those benefits). In general, Michigan law says you have only one year from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit or collect the no-fault benefits to which you are entitled, so it’s important to reach out to an experienced lawyer as soon after the accident as possible.

When you’re involved in a Michigan car accident caused by a negligent driver, you should be able to recover damages for all of the injuries you sustain, including burns, lacerations, broken bones, back injuries, neck injuries, head injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and loss of life of a loved one.

If you have been injured in a Michigan motor vehicle accident that was caused by a negligent driver, you may be eligible to recover damages from the crash. This can include compensation for your medical bills, ongoing care and treatment, or permanent damage, and even pain or emotional suffering.

The victim of a Michigan truck accident has rights, and personal injury laws are designed to protect those rights. Truck drivers and trucking companies can be held accountable for the harm caused by negligent driving or unsafe company policies. The law enables victims to recover damages for medical costs, lost wages, and more. If you or a loved one has been involved in a Michigan truck accident, you should speak with an attorney as soon as possible.

If a negligent driver caused the wreck that led to your injury, you may be able to recover damages. Though the exact amount of your settlement or verdict will depend on your individual circumstances, you may be able to earn compensation for your medical bills, ongoing care, missed time at work, and pain or emotional suffering. The best way to learn more about what you may be eligible to recover is by requesting a free consultation with a Michigan car accident lawyer that you can trust.

The time limit for filing a lawsuit is called the statute of limitations. The general rule for medical malpractice cases is that a patient has two years from the date of the malpractice to file a lawsuit against all negligent healthcare providers. There are some exceptions to this rule, including cases for children or those involving wrongful death and whether or not the hospital committing the malpractice is a state-run institution. It is important to contact an experienced Michigan medical malpractice attorney immediately if you suspect that malpractice has occurred so that your right to sue is not taken away by virtue of the statute of limitations.

In Michigan, a lawsuit against the at-fault driver or owner of the at-fault vehicle helps to compensate the person who was seriously injured. This is known as a third-party claim, and it must be filed within three years from the date of the accident. Contact an experienced auto accident attorney as soon as possible if you are seriously injured in an accident. Don’t wait too long to protect your ability to file a lawsuit and to collect and preserve evidence you may need to win your case.

Drunk drivers who cause fatal accidents will likely face criminal charges. In addition, you may be able to bring a civil suit against them to recover damages for your loss. This financial compensation can help with funeral costs, lost wages or earning potential, emotional pain and suffering, and more. The amount of compensation you receive depends on your individual circumstances and varies widely from one case to another. The best way to determine how much you can expect is with a free consultation with a Michigan wrongful death lawyer.