Michigan Car Accident Attorney

When do you need a Car Accident Lawyer?car accident

Any car accident is an inconvenience, but a serious car crash is life-altering. Of the thousands of collisions that happen on Michigan highways every year, many result in property damage only, but far too many car accidents result in the loss of life or severe personal injury. Even the car accidents that seem like minor fender-benders can result in bodily injuries, mental and emotional challenges, and financial difficulties.

If you have been injured in an auto accident, or your life has been directly impacted by the loss of a loved one in a fatal accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. Don’t agree to a settlement, sign any papers, or even talk to your insurance company until you speak with your Michigan auto accident lawyer.

The Aftermath of a Michigan Car Accident and What to Do

While most people can work out the details of an auto accident and get back to a normal routine quickly, there are others who are not so lucky. Suffering an injury in an auto accident not only impacts your ability to function normally in your daily life, it can change the entire course of your existence.

Major complications caused by a car crash, such as a traumatic brain injury or broken bones or spinal injuries, require healing time, multiple doctor’s appointments, therapy, and more. Medical bills add up and time off from work can be hard to come by, if you can continue to work at all. Not only do auto accident injuries cause physical, emotional, and mental suffering, they can negatively impact your ability to provide for your family, engage with others, and live life as usual. To protect yourself, it’s important to remember the following five tips:

1. Call the Police

Whether the injuries are minor or severe, you must call 911 to send the police out to the collision scene so that you can file an accident report. Do not move the vehicles until the police arrive – evidence is key. Furthermore, the police will act as mediators, if necessary.

2. Gather Driver Information

After the accident, ask to see the other driver’s information and record their name, address, and phone number. Take down the driver’s license number, insurance policy number, and license plate number. If the driver does not own the car, write down the name and information of the vehicle’s owner. If there are witnesses, ask for their names, addresses, and phone numbers as well. Gathering the most information you can will help protect you in the long run.

3. Get Medical Treatment

If you have been hurt, you must get medical treatment immediately. Even if your injuries appear minor in nature, seek help – sometimes minor injuries turn out to be major.

4. Take Notes and Pictures

If you have a camera or a cell phone with a camera, take pictures of the cars, their damage, and the scene of the accident. Write down the date, time, and weather conditions. Detailed notes and photos may come in handy if there’s a dispute.

5. Do not Admit Fault 

Even if you think the accident was your fault, it might not be. Do not admit fault on the scene or sign any papers.

Michigan car accidents can result in severe injuries, such as broken bones, paralysis, whiplash, back and neck injuries, and spinal cord injury. Any of these injuries could leave you with a permanent disability. Sadly, collisions can also be deadly.

If you have been injured, or if a family member was killed in a Michigan car accident, you may be able to seek compensation for pain and suffering, medical bills, lost wages, rehabilitation, and more. Contact Thurswell Law Office today for a free consultation to learn your rights.

Car Accidents Cause Serious Head, Neck, and other Traumatic Injuries

Michigan car accidents can happen in an instant and have serious consequences for all of those involved. These dangerous wrecks can result in any number of serious injuries, including:

  1. Traumatic Brain Injury

The head is vulnerable in a car accident. Even if you are wearing your seatbelt, the impact of a car hitting another car can throw the head forward. This fast, uncontrolled movement can cause a traumatic brain injury. The injury is usually far worse if the head hits the steering wheel, window, or dashboard.

The difficulty with a TBI is that there aren’t always obvious signs of trauma to the head, like cuts or bleeding. If a movement has jostled the brain, a concussion or TBI can be the result. Unfortunately, brain injuries are difficult to diagnose and symptoms may not appear immediately. Even if you look or feel fine after a car accident, accept medical treatment.

  1. Neck or Back Injury

Neck injuries are not uncommon in car accidents. Soft tissue injuries occur easily when there is a sudden neck movement. Whiplash is often the result of a crash, and some people suffer muscle strain or damage to discs in their vertebrae.

Back sprains, fractures, and spinal injuries can all result from a car accident. People who suffer back injuries can suffer mightily with chronic back pain, be limited in their range of motion, and have difficulty engaging in their normal activities.

  1. Chest Injury

Drivers are often the people who suffer chest injuries in a collision because their upper body slams into the steering wheel. The results can be broken ribs, bruises, contusions, or even internal injuries. While seat belts are essential for protecting all people in a vehicle, passengers are also at risk of chest injury when there are thrown forward but restrained by their seat belt.

  1. Face Injury

Face injuries can be minor or major, whether the face collides with part of the vehicle in a crash, or whether a loose item in the car goes airborne and damages the face. From cuts to bruises, broken jaw to damaged teeth, the face is incredibly unprotected.

  1. Emotional Pain and Suffering

The trauma of a car crash can be long-lasting, not just physically but mentally. The recovery from injuries sustained in a car accident can be lengthy, intense, and painful. Living every day with the fallout of your crash is difficult in all ways. The emotional and psychological suffering often goes unaccounted for, especially if there are no obvious bodily injuries.

Head or brain injuries are some of the worst outcomes of some Michigan car wrecks. Head injuries can have permanent health effects, including paralysis, mental incapacity, and difficulty with daily activities. The brain trauma suffered in Michigan car crashes can have a devastating effect on your family’s finances, too. Not only do you likely have bills piling up, but you may also be unable to work.

Your legal rights in these instances entitle you to seek damages from the crash – even if the accident was your fault. You may be able to earn financial compensation for your medical bills, ongoing care, missed time at work, and instances of pain or emotional suffering.

Catastrophic Injuries Caused by Car Accidents

Michigan car accidents happen even to the safest drivers. Negligent drivers can unexpectedly cross into your lane and cause catastrophic and serious injuries to you and your loved ones.

Some of the injuries suffered by the victims of a Michigan car accident include:

  • burns or lacerations
  • broken bones or dislocations
  • back or neck injuries
  • head or brain trauma

Anyone who has ever been injured in a Michigan car accident can tell you that costs can add up quickly. You may be facing financial and lifestyle hardships, including:

  • expensive medical bills
  • ongoing care
  • physical therapy
  • lost wages
  • pain and suffering

If a negligent driver caused your accident, then you may be eligible to recover damages. This financial compensation, which comes in a settlement or jury verdict, may cover all of your current and future costs.

Don’t sit back and wait for the insurance company to write you a check. It will fight you for every dollar in an attempt to pay you as little as possible after an accident. Protect yourself with a lawyer who knows how to deal with the insurance company so you can receive the financial compensation you deserve.

Do You Have an Auto Accident Claim?

Even though it may be clear that you are suffering and miserable following your Michigan car accident, proving that your quality of life has gone down because of a car crash is not always easy. Michigan law has several requirements that must be fulfilled so you can file a claim:

  • You must have automobile insurance as a Michigan driver.
  • If you do not have auto insurance, you cannot sue the at-fault driver for pain and suffering damages.
  • You must provide evidence of serious injury, whether through medical imaging and/or the testimony of a doctor.
  • You must prove that your injury has negatively impacted the life you were living.

Proof that life has changed because of the injuries you suffered in an auto accident can be made clear in many ways, including:

  • The need to take medical leave from your job.
  • Loss of wages.
  • Interruption of your life because of doctor’s appointment or therapy.
  • The inability to function normally because of pain or other personal injuries.
  • No longer able to participate in hobbies or activities you’ve always enjoyed.
  • Deteriorating relationships.

In a first party claim, your Michigan car accident lawyer will help you sue your car insurance provider for medical expenses, lost wages, and other no-fault benefits. In a third party claim, a separate case will be brought against the person who caused the auto accident and/or their insurance company to seek compensation for your pain and suffering.

What to Expect When You Consult a Car Accident Attorney

Seeing a lawyer about any matter can be daunting and is typically an emotionally charged situation. You may worry that your case isn’t big enough to warrant the attention of an attorney, but it is. After a car accident it is normal to feel distraught and overwhelmed. Insurance companies may be trying to convince you of their view of the situation when you know the reality is quite different. Everyone will have an opinion.

Relying on a knowledgeable, compassionate expert who can guide you through your case will help you find some calm amid a time of chaos. Your quality of life matters and your lawyer will advocate for you.

It helps to know what you can expect from your initial visit with a Michigan vehicle accident lawyer. There will be discussion about:

  • Injuries: Did you suffer injuries? What kind? Are they only physical or emotional too? Can they be proven and vouched for by a medical expert?
  • Insurance: Do you have auto insurance? Does the at-fault party? Have you spoken to your insurance company already?
  • First party claims: Will you sue your car insurance provider for medical expenses, lost wages, or another benefit?
  • Third-party claims: Will you bring a separate case against the at-fault person in your crash? Will you sue their insurance company?
  • Quality of life: Has your life been seriously or permanently altered because of the car accident? Has your ability to work been compromised? Are you still able to enjoy the same quality of life?

Choose an Experienced Michigan Car Crash Lawyer to Handle Your Case

Types Of Car Accidents in Michigan:

At Thurswell Law, we also handle all types of Automobile and Motor-Vehicle accidents, including:

Find out if you are entitled to financial compensation for lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering related to your vehicle accident. Get the support of a skilled attorney so you can get a fair settlement from an insurance – attempting to do this on your own can lead to disastrous results and you not getting the compensation you deserve. The lawyers at Thurswell Law are not intimidated by insurance companies, and we will fight to get you the money and answers you deserve.

We have collected millions of dollars for countless accident victims since 1968. Experience gets results. Your case consultation is always free and we will never charge any fees unless we recover money for you. Don’t suffer another day. Call the experienced Michigan vehicle accidents attorneys at Thurswell Law and let us get the answers and compensation that you and your family deserves.

Call us at (248) 354-2222 to schedule your free consultation.

Common Causes of Car & Auto Accidents

When you or a family member is involved in a Michigan auto accident, the results can be catastrophic. Serious wrecks can cause severe injuries, including broken bones or dislocations, permanent brain damage, and even death.

There are countless possible causes of Michigan motor vehicle wrecks. Dangerous crashes, such as T-bone collisions, rear-end wrecks, and head-on impacts, can occur as a result of:

  • negligent drivers
  • use of cell phone
  • distracted driving
  • tired drivers
  • inclement weather
  • bad roads
  • construction zones
  • confusing intersections

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, then you know how tough such an experience can be. Even when the accident is not your fault, you suffer the financial and emotional consequences, and that’s not fair. An experienced and knowledgeable attorney can assist you in taking legal action to file a personal injury claim and obtain financial compensation. All you have to do is call our Michigan Based personal injury lawyers at (866) 354-5544.

How to Keep Your Child Safe, Secure, and Prevent Distractions While You are Driving

Child Automobile Safety Basics

One of the most important jobs you have as a parent is keeping your child safe while riding in a vehicle. Each year, thousands of young children are killed or injured in car crashes – tragedies that could have been prevented.

The chart below lists guidelines to help you select a safety seat for your child. It is important to choose the right seat in order to protect your child from injury in case of an accident.

Age Group

Seat Type 

General Guidelines for Child Automobile Safety

Infants/Toddlers:

Rear-Facing Infant Seat

All infants and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing car safety seat until they are 2 years old until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car safety seat’s manufacturer.

Toddlers/ Preschoolers:

Forward-Facing Seat
with Harness

All children 2 years and up should use a forward-facing car safety seat with a harness for as long as possible, up to the highest weight or height allowed by their car safety seat’s manufacturer.

School-Aged Children (Age 4-12):

Booster Seat

All children whose weight or height is above the forward-facing limit for their car safety seat should use a booster seat until the vehicle seat belt fits correctly.

Older Children:

Seat Belts

When children are old enough to use the vehicle’s seat belt, they should always use lap and shoulder seat belts. All children younger than 13 years should ride in the back seats of vehicles.

Correctly Positioning a Seat Belt for an Older Child

When your child is old enough to wear lap and shoulder seat belts, it is important to know the correct way to wear one to prevent injury. A lap and shoulder seat belt fits correctly when:

  • the shoulder belt lies across the middle of the chest and shoulder, not the neck or throat
  • the lap belt is across the upper thighs, not the stomach.

Make sure your child does not put the seat belt behind their back or under their arm. This leaves their upper body unprotected and prone to severe injury in an accident.

The Michigan personal injury attorneys at Thurswell Law have years of experience representing people just like you. Since 1968, we have helped our clients earn millions of dollars in collective compensation after being injured in a car accident. Call us today for a free consultation about your case to find out what we can do for you.

Hire an Experienced Michigan Car Accident Lawyer Today

Injuries suffered in an auto accident can reverberate through your life, and not necessarily at the speed you anticipated. For some people, injuries are immediate and intense, and they are long-lasting. Other people, particularly those who suffer undiagnosed or misdiagnosed traumatic brain injuries, may not know that they have been injured until days or weeks after the crash.

Healing from auto accident injuries can take months and years, all of which are punctuated by medical costs and demands. Some people are altered permanently because of an auto accident. And there are families that are forever fractured because they lost a loved one in an auto accident.

All car accidents are traumatic in their own way, and every case is just as important as the next because your life that has been changed forever. If you have been injured in a Michigan auto accident or lost someone in a car crash, contact Thurswell Law for a free consultation with an auto accident lawyer.

We understand the stress and challenges that you and your family are being forced to manage, and it is our job to guide you through the claims process and give you the best possible chance to receive full compensation for your suffering. There are no fees unless you collect.

Call us at (248) 354-2222 to schedule your free consultation.

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