A motor vehicle accident can happen in the blink of an eye but have repercussions that last a lifetime. All of a sudden, you’re hurting, looking at a growing stack of medical bills, and missing out on paychecks. The accident wasn’t your fault, so why should you be on the hook for the consequences?
The answer is you shouldn’t be, but getting the insurance companies to pay you fairly is easier said than done. You need legal support from a team that knows what you’re going through and has what it takes to get you every cent you’re entitled to under the law. In other words, you need Gruel Mills.
For more than 40 years, our personal injury law firm has been helping Grand Rapids residents who’ve found themselves in situations like the one you’re in now. The success we’ve had on their behalf has earned us national recognition, including being named to the “Best Law Firms” rankings across multiple practice areas by Best Lawyers. Contact us today for a free consultation with a motor vehicle accident lawyer in Grand Rapids, and let us get to work on your case at no upfront cost to you.
As a law firm that opened its doors in 1985, we have decades of experience handling a wide range of motor vehicle accident cases in Grand Rapids, including those involving:
Regardless of the exact nature of the accident that injured you, our attorneys have the skill, insight, and experience you can trust. Contact us today for your consultation and tell us what happened.
Michigan follows a no-fault insurance system, so the good news is that as long as you have purchased the legally required insurance, you have at least some form of coverage after an accident. The less-than-good news is that insurance companies are for-profit businesses, and they have every motivation to pay you less so they can pay their shareholders more. That’s true whether you’re going through your own insurer or filing a claim against the person who hit you.
Your first source of compensation is your own personal injury protection (PIP) policy. If you were hurt as a motorcyclist, bicyclist, or pedestrian, you’re actually covered by the policy of the car that hit you. PIP covers all necessary medical expenses, your lost wages for up to three years after the accident (subject to a maximum amount), in-home nursing care, and household help, up to the limits of the policy. However, it does not cover non-economic losses like pain and suffering.
To get compensation for your non-economic losses and the full value of your lost wages, you will likely need to show that:
Examples of eligible injuries include severe fractures, spinal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and amputation. Not sure whether your injuries qualify? An experienced attorney with Gruel Mills can answer your questions during a free consultation.
If both the above conditions apply to your situation, you can file a personal injury lawsuit against the person or people who caused the accident. In practical terms, this probably means going up against that person’s residual bodily injury liability policy, which by default covers:
However, drivers can opt to purchase a policy with lower coverage limits of $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident.
Note that commercial vehicles typically have higher policy limits to account for the greater damage that a large truck can cause in an accident.
Once you’ve proven that you’ve suffered serious injuries in the crash, you’ll need to prove that someone else caused the accident. An attorney with the law firm of Gruel Mills can investigate the accident to recover evidence of that party’s legal fault, such as:
At the same time as they build the case against the at-fault party, your attorney will seek to quantify the harm you’ve suffered in dollar terms, so they know how much to demand. Potentially useful evidence for this task includes:
Unfortunately, you have a limited time after a motor vehicle accident to take legal action. Michigan’s statute of limitations on personal injury claims is three years. In other words, you have three years from the date you suffered an injury to file a lawsuit against any at-fault parties. If you file suit after the deadline has passed, the other side can file a motion to dismiss the case as untimely, which the courts will likely grant — costing you your legal right to compensation.
Three years may seem like a lot of time, but there are practical reasons to get started as soon as you can. First, critical evidence will not last forever. Memories will fade, security camera footage will get erased, and documentation can get misplaced. The sooner you get started, the more evidence your lawyer will have access to. Second, getting started early means your attorney has more time to negotiate a settlement before they have to proceed to litigation.
So, rather than put your claim at risk, contact a lawyer as soon as you can, and protect your right to fair compensation.
At Gruel Mills, we know how painful and overwhelming the days, weeks, and months following a serious accident can be. We know that because for 40 years, we’ve been helping people going through that experience. We believe that you should have the time and space to focus on healing while an experienced lawyer pursues your claim on your behalf. While you rest up, our Grand Rapids law firm can:
We’re so confident in our abilities to get you paid that we’ll do all this at no upfront cost to you. Instead, you only pay us when we deliver results.
So, when you’re ready to assert your rights, you know where to turn to for legal help. Contact Gruel Mills and ask to speak with a compassionate motor vehicle accident attorney in Grand Rapids.
Yes. While Michigan’s personal injury protection (PIP) insurance covers your immediate medical bills and a portion of lost wages regardless of fault, navigating the claims process has become highly complex due to recent legislative changes. Furthermore, if you sustained severe, permanent injuries or if your medical expenses exceed your insurance policy limits, you may have the right to file a “third-party” lawsuit against the at-fault driver. An experienced Grand Rapids auto accident attorney can help you secure the full compensation you deserve from both your own provider and the negligent party.
In Michigan, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit against an at-fault driver (a third-party claim) is generally three years from the date of the accident. However, if you are filing a first-party claim for No-Fault PIP benefits through your own insurance company, you must notify them and file a claim within one year of the accident. Because missing these deadlines will bar you from recovering compensation, it is crucial to consult a vehicle accident lawyer in West Michigan as soon as possible.
Depending on the specifics of your accident, you may be entitled to recover two main types of compensation:
Yes. Michigan follows a legal rule known as modified comparative fault. You can still recover damages from an at-fault party as long as you were not more than 50% responsible for the accident. However, your total compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if a court finds you 20% at fault and awards $100,000, you would receive $80,000. If you are found 51% or more at fault, you are barred from recovering non-economic damages (like pain and suffering). Our Grand Rapids law firm can investigate your accident to ensure fault is assigned fairly.
We handle personal injury and motor vehicle accident cases on a contingency fee basis. This means there are no upfront, out-of-pocket costs for you, and we only get paid if we successfully recover a settlement or jury verdict on your behalf. Your initial consultation with our Grand Rapids legal team is completely free and confidential.
