Did you suffer injuries in Saginaw because someone was careless? You may have the right to compensation, and The Mastromarco Firm can help you hold the responsible party accountable. Our Saginaw personal injury lawyers can handle all the legal work so you can focus on healing and rebuilding your life. You have limited time to act after sustaining a personal injury, so call now or complete our contact form to learn more.
Why You Need a Personal Injury Attorney
Trying to handle a personal injury claim yourself puts your future and financial recovery at risk. Insurance companies often look for ways to minimize payouts, and you might accept less than your claim’s full value if you don’t have legal advice. You’ll also have to reckon with complex legal procedures, tight filing deadlines, and pressure to provide statements that could harm your case. Finally, proving fault and calculating the full extent of your medical bills, lost income, and other losses requires strong evidence. Any mistakes in the process can cost you dearly.
At The Mastromarco Firm, we know how to overcome these challenges and build strong cases. We can gather evidence, interview witnesses, and consult experts to prove who caused your injuries and document their impact. We’ll also handle all communication with insurance adjusters so they can’t pressure you into a low settlement.
Our team will carefully calculate your claim’s full value, including your current and future medical needs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If the insurance company won’t offer a fair settlement, we’ll be ready to take your case to court.
What You Must Prove to Win a Personal Injury Claim
To win a Michigan personal injury claim, you must show that another person or group was legally responsible for your injuries. First, you must prove they had a duty to act with reasonable care toward you. Next, you must show they failed to meet that duty through careless or reckless actions. For example, if a distracted driver hit you, they likely breached their legal duty to follow traffic laws and avoid collisions.
You must also connect the person’s or group’s actions directly to your injury, meaning you wouldn’t have been hurt if they had acted responsibly. Finally, you must prove you suffered real losses because of your injuries, such as medical bills, lost income, or pain and suffering. It’s up to your personal injury lawyer to collect evidence and build a compelling argument that supports your case.
The Personal Injury Claim Process
While it’s best to let your lawyer handle the details of your personal injury case, knowing the process can help you make smart choices and understand what’s coming next. Personal injury claims typically include the following steps:
- Initial consultation – Before proceeding further, you’ll meet with an attorney to discuss the accident, your injuries, and potential legal options.
- Case investigation – If your attorney thinks you have a viable case, the next step is for them to gather evidence that supports your claim. This evidence might include accident reports, witness statements, photographs, and medical records.
- Filing the claim – After completing their initial investigation, your attorney will notify the at-fault party and their insurance company of your intent to seek compensation.
- Negotiation with insurers – The insurance adjuster will review the evidence and may offer a settlement. However, their initial offer likely won’t cover all your losses, so your attorney will keep negotiating on your behalf.
- Filing a lawsuit (if necessary) – If settlement talks fail, your attorney can file a formal lawsuit in court. Filing a lawsuit doesn’t necessarily mean your case will go to trial, as the threat of a trial may bring the insurance company back to the bargaining table.
- Discovery process – As settlement talks and trial preparation continue, both sides exchange information, take depositions, and gather additional evidence.
- Mediation or settlement conferences – The court may require both parties to attempt mediation or direct settlement discussions before scheduling a trial.
- Trial – If no settlement is possible, the case goes before a judge or jury. They will decide the outcome and award you compensation if your lawyer makes a persuasive case.
Personal Injury Cases We Handle
Our Saginaw personal lawyers represent clients who’ve suffered injuries in various circumstances, including:
- Car accidents
- Commercial truck accidents
- Slip-and-falls or other premises liability incidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Dog bites
- Civil assault and battery claims
- Injuries from defective products
- Nursing home abuse and neglect
- Medical malpractice injuries
- Wrongful deaths
One particular focus area for our practice is dram shop liability cases against bars, restaurants, liquor stores, and other businesses that served drivers involved in drunk driving accidents. State law lets you seek compensation from businesses if you can show that they served a minor or “visibly intoxicated” patron who later caused a crash. These cases involve unique rules and legal challenges, so working with an experienced attorney is essential to hold negligent alcohol vendors accountable.
What to Do After Suffering a Severe Injury in Saginaw
Follow these steps to protect your rights after sustaining an injury in Saginaw:
- If your injuries allow, take pictures of the scene, your injuries, and any hazards you notice.
- Report the accident to the police or other authorities so there’s an official record.
- Seek immediate medical attention and follow your doctor’s orders.
- Do not discuss the case online.
- Do not give any recorded statements to insurance companies without talking to a lawyer first.
- Save any evidence that might support your case, such as your medical bills, pay stubs, records from your doctor, the names and contact info of potential eyewitnesses, etc.
- Contact a Saginaw personal injury attorney as soon as possible.
Compensation in Saginaw Personal Injury Cases
People often settle for low amounts in personal injury cases because they don’t understand what compensation they can seek and how to calculate their losses. Your compensation in a personal injury case falls into two primary categories. The first is your economic damages, which compensate you for the direct financial harm you’ve suffered. For instance, you can seek compensation for your current and future medical bills, lost income, reduced future earnings due to your injuries, and damaged personal property.
The second main category of compensation in these cases is your non-economic damages. This compensation covers the indirect effects of your injuries, such as your pain and suffering or emotional distress. These losses are harder to prove but can significantly increase your claim’s value, so it’s vital to include them.
In general, Michigan law does not limit your compensation in a personal injury case. One notable exception is in medical malpractice cases. While there is no cap on your economic damages in these cases, state law limits your non-economic damages to a fixed amount that changes every year. Even in these cases, though, there’s an upper limit that applies in cases involving specific severe injuries. A personal injury attorney can review your case and give you a more thorough estimate of your potential compensation.
Deadline to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit
In most cases, you must file a personal injury lawsuit within three years of when your injuries occurred. Missing this deadline will likely mean that the courts will dismiss your case regardless of its merits.
Our Saginaw Personal Injury Attorneys Are Ready to Help
The Mastromarco Law Firm has a track record of success for our clients. We’ve won millions of dollars for injury victims and can take on your legal burden during this difficult time. Call now or complete our contact form for a consultation.