Attorney Advertising.
If you were hurt in a car crash in Michigan, here is the first thing you need to know: the insurance company is not on your side. Not yours, and not the other driver’s. Their job is to pay out as little as possible, and they are very good at it. I have watched too many good people get talked into a fast, lowball settlement before they even knew what their case was worth. That is what I fight.
By Nicholas Somberg, founding attorney at Somberg Law, PLLC in Bingham Farms, Michigan. Licensed by the State Bar of Michigan.
The call comes fast, and it is not a courtesy
Within a day or two of a crash you will probably get a call from an adjuster. They will sound friendly. They will say they just need a few details and a quick recorded statement to process your claim. Here is what is really going on: they are building a file. A recorded statement, taken while you are shaken up and before you know the full extent of your injuries, is one of the most common ways people accidentally hurt their own case.
What Michigan No-Fault actually owes you
Michigan is a no-fault state, which means your own auto insurer is generally supposed to pay your accident-related medical bills and a portion of your lost wages, no matter who caused the crash. Those are your PIP benefits, and they are your right, not a favor. On top of that, if your injuries are serious enough to meet Michigan’s legal threshold, you may be able to bring a claim against the at-fault driver for pain and suffering. The insurance companies know all of this. They are counting on you not knowing it. For the details, see my Michigan Car Accident and No-Fault FAQ.
What to do instead
Get checked out by a doctor, even if you feel fine. Some of the worst injuries, like concussions and soft-tissue damage, can show up days later, and a gap in treatment is one of the first things an insurer will use against you.
Do not give a recorded statement to any insurance company until you have talked to a lawyer.
Do not accept a quick settlement. Once you sign a release, it is usually over, even if your injuries get worse later.
Keep everything. Write down what you remember while it is fresh, and hold on to every bill, every mileage record, and every note from a doctor.
How I fight for you
When I take a car accident case, I deal with the insurance companies so you do not have to. I work to make sure your PIP benefits actually get paid, I document the full picture of what the crash did to your life, and if the at-fault driver’s insurer wants to lowball you, I am ready to take it as far as the case needs to go. For personal injury matters I work on a contingency fee, which means no attorney fee up front and no attorney fee unless I recover money for you, and case costs may apply.
I do this because I believe regular people should not have to go up against a billion-dollar insurance company by themselves. That is not a fair fight, so I stand on your side of it.
Hurt in a crash? Let’s talk before they do
If you were injured in a Michigan car accident, do not take on the insurance companies alone. Call me at (248) 270-5979 or start a free case review, and let’s talk about what your case is really worth.
Attorney Advertising. This post is general information about Michigan law and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship, and no result is ever guaranteed. Every case is different, so talk to a licensed attorney about your situation.
