Novi Personal Injury Lawyers

Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Novi, MI

Personal injury claims can arise from motor vehicle crashes, unsafe property conditions, defective products, medical errors, and other acts of negligence. Below is an overview of the many claim types our Novi personal injury lawyers can handle for you.

Why Hire LegalGenius as Your Novi Personal Injury Lawyer?

When you hire LegalGenius for your personal injury claim in Novi, we bring decades of collective experience to your case. We fight to win and won’t settle for anything less than a full and fair settlement that covers past damages and ongoing needs. By working with our Novi personal injury lawyers, you benefit from the following advantages.

• Millions Recovered for Clients: LegalGenius has recovered millions of dollars for thousands of clients. While no personal injury law firm can guarantee what you’ll recover, our history shows that we’ve spent decades representing people seeking payment for injuries and other losses.
• Direct Access to Your Attorney: You shouldn’t have to go through several staff members when you have a question about your case. LegalGenius gives clients direct access to their attorneys, so you can discuss developments, provide new information, and get answers from the lawyer handling your claim.
• Fast Responses to Your Questions: Waiting days for a return call can add frustration when you’re already dealing with an injury. Our team will generally respond to inquiries submitted through our Ask the Genius™ form within five minutes or at least the very same day.
• Preparation for Negotiation and Trial: A defendant or insurance company may dispute liability, challenge the connection between an accident and your injuries, or contest your claimed losses. We prepare personal injury cases with litigation in mind, allowing us to negotiate confidently while remaining ready to go to court.
• No Upfront Attorney Fees: LegalGenius handles personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. You don’t pay attorney fees upfront, and we get paid from the recovery when we win a settlement or judgment for you.

How Do You Know If You Have a Personal Injury Case?

For a claim based on negligence, you generally need to prove that the defendant failed to meet a legal duty, that failure caused your injuries, and that you suffered compensable losses as a result. Determining if you have a case therefore involves a review of what happened, what the defendant did or failed to do, and how the incident affected you.

Did the Other Party Owe You a Duty of Care?

The first question is if the person or business responsible for your injuries owed you a legal duty of care. A driver, for example, must follow traffic laws and use reasonable care when operating a vehicle. Property owners generally have an obligation to keep the premises safe for legitimate visitors and invitees. Similarly, health care providers must meet professional standards when treating patients.

Did the Other Party Breach Its Duty?

A breach happens when the defendant fails to meet the applicable standard. In a car accident case, this could involve running a red light, following too closely, failing to yield, or engaging in another form of negligent driving. A premises liability claim may depend on what the property owner knew about a dangerous condition and what actions were taken in response. 

Did the Negligence Cause Your Injuries?

Proving that someone acted negligently isn’t enough. You also need to show a connection between that conduct and your injuries. An insurance company may argue that your medical condition existed before the accident or resulted from something unrelated to its insured’s conduct. Medical records, diagnostic results, physician testimony, and documentation of your condition before and after the event can help address these arguments.

Did You Sustain Compensable Losses?

A negligence case also involves damages. Depending on the type of case, these losses can include medical expenses, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and other legally recoverable losses. Serious injuries may also create future medical needs or interfere with your ability to work and perform activities you previously handled.

Note: You’ll want to collect evidence of all damages. For example, medical bills can document treatment expenses, wage records can establish earnings you lost while unable to work, and medical testimony can address future treatment or lasting impairment. This documentation gives the parties (and a jury if the case reaches trial) a basis for evaluating the damages claimed.

How Does Evidence Help Prove a Personal Injury Claim?

Different forms of evidence serve different purposes in a personal injury case. For example:

• Photographs or video can help establish how an accident occurred. 
• Witness testimony may confirm what the defendant did before the incident. 
• Medical documentation can connect your injuries to the accident, while employment and income records can establish wages lost during recovery.

Some cases also involve testimony from qualified professionals. For example:

• A physician may address the cause or future effects of an injury.
• An engineer or accident reconstruction professional may investigate how the accident happened. 
• With medical malpractice cases, qualified professional testimony is usually needed to address whether your treatment met the applicable standard of care.

What Compensation Can You Recover in a Personal Injury Case?

A personal injury claim can seek compensation for the losses caused by your injuries. The damages available depend on the type of case, your medical needs, your ability to work, and how the injury affects your life. The most common examples include:

• Medical Expenses: You may seek payment for medical bills related to your injuries. These expenses can include emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgery, diagnostic testing, medication, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and medical equipment. Future medical costs may also be recoverable if you’ll need ongoing treatment. 
• Lost Income: If your injuries prevent you from working, you may be able to recover income lost during your recovery. This can include missed wages and earnings lost because you had to attend medical appointments. Pay stubs, tax records, and employment documents can establish these losses. Self-employed people may use business and income records to document lost earnings.
• Reduced Earning Capacity: A lasting injury may limit the type or amount of work you can do. You may therefore have a claim for reduced earning capacity if you can’t return to your previous occupation, work the same hours, or earn what you did before the accident. The calculation can consider your employment history, earnings, medical restrictions, and expected ability to work in the future.
• Pain and Suffering: You may also seek noneconomic damages for the personal impact of an injury. These damages can include physical pain, disability, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. Medical records and testimony can show how your symptoms and limitations affect your daily activities.

Damages After a Michigan Car Accident

Different rules apply to motor vehicle claims. In Michigan, no-fault insurance can pay certain medical expenses and work-loss benefits, while an injured person may have a separate claim against an at-fault driver. Under MCL 500.3135, noneconomic damages against an at-fault driver generally involve extreme injuries like death, serious impairment of body function, or permanent serious disfigurement. Certain economic losses outside no-fault benefits may also be available.

What Should You Do After an Accident in Novi?

• Seek Medical Treatment: Get medical attention after an accident, even if you initially believe your injuries are manageable. Some conditions may become apparent or worsen after the incident. Tell your medical providers how you were injured, describe your symptoms accurately, and follow the recommended course of treatment.
• Report the Accident: Michigan requires drivers to immediately report a motor vehicle crash that results in injury, death, or apparent property damage totaling $1,000 or more. A police report can record information about the vehicles and drivers involved as well as conditions at the scene. If you’re injured on commercial or private property, notify the owner, manager, or another person responsible for the premises. 
• Preserve Evidence: Evidence available shortly after an accident may be difficult or impossible to obtain later. Photograph or record the scene, vehicle damage, dangerous property conditions, and visible injuries when you can safely do so. You should also get witness contact information and note the presence of any traffic or security cameras so your Novi personal injury lawyer can request footage later.
• Document Your Financial Losses: Medical bills, receipts, wage statements, tax records, and employment documentation can establish the economic damages you seek. If your condition limits your ability to work for an extended period, records showing changes in your earnings can become important when calculating damages.
• Be Careful When Dealing With Insurers: Insurance adjusters investigate claims on behalf of insurance carriers. An adjuster may request a recorded statement, ask about your medical history, seek access to health records, or present a settlement proposal. Tell them that your attorney will be in touch after you’ve hired legal representation.
• Speak With a Novi Personal Injury Lawyer: Legal representation can be invaluable when liability is disputed, several parties may share responsibility, or an insurer challenges the connection between the accident and your injuries. An attorney can also identify the correct filing deadlines and take action to obtain evidence before it becomes unavailable.

How Can Comparative Fault Affect Your Personal Injury Claim?

Michigan uses a modified comparative fault system that can reduce your recovery based on the percentage of fault assigned to you. Under MCL 600.2959, economic damages are reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to the injured person. If you’re found 20% responsible for an accident, for example, your economic damages are reduced by 20%.

The rule for noneconomic damages is different. If your percentage of fault is greater than the combined fault of the other parties, you can’t recover noneconomic damages. This means a person found more than 50% at fault may lose the ability to recover compensation for losses such as pain and suffering, even though economic damages may remain available subject to a reduction.

Note: Fault percentages can become a major point of dispute. A defendant or insurer may contend that you contributed to your injuries by failing to exercise reasonable care. In a motor vehicle case, that argument could involve allegations that you were speeding, failed to yield, or otherwise contributed to the collision.

What Happens During a Personal Injury Claim?

A personal injury claim begins with determining who may be legally responsible for the accident and what insurance coverage applies. From there, your Novi personal injury lawyer can develop the claim, present a demand for payment, negotiate with the insurer, and file a lawsuit if the dispute can’t be resolved. The path your case actually takes depends on the contested issues and the insurer’s response.

Case Evaluation and Investigation

LegalGenius begins by reviewing how the injury happened, the parties involved, and the legal grounds for recovery. We can investigate disputed issues, obtain relevant records, interview witnesses, and examine available insurance policies. The investigation may also identify defendants who weren’t apparent when the accident occurred. For example, a commercial vehicle collision may involve potential liability beyond the driver, while an injury on another person’s property may require examination of who owned, occupied, or controlled the premises.

Presenting the Claim

Once there is enough information to evaluate liability and damages, your attorney can present the claim to the responsible party or insurer. A demand letter usually explains the basis for liability, describes your injuries, and states the compensation sought. The insurer may accept the demand, make a counteroffer, or dispute part or all of the claim. Disagreements can involve fault, medical causation, the extent of an injury, or the amount of damages.

Settlement Negotiations

Settlement negotiations give both sides an opportunity to resolve the dispute without a trial. Your attorney can evaluate an offer and respond with a counteroffer when warranted, but you decide if you’ll accept a settlement. Your lawyer can explain the terms and consequences of an offer, but the final decision belongs to you.

Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit

If negotiations don’t produce an acceptable resolution, your attorney may file a lawsuit against the responsible party. Litigation begins with a complaint stating the legal claims and damages sought. The defendant then has an opportunity to respond. Please note that filing suit doesn’t mean your case will necessarily go to trial: negotiations can continue while litigation is pending, and the parties may resolve the dispute before a trial begins.

Discovery and Pretrial Proceedings

During discovery, each side can obtain information from the other through document requests, written questions, depositions, and other procedures. Attorneys for both sides may also take testimony from physicians or other qualified professionals. With pretrial motions, the court may hold conferences addressing scheduling, unresolved issues, and trial preparation.

Settlement or Trial

Many personal injury lawsuits resolve through settlement, but some proceed to trial when the parties remain divided over liability or damages. At trial, each side presents evidence and arguments, and the judge or jury decides the disputed issues.

LegalGenius can represent you throughout each stage, from evaluating the initial claim through negotiations and litigation. If trial becomes necessary, we can present your case and seek a verdict based on the evidence.

Speak With a Novi Personal Injury Lawyer at LegalGenius

If you’ve been injured in Novi, Michigan, LegalGenius is here to fight for you. We can evaluate your personal injury claim, address disputes over liability and damages, negotiate with insurers, and pursue litigation if settlement negotiations fail. For more information or to schedule a free consultation, call 800-209-4000 or fill out our Ask the Genius™ form, and an attorney will contact you within five minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Injury Claims in Novi

Can I File a Personal Injury Claim If I Had a Preexisting Medical Condition?

Yes. A preexisting medical condition doesn’t prevent you from pursuing a personal injury claim. If an accident aggravates an existing condition or causes additional pain or injury, you may seek damages attributable to that aggravation.

Medical history can be an important issue in these cases. For example:

• An insurer may argue that your symptoms existed before the accident rather than resulting from the defendant’s conduct. 
• Records showing your condition before and after the incident can help distinguish prior symptoms from new or worsened limitations. 
• Your treating physicians may also provide evidence concerning changes in your condition. 

You should disclose relevant prior conditions to your attorney so they can address causation arguments before they become a larger dispute.

Who Can Be Liable If Several Parties Contributed to My Injuries?

A personal injury case can involve multiple defendants. For example, a commercial vehicle collision could involve claims against a negligent driver and a company responsible for the vehicle or driver. A defective product case may involve a manufacturer or seller. Other cases may involve property owners, contractors, employers, health care providers, or businesses. Identifying all responsible parties is important because each defendant’s conduct and potential liability must be evaluated separately. It can also identify additional insurance policies or assets that may provide a source of recovery.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Novi Personal Injury Lawyer?

LegalGenius handles personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, so you don’t pay attorney fees upfront. Instead, the attorney fee is paid from the recovery obtained through a settlement or judgment.

A contingency arrangement allows you to retain legal representation without paying an hourly fee while your case is pending. Before hiring a lawyer, review the agreement so you know how the attorney fee will be calculated and how litigation expenses or other case-related charges will be handled. At LegalGenius, we explain our fee arrangement during your consultation, including what happens if your case doesn’t result in a recovery.