Westland Personal Injury Lawyers

Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Westland

Preventable accidents happen in many different ways across Westland. From traffic collisions or pedestrian injuries at busy intersections to slips and falls on private property, there are always risks when someone is careless or negligent. No matter how your injury occurred, LegalGenius can evaluate your claim, protect your legal rights, and pursue appropriate compensation.

Why Work With LegalGenius After Being Injured in Westland?

After suffering an injury, it’s hard to know what to do next. Should you contact your own insurance provider or hold the negligent party accountable? At LegalGenius, our Westland personal injury lawyers have successfully handled many personal injury claims in and around Westland. When you work with us, you benefit from the following:

• Decades of Experience: With decades spent representing injured clients throughout Michigan, LegalGenius attorneys know how insurance companies reduce or deny claims. We’ve confronted low offers, contested denials, and advocated for our clients’ rightful compensation. We anticipate obstacles and proactively address them.
• You’ll Always Be in the Loop: From the moment you contact LegalGenius, you’ll receive ongoing updates about your case. Our team prioritizes clear and open communication, so you’re informed about each development and what it means for your claim. If you have questions, your attorney is always reachable by phone, email, or face-to-face meetings.
• No Fees Unless You Win: Our Westland personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. This means you won’t pay any fees upfront, and our payment comes directly from the settlement or verdict we secure for you. If we don’t recover compensation, you owe us nothing.
• Your Needs Are Our Priority: Injuries impact everyone differently, so your case will reflect your own needs and financial losses. We examine how your injuries affect your work, health, family life, and daily activities, and develop our strategy accordingly.

If your injuries make it difficult for you to travel, our Westland personal injury lawyers will visit you at home, in the hospital, or wherever you feel most comfortable. Your recovery is your priority, and ours is making sure legal representation remains accessible and convenient during a challenging time.

How a Westland Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help You

When you’re recovering from an injury, managing an insurance claim on your own can be like treading a minefield. This is because Insurance companies train their representatives to ask questions that protect their financial interests, not yours. Without legal representation, you may unknowingly accept a low settlement or miss critical deadlines that impact your ability to recover damages.

A Westland personal injury lawyer can manage every part of your claim for you. This includes sending the demand letter, organizing records and other evidence, and protecting you from tactics meant to reduce your compensation. Here’s how a lawyer adds value to your case:

• Early Collection of Key Evidence: In the days following an accident, evidence may disappear. A lawyer will visit the scene right away, photograph conditions as they existed at the time, secure available video surveillance footage, and contact witnesses while the events are still fresh in their minds. Preserving this information early can limit disputes about how the injury occurred.
• All Insurance Communications Are Managed on Your Behalf: Insurance adjusters may contact you quickly, hoping to record a statement that can be used to reduce or deny your claim. A lawyer handles all direct communication, preventing misinterpretation of your words and making sure the insurance company receives complete and accurate information. This approach helps shield you from questions that are misleading or incomplete.
• Medical Records Are Organized and Presented Accurately: Treatment records are the foundation of any personal injury claim. Your lawyer gathers full documentation from hospitals, clinics, and specialists to show the scope of your injuries and the care required. In cases involving long-term effects, your lawyer may also consult independent medical professionals who can explain how the injury affects your ability to work, live independently, or manage daily routines.
• Every Category of Loss Is Taken Into Account: Your claim should reflect the full extent of the injury’s impact. This includes medical bills, lost wages, reduced earning ability, future treatment costs, in-home care needs, and personal losses related to comfort, mobility, and relationships. A lawyer makes sure each category is documented properly with receipts, expert reports, and written statements where necessary.
• Trial Preparation Begins at the Outset: Some claims settle through negotiation, but others require formal litigation. Lawyers who build cases with trial in mind tend to present more detailed evidence and build stronger leverage. From the beginning, your lawyer will treat the case as if it may be presented to a judge or jury. This improves the quality of settlement negotiations and ensures nothing is overlooked if the case moves to court.

Compensation in a Westland Personal Injury Claim

An injury can affect nearly every part of your life, from your finances to your ability to care for yourself or maintain relationships. A personal injury claim is meant to account for those losses and provide financial relief based on what you’ve already experienced and what you may continue to face. The categories below reflect the types of compensation a Westland personal injury lawyer may pursue on your behalf.

Economic Damages

These damages include direct financial losses resulting from your injury. Medical expenses usually account for the largest portion of this category, and may include ambulance transport, emergency care, hospital stays, surgeries, diagnostic tests, follow-up visits, rehabilitation, and prescriptions. If you require medical equipment or modifications to your home, such as ramps or railings, those costs may also be included.

Lost income is another major factor. If you’ve missed work during recovery, your lawyer will calculate those losses using pay stubs, tax records, and employer statements. If the injury prevents you from returning to your job or limits your earning capacity, your claim may include projected future income loss based on your age, experience, and prior wages.

Additional out-of-pocket costs, such as transportation to medical appointments or the need for in-home assistance, may also be documented and submitted as part of your damages.

Non-Economic Damages

While some losses can be measured in dollars, others affect your quality of life in ways that are harder to quantify. You may experience chronic pain, limited range of motion, difficulty sleeping, or emotional distress related to your injury. These problems can interfere with relationships, reduce independence, and affect your ability to enjoy everyday activities.

Non-economic damages reflect the personal toll of an injury, including ongoing discomfort, anxiety, loss of companionship, and reduced ability to participate in hobbies, family events, or physical activity. These damages often require detailed personal statements, medical reports, and sometimes expert testimony to support your claim.

Punitive Damages

In rare cases involving reckless or intentional conduct, courts may award punitive damages. They are not meant to reimburse you for losses but to penalize the wrongdoer and discourage similar conduct. Drunk driving, physical assault, or a company knowingly selling unsafe products are examples of situations where these damages may apply.

While punitive damages aren’t available in every case, your lawyer will assess the facts to determine if they may be appropriate. If so, additional documentation will be submitted to support this part of the claim, including evidence of prior misconduct or violations of safety standards.

How Long Do You Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in Michigan?

Personal injury claims are subject to strict time limits set by Michigan law. These deadlines, known as statutes of limitations, determine how long you have to file a lawsuit after an injury. If you miss the deadline, your case may be dismissed regardless of the facts. That’s why it’s important to act quickly and understand how the time limit applies to your situation.

General Personal Injury Claims

Most injury claims in Michigan must be filed within three years of the date the injury occurred. This includes claims related to motor vehicle accidents, slip and falls, pedestrian injuries, dog bites, and other forms of negligence. If your lawsuit is not filed within this three-year window, the court is likely to reject your case entirely, even if liability is clear and your injuries are severe.

Claims Involving Government Agencies

Claims involving city departments, public transportation systems, or government-maintained property follow shorter timelines. You may be required to send a written notice of your intent to file a claim within 120 days of the injury. This applies to situations involving government-owned vehicles, unsafe sidewalks, or injuries on public property. Missing this notice period could prevent you from pursuing any compensation, even if the underlying claim would otherwise be valid.

Medical Malpractice Claims

If a healthcare provider makes a mistake that causes harm, the standard deadline to file a lawsuit is two years from the date of the act or omission. In some situations, the effects of medical negligence are not immediately noticeable. Michigan law allows up to six months from the date you discovered, or reasonably should have discovered, the injury. However, strict procedural requirements apply, and early legal review is critical.

No-Fault Insurance Claims

If you’re seeking benefits under Michigan’s no-fault insurance system, you must file your claim within one year of the accident. This includes reimbursement for medical bills, wage loss, and replacement services. If the claim is submitted after the one-year mark, the insurance company may deny it based solely on timing, even if the expenses are legitimate.

Exceptions for Minors

If the injured person is under 18 at the time of the injury, the statute of limitations is paused until their 18th birthday. After that point, the standard three-year deadline begins. This exception allows minors additional time to pursue legal action, but parents or guardians may still choose to file earlier to preserve evidence and protect the child’s interests.

Injured? Speak to a Westland Personal Injury Lawyer Now

A serious injury can disrupt nearly every aspect of your life. You may be facing rising medical bills, time away from work, and uncertainty about how long your recovery will take. Without legal guidance, you risk accepting a settlement that fails to account for your long-term needs.

LegalGenius represents individuals and families throughout Michigan in personal injury claims involving motor vehicle accidents, unsafe property conditions, construction site injuries, medical errors, and other acts of negligence.  We offer free consultations and represent clients on a contingency fee basis. To speak with a Westland personal injury lawyer, call 1-800-209-4000 or fill out our Ask the Genius™ form today.