The steps you take after your collision can play a significant role in your car accident case. Here’s what to do if you are in a car accident in Saginaw:

1. Get to Safety: Your well-being and safety should be your number one priority after an accident. So before you do anything else, make sure you move yourself and your passengers out of harm’s way if possible. Move your car to the side of the road or get out of your car and seek shelter somewhere nearby.
2. Call the Police: Police reports play a very important role in car accident cases. They can help substantiate your case and prove that what you are saying actually happened to win your case. Even if the accident was just a minor fender bender, you should still report it to the police.
3. Seek Medical Attention: If you are injured, make sure the police send emergency medical responders to help. If you are not seriously injured, you should still see a doctor following the accident as soon as possible. Documentation that proves you were injured and got treatment plays a major role in helping you win your case.
4. Gather Evidence: If possible, gather as much evidence at the scene of the accident as you can to help support your claim. This includes photos of the accident and your injuries, video footage from your phone, and contact information for any witnesses that saw what happened.
5. Report The Accident to Your Insurance: After the accident is initially dealt with, you should call your auto insurance to tell them what happened so they can get the claim process started. However, it’s important when you speak to your insurance company or to the other party’s insurance company that you avoid admitting fault.
6. Contact a Saginaw Car Accident Lawyer: A lawyer can help you navigate the claims process, handle all of the complex legal matters for you, talk to insurance companies, and ensure you are awarded the full and fair settlement you deserve. They can even help you file a lawsuit if necessary and take the case to court for additional compensation.

When you file a personal injury claim after a car accident in Saginaw, one of the things you can recover compensation for are the wages you have lost while you are out of work and recovering from your injuries.

In Michigan, under the no-fault insurance law, the lost wages you can recover are generally calculated at about 85% of your monthly income—or the income that you would have earned had you not been injured and unable to work. This money comes from your own auto insurance company, or the no-fault auto insurance company responsible for paying your claim. Lost wages compensation is subject to a monthly maximum, however.

Currently, as of October 1, 2022—and through September 30, 2023—the maximum monthly wage loss benefits in Michigan are capped at $6,615.

An injured person is entitled to receive lost wages from their no-fault insurance company for up to 3 years from the date of the crash. If a person is still injured and cannot work after three years, or earns more than the monthly maximum, the injured person can obtain compensation from the at-fault driver and owner.

The simple answer to this question is most likely yes. On average, car insurance increases by 40%-50% after a car accident. However, the exact rate of increase can vary based on factors such as where you live, who your policy is with, and your driving history.

Insurance rate increases after an accident are also affected by who was at fault for the accident. So if you were the one at fault, your insurance would likely go up more than if you were the victim of someone else’s negligent driving. Sometimes if you are not at-fault, your car insurance rates may not increase at all. 

Pain and suffering is another type of damage that you can recover compensation for after an accident, just like lost wages and medical expenses. Even if the accident was a minor one, you might still be able to recover compensation for pain & suffering, so long as you can prove that you have an objective injury that has just generally affected your ability to lead your normal life.

However, calculating pain and suffering damages is not easy because these types of damages do not have an obvious monetary value. The best way to ensure you are awarded the full amount you deserve for pain and suffering is to gather as much evidence as possible to show how your life has been impacted by the accident and your injuries.

This can be done by testifying about the hobbies and recreational activities you were limited from doing or can’t do at all because of the car crash. Family members and friends testifying on your behalf to show how your life has changed is also very powerful evidence.

The Saginaw car accident attorneys at the Lee Steinberg Law Firm recommend you keep a journal of the things that have changed in your life since the auto accident. The journal should include activities inside and outside the home, at work, and from the beginning of the day until the end of the day.

Under Michigan law, an insurance company is responsible for paying certain benefits due to injuries that result from a car crash. These benefits are knowns as no-fault benefits or personal injury protection (PIP) benefits. This is true even if you were at-fault for causing the accident.

In most situations, the insurance company responsible for paying your claim must pay for medical bills, lost wages, prescriptions, transportation, attendant care and other benefits.

However, if the insurance company fails to pay these benefits after they receive proof, an individual can file a lawsuit against the car insurance company in court. This is where a dedicated and experienced Saginaw car accident lawyer can help get your medical bills and other benefits paid.

These lawsuits are known as first-party lawsuits and are quite common. The lawsuit can be filed in Saginaw County Circuit Court. They usually are required after the insurance company sends a customer for an IME, or “independent medical examination.” The IME is performed by a doctor hired by the insurance company to author a report. The insurance company can then use the report to terminate or stop paying further benefits.

If you get a letter stating you must attend an IME, it is highly recommended you contact a Saginaw auto accident attorney to find out your legal rights.

Distracted driving is one of the most common causes of Michigan car accidents. From 2016 to 2020, car accidents due to distracted driving in Michigan increased by 27%. The most popular driving distraction is now cell phone Texting while driving and using the internet while driving is now illegal in Michigan. In fact, under MCL 256.602b(3), a driver cannot even use a cell phone while driving unless it is hands-free.

Distracted driving can occur in different ways. The general rule under Michigan law is MCL 257.626b, which states a person who operates a vehicle on a highway in a careless or negligent manner that is likely to cause harm to a person, is responsible for a civil infraction. Not only is that person liable to pay a fine, he or she is also responsible for any of the injuries they cause.

But distracted driving laws are found elsewhere and are enforced by law enforcement and our state’s courts. For example, some of the laws against distracted driving include:

• Driving while intoxicated – MCL 257.635
• Failing to yield the right of way at an intersection – MCL 257.649.
• Running a red light – MCL 257.612.
• Making an illegal left-hand turn – MCL 257.650
• Speeding – MCL 257.627.
• Failing to make a proper turn at an intersection – MCL 257.647

Your soft tissues are the muscles, ligaments, and tendons in your body—all of which are easily injured in a Saginaw car accident. However, many people ignore the signs and symptoms of soft tissue injuries, assuming that they are just minor injuries. But delaying treatment can worsen the injury and make it harder for you to recover compensation if you file a personal injury claim.

So, what are the symptoms you should look out for that might indicate you have sustained a soft tissue injury?

• Low back pain
• Neck pain
• Swelling
• Inflammation
• Bruising
• Discoloration
• Limited mobility
• Muscle spasms
• Loss of range of motion
• Numbness and tingling

Consulting with a Saginaw car accident lawyer can be beneficial to your car accident case in many ways.

• Lawyers have in-depth knowledge of the legal system and know the laws in place to protect your rights.
• Lawyers have the resources to help investigate your case to ensure the right party is held accountable.
• A lawyer can help you get no-fault benefits or PIP benefits from an auto insurance company, which will pay for medical bills, lost wages and other items.
• A lawyer will know how to evaluate your claim and the damages you have suffered to correctly value your case.
• Lawyers can handle negotiations with difficult insurance companies to ensure they pay you the fair settlement you deserve.
• A lawyer can help settle your case quickly without needing to go to court.
• If a court trial is necessary, a lawyer can represent you and handle the litigation.