Owosso has a bucolic downtown with scenic streets and a peaceful small-town feel. However, speeding cars and distracted drivers exist there just like everywhere else. And at the wrong time, these people can cause serious car accidents. When a crash does happen, and an injury results, an injured person is entitled to compensation. The experienced Owosso car accident lawyers at the Lee Steinberg Law Firm are experts in Owosso auto accident cases. Let us help you and your family get back on track.

Our Owosso Car Accident Lawyers Get Results

After sustaining a serious personal injury caused by a car accident, you need a law firm that specializes in car accidents, especially in Shiawassee County.  

• We handle all Owosso car accident cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you do not pay anything until we win your case. That is our guarantee.
• We focus only on personal injury law, and our clients are only the injured and their families. 
• We understand the complexities of auto accident cases, the defenses insurance companies come up with, and how to get the most for your pain and suffering. 
• Our Owosso car accident attorneys have been selected as Michigan “Super Lawyers” numerous times. This is because our attorneys and staff go the extra mile for our clients. 

What No-Fault Benefits Am I Entitled to Receive? 

Almost all individuals injured in a car accident or hit by a car are entitled to Michigan no-fault benefits. These benefits help make up for the financial loss following a crash. In Michigan, these are called no-fault or PIP benefits. Under the Michigan no-fault law, the applicable car insurance carrier must pay certain benefits after a crash. These benefits include:

• The payment of 85% of lost wages, for up to 3 years.
• The payment of medical expenses up to the personal injury protection (PIP) limit.
• Household replacement services (household chores), for up to 3 years.
• Attendant care or nursing care for injured people who cannot take care of themselves.
• Medical mileage reimbursement and payment for prescription drugs.

There are other no-fault benefits as well. To find out more about these first-party benefits, contact an experienced Owosso car accident lawyer today. 

How Do I Get Pain and Suffering Compensation After an Owosso Car Accident? 

Under Michigan law, a person can obtain pain and suffering compensation from a car accident if they prove:

1. The other driver was at-fault for causing the crash. This is called negligence.
2. That an injury was sustained.
3. The injury was caused by an auto accident.
4. The injury met the statutory threshold under MCL 500.3135. 

Just because you are injured in a crash in Owosso does not mean you automatically get money for pain and suffering. Instead, the plaintiff must prove he or she has a “threshold injury.” There are three types of threshold injuries – (1) death, (2) permanent serious disfigurement, and (3) serious impairment of body function. 

Most car and truck accident cases involve the last category, serious impairment of body function. The meaning of this phrase has changed over the years. The current definition requires an impairment that is objectively manifested, meaning it is observable or perceivable from actual symptoms or conditions by someone other than the injured person, the impairment is of an important body function, which affects the injured person’s general ability to lead his or her normal life.

An injury or impairment does not have to be permanent. The law specific specifically says there is no time frame for how long you must have the impairment to qualify for pain and suffering compensation. Every case is different. That is why calling a great Owosso car accident lawyer can make the difference in your case.

Owosso Car Accident Lawyers Who Win

The Owosso car accident lawyers are the Lee Steinberg Law Firm have represented individuals injured in car crashes in Shiawassee County for over 50 years. We routinely file lawsuits against negligent drivers in Shiawassee County Circuit Court (35^th Judicial Circuit) and know the terrain. In fact, we recently recovered a seven-figure settlement for an Owosso man severely injured at an intersection when a big truck blew a stop sign. 

With offices in both Flint and Saginaw, our team of experienced car accident lawyers can easily meet with you regularly and keep you updated on your case. 

Who Pays the Medical Bills After a Crash?

After a car crash in Owosso or anywhere else in Michigan, injuries from a crash will inevitably result in medical bills. But who pays those bills? Under the Michigan no-fault law, there is an order of priority for which insurance carrier must pay the medical bills. The order is straightforward. And it is the same whether you are injured inside a vehicle or as a pedestrian:

1. Your own auto insurance carrier.
2. The auto insurance for a resident relative.
3. The Michigan Assigned Claims (MACP) will assign an insurance carrier to pay the bills. 

In other words, if you have auto insurance, your own car insurer must pay your own medical expenses. This is true even if you did not cause the crash and even if your own car was not involved in the Owosso auto accident. This may sound a bit crazy, but this has been the law since the early 1970s. 

If you do not have your own auto insurance but live with a family member who does (spouse, sibling, parent, child), then their car insurance carrier must step up and pay the medical bills. Again, that carrier is responsible even if the family vehicle is not involved in the crash. 

If there is no auto insurance at those two levels, then an injured person must make a claim with the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan, or MACP. The MACP is a state-regulated organization managed by the auto insurance industry. The claimant must complete an Application for Benefits and submit it to the MACP. The MACP must then assign an insurance carrier – such as Farm Bureau or Citizens Hanover – to pay the claim. The maximum medical limit on these claims is $250,000.  

Exceptions to the General Rule on Medical Bills:

There are a few exceptions to the general rule that your own auto insurance company must pay for auto-accident-related medical bills. 

First, if you purchased a car insurance policy that opted out of PIP medical coverage, then the carrier will not have to pay the medical expenses. In this situation, the insurance company for the at-fault vehicle may be on the hook for medical expenses. This may make more sense, but it does take much longer for medical bills to get paid and increases the likelihood of medical bills going to collections.

The other major exception is if the injured person’s own uninsured vehicle was involved in the crash. Under MCL 500.3113(b), a person who fails to maintain insurance on their car or truck involved in the crash is prohibited from making any claim for no-fault benefits, including the payment of medical expenses.

How Long Does it Take to Get a Settlement After a Car Accident?

The amount of time it takes to settle a car accident depends on the circumstances of the crash. If there is no dispute about who caused the crash (liability is admitted), medical treatment is not very long, and the injuries are easily related to the crash, then a car accident settlement may only take a few weeks or months. However, if liability is contested or the insurance company disputes the injuries are from the car crash, then a lawsuit may be necessary. When a lawsuit is filed, in most situations it can take from 1-2 years to get a settlement. 

How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit? 

In most situations, the injured person has three (3) years to file a lawsuit against the negligent driver for pain and suffering. This is called the statute of limitations. If the injured person waits more than 3 years to file a lawsuit in court against the correct defendants, then that person forever gives up their right to compensation. 

There are some exceptions. For example, minors typically have up until their 19 ^th birthday to file a lawsuit. And the statute of limitations may be shorter against government defendants. 

The statute of limitations for medical bills and other no-fault benefits is shorter. Under the “one-year back” rule, if the insurance carrier denies a benefit, the injured person only has one year to file a lawsuit against the insurance company to get that benefit paid. Because of the one-year back rule, it is important to contact an aggressive Owosso car accident lawyer right away if the insurance company is giving you trouble.  

What are Typical Reasons for Car Accidents in Owosso? 

Because Owosso and Shiawassee County are a mix of rural country roads and suburban streets, the types of crashes vary. On straight roadways like Main St. and Shiawassee St., there are head-on collisions when a driver tries to turn to beat traffic. Some drivers, especially drunk drivers, can leave their lane and go right into oncoming traffic. 

In more stop-and-go areas like Main Street, rear-ended accidents are typical. T-bone accidents can also occur when a person runs a red light or stop sign. Distracted driving is the number one cause of car crashes in Shiawassee County. People who are texting and driving, or using social media while driving are distracted drivers. 

Another major factor in many crashes is speeding. This is particularly true on major highways like M52 or M21 where cars are going too fast to properly react to traffic.  

The Best Owosso Car Accident Lawyer

For almost 50 years, the Lee Steinberg Law Firm has helped injured victims win their cases and obtain the compensation they need and deserve. 

The results of a car accident can be traumatic. Our team of Owosso car accident lawyers takes the burden off you and your family while ensuring you get the best representation. 

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in Owosso, Corunna, Durand, Perry, or anywhere else in Shiawassee County, please call us at 989-399-7575 or contact us online today.