Dearborn Car Accident Attorney
According to Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, there were 282,640 car collisions in Michigan in 2021, with 1,068 fatalities, and 51,666 serious injuries. Compared to 2020, 2021 had a 15.2 percent increase in total crashes and a 5.7 percent increase in fatal crashes. More than half of all these crashes occurred during daylight hours, while almost a third of all fatal crashes occurred at intersections. More male drivers were involved in Michigan crashes than females, and the highest number of fatal crashes in the state occurred on Saturdays. Being involved in a car accident can leave you injured, perhaps unable to work, and facing an uncertain future. Having a strong legal advocate in your corner can significantly decrease the anxiety and stress you are experiencing as a result of your car accident.
Why Choose a Dearborn Car Accident Attorney from the Dan Makled Law Firm?
When you choose the Dan Makled Law Firm, you are choosing a highly skilled firm with a deep understanding of the tactics used by insurance defense firms. Attorney Dan Makled is always prepared to go to trial. This comprehensive level of preparation means the case has been thoroughly evaluated and the evidence exhaustively assembled. So, while the vast majority of personal injury claims do not go to court, Dan is never caught unaware by any twist or turn a case may take. When you want a Dearborn law firm that is driven by a passion to help those who have been harmed by the negligence of another, your choice is easy.
The Dan Makled Law Firm is fully invested in both the legal outcome of your car accident claim as well as your journey to heal from your injuries. We understand the difficulties you are facing as you attempt to put your life back together and will fight for you when you are unable to fight for yourself. Attorney Dan Makled has fought hard to achieve multi-million-dollar results—you can expect this same level of commitment for your own car accident claim. Equally important, we are available around the clock for our clients, staying in constant communication so you never have to wonder where your claim stands.
How is Liability Determined Following a Car Accident?
While a police report may not definitively determine fault, it can have a significant impact on the determination of liability following a car accident. If there is a question as to who is at fault in the accident, both insurance companies may investigate the accident in an effort to determine liability. This may include checking traffic cameras in the area, securing the “black box” information from each vehicle, and speaking to witnesses who saw the accident. In some cases, an accident reconstructionist could be brought in to help determine liability.
It may be determined that while one driver was mostly at fault for the accident, the other driver could have contributed in some way. As an example, the other driver may have run a stop sign, broadsiding your car, but you might have been exceeding the speed limit, which contributed to the accident. It might be determined that the other driver is 90 percent at fault for the accident while you are responsible for the other 10 percent. This would decrease your settlement by 10 percent.
Liability is based on what another reasonable driver would have done, given the same set of circumstances, as well as the theory that all drivers have a duty of care to other drivers on the roadway. When a driver disobeys a traffic rule or law or acts in an unsafe manner, they have breached this duty of care. If that breach of duty of care caused an accident and the accident caused injuries, then the driver can be deemed negligent and liable for the resulting damages.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Car Accidents?
Distracted driving is one of the most common causes of car accidents today. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to get solid statistics on distracted driving accidents because few drivers will admit to being distracted. Distraction comes in many forms; eating while driving, talking on a cell phone, texting, setting a GPS device, fiddling with car controls, turning around to see what the children or pets are doing in the back seat, talking to passengers, or simply daydreaming rather than paying attention.
Fatigued driving is also moving up the list as a cause of car accidents. Just as we are a nation of multi-taskers, we are also a sleep-deprived nation. Getting behind the wheel after going 18 hours without sleep is equal to driving with a 0.05 BAC while getting behind the wheel after going 24 hours without sleep is equal to driving with a 0.08 BAC—the legal limit for alcohol consumption. This means your reaction time is significantly impaired, just as it is when you are drinking and driving.
Other common causes of car accidents include driving in inclement weather, exceeding the speed limit, driving carelessly or recklessly (changing lanes without looking, or failure to yield), and poor road conditions. Your attorney will help determine the cause of your auto accident, then will prove liability so that you can receive the settlement you need and deserve in order to get your life back on track.
At-Fault vs. No-Fault Car Accidents
Each state has some form of “fault” for car accidents. There are no-fault states, comparative fault states, modified comparative fault states, and states that follow the rule of contributory negligence. The state of Michigan is a no-fault state, which means that each driver must carry PIP as a part of their car insurance or opt-out only if they meet the exceptions rules. PIP pays for your injuries and lost wages, no matter who was at fault for the accident, unless your injuries meet the threshold of “serious impairment of body function,” “permanent serious disfigurement,” or death.
If this is the case, you can sue the at-fault driver for your injuries and lost wages. Unless the other driver hit your parked car, the damages to your car should be covered under your own insurance policy. Pain and suffering are not covered under your PIP insurance, so those damages are collected through a lawsuit against the at-fault party’s insurance. Your experienced car accident attorney from Dan Makled Law Firm will know which avenues to pursue when seeking compensation for your injuries.
What Are the Most Common Injuries Following a Car Accident?
The most common injuries following a car accident are broken bones and fractures, cuts and scrapes, bruises and contusions, and strains and sprains. Whiplash is a very common injury following a car, although because it is a soft tissue injury it can be more difficult to prove. Neck and back injuries are common, along with facial lacerations that can be severe enough to cause disfigurement. More serious injuries resulting from a car accident include spinal cord injuries that result in paralysis and traumatic brain injuries that result in adverse symptoms that can last a lifetime. Traumatic brain injury can result in long-term symptoms like memory loss, chronic headaches, seizures, dizziness, chronic fatigue, balance problems, and a whole host of neurological issues including difficulty learning and even changes in personality.
What Steps Should You Take Following a Michigan Car Accident?
There are certain steps you should take following your Michigan car accident that can significantly help your attorney secure a fair settlement on your behalf. Your first course of action is to seek medical attention for your injuries. Even if you think you weren’t hurt that badly, it is important that you be checked out at the hospital, or by your own doctor. The adrenaline rush you receive during an accident can mask the symptoms of your injuries. Later, you may realize that you were injured more severely than you thought.
If you are able while at the scene of the accident, take photographs with your cell phone, and get contact information from any witnesses to the accident. Once you are home from the hospital, take the time to write down everything you can remember about the accident. The smallest detail may turn out to be important once your attorney begins investigating the accident. Contact your own insurance company, then contact an experienced Michigan car accident attorney who can deal with all the legal details, giving you time to heal and move forward.
How Car Accident Attorney Dan Makled Is Ready to Help and Fight for You
The Dan Makled Law Firm has consistently provided quality representation for injury victims, along with excellent customer service. Just as important, attorney Dan Makled is never afraid to go to trial to secure a fair settlement on your behalf. Other law firms may settle a case for a low value because they do not want to go to trial, but this is where Dan thrives. Dan prepares every case as if it were going to trial which means he is never left unprepared. Early in his career, Dan worked for insurance companies to learn the ins and outs of how they defend against claims by injured victims. This gives Dan a unique perspective that benefits his clients. Contact the Dan Makled Law Firm today!
