It's About More Than Just Medical Bills
After a serious accident, the first thing you see is the pile of medical bills. But the true cost of an injury is much bigger. What about the paychecks you missed? What about the pain you deal with every day? What about the fact that you can't even pick up your kids or enjoy your old hobbies?
In Michigan, the goal of personal injury compensation (also called "damages") is to make you "whole" again, at least financially. It's designed to cover everything you've lost, not just the things with a clear price tag.
Covering Your Financial Losses (Economic Damages)
This is the most straightforward part of your claim. We can calculate these damages by looking at bills, receipts, and pay stubs. This category includes all of your past, present, and future expenses.
This means we fight for compensation for your current medical bills, plus any future surgeries, physical therapy, or medications you'll need. It also includes the income you lost while recovering, and just as importantly, your "loss of earning capacity", the money you won't be able to earn in the future if your injury forces you to take a lower-paying job or stop working altogether.
Compensation for Your Pain and Suffering (Non-Economic Damages)
This is for all the losses that don't come with a receipt but are just as real. This is compensation for the human cost of your injury.
This includes the physical pain and suffering you've endured and may continue to endure. It's for the emotional distress, anxiety, or depression that follows a traumatic event. It's also for "loss of enjoyment of life", not being able to go bowling, work in your garden, or play with your kids like you used to. In cases with permanent injuries, this can also include compensation for scarring and disfigurement.
A Note on Michigan's Auto Accident "Threshold"
It's important to know that Michigan has a special rule for auto accidents. Because we are a "No-Fault" state, you can only sue the at-fault driver for non-economic damages (like pain and suffering) if your injury meets a certain "threshold."
This means you must have suffered a "serious impairment of body function," "permanent serious disfigurement," or death. Insurance companies fight hard to argue that an injury isn't "serious enough." This is one of the main reasons you need an experienced attorney to prove the true extent of your injuries.
Don't Settle for Less Than You Deserve
The at-fault party's insurance adjuster may call you right away and offer a quick check. They are trained to do this, hoping you'll accept before you know the true, long-term cost of your injury. Don't fall for it.
At Shiraz Law Firm, we know how to build a case that calculates all of your damages, from future medical care to your pain and suffering. You only get one chance to get this right. We're here to make sure you're taken care of, now and in the future.
