Personal Injury Lawyers Near Birmingham, MI
No one ever plans on needing a personal injury lawyer, but when you need one, you’ll want the best – and fast. A good personal injury lawyer can help you accurately assess what you might be able to get from a personal injury lawsuit, represent you in court and inform you of what the process could look like.
Places near Birmingham you might need a personal injury lawyer
Birmingham, MI is near many popular destinations where injuries could occur. If you live in Michigan or frequently visit the area, it’s a good idea to know who to call if bad things happen.
Southfield, MI
Southfield is a popular destination in Michigan, and it’s not hard to see why. This city has a prominent business district featuring a modern skyline but still has the local charm of art galleries, parks, and a historic cider mill.
If you’d prefer to get away from the crowds, Southfield is full of hiking trails you can explore to take in the natural scenery and enjoy being far away from the responsibilities of daily life. Carpenter Lake Nature Preserve is also a popular destination to see the beauty of Michigan’s natural landscape.
Detroit, MI
While Detroit is best known for its busiest days of auto manufacturing in the mid-1900s, it’s still an epicenter of the arts. While visiting Detroit, you can appreciate a variety of art pieces at the Institute of Arts as well as other pieces of history at the Detroit Historical Museum. If you prefer the cinema to stills, you can see the history of some of your favorite movies at the Motown Museum or enjoy live performances at the Fox Theatre.
Common reasons for personal injury claims
You may be wondering what kind of injuries to watch for in the Birmingham, MI area. Here are some of the most common reasons we see for personal injury claims.
Vehicle accidents
Accidents driving from place to place are fairly common and can lead to a range of different injuries. Whether you experience something non-life-threatening like whiplash or require emergency medical attention on the scene, these injuries can have a significant impact on your quality of life moving forward. They may also require expensive medical care, cutting into your budget and draining your savings.
In Michigan, car crashes happen around 300,000 times per year, and around 70,000 of those crashes lead to some sort of injury. Wherever your injury is on the spectrum of severity, a personal injury lawyer can help you evaluate if it’s a good idea to file for a personal injury claim.
Workplace injuries
Birmingham is home to businesses in many industries, from technology companies to retail. People can experience a range of industries at their workplaces, from tripping over a hazard left on the ground to experiencing a traumatic event.
Slip and fall injuries
These injuries are common on public and private properties everywhere, and Birmingham is no exception. Wet floors, icy weather conditions, and potholes can all lead to injuries when someone slips or trips and then falls.
Medical malpractice
Healthcare providers swear to do no harm, but sometimes, medical malpractice does happen. The consequences can be dramatic, or even deadly. It’s important to understand informed consent when receiving medical care and how to tell if your doctor’s negligence may have caused you harm.
The process of filing a personal injury claim
When you’ve been injured, the first and most important thing to do is get somewhere safe and pursue medical care. Many injuries are not immediately visible, so it’s usually a good idea to get checked out. Once you are safe and have received appropriate medical attention, these are the steps you can take to file a personal injury claim.
Consult a personal injury lawyer
An experienced personal injury lawyer will be able to help you evaluate the severity of your injuries, other factors to consider, and whether filing a personal injury claim is appropriate in your situation. Many personal injury lawyers offer a free consultation to help with this, during which you can ask them about their specific process and any fees you should be aware of.
Document everything about the medical care you receive, including known injuries, potential injuries, further tests needed, and how much it costs.
Gather evidence
Some pieces of evidence you should put together as part of your personal injury claim are:
- Medical records: Anything involving your injuries, diagnosis, or treatment. This could include written reports, pictures, advanced imaging like MRIs, and statements from your healthcare team about their opinion on your injuries.
- Expenses: If you have paid for anything for your injuries, such as medical bills, or had to miss days of work, this is important information for the value of your claim.
- Witness statements: If anyone witnessed the accident where you were injured, that information could support your claim by verifying your statements about the incident.
Once you’ve gathered your evidence and shared it with your lawyer, it’s time to officially file a claim.
Filing the claim
Depending on the type of accident, your first claim may be for an insurance company. For example, in auto accidents, sometimes car insurance will cover at least part of your medical expenses after a crash.
If an insurance claim has already gone through the process or doesn’t fit your injury, your lawyer can help you file a personal injury claim lawsuit.
Negotiation and litigation
Once your personal injury lawsuit has been filed, you may either negotiate a settlement or go to court. If you negotiate a settlement, you will usually receive a payment of some sort from the person you filed a lawsuit against or their insurance company. If a settlement isn’t reached, your case will go to trial.
Why Birmingham, MI residents might want to hire a local lawyer
By hiring a lawyer in Birmingham, MI for injuries in the area, you’ll benefit from the convenience of quick communication and relative ease when scheduling meetings. It also makes it easier to swing by the lawyer’s office to review and sign paperwork as needed during your case.
A local lawyer will also have a better understanding of local issues and how those play a role in your case. For example, if your claim is against a local business because of an injury on their premises, there may be factors about how that business operates in the local community that should be accounted for.
Hiring a personal injury lawyer near Birmingham, MI
If you’ve experienced a personal injury and want legal help, it’s worthwhile to research several personal injury lawyers near Birmingham to find the best fit for your situation. Factors to consider when choosing a personal injury lawyer include availability, cost, location, and reviews. If your personal injury lawyer has a good track record of reaching favorable settlements and judgements, then you can usually trust that your case is in good hands.
Contact us today
Our Birmingham, MI team of personal injury lawyers is ready and able to talk to you about your case. Get in touch with us to schedule an appointment with a lawyer so you can learn more about your rights and get information about your options for personal injury claims.