Speeding Accident Lawyer

Few people can claim they’ve never driven over the posted speed limit. Unfortunately, doing so creates hazardous conditions for other drivers and can have serious consequences. The danger increases on busy roads, interstates and highways where cars already drive at a high rate of speed, and when drivers are otherwise distracted.

If you’ve been in a car crash involving a speeding driver and sustained injuries, your accident could have long-term impacts on your health and well-being. You could be entitled to compensation for your injuries. A speeding accident lawyer with experience and an in-depth legal understanding can help you navigate the challenges of pursuing a just settlement.

When Should You Call a Speeding Accident Lawyer?

If you’re like many, you might be reluctant to contact an attorney after a collision. You may think the insurance companies will handle your claim fairly. After all, what good would insurance be? Michigan law requires drivers to carry coverage and insurance companies to pay valid claims. Other drivers and their insurers often deny fault. If you leave it to the insurance companies, chances are you won’t receive the compensation you deserve. You could be left paying for medical care and other costs associated with your accident out of your pocket.

Quick Settlement Offers

No matter how serious you think your injuries are, you should contact a speeding accident lawyer if the other driver was cited for speeding. Michigan is a no-fault car insurance state. With this coverage, you file a claim with your provider, regardless of who caused the accident.

No-fault coverage is supposed to cover reasonable medical expenses with no cap on coverage, a percentage of lost wages for up to three years and up to $20 per day for household help. However, the insurance company will likely attempt to offer a quick settlement, hoping you’ll want the cash.

At Mike Morse law firm, we understand the temptation, especially when you miss a substantial amount of work and the bills begin piling up. Once you agree to a settlement, you forfeit the right to pursue additional compensation, regardless of whether you continue to rack up medical bills. Our speeding accident lawyers know how insurance companies operate, and we know how to calculate a reasonable settlement based on your injuries and doctor’s prognosis.

You should speak to an experienced attorney before accepting a settlement from the insurance company. We can help you throughout every stage of the insurance claims process, supporting you, looking out for your best interests and protecting your rights.

Non-Economic Compensation

Even if your insurance company is willing to pay reasonable benefits, auto insurance only pays for economic damages. It won’t cover non-economic damages such as pain and suffering. The only way to obtain compensation for pain and suffering is to file a personal injury legal claim. A speeding accident lawyer from Mike Morse law firm can help you determine if your case qualifies for a lawsuit.

You can only file a lawsuit in this state if your injuries meet the state’s serious injury threshold. The legal criteria are injuries that lead to a serious impairment of bodily function or significant and permanent disfigurement, such as:

• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Compound fractures
• Loss of a limb
• Severe burns

These injuries are significant enough to impede your ability to resume the life you led before the crash, either temporarily or in the long term. If you sustained a severe injury in a speed-related accident, contact a speeding accident lawyer to find out your options for pursuing fair compensation.

It’s worth noting that not all injuries manifest immediately after an accident. Even if you believe your injuries are minor, having a doctor examine you is a good idea. A health practitioner knows and can test for the hidden signs of injuries you might be unaware of. Concussions and internal damage can take time, and if you don’t seek medical attention, you might be at risk of further injury.

Modified Comparative Fault

If you file a legal claim, one of the primary ways defense attorneys attempt to alleviate their client’s responsibility is to shift as much of the fault into your corner as possible. They do this to move the needle of responsible as close to or higher than 50% if they can. A speeding accident lawyer may reduce the potential for the other side to achieve its goal. Most states, including Michigan, follow a modified comparative fault rule.

Though the law stipulates that you can’t file a lawsuit unless you meet the serious injury criteria, modified comparative fault determines how much and whether you receive any compensation. Modified comparative fault laws allow plaintiffs to pursue damages using legal avenues, even if they are partially liable. However, you must prove that your liability is less than the state’s established threshold.

In Michigan, that threshold is 50%. You are not entitled to compensation if you were more than half responsible for the accident, whether the other person was speeding. If you prove that you are less than half at fault, you receive the awarded damages less than a percentage equal to your degree of liability. A speeding accident lawyer knows what evidence to gather to prove the other driver’s responsibility for your injuries. Even if you were partially at fault, contact Mike Morse Law Firm to discuss your case and find out what we can do for you.

Statute of Limitations

Injuries from a speed-related accident can take years to heal, and the insurance company can drag its feet, asking for endless documentation if you don’t accept a quick settlement offer. Time is of the essence in personal injury cases. If you wait too long, you won’t have the option to pursue a legal claim.

A statute of limitations is a legal deadline for taking action in court. States establish deadlines for criminal and civil suits, including personal injury claims. Michigan’s statute of limitations for filing a personal injury legal claim is three years from the accident. Contact a speeding accident lawyer as soon as possible to ensure you don’t lose your right to file. Once the deadline passes, you have no other legal recourse.

How Serious Are Speed-Related Accidents?

Driving too fast increases the likelihood of an accident, primarily because it reduces the driver’s ability to react to changing conditions on the road. Furthermore, other drivers may not realize how fast the speeding operator is driving, causing them to change lanes or turn when it is unsafe due to how fast the speeder is going.

In 2021, over 33 people per day were killed in an accident on U.S. roadways where speed was a factor. That year, 12,330 people died, 29% of all traffic fatalities. The number of fatalities in speed-related accidents increased yearly from 2019 to 2021. More deaths occurred in 2021 than in any year since 2007. If you lost a loved one in a traffic accident involving a speeding driver, Mike Morse Law Firm’s speeding accident lawyers could help you seek justice for your loved one.

Younger males are more likely to be involved in accidents that result when they drive too fast. At least 31% of males aged 15-24 in a car crash were going faster than the speed limit at the time of the accident, compared to 19% of females of the same age. Going too fast is often a factor when lousy weather causes poor visibility or road conditions.

Michigan Speed-Related Accident Statistics

The number of total traffic collisions rose by 15% between 2020 and 2021, increasing from 245,432 to 282,640, with total injuries increasing by 16% and fatalities by 4%. In 2021, speeding was a factor in 24,869 car crashes, with 148 occurring because the driver was going too slow rather than too fast. The number of people who died in speed-related accidents was 216, with all but one fatality occurring in accidents involving a driver going too fast.

What Can a Speeding Accident Lawyer Do for You?

Whether you are dealing with your insurance company or want to file a legal claim, an attorney with experience handling cases where speed was a factor can help you get through the process. The first thing a Mike Morse Law Firm attorney will do is assess your case. You deserve to know your rights and options before retaining a lawyer. If you opt to work with us after receiving a case review, we will:

• Gather evidence to support your claim
• Conduct interviews with witnesses
• Work with an accident reconstruction specialist when needed
• Obtain medical records and opinions from doctors
• Complete and file paperwork
• Communicate with the insurance company or defense lawyers and negotiate a settlement

If the insurance company or defense doesn’t agree to a fair settlement, our attorneys won’t hesitate to take them to court and represent you throughout the courtroom proceedings.

Our case review is free, and we won’t accept any payments in advance. We aim to ensure you have the support you need while you get your life back on track. We won’t get paid unless we win your case. Contact a Mike Morse Law Firm speeding accident lawyer today to learn more about what we can do for you.