Ann Arbor Car Accident Lawyer

Skilled Car Accident Lawyer in Ann Arbor, MI

Dangerous drivers who break basic safety rules endanger our communities. In fact, studies demonstrate that careless or reckless drivers who injure others often go on to have other wrecks, injuring more people. Whether from speeding, running red lights, texting or drunk driving, unsafe drivers are a threat to our community. If you have been in a car accident, you can seek help from an Ann Arbor car accident lawyer.

Motor vehicle accidents are a significant cause of death and injury throughout the United States. While some accidents occur due to vehicle defects, road hazards, and other variables, others are the direct result of driver negligence.

The law firm of Goethel Engelhardt, PLLC, represents people who have been injured in car accidents in Michigan by the negligence of other drivers. We strive to hold those bad drivers accountable for the personal and economic harm they have caused. Our personal injury attorneys in Ann Arbor also help clients recover compensation under their own auto insurance when those other parties do not have adequate insurance or assets.

Serious injury accidents demand serious representation. Our Ann Arbor car accident attorneys will skillfully and aggressively protect your rights. Call 734-545-8421 for a free consultation.

40+ Years Of Experience With Auto Accidents in Ann Arbor, MI

We have handled all types of motor vehicle accidents, from intersection crashes and rear-end collisions to accidents involving trucks. We conduct a thorough investigation into the negligence that caused the accident, including illegal and grossly negligent behaviors such as texting while driving or driving while intoxicated.

Our firm has obtained good recoveries for the most serious car accident injuries, such as brain injury, spinal cord injury, and fatal accidents. We regularly represent the most vulnerable victims, such as pedestrians, bike riders, children and passengers.

Why Choose Us?

Our team has the experience you need. When you work with us, you can feel confident in the following:

• A proven track record: We have been successfully helping injured Michiganders for 40+ years, and we will not stop doing so. Our reputation as Ann Arbor’s premier personal injury firm has been built one successful outcome at a time, and we would be honored to help you next.
• Strategic solutions: Successful personal injury litigation requires smart and responsive strategies, not a cookie-cutter approach to the law. We understand the challenges our injured clients face every day, and we know that every case deserves not only empathy but ample attention and unique, custom-crafted legal solutions to match.
• Accessible, powerful legal help: We take the stress out of choosing the perfect Ann Arbor car accident injury lawyer with our contingency fee payment structure. That means no up-front payments and no legal fees unless we win.

How Do Motor Vehicle Accidents Happen?

Many car accidents are the direct result of driver negligence. While your auto insurance policy will likely come into play after a car accident in Michigan, it is possible to have grounds for further legal action if another driver directly caused your accident. Some of the common causes of motor vehicle accidents in Michigan that lead to civil claims include:

• Distracted driving. Throughout the United States, distracted driving is the most commonly reported cause of all motor vehicle accidents. Even a few seconds of inattention can potentially cause a devastating crash.
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Speeding. Exceeding posted speed limits is incredibly dangerous.
• Moving violations include illegal turns and lane changes, running red lights and stop signs, or performing illegal U-turns.
• Mechanical failures. The internal mechanics of a vehicle can malfunction and cause an accident. In this situation, the victim could file an auto insurance claim for compensation shortly after the accident, but the manufacturer responsible for the defective part may also be liable for the victim’s remaining damages.

This is not an exhaustive list of all the ways a motor vehicle accident might happen in Ann Arbor. However, if you believe another driver is responsible for your accident, it is crucial to start working on your claim as soon as possible. The first steps you take immediately following a motor vehicle accident can have a tremendous impact on your recovery.

What to Do After a Vehicle Accident in Ann Arbor

Any motor vehicle accident can be a traumatic experience, and the victim may not know the best first steps to take. Your health and safety should be your first priority, and after you receive medical treatment for your injuries, you should speak with an experienced Ann Arbor motor vehicle accident attorney. Your legal team will help you determine the best available options for legal recourse that can help you recover your losses.

Depending on the nature of your accident and how it occurred, you could have several legal options available. An insurance claim may be the best first step to take toward recovery, but even a successful insurance claim may not yield full compensation for your claimable damages. An attorney can help you determine the best steps to take to maximize your recovery, which may entail a civil claim against the driver who caused your accident.

Representing Motor Vehicle Accident Victims in Ann Arbor, MI

Michigan enforces a “no-fault” system when it comes to car accidents. Michigan’s no-fault system poses specific requirements on all drivers. If you are injured and need help navigating this system, you may need a lawyer to help you obtain the benefits to which you are entitled. You may also be able to file a lawsuit against the driver who caused your accident under certain conditions.

Fighting on Your Behalf

In Michigan, those injured in car accidents have the right to no-fault insurance benefits to pay for their medical expenses, rehabilitation services, some of their wage loss and other benefits. Oftentimes, insurance companies wrongfully deny these benefits, knowing that many people will not pursue legal claims. The insurance company reaps the profits from this shameful practice. Our Michigan car accident attorneys fight the insurance companies to get people the benefits they deserve.

There are a variety of different types of damages an injured person might be eligible to pursue in the aftermath of a serious car accident, depending on the specific circumstances involved. Some of the key types of damages for which a car accident injury victim could receive damages include:

• Medical expenses: The victims of car accidents in Ann Arbor can seek financial coverage for all medical bills directly related to their compensable injury, including initial emergency medical assistance, rehabilitative treatments, medications, assistive devices, and any necessary surgeries. This also includes ongoing and future expenses, such as long-term physical therapy to regain the use of severely injured body parts.
• Lost income: If your car accident injuries prevent you from working or reduce your ability to keep up with business, you can seek damages for lost wages and diminished earning capacity.
• Pain and suffering: Car accidents can be incredibly traumatic, life-altering experiences, and the pain and suffering associated with these events are just as serious as that would suggest, on an emotional level as well as a physical one. Appropriately calculated settlements will include damages for the victim’s physical pain, anxiety, mental health struggles, and overall diminished quality of life caused by the accident.
• Property damage: In addition to being appropriately paid for the injuries you have suffered, you could also be reimbursed for the destruction of your automobile and other property pursuant to the injurious accident. These damages should be commensurate with the actual cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle or other personal property.
• Wrongful death: Sadly, some percentage of car crashes in Michigan each year result in not only injuries but fatalities. When someone’s life is taken in a car accident caused by another person’s negligent or reckless driving, their surviving family members can pursue substantial damages through a wrongful death claim.
• Loss of consortium: In certain cases where a married person suffers an injury that results in severe bodily impairment, their spouse may be eligible to file a claim for loss of consortium damages. This essentially refers to a loss of spousal companionship that tragically occurs in the wake of certain severe injuries that permanently impact a spouse’s bodily function or mental capacity.

Being Proactive After an Ann Arbor Car Accident

If you have been in a car accident in Ann Arbor or the surrounding area, there are several steps you can take to help your claim. Always alert emergency services and see to your immediate medical care first, but if you can do so, gathering preliminary evidence can be a crucial step.

You can help your case by being proactive about gathering evidence at the crash scene. Try to get:

• Crash site photographs: Take lots of pictures from multiple angles. Include all involved vehicles, any nearby signs, all debris, road markings, and close shots of all vehicle and property damage.
• Injury photographs: When taking photos of the crash scene, don’t forget to get some detailed photos of your own injuries as well. You’ll want to get photos of all injuries and suspected injuries immediately after the crash, in addition to taking more photos throughout the process of treating and healing your injuries.
• License and insurance information: If it is physically and mentally possible for all involved parties to do so, they should be freely exchanging identification and insurance information with one another. Be courteous and empathetic with others involved in the accident, as it is a scary experience for everyone, but also be sure to avoid discussing who was at fault for the accident. Your lawyer and the ensuing personal injury claims process will handle that.

It’s important to act quickly when gathering and handling evidence, and it’s also important to contact a trusted attorney as soon as possible. These two concepts go hand in hand because the highly adept car accident injury team at Goethel Engelhardt, PLLC, ensures that your evidence is collected, analyzed, and contextualized in the most effective way possible for proving damages and maximizing your personal injury settlement.

Pursuing Justice

It is the civil justice jury system that serves as the real enforcer of these safety rules. When juries hold unsafe drivers accountable, they ensure the safety of our community. Yet, giant insurance companies with their army of defense attorneys and hired gun experts try to distort our legal system. They try to get unsafe drivers a free pass. To increase their profits, insurance companies deny benefits and work to help wrongdoers avoid being held responsible for their misconduct.

Our Michigan car and truck accident lawyers fight for community safety and use the civil justice system for its proper purpose. We ensure that good and honorable people who were injured through no fault of their own are compensated, and unsafe drivers are held accountable.

Maximizing Compensation For Serious Injuries And Losses

Your potential damages depend on many factors such as the extent of injury, the impact on your life, who is legally liable and what insurance policies may apply. Our attorneys excel at leveraging these factors to get the most favorable recovery. In 40 years of representing injured clients across Michigan, we have secured verdicts and settlements in all types of motor vehicle accidents:

• Auto collisions — From intersection crashes to highway accidents
• Commercial vehicles — Holding truck drivers and their employers accountable
• Motorcycles — Addressing severe injuries to riders and passengers
• Pedestrians and bicyclists — Focusing on negligence of the careless motorist
• Distracted drivers — Texting while driving or otherwise preoccupied
• Drunk drivers — Claims against the intoxicated person and possibly other parties
• Fatal accidents — Wrongful death lawsuits for preventable loss of life

We frequently represent college students injured in accidents in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, and out-of-state drivers injured while traveling through Michigan. We protect your rights while you are back home recovering.

Goethel Engelhardt, PLLC, excels in cases involving serious and catastrophic injuries such as brain or spine trauma, or severe burns or scarring. Our firm hires accident reconstructionists and other experts to help prove fault, and works with physicians and other professionals to calculate appropriate damages.

Our knowledge from hundreds of car accident cases enables us to gauge the value of your claims and anticipate the barriers to compensation. We have litigated third-party liability (the other driver) as well as first-party claims (your own insurance policy) for no-fault benefits and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

How an Ann Arbor Motor Vehicle Accident Attorney Can Help

An experienced Ann Arbor motor vehicle accident lawyer is an essential resource after a damaging accident. You can rely on your attorney to help you establish liability for the accident, and they can also assist you in drafting your claim for insurance coverage. If insurance is not enough to cover your losses, your legal team can assist you in constructing a personal injury claim against the driver who caused the accident.

Liability for an accident isn’t always immediately clear. You may not know how to prove how the accident occurred or what type of evidence you will need to substantiate an insurance claim or personal injury claim. An Ann Arbor motor vehicle accident attorney can help their client gather the evidence they require to hold an at-fault driver accountable for the victim’s losses. Additionally, dealing with insurance companies is rarely easy. Having an experienced attorney on your side will increase the chances of the insurance company issuing compensation for your claim in a timely manner. Ultimately, there are many advantages to hiring an experienced legal team to represent you after any motor vehicle accident.

Find Legal Counsel

It is easy to feel anxious and uncertain in the aftermath of a vehicle accident, especially where you have suffered catastrophic physical injuries and significant economic losses. However, one of the most critical steps to take after a motor vehicle accident is to contact an experienced Ann Arbor motor vehicle accident attorney as soon as possible. Connecting with reliable legal counsel as soon as possible significantly increases your likelihood of securing reasonable compensation for your damages through an insurance claim, a personal injury claim against the other driver, or both.

The team at Goethel Engelhardt, PLLC, has the experience and legal resources you will need to ensure the fullest recovery possible from your motor vehicle accident. We will carefully review the details of your accident, help you compile the materials you will need for your insurance claim, and assist you in determining what further legal action you could take against the at-fault driver. If you are ready to discuss your legal options with an experienced Ann Arbor motor vehicle accident attorney, contact Goethel Engelhardt, PLLC, today and schedule your consultation with us.

FAQs About Ann Arbor, MI Car Accident Law

Why Should I Hire an Ann Arbor Motor Vehicle Accidents Attorney?

It is natural to feel uncertain and frustrated about your situation if you or a loved one was recently injured in an auto accident. An experienced Ann Arbor motor vehicle accident lawyer can be a great resource to determine the scope of your legal options after an accident. Goethel Engelhardt, PLLC, has experience representing Ann Arbor clients in motor vehicle accident cases. We can apply our experience to your case.

Your attorney can assist you with the insurance claim process and help you determine whether your case qualifies for further legal action against a negligent driver. Any motor vehicle accident is likely to generate complicated legal questions, and it is best to consult an experienced Ann Arbor motor vehicle accident lawyer as soon as possible to better understand your legal options.

How Many Car Accidents Happen Each Year in Michigan?

In Michigan, roughly 300,000 traffic accidents happen each year. However, the exact figure can vary significantly. While 314,377 crashes were reported in 2019, there were only 287,953 in 2023. The number of total fatalities each year hovers around 1,000. In 2023, 1,095 fatalities and 71,085 injuries were reported.

Is It Worth it to Hire a Car Accident Attorney?

It is worth it to hire an accident attorney if you want to give yourself the opportunity to get the help you deserve for injuries you’ve suffered in an accident. Working with the highly qualified attorneys at Goethel Engelhardt, PLLC ensures that no money will be left on the table and that insurance companies won’t be able to pressure and manipulate you in negotiations.

How Does a Car Accident Lawsuit Work in Michigan?

In Michigan, filing a car accident lawsuit should begin by speaking with an attorney. Your attorney will then work on your behalf to file a claim against the insurance company of the at-fault driver. In addition to this filing, your attorney may also file a claim against the at-fault driver directly. The guidance you receive from your attorney will keep your claim on track.

How Should I Choose a Car Accident Lawyer?

To choose a car accident lawyer, you should schedule a consultation with an attorney. During this initial meeting, you can discuss the details of your case with a lawyer. They can explain your next options, make sure you know what to expect, and discuss their fee structure to ensure you’re informed.

Contact Our Ann Arbor Car Accident Lawyers Today

If you or a loved one suffered from an auto accident injury due to the negligence of another driver, do not hesitate to schedule a free consultation with our Ann Arbor car accident attorneys. We offer a free case review and a no-pressure consultation process, so there’s no reason to delay another day when it comes to getting the help you need. Our Michigan car accident lawyers have more than 30 years of experience handling complex injury cases. Contact us at 734-545-8421 or through our convenient online contact form.

Serving Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County, Michigan

A serious accident can leave an injured person facing hospitalization, rehabilitation, lost income, property damage, and uncertainty about the future. When another driver, business, or individual causes preventable harm, obtaining fair compensation may require more than filing an insurance claim. Goethel Engelhardt, PLLC represents injured people and grieving families throughout Ann Arbor, applying decades of experience in serious personal injury and wrongful death litigation.

The firm handles claims arising from car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, distracted-driving, and drunk-driving accidents, as well as cases involving brain injuries, spinal injuries, burns, broken bones, and other catastrophic harm. Civil injury lawsuits arising in Washtenaw County may be handled through the Washtenaw County Trial Court in downtown Ann Arbor, while other accident-related matters may involve the appropriate district court or local agencies. The firm investigates how an accident occurred, gathers medical and financial evidence, and addresses insurance-company efforts to dispute responsibility or minimize the value of a claim.

Goethel Engelhardt, PLLC serves residents throughout Downtown Ann Arbor, Kerrytown, Burns Park, Water Hill, the Old West Side, Arbor Hills, and nearby communities including Ypsilanti, Saline, Dexter, Chelsea, and Pittsfield Township. Accidents may occur along Interstate 94, U.S. Route 23, M-14, Washtenaw Avenue, Plymouth Road, or heavily traveled streets near the University of Michigan. Whether a client has suffered a disabling injury or lost a family member, experienced legal representation can make the difference between accepting an inadequate insurance outcome and pursuing compensation that reflects the full consequences of the accident.

Helping Injury Victims Throughout Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor combines busy interstate corridors, university traffic, pedestrian and bicycle activity, residential neighborhoods, and growing commercial districts. From the University of Michigan campus and downtown streets to areas surrounding Briarwood Mall and the Washtenaw Avenue corridor, serious crashes can occur in many settings. Goethel Engelhardt, PLLC helps injured residents and families pursue accountability while addressing the medical, financial, and personal effects of an accident.

Ann Arbor, MI Car Accident Law Additional Resources:

• Michigan Car Accident Statistics
• Most Dangerous Roadways in Michigan
• What Should I Do After a Car Accident?
• Dealing With Insurers After a Car Accident
• Calculating Lost Wages in a Car Accident Claim