Personal Injury

Frequently Asked Questions for Personal Injury

If I am injured in an accident, why should I need to hire a personal injury attorney?

Because insurance companies are in the business of not paying your claims AND these insurance companies have hired large law firms to defend them. The attorneys at Redmond, Redmond & Yokom are knowledgeable and understand the personal injury laws and we have been assisting the seriously injured since 1961.

If I was injured as the passenger in someone else's car, can I recover money for my injuries?

Yes, according to Michigan's No Fault law anybody who is injured as a passenger in and automobile may be eligible to recover money damages for their injuries. Additionally they may be entitled to lost wages and reimbursement for their medical bills.

What if I get sued because I caused an automobile accident?

Contact your insurance agent right away. Generally, your insurance company will assign a lawyer to handle your case. But, if you are sued for more money than your policy covers, you may need your own attorney. Keep in mind that the insurance company lawyers do not handle traffic citations or criminal cases, such as hit and run charges or drunk driving charges. You will need to hire your own attorney to handle these charges.

What should I do if the other driver does not have insurance?

First check your own insurance policy and see if you have "uninsured motorist" coverage. If you have this coverage you may be able to recover money for your injuries even if the other driver was uninsured. If you do not have uninsured motorist coverage, you can hire an attorney to sue the other driver.

How does Michigan's "No Fault" law work?

Michigan's "No Fault" statute was designed to limit litigation, by shifting the risk of certain losses from automobile accidents to the owner of the vehicle. For example, you are responsible to insure your own vehicle and its contents against damage in an accident. Similarly, the cost of your medical care, lost wages and rehabilitation will ordinarily be paid by your own no fault policy, or that of the owner of the car in which you were riding. In short, most of your economic losses (out-of-pocket expenses) will be paid by your own insurance company. However, you can file a lawsuit against the driver(s) who caused the accident for non-economic losses such as pain and suffering and for excess economic loss.

What does it mean to have "Serious Impairment of a Body Function"?

As part of its effort to limit lawsuits over injuries caused in automobile accidents, recovery for "pain and suffering" (non-economic damages) for accident-related injuries is limited to cases where the person making the claim suffered death, serious impairment of an important body function, or permanent serious disfigurement. A "serious impairment of body function" is an injury that affects your ability to live a normal life. This can include an impairment of your ability to walk, or to engage in more basic functions such as breathing. You need to consult an attorney to make sure you are protected and that you recover every benefit available.

If you have additional questions regarding Personal Injury, please contact our office.