The expenses following an accident can be excessive and difficult to handle. Personal injury costs can affect you both financially and emotionally. There are several personal injury expenses and costs that can be covered in a personal injury lawsuit, including:

• Lost wages from missing work
• Diminished ability to earn a living
• Medical and rehabilitation expenses
• Disability costs
• Pain and suffering
• Funeral and other related expenses if a death occurred
• Loss of consortium

There are several other types of costs and expenses that can be compensated for if you have suffered a personal injury. There are three main types of money damages available in a personal injury claim: economic damages, non-economic damages, and punitive damages. Economic damages are direct costs and expenses that can be easily calculated such as medical expenses. Noneconomic damages are indirect costs and expenses that are harder to calculate such as pain and suffering. In certain cases, punitive damages are awarded. Punitive damages are extra damages that are ordered by a court, in addition to a plaintiff’s expenses and additional suffering. Punitive damages are ordered to punish outrageous conduct or behavior by the person responsible for the accident. It is not uncommon for a punitive damage award to be significantly higher than the economic and non-economic damages awarded.

If you have been involved in a car accident, then you are bound by Michigan’s no-fault laws. In Michigan, it is against the law to drive without no-fault insurance. It is actually a criminal offense to do so. Under no-fault, if a car accident occurs, then you simply make your claim to your insurance company so you can be paid by them. It is uncommon to file a lawsuit against the other driver in Michigan unless a criminal act took place, or your policy limits are not enough to cover your injuries. No-fault policies also cover all family members that live in the same household. No-fault laws can be tricky but can be easily explained to you by an experienced personal injury attorney. 

It is not required that you have an attorney help you with your personal injury claim, but it can be very helpful. Insurance companies have teams of attorneys and claims adjusters that are there to make sure that insurance companies pay out as little as possible in claims to help their bottom lines. These attorneys and adjusters will use your inexperience against you, which can result in lower compensation or denied claims. Having an experienced attorney on your side can help prevent this from happening. An experienced attorney can also help you put a monetary value on your case so you know what you can possibly receive. If you miss costs or expenses, don’t expect the other side to help you get more money. Finally, if you make a claim with an attorney, then insurance companies will also realize that you are positioned to file a personal injury lawsuit and go to trial if necessary, to get the money that you deserve. If you have legal questions, then call us at Zeineh Law today so we can help!