Car Accident Lawyers in Northern Michigan

Helping You Heal

Car accidents are one of the leading causes of personal injuries in the United States, as 6 million car accidents occur every year, injuring more than 3 million. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 2 million drivers in car accidents experience permanent injuries each year. The more serious the injuries, the more it can cost to treat them, and the more income you lose by missing work.

If your injuries were caused by another driver’s negligence, you shouldn’t have to pay more than you already have for your pain and suffering – at Miller Embury PLLC, our Northern Michigan car accident attorneys are committed to helping our clients heal by recovering damages. With more than 45 years of legal experience and millions recovered, our team can be trusted to help you file your personal injury claim.

Call us today to reach our responsive team at (888) 224-1239, or contact us online.

Common Types of Car Accidents

Many types of car accidents can occur based on the type of vehicle being driven, geographic location, time of day, and more, and they all can cause injuries ranging from minor, including cuts and abrasions, sprains and fractures, and whiplash, to more serious, such as broken bones, burns, spinal cord and neck injuries, brain and head trauma, and death.

Common types of car accidents include:

• Rear-end collisions: This accident occurs when a vehicle crashes into the vehicle in front of it, and can happen typically due to distracted driving, as the driver may have reacted slowly and braked too late.
• Side-impact collisions: Also known as T-bone collisions, these accidents commonly occur at intersections and in parking lots, and happen when the side of a vehicle is hit.
• Vehicle rollovers: These accidents occur when a vehicle rolls over onto its side or roof, and can cause catastrophic injuries. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 85% of all rollover-related fatalities are the result of single-vehicle crashes.
• Head-on collisions: These crashes occur when vehicles heading in opposite directions collide with one another in the front, often producing fatalities.
• Single car accidents: These accidents involve only one vehicle, and can happen after colliding with animals or other obstacles.

Causes of Car Accidents

The majority of car accidents are caused by human error, and just because you drive carefully doesn’t mean that other drivers on the road are following suit.

Common causes include:

• Speeding: Many individuals are anxious to make it to work or meetings on time, or simply want to reduce time spent driving. However, speeding is the second most common cause of accidents, as driving over the speed limit can make it challenging to stop for slowed cars. Speeding in adverse weather conditions like rain, for example, can lead to hydroplaning, forcing drivers to lose control of their vehicles.
• Alcohol: Drunk driving is one of the most dangerous causes of accident fatalities in the U.S., as impaired drivers can take longer to react to road conditions, drift over into other lanes, and ignore important traffic signs.
• Reckless driving: Reckless behavior includes speeding over the limit, changing lanes too quickly and/or without signaling, tailgating other vehicles, and exiting off freeways at the last moment. Many accidents can be avoided simply by taking the time to remain calm before acting suddenly.
• Distracted driving: With improvements in technology, distracted driving becomes more of a risk as drivers make calls or text on their phones while driving.

Car Accident FAQs

How Long Does a Claim/Settlement Take?

Depending on your unique situation, a car accident claim can take anywhere from a few months to a few years.

The length of your case may vary based on factors including:

• When you file a claim: Michigan has a three-year statute of limitation for most personal injury cases, which means you have three years to file a claim from the date of the accident.
• The injuries involved: Some health care providers may not initially know the extent of a victim’s injuries or how much treatment is needed to help them recover, and personal injury attorneys need this information to provide an estimate of damages needed to recover.
• Legal proceedings: If an insurance company doesn’t offer a fair settlement for your accident, your attorney may help you initiate the civil claims process, and if an agreement still isn’t reached, the case may have to go to trial, taking additional time.

Don’t wait to get started on your case. Call Northern Michigan car accident lawyers now at (888) 224-1239 for your free consultation. We can help you recover damages including medical bills, lost wages, and property damage by holding negligent drivers responsible for their actions.