AQ's about Auto Accident Law and Answers from Michigan Auto Accident Lawyers
Question: After I was injured in a Michigan car accident, my own auto insurance company provided me with wage loss benefits. Is there a limit to how much they will pay me per month?
Answer: Yes. Michigan law places a cap on the maximum monthly payout of auto no-fault wage loss benefits. This maximum amount is adjusted for inflation ever year.
Question: Are my wage loss benefits taxable?
Answer: If a motor vehicle insurance company is paying you wage loss benefits because you were injured in a Michigan car accident, those benefits currently are not taxable under Michigan or Federal law.
Question: What if I was driving a motor vehicle that was uninsured at the time of a Michigan car accident?
Answer: If the car you were driving was uninsured and you were the registered owner of the vehicle, then you are legally barred from bringing a lawsuit against an at-fault driver or claiming First-Party benefits.
Question: What if the police said that I was at fault in a Michigan car accident?
Answer: If you are determined to have been more than 50% at fault, then you do not have a claim against the other parties involved in the Michigan car accident. However, it is strongly recommended that you check with our law firm about the percentage of fault for the car accident which is likely to be attributed to you.
Question: What is uninsured motorist coverage?
Answer: Uninsured motorist coverage is an insurance coverage option that allows you to recover from your own auto insurance policy, if the at-fault driver did not have insurance coverage or could not be identified, i.e. a hit-and-run driver. It is recommended that all drivers carry uninsured coverage.
Question: Is there a difference between uninsured motorist coverage and underinsured motorist coverage?
Answer: Yes. Underinsured coverage provides an additional source of collecting for serious injuries caused by a car accident. It is different from uninsured coverage, which is available when the at-fault vehicle had no identifiable insurance.
For example, if you carried a policy of $100,000 underinsured coverage and the at-fault driver only had a $20,000 insurance policy, it would be possible to seek up to $80,000 in additional compensation from your own auto insurance company. This is possible, if your attorney has secured a tender offer for the full amount of the underlying insurance policy.
Claims for uninsured or underinsured coverage can be complicated and must be handled very carefully. An uninsured endorsement on a policy does not necessarily include an underinsured endorsement. Your premature acceptance of an underlying policy in full settlement of a claim could forfeit your right to additional coverage.
If you or a loved one was injured in a Michigan car accident, talk with an experienced Michigan car accident lawyer. Please submit a simple, free and confidential legal consultation form about your car accident claim now.
Protect your rights. Get the Bernstein Advantage today.
Question: What if the driver who hit me had been drinking?
Answer: This may entitle you to a Dramshop Claim. This is the legal term for a lawsuit against a liquor store, bar, or other business, which illegally sold alcohol to the person whose negligence caused a Michigan car accident. A Dramshop Claim may be based on the sale of alcohol to either a minor (under age 21) or to a visibly intoxicated adult.
Michigan laws governing a Dramshop Claim are complex. Among other things, the law requires the injury victim to assert the claim against the seller of the liquor within 120 days after he or she retains an attorney. If alcohol was involved in your accident, you need legal assistance.
If you or a loved one was seriously injured in a Michigan car accident, contact an experienced car accident lawyer immediately. Please submit a simple, free and confidential legal consultation form about your car accident claim now.
Protect your rights. Get the Bernstein Advantage today.
