If you’ve been injured in an accident in Grand Rapids or the surrounding area, you may be wondering whether you should file a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible person, company or government agency. AÂ Grand Rapids personal injury attorney can review your case and help determine whether you have a valid claim. Under Michigan personal injury laws, you may be entitled to compensation if:
- The party responsible (known as the defendant) for your accident owed you a duty of care, or had a legal responsibility to try to avoid injuring you
- The defendant acted in a negligent, reckless or intentional manner and you were hurt as a result
- You had financial expenses related to your accident and injuries
Types of Michigan Personal Injury Cases
Personal injury law covers many types of accidents and injuries. These include car, truck and motorcycle accidents; injuries caused by defective or dangerous products (known as product liability); medical malpractice, including birth injuries; nursing home abuse and neglect; construction accidents and other types of work accidents; slip and fall accidents (known as premises liability); and dog and other animal bites.
Deadline to File a Michigan Personal Injury Lawsuit
Every state has a time limit — known as the statute of limitations — in which you can file a lawsuit. For Michigan personal injury claims, you typically have three years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit.
If the defendant is a state government agency, the deadlines are shorter. For accidents involving defective highways or public buildings, your Michigan personal injury lawyer must file a formal claim with the government agency within 120 days; claims for all other types accidents involving state government agencies must be filed within six months of the date of your injury. If you’re unable to reach a settlement agreement with the government agency, you must file your lawsuit within two years of the date of your accident.
Because it can take a lot of time to research, prepare and file a personal injury lawsuit, you should hire a Grand Rapids personal injury attorney as soon as possible after your accident.
Michigan’s Modified Comparative Fault Law
Under Michigan law, the amount of compensation you receive from a personal injury lawsuit can be reduced or even eliminated if you share some of the blame for your accident. If the court finds that you bear at least 50 percent of the blame for your injuries, then you’ll be unable to recover any compensation. If you bear some responsibility for your accident, but less then 50 percent, then your compensation will be reduced in direct proportion to your share of the blame.
