Over decades in practice as auto accident attorneys, the team of Miller & Tischler, P.C. has had the heart-wrenching experience of dealing with many cases involving catastrophic injury. If you are located in Michigan and you or a member of your family has suffered a catastrophic injury as the result of another party’s negligence or recklessness, our capable, compassionate lawyers are here to protect your rights.
We have a strong reputation for aggressive litigation backed up by a history of successful outcomes. Having won millions of dollars for our clients over the years, we want nothing more than the satisfaction of bringing you and your family the resources you need to secure a comfortable future.
What Our Catastrophic Injury Attorneys Will Do for You
As soon as you contact us, we will meet with you to assess your case, making sure that we can establish a viable claim for damages. Once you become our client, we will dedicate ourselves to leaving no stone unturned as we strategize how best to serve your interests. Among the services we provide are:
- Investigating the accident site
- Examining police reports
- Obtaining and reviewing all pertinent medical data
- Handling all communications with opposing attorneys, insurance adjusters
- Investigating the defendant’s record for evidence of prior misconduct
- Interviewing witnesses
- Consulting with medical or other experts whose testimony may be beneficial
Above all, we will treat you as you deserve to be treated — with concern, honesty, personal attention, and respect. Because we understand how overwhelming your situation is — physically, emotionally, and financially — we will charge you no attorneys’ fees until we win you just compensation.
Examples of Catastrophic Injuries
The following injuries are considered catastrophic in a court of law:
- Traumatic orthopedic injuries (such as loss of limbs)
- Spinal cord injuries that cause paralysis or paraplegia
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) with cognitive, psychiatric, or neurological impairment
- Severe damage to, or loss of, organs
There are a great number of ways in which a body can be catastrophically injured. With this in mind, our knowledgeable attorneys will make certain your severe injury is categorized properly so we can fight to win maximum damages.
How Miller & Tischler Will Help You Navigate Michigan State Laws
There are several things you should know about catastrophic injury claims in Michigan. First of all, Michigan is a no-fault state. This generally means that you are entitled to personal injury protection insurance regardless of who was at fault for the accident. No-Fault PIP benefits will provide coverage for medical expenses, personal attendant care, lost income, household replacement services, and (in cases of wrongful death) a limited amount of survivor benefits. Those with unlimited, lifetime no-fault PIP coverage may also be eligible for other benefits, such as long-term rehabilitation, custodial care, barrier free home accommodations, and even alteration/modification to vans.
There are drawbacks to PIP reimbursement, however. Recent changes in the no-fault law may cost you when it comes to making a claim. That’s because the new law allows people to purchase less than unlimited, lifetime benefit coverage or even opt out of PIP coverage altogether (where there is qualified health coverage). Therefore, if you are catastrophically injured and have chosen a lower level of PIP coverage, it’s likely that not even a fraction of your care needs will be met.
If you have a catastrophic injury, there is a good chance that you will be able to bring an automobile negligence lawsuit for noneconomic damages (i.e., pain and suffering damages). To recover pain and suffering damages, it will have to be shown that your injuries meet a certain threshold. Under the law, there are three thresholds: death, serious impairment of body function, and permanent serious disfigurement. Most cases are brought under the serious impairment of body function threshold. This involves focusing on functional impairments resulting from your injuries and how your ability to lead your normal life has been affected. This will require a comparison of your pre- and post-accident life.
If you have suffered the anguish of losing a loved one to catastrophic injury, we will sue the defendant for wrongful death and do everything in our power to get you compensation for final medical costs, funeral costs, and loss of financial and emotional support.
Contact Miller & Tischler for Help When You Need It Most
If you’ve been catastrophically injured in an accident, circumstances don’t get much more dire than what you are experiencing now. Still, there is much that can be done to ease your path going forward. In the end, you can trust our catastrophic injury attorneys to coordinate all the moving parts of your case to your benefit. When you don’t know where to turn, turn to our team of competent, caring attorneys. We won’t let you down. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.