Premier Michigan Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer

In the event that your loved one has lost their life by means of a drunk-driving accident in Michigan, you may be entitled to make a claim for specific “survivors’ loss benefits” from your no-fault insurance carrier. Speak with a Michigan Drunk Driving accident lawyer at our firm to get the help you deserve. Typically including spouses and children, entitlements to collect such benefits (provided that you are a legal dependent of the deceased) attempt to compensate for your loss. Such Benefits may include:

1. Certain benefits and/or replacement service values,
2. After-tax income values that of which would have been provided to you, and
3. Expenses for funeral and burials services

Special Time Considerations for Drunk Driving Accidents in Michigan

Important time restrictions, the “one-year notice” & “one-year back” rules must be noted in regard to collecting no-fault benefits. The “one-year notice” requires reports by the injured individual of all known injuries within one year of the accident provided to his/her no-fault carrier insurer. Furthermore, the “one-year back” holds that an injured individual may only recover benefits, such as PIP and unpaid medical expenses, that of which were incurred within the year immediately preceding the filing of the lawsuit.

Individuals who have been injured in an automobile accident are encouraged to contact a Michigan Drunk Driving Accident lawyer immediately to ensure that you receive all entitled full slate of PIP benefits.

Lawsuits in Michigan against the Drunk Driver

In the case that you or a loved one has been injured by the negligence and impairment of a drunk driver, individuals may have the ability to make a claim against the driver to compensate for the pain and suffering as a result by your injuries. A Michigan Drunk Driving Accident lawyer at our firm can help you or a loved one that was involved in a drunk driving accident in Michigan. There tort claims are only available to the innocent party involved in an accident – unlike PIP benefit claims. Benefits – additional to the no-fault PIP that clients may be entitled to, may be collected directly from the drunk driver, or the insurer of the at-fault intoxicated driver.

Despite Michigan being a no-fault insurance state, the term “no-fault” is rather deceptive. Michigan’s no-fault laws and regulations provide you with specific insurance benefits – regardless of who is at fault in a motor vehicle accident. Though these benefits do not prevent individuals from bringing negligence claims up in order to recover non-economic damages (more commonly referred to as “pain and suffering” damages), as well as claims for “excess economic loss” damage that of which includes missed work-time compensation extending beyond the three-year window of collectable loss wages within the PIP benefits provision. An Elia & Ponto Michigan Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer can help you file a Michigan car accident lawsuit.

In order to recover noneconomic damages from an at-fault driver, a negligence claim must be brought against the said driver and his/her insurer. Additionally, proof that the driver who caused your injuries was negligent must also be provided.

An overview below provides a piece of basic information regarding requirements for establishing a tort claim against an intoxicated driver.

Establishing the Drunk Drivers Negligence in Michigan

Several typed of evidence may be used to prove an intoxicated driver’s negligence in driving accidents. These may include:

1. A personal testimony that provide personal recollection of the events in order to establish facts – in form of disposition,
2. Police reports and/or video footage establishing the blood alcohol content of the driver as well as facts of the accident;
3. The testimony from witnesses who were present at the scene of the accident;
4. The receipts or testimony from bartenders/restaurant staff that are able to substantially establish the amount of alcohol consumed by the Defendant;
5. A licensed medical doctors’ testimony that of which establish the nature and extent of your injuries.

The Threshold Injury Requirement for Drunk Driving Accidents in Michigan

Though proving negligence alone is not substantial enough, it is still nonetheless an essentially critical. Not ever injury is considered compensable under Michigan’s no-fault laws. However, you must show that your accident-caused injuries amounted to a “threshold jury” in addition to establishing that the injuries were result of the at-fault driver’s negligence.

A threshold jury, under Michigan no-fault laws, is met if the injured individual suffers; “serious impairment of a body function”, “permanent serious disfigurement”, or death. Defined types of injuries that of meet this standard threshold are commonly the subject of reinterpretation by Michigan courts. It is notable that “excess economic loss” damages are not subjected to threshold injury requirements. Drunk-driving victims are strongly encouraged to discuss the matter with an attorney.

Wrongful Death Actions in A Fatal Drunk Driving Accident

The thought of not being able to bring your loved one that has passed due to a fatal drunk-driving accident is heart aching – but a wrongful death lawsuit can aid in assuring that your family does not further suffer for the loss of the loved one’s income and/or ability to provide care and services. To avoid costs that may potentially bury the family of the loved into unexpected debts, additional compensation for funeral and burial expenses may be available. The hardships of losing a loved one is enough and should not be faced alone.