After a serious crash, you may be dealing with medical treatment, time away from work, vehicle damage, and an insurance process that is difficult to navigate. At Ben Hall Law, our Lansing car accident lawyers help injured people understand their options and pursue the compensation available under Michigan law.
Michigan’s no-fault system can involve several different types of coverage and claims. PIP benefits, liability claims against an at-fault driver, uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, and health insurance may all become relevant depending on the facts and the coverage involved.
Why Choose Ben Hall Law for Your Lansing Car Accident Case?
Most Lansing personal injury attorneys have only ever seen a car accident case from one side. Ben Hall has seen it from nearly every angle.
Before becoming a defense attorney, Ben Hall served as a Michigan police officer and a prosecutor. He has been the one responding to crash scenes, writing the reports, and deciding how to move forward with a case. That real-world experience gives our team a perspective most firms simply cannot offer.
Here is what that means for you:
- We know how police reports are built, and we know what details are often missing or mischaracterized. We review every report with a trained eye.
- We understand how insurance claims are investigated, documented, evaluated, and disputed.
- We build each case around the evidence needed to establish liability, document the injuries and losses, and prepare for negotiation or litigation when necessary.
- We treat every client like family, not like a case number. From your very first call, you will have a team that listens, explains your options clearly, and keeps you informed at every step.
When you are up against large insurance carriers with teams of lawyers, you need someone in your corner who has been on the other side and knows how they operate.
How an Auto Accident Can Affect Your Life
A vehicle accident is not just a moment on the road. The impact often ripples into every part of your daily life for weeks, months, or even years.
Some of the most common ways a crash affects people include:
- Physical injuries such as broken bones, herniated discs, traumatic brain injuries, and soft tissue damage that may require ongoing treatment or surgery
- Chronic pain that limits your ability to work, exercise, or enjoy time with your family
- Emotional and psychological effects including anxiety while driving, difficulty sleeping, and symptoms of post-traumatic stress
- Lost income from missed work during recovery, or a reduced ability to perform the job you had before the accident
- Financial strain from medical bills, vehicle repairs, and daily expenses that pile up when a paycheck stops coming in
These losses can become part of a car accident claim, but what is recoverable depends on the type of benefit or claim involved, the available insurance coverage, and the facts of the crash. A lawyer can help separate no-fault benefits from any claim against an at-fault party and document the losses that Michigan law allows you to pursue.
Do I Have a Car Accident Case?
One of the first questions people ask after a crash is whether their situation is serious enough to involve a lawyer. The short answer: if you have been injured and someone else was at fault, it is worth a conversation.
Michigan no-fault insurance provides Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits without regard to who caused the crash, but the insurer responsible for those benefits and the amount of PIP medical coverage available depend on the applicable policy, statutory priority rules, and coverage elections.
A person injured in a crash may also have a liability claim against an at-fault driver. Michigan law limits recovery of noneconomic damages such as pain and suffering to cases that satisfy the statutory threshold, including death, permanent serious disfigurement, or a “serious impairment of body function” under MCL 500.3135.
You may have a strong case if:
- You suffered injuries that required emergency care, surgery, or extended medical treatment
- You have experienced a significant limitation in your ability to live your normal daily life
- Your injuries have affected your ability to work or earn a living
- Another driver’s negligence, such as distracted driving, speeding, or running a red light, caused or contributed to the crash
- A commercial vehicle, rideshare driver, or government vehicle was involved
Even if you are unsure whether your injuries qualify as “serious” under the statute, it costs nothing to talk with our team. We can review the details of your accident and give you an honest assessment of where you stand.
Who May Be Liable for Your Lansing Motor Vehicle Accident
Determining who is responsible for a crash is not always straightforward. While the other driver is the most obvious possibility, liability can extend further than many people realize.
Potentially liable parties may include:
- The at-fault driver, whether they were speeding, distracted, impaired, or otherwise negligent
- An employer, if the at-fault driver was on the job at the time of the crash, such as a delivery driver or commercial truck operator
- A vehicle manufacturer, if a defective part, like faulty brakes, a tire blowout, or a malfunctioning airbag, contributed to the crash or made injuries worse
- A government entity in limited circumstances. Michigan governmental-immunity law restricts claims against public agencies, and special statutory exceptions and notice requirements may apply when a road condition or government vehicle contributed to a crash.
- A licensed alcohol retailer in certain cases under Michigan’s dram shop law, when the statutory requirements can be established, including an unlawful sale to a visibly intoxicated person that was a proximate cause of the injury
Identifying the parties that may be legally responsible is an important part of the investigation. We examine how the crash happened, the relationships between the people and businesses involved, the available insurance coverage, and any special legal rules that may apply.
Compensation Available in a Lansing Car Accident Lawsuit
If your injuries qualify under Michigan law, you may be entitled to compensation beyond what your PIP benefits cover. A successful claim against the at-fault driver can include:
- Pain and suffering, which accounts for the physical pain and emotional toll of your injuries
- Excess medical expenses beyond what your no-fault insurance covers
- Economic losses that are legally recoverable from the at-fault party, which can include certain wage-loss or earning-capacity losses not payable through no-fault benefits
- Loss of enjoyment of life when injuries prevent you from participating in activities and hobbies you once enjoyed
- Loss of companionship or consortium for the impact the accident has had on your closest relationships
Every case is different, and the value of your claim depends on the severity of your injuries, the strength of the evidence, and the insurance coverage available. We work closely with medical professionals and financial consultants when needed to build a clear, complete picture of your losses.
Mistakes That Can Hurt Your Auto Accident Claim
What you do after a crash can affect the evidence available and the way an insurer evaluates a claim. Some common mistakes to avoid include:
- Giving a recorded statement to another party’s insurer without understanding why it is being requested or how the statement may be used in evaluating the claim.
- Posting about your accident or recovery on social media. Even an innocent photo or comment can be taken out of context to argue that your injuries are not as serious as you claim.
- Failing to follow through with medically appropriate care. Gaps in treatment can make it more difficult to document the nature, cause, and progression of an injury.
- Resolving a liability claim before you understand the nature of your injuries, the losses involved, and what rights the settlement will release.
- Assuming every claim has the same deadline. Many Michigan negligence actions have a three-year limitations period, but no-fault benefit claims and claims involving governmental entities can involve different and sometimes much shorter deadlines.
If you have already spoken with an insurer, posted about the crash, delayed treatment, or received a settlement offer, that does not automatically determine the outcome of your case. An attorney can review what has happened and explain what options remain.
How Our Lansing Car Accident Lawyers Can Help You
From the moment you reach out to Ben Hall Law, our focus is on taking the burden off your shoulders so you can concentrate on getting better.
Here is what you can expect when you work with us:
- A free, no-pressure consultation where we listen to your story, answer your questions, and explain your legal options in plain English
- A thorough investigation of your accident, including a detailed review of the police report, witness statements, available camera footage, and medical records
- Handling all communication with insurance companies so you do not have to worry about saying the wrong thing or being pressured into a lowball settlement
- Negotiation supported by documented evidence, with preparation for litigation when a fair resolution cannot be reached
- No upfront fees. We work on a contingency basis, which means you do not pay us anything unless we recover compensation for you
Whether your case involves a fender bender that turned into a serious neck injury or a major highway crash, we approach every case with the same level of dedication and preparation.
Filing a Car Accident Claim in Lansing, Michigan
Michigan’s no-fault system adds layers to the car accident claims process that do not exist in most other states. Understanding the basics can help you feel more confident about the road ahead.
- Determine the applicable PIP coverage. Michigan PIP benefits are available without regard to fault, but the responsible insurer and the amount of PIP medical coverage depend on the applicable policies, statutory priority rules, and coverage elections. Health coverage may also matter when PIP medical has been limited, excluded, coordinated, or opted out where permitted.
- A liability claim is a separate question. When another driver caused the crash, Michigan law may permit recovery of damages outside the no-fault system. Noneconomic damages such as pain and suffering require satisfaction of the statutory threshold, while the availability of economic damages depends on the losses and benefits involved.
- Timing matters. Different claims can carry different deadlines. Michigan no-fault law includes a one-year rule affecting claims for PIP benefits, while many negligence actions are subject to a three-year limitations period. Governmental claims and other special situations can involve additional notice requirements or shorter periods, so the applicable deadlines should be identified early.
The process can feel confusing, but that is what we are here for. We walk you through every step and handle the legal details so you do not have to figure it out alone.
When a Motor Vehicle Accident Involves Uninsured or Underinsured Drivers
Not every driver on Lansing’s roads carries adequate insurance, and some carry none at all. If you are hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver, you may still have options.
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is optional coverage that may provide an additional source of recovery when an at-fault driver has no liability insurance or insufficient limits. Because UM/UIM rights are largely governed by the language of the insurance contract, we review the policy, coverage limits, exclusions, and notice requirements before determining what benefits may be available.
FAQs about Lansing Car Accident Claims
Here are answers to some of the questions we hear most often from people involved in car accidents in the Lansing area.
Many Michigan negligence actions arising from a car crash are subject to a three-year limitations period, but that is not the only deadline that can matter. No-fault PIP claims are governed by separate one-year rules, and governmental or other specialized claims may carry additional notice requirements. The applicable deadlines should be determined from the facts of the particular case.
Michigan applies comparative-fault rules to automobile negligence claims. Your percentage of fault can reduce the damages you recover. If you are more than 50% at fault, Michigan law bars recovery of noneconomic damages, although the treatment of economic damages is different. The effect of shared fault therefore depends on both your percentage of responsibility and the type of damages being claimed.
At Ben Hall Law, we handle car accident cases on a contingency fee basis. That means there are no upfront costs and no hourly bills. You only pay legal fees if we successfully recover compensation for you.
Anything related to the accident can be helpful: the police report, photos of the scene or your injuries, medical records and bills, correspondence from insurance companies, and any information about the other driver. If you do not have all of these, that is perfectly fine. We can help you gather what is needed.
Yes. A traffic citation is a separate matter from a civil injury claim. Even if the other driver was not ticketed at the scene, you may still be able to prove they were negligent and hold them financially responsible for your injuries.
This is more common than people think, especially with injuries like concussions, herniated discs, and soft tissue damage. Delayed symptoms do not disqualify you from filing a claim, but it is important to seek medical attention as soon as symptoms appear and to document everything.
Talk to Our Lansing Car Accident Lawyers Today
If you have been injured in a car accident in Lansing or anywhere in the surrounding area, you do not have to face the insurance companies alone. At Ben Hall Law, we bring a unique combination of law enforcement, prosecution, and defense experience to every case we take on, and we put that experience to work for you.
Your consultation is free. If we accept your personal injury case on a contingency-fee basis, attorney fees are tied to the recovery rather than billed hourly in advance. Call us or use our online contact form to discuss what happened and the next steps.
Consultations are free and confidential.
