While some injuries sustained in auto accidents are obvious and will quickly heal, others may have long-term effects which can affect a patient’s quality of life. When seeking compensation for injuries in an accident, the law in Michigan allows claimants to seek:
* Compensatory damages for medical expenses, lost wages and property damage
* Non-economic damages for pain and suffering
Compensatory Damages
There are usually no monetary limitations on compensatory damages, which can be important for patients who’ve been severely injured in an accident. Along with current medical expenses and lost wages, a brain injury attorney in Ann Arbor, MI can seek compensation for future medical expenses their client may incur and for wages they may lose in the future. The expenses being sought, however, need to be considered reasonable by the court.
Non-Economic Damages
Damages for pain, suffering, and emotional distress can also be sought, but there are caps on the amount the law allows to be awarded to an injured party. Under the law, claimants can be awarded up to $280,000 in “ordinary” cases. If they’ve sustained spinal cord, brain damage, or injuries to the reproductive system, however, then they can be awarded as much as $500,000. A brain injury attorney can also file for punitive damages, but they are not usually awarded.
Insurance Provisions
If your brain injury was a result of an automobile accident, Michigan’s “no-fault” insurance law may complicate your case. Under the no-fault provisions, your insurance company will pay the expenses caused by your injuries regardless of who is at fault for the accident, though your brain injury attorney can still seek compensation for monetary losses not covered by your insurance company.
Compensation for non-monetary losses may be sought for injuries serious enough to file a personal injury lawsuit. To get more information on filing personal injury claims go to website.
