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Frequently Asked Questions about
Michigan Auto Laws
Traverse City Record-Eagle Forum:
Drivers
can't rely on just lights and sirens
Question: If I am
disabled from working, is there a limit to the amount of
wage loss benefits my own insurance company has to pay
me?
Answer:
Yes. Michigan No-Fault law places a cap on the maximum
monthly amount for Wage Loss benefits. The law provides
for an adjustment every year for inflation.
Question: Do I have to
pay taxes on my wage loss benefits?
Answer:
Currently, neither Michigan nor Federal law assess taxes
against wage loss benefits an injured person receives
from an automobile insurance company as a result of an
auto accident.
Question: Do I have any
rights to recover if the car I was driving was uninsured
at the time of an accident?
Answer:
Michigan No-Fault auto law bars you from bringing suit
against an at-fault driver and you have no claim for
First-Party benefits if the car you were driving is
uninsured and you were the registered owner of the
vehicle.
Question: Do I have any
rights to recover benefits if the police say I was at
fault in the accident?
Answer:
You do not have a claim against the other parties
involved in the accident if it is determined that you
were more than 50% at fault in an auto accident.
You should consult with our office, however, even if you
received a ticket for an auto accident. We can advise
you whether you may have a likelihood of success in
making a claim against the other driver.
Question: What is
Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
Answer:
Some automobile insurance companies provide Uninsured
Motorist Coverage for an additional premium. You may
have such coverage under your auto insurance policy.
This coverage allows you possible recovery from your
insurance policy in two different situations: (a) if the
at-fault driver does not have insurance coverage, or,
(b) if the at-fault driver can not be identified (i.e.
hit and run driver).
Question: What is the
difference between uninsured motorist coverage and
underinsured motorist coverage?
Answer:
Underinsured coverage provides a person injured in an
accident with an additional source of benefits if the
at-fault driver has insufficient coverage. Thus, it is
different from uninsured coverage, described above,
which may be available when there is no identifiable
insurance on an at-fault vehicle. For example, if the
at-fault driver has an insurance policy with limits of
only $20,000, and you have a policy for $100,000 of
underinsured coverage, you may be able to seek up to
$80,000 in additional compensation from your own
insurance company. You should promptly consult an
attorney prior to accepting any settlement offer from
your insurance company because you will not want to
prejudice your rights under an uninsured endorsement on
your policy. Your attorney knows how to deal with your
insurance company to make sure that you maximize your
recovery.
Free Consultation – Will the Firm Evaluate
my Claims?
If you or a loved one has been injured in an
automobile accident, you can contact our office for a free
consultation. We will ask you for information related to
your accident and a member of our legal team will evaluate
that information and respond the same day. We will keep the
information that you give us completely confidential and use
the information only to determine whether or not you have a
legal claim. By giving us information, you are not
obligated in any way. Submitting information to our firm
does not create an attorney/client relationship.
You can always contact us directly at 231-929-9700. If you are out of the area, you can use
our toll-free number. 1-800-678-1307. Or email
Thompson, O'Neil & VanderVeen,
P.C.
For more information to help you protect
your rights and those of your loved ones if you've been
injured in an automobile accident, you can always contact us
directly at 231-929-9700. If you are out of the area,
you can use our toll-free number. 1-800-678-1307. Or
email
Thompson, O'Neil &
VanderVeen, P.C.
Free Initial Consultation
Of course, we'll be happy to discuss your case
at no charge. Telephone our office to make an appointment for a
free consultation or to receive our brochure. 1-231-929-9700.
Or email us at
info@tovlaw.com.
Contingency Fee Contract
If our firm agrees to represent you in an injury
case, you and the firm will enter into a contingency fee
contract. This means that you will pay no fees unless you
collect.
Print Thompson, O'Neil & VanderVeen's
Automobile Negligence Brochure
If you wish
to download this as a PDF file, you will need to download
Adobe Acrobat
Reader if it is not already installed on your system.
Many of the documents listed on this page are available on the
Internet in Adobe PDF format. They can be read online, printed,
or downloaded and stored on your hard drive by clicking on the
appropriate icons on the left side of the toolbar. You can
download a free copy of
Adobe Acrobat Reader by
clicking here. 
Email:
info@tovlaw.com
This web site is designed for general information only. The information
presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the
formation of a lawyer/client relationship. |
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