Frequently Asked Questions

Michigan's no-fault insurance system requires your own insurance to cover medical expenses and wage loss regardless of who caused the accident. You can also pursue claims against the at-fault driver for pain and suffering if injuries meet certain thresholds. At Law Offices of Kurt M. Schultz, PLLC, we help Plymouth clients navigate both no-fault benefits and liability claims.

No-fault benefits cover your medical bills and lost wages through your own insurance, while personal injury claims seek compensation from the at-fault party for pain, suffering, and non-economic damages. Both can apply in Michigan auto accidents. We help clients maximize both types of compensation based on their specific injuries and circumstances.

Contact a lawyer as soon as possible after an accident, ideally within days, to protect your rights and preserve evidence. Early legal guidance helps you avoid insurance company tactics that could reduce your compensation. At Law Offices of Kurt M. Schultz, PLLC, we offer free case consultations to evaluate your claim immediately.

Traumatic brain injury victims can receive compensation for extensive medical care, rehabilitation, long-term care costs, lost earning capacity, and pain and suffering. These cases often require proving the need for lifetime support and specialized treatment. We focus on securing maximum compensation that accounts for both current and future needs.

Proving slip and fall negligence requires showing the property owner knew or should have known about the hazardous condition and failed to fix it or warn visitors. Evidence includes photos, witness statements, maintenance records, and incident reports. Property owner negligence must be directly linked to your injuries and damages.

Michigan no-fault benefits include unlimited medical coverage, wage loss benefits up to three years, replacement services for household tasks you can't perform, and attendant care for severe injuries. Benefits apply regardless of fault in the accident. We help clients obtain and maximize all available no-fault benefits after injuries.

Yes, whiplash injuries from rear-end collisions qualify for compensation covering medical treatment, pain, and recovery time. Many insurance companies downplay whiplash, but it can cause chronic pain and require extensive therapy. Proper documentation of symptoms and treatment is essential for securing fair compensation.

The biggest mistake is failing to document the attack and injuries immediately with photos, medical records, and witness statements. Many victims also don't report bites to authorities, which weakens their case. At Law Offices of Kurt M. Schultz, PLLC, we help clients gather evidence to secure compensation for medical expenses and scarring.

Spinal cord injury claims often take one to three years or longer due to the complexity of proving long-term medical needs and compensation requirements. It's critical not to settle before understanding the full extent of future care costs. We thoroughly evaluate lifetime medical and financial impacts before pursuing settlement or trial.

Claim value depends on injury severity, medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, degree of fault, and long-term impact on quality of life. Strong documentation and expert testimony increase compensation. At Law Offices of Kurt M. Schultz, PLLC, we build comprehensive cases that reflect the true cost of your injuries.

No, personal injury laws apply statewide across Michigan, including Plymouth, Ann Arbor, Detroit, and surrounding areas. However, local courts and insurance practices can vary slightly in how cases are handled. Our Plymouth-based firm understands local court procedures and insurance adjusters throughout Southeast Michigan.

Report the incident to the property owner or manager, take photos of the hazard and your injuries, collect witness contact information, and seek medical attention right away. These steps create a documented record essential for proving negligence. Preserve any clothing or items involved in the accident as evidence.

Michigan no-fault provides unlimited medical coverage and wage loss benefits regardless of fault, but limits when you can sue for pain and suffering. You'll receive immediate medical and economic benefits through your own insurance, while liability claims for non-economic damages require proving the other driver caused serious impairment of body function, permanent disfigurement, or death.

Property owners often defend slip and fall claims by arguing the hazard was open and obvious, meaning a reasonable person should have noticed and avoided it. Michigan courts evaluate whether the condition's dangers were apparent upon casual inspection, but exceptions exist when the hazard is effectively unavoidable or poses unreasonable risks despite being visible.

Michigan follows comparative fault rules, reducing your compensation by your percentage of fault. If you're found 30% responsible for a slip and fall, your recovery decreases by that amount. You're barred from recovery only if you're more than 50% at fault, making documentation of property owner negligence critical.

Michigan no-fault covers unlimited medical expenses, up to three years of wage loss at 85% of gross income, replacement services for household tasks you can't perform, and attendant care for catastrophic injuries. Benefits begin immediately and continue regardless of fault, separate from any liability claim for pain and suffering.

Rideshare accidents involve multiple insurance layers depending on whether the driver was waiting for requests, en route to pickup, or transporting passengers. Coverage shifts between the driver's personal policy, Uber or Lyft's contingent coverage, and their commercial policy. Determining which policy applies and whether no-fault or liability coverage controls requires analyzing driver app status at collision time.

Document injuries with photographs immediately and throughout healing, obtain the dog owner's contact and insurance information, file a police or animal control report, seek medical treatment to create injury records, and preserve damaged clothing or evidence. Early documentation counters owner defenses and establishes injury severity before insurance adjusters minimize claims.

Whiplash injuries lack visible trauma on standard imaging, allowing insurers to dispute severity despite genuine pain and functional limitations. Soft tissue damage from rear-end collisions causes chronic symptoms that develop gradually, but delayed treatment or symptom reporting gives adjusters grounds to question causation and reduce settlement offers.

Serious impairment requires an objectively manifested injury affecting your ability to lead your normal life, not just any injury causing pain. Courts evaluate whether the impairment impacts your general ability to work, maintain household responsibilities, or participate in recreational activities you regularly performed before the accident.

Brain injury claims seek lifetime medical care costs, rehabilitation expenses, attendant care for daily living assistance, lost earning capacity from cognitive impairment, and compensation for reduced quality of life. No-fault insurance covers medical and care expenses, while liability claims address long-term economic losses and non-economic damages from permanent neurological changes.

Spinal cord injuries trigger unlimited medical benefits under Michigan no-fault, including attendant care for paralysis or mobility impairment. Claims must project lifetime care costs, adaptive equipment needs, home modifications, and lost income from permanent disability. Documentation focuses on functional losses and care requirements rather than just medical diagnosis.

Benefit denials or payment reductions can be challenged through administrative dispute resolution or litigation under Michigan insurance regulations. Common disputes involve medical necessity determinations, wage loss calculations, attendant care authorizations, and coverage limitations. Legal representation addresses insurer claim handling practices that violate statutory obligations to promptly pay valid benefits.

Rideshare accidents involve multiple insurance layers depending on driver app status. Coverage shifts between personal policies, Uber/Lyft contingent coverage, and commercial policies, making claims more complex than standard auto accidents.

Michigan no-fault provides your medical coverage regardless of fault. Additionally, Uber carries $1 million liability coverage when drivers are actively transporting passengers, plus uninsured motorist protection for serious injuries.

Yes, if you meet Michigan's serious impairment threshold. Lyft maintains commercial liability coverage when drivers are en route or transporting passengers, separate from the driver's personal insurance policy.

Offline rideshare drivers have only personal insurance coverage, which often excludes commercial activity. This creates coverage gaps that may require accessing your own uninsured motorist benefits for adequate compensation.

Multiple insurance companies must determine coverage based on precise driver app status at collision time. Coordinating between personal policies, rideshare coverage, and no-fault benefits creates delays not found in standard accident claims.

No, rideshare drivers are independent contractors, not employees. They rely on personal insurance, rideshare company coverage, and Michigan no-fault benefits rather than traditional workers' compensation protection.

Document the driver's app status, take photos of vehicles and injuries, get driver and passenger contact information, and obtain the police report. App status determines which insurance policy applies to your claim.

Yes, because they face higher liability exposure than individual drivers. Rideshare companies employ teams of attorneys and investigators to minimize payouts, making experienced legal representation particularly important for serious injury claims.

Full commercial coverage applies when drivers are actively transporting passengers or en route to pickups. Lower contingent coverage applies when drivers are logged in but awaiting ride requests.

Yes, if your injuries meet Michigan's serious impairment standard and the rideshare driver caused the accident. This requires proving functional limitations that affect your normal life activities beyond just pain alone.