How Can a Family Pay Major, Unknown Costs From an Automobile Accident

An automobile accident, no matter how serious, almost always has economic consequences. But when injuries are involved, the economic consequences can quickly mount up to tragic proportions.

Without warning, families on a tight budget are faced with almost overwhelming questions, such as: who will pay for my medical bills, now and in the future? Who will pay for my car that's damaged or totaled? How can I keep food on the table and the roof over the head of my family when all these sudden major costs have to be met?

The best protection the victim can have is to seek consultation from an auto accident attorney, especially a lawyer who specializes in No Fault law. No Fault laws are very complicated and almost guarantee that settlements will not be timely and reimbursements will not be fair if left to chance.

Because of the No Fault Law in Michigan, the state where I practice law, the injured motorist must look first to his own insurance company for medical expenses, lost wages, attendant care and reimbursement for household services such as cleaning & yard work.

Under certain circumstances, depending on the severity of injury, the injured motorist can sue the driver who caused the accident by making a third party claim. But if the person causing the accident is uninsured, you cannot recover unless you have an uninsured motorist rider on your insurance policy.

When things work right insurance companies will relieve you of the burden of paying for car repairs and immediate medical bills. But sometimes insurance companies balk and won't reimburse all of your real costs from an accident. In that case, an attorney can intervene for you and insure that profit-motivated insurance companies do right by you and not just to their stockholders.

If you are injured in a vehicle accident in Michigan, and your involved vehicle was registered in Michigan, than you most likely are entitled to First Party Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits. These benefits include:

Reimbursement for lost income, up to three years

Reimbursement for attendant care if you are disabled

Medical costs and treatment expenses, including rehabilitation therapy

Limited payments for funeral and burial

If disabled, modification of your vehicle or home to make them wheelchair accessible

Reimbursement for necessary personal or household services you would have performed if not disabled, such as cooking, cleaning and lawn mowing.

Mileage for driving to and from the doctor's office, hospital or rehabilitation clinic.

Insurance companies, at the end of the day, will answer fully and honestly only to their stockholders. You cannot rely upon your insurance carrier to fully inform you about all eligible benefits. Many personal injury attorneys, including my firm, will operate on a contingency-only basis so that the victim does not pay anything out of pocket to the law firm. A lawyer who specializes in automobile accidents, No Fault law, and personal injuries can make sure the present and future of a family's economic security is protected.

By Terry Cochran

Terry Cochran, senior partner in Cochran, Foley & Associates, P.C., a Michigan law firm specializing in personal liability, medical malpractice, and SSD/SSI appeals. Cochran does not represent insurance companies or corporations but instead bases his practice upon representing individuals and families.
http://www.cochranfoley.com
800-322-5543.

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