Big Rapids

Knowledgeable Injury Attorneys Assisting Big Rapids Residents

A city located in Mecosta County, Michigan, Big Rapids offers a broad range of activities to enjoy. People can camp at Mecosta County Parks, kayak on the Muskegon River, or visit cultural sites like the Barryton Historical Museum and the FSU Rankin Center Art Gallery. Whether they are exploring one of these attractions or simply going about their daily business, visitors and residents may find themselves unexpectedly hurt because someone else acted carelessly. If you are in this difficult situation, you should seek guidance from the Big Rapids injury lawyers at the Neumann Law Group. Kelly Neumann and her colleagues advocate vigorously for accident victims, and they have been able to secure settlements or verdicts in the millions of dollars for many of their clients. Many of the cases that we have handled arise from motor vehicle collisions, workplace and construction accidents, slip and falls, medical malpractice, defective products, and boating accidents, among other dangerous and deadly situations.

Pursuing Compensation through a Negligence Claim

Someone who has been hurt in an accident usually has legal rights to assert. In most situations, a victim can bring a negligence claim against the person or business that harmed them. These are based on four main elements: duty, breach, causation, and damages. Each element must be proved by the preponderance of the evidence, which means that it is more likely than not to be true.

Damages in each case will depend on the extent and severity of the harm suffered, but a plaintiff generally will try to pursue both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are relatively objective costs, such as the costs of past and future medical treatment, or lost income from missed time at work. Non-economic damages account for more subjective forms of harm, like pain and suffering or any disfigurement and scarring that the victim suffered.

Michigan follows the legal doctrine of comparative negligence. This is a way to assign fault and determine the extent of each party’s liability. If an injured person’s negligence also contributed to an accident, the total award will be reduced by an amount equal to the percentage of negligence attributed to the victim. For example, someone may be hurt in a car accident in which they were slightly exceeding the speed limit, while the other driver ran a stop sign. A jury might find that the driver who disregarded the stop sign was 80 percent at fault, while the victim who was speeding was 20 percent at fault. In such a scenario, the victim still would be able to recover up to 80 percent of his or her damages from the defendant. If the victim is more than 50 percent responsible for an accident, non-economic damages will not be available, but he or she still can seek economic damages.

Personal injury claims must be filed within a certain time frame, known as the statute of limitations. In Michigan, this period lasts three years from the date of the accident. Wrongful death claims must also be filed within three years. In almost all situations, complying with the statute of limitations is essential to preserving the right to compensation.

Enlist an Injury Lawyer in the Big Rapids Area

The knowledgeable Big Rapids injury attorneys at the Neumann Law Group have the skill, knowledge, and determination to handle your case. We will take the time to meticulously explore the options available to you and aggressively pursue the compensation that you deserve. We also can serve the legal needs of people who need a criminal defense attorney or guidance in matters related to real estate, estate planning, family law, collections, or mediation. Contact us online or call us toll-free at (800) 525-6386 to set up a free consultation.