How To Negotiate A Slip And Fall Settlement In Michigan
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In Michigan, to negotiate a slip and fall settlement for full and fair compensation, you must have evidence to show your injuries, your pain and suffering, your medical expenses, your lost wages, and the property owner’s legal liability. You also need to know how much insurance the property owner has.
It is important to remember that the property owner and his or her insurance company want to pay as little as possible for your settlement—regardless of how serious your injuries are or how clear the evidence is that the property owner was at fault for causing your injuries.
When negotiating a slip and fall settlement, never accept the first offer. Typically, those are low-ball offers whose purpose is to try and bluff innocent accident victims into agreeing to settlements that are well below what their cases are actually worth.
To ensure you negotiate the best possible slip and fall settlement in your case, hire an experienced Michigan attorney who specializes in this area of the law to make your case for why justice demands that the amount awarded reflect the full value of your case.
A skilled Michigan attorney who specializes in slip and fall accidents will have experience negotiating with insurance adjusters and insurance defense lawyers and a history of securing million-dollar settlements and verdicts. You want a lawyer who specializes in these types of accidents because he or she will know what to look for when investigating your case, gathering evidence (including your medical records), calculating your damages, establishing liability, and negotiating with your insurance adjuster. The right lawyer doesn’t just dabble in these types of accident cases but rather focuses his or her entire practice on them. That way you’ll be more than just a number, and your case won’t be settled for less than its full value.
The most experienced and successful lawyers for your case are at Michigan Slip & Fall Lawyers, a law firm that specializes exclusively in these types of accidents. Led by attorney Tim Holland, the firm handles nothing but slip and fall claims and has a track record of winning million-dollar settlements and verdicts for their clients. Tim and his team are well known by insurance companies and defense lawyers. The firm is also known for its client-first approach, purposefully taking fewer cases so that they can focus all their attention on their clients.
Seek medical attention immediately
The first thing you should do after being injured in an accident is seek proper medical attention, even if you think you are not hurt or believe your injuries are only minor, as this will be used as evidence to negotiate a full and fair slip and fall settlement in your Michigan case.
Many injuries appear to be minor at first, due to your body’s adrenaline response and powerful painkillers masking pain. But when the adrenaline subsides and you stop taking the pain medication, you may begin to feel pain within the days and weeks that follow. It’s important to be seen right away for a full evaluation so that you can get ahead of any problem and begin your recovery.
An initial evaluation is also important for connecting your injuries to your accident. If you delay seeking treatment, the insurance adjuster and defense lawyer will argue that you were not actually hurt in the accident, but at some point later on. Getting your injuries documented early will help you avoid this narrative.
It’s equally important to follow your doctor’s orders, attend all follow-up appointments, get any recommended testing, and see specialists as needed. Not only will this help speed your recovery and avoid exacerbation of your slip and fall injuries, but it will help you and your Michigan lawyer assess your damages and build your case, allowing them to negotiate for a full and fair settlement.
Gather evidence
In Michigan, when negotiating a slip and fall settlement, a case is only as good as the evidence you present. As such, preserving and gathering critical evidence is often the key to victory.
As soon as your lawyer is retained, he or she will send preservation notices to the defendant, requiring the defendant to retain intact all evidence that is relevant to your claim.
Evidence that will be important to negotiating your Michigan slip and fall settlement includes:
- Photos
- Videos
- Witness statements
- Incident reports
- Police reports
- Medical records
Calculate your damages
In Michigan, to negotiate a slip and fall settlement that accurately compensates you for the full value of your claim, you must be able to assess the extent of your damages, including your economic damages (medical bills and lost wages) and noneconomic damages (pain and suffering). You should always consider both past and future damages before making your settlement demand. And if you lost a loved one in the accident, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
To ensure your Michigan slip and fall lawyer can negotiate for a full and fair settlement amount, they will gather all of your medical expenses and calculate your lost wages and come up with a number that will compensate you for everything you’ve lost. He or she will also wait until the full impact of your injuries is known so that the number will include future losses.
Calculating noneconomic damages involves determining the dollar value of the pain and suffering you have experienced as a result of your injuries. The factors that come into play in making this calculation include physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, fright and shock, denial of social pleasure and enjoyment, and embarrassment, humiliation, or mortification. (M Civ JI 50.02)
Finally, if you lost a loved one in an accident, you and your family may be able to bring a wrongful death lawsuit against the negligent property owner. In this type of action, you can sue the negligent party for economic and noneconomic damages, including loss of consortium, loss of companionship, and lost financial contributions, as well as funeral and burial expenses.
Consult a Michigan slip and fall lawyer to help negotiate a slip and fall settlement
In Michigan, perhaps the most important thing you can do if you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident caused by a property owner’s negligence is hire an experienced attorney who specializes in helping victims negotiate maximum settlements.
An experienced lawyer who specializes exclusively in this area of law has a unique set of skills that will ensure your case is properly built and negotiated for full value. Your attorney will investigate your case, assess your injuries, gather evidence, determine liability, advise you on the value of your case, and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf.
When negotiating a settlement, having a top-notch Michigan slip and fall lawyer on your side is invaluable. The insurance company’s own data reveals that victims who are represented by experienced and competent attorneys can get up to four times (4x) more than those who are not. Don’t hire an inexperienced lawyer, or you risk leaving hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars, on the table.
Understand the insurance company’s tactics
Insurance companies, adjusters, and insurance defense attorneys are not your friends. They do not want to admit liability, and they certainly do not want to pay you for your injuries. As a result, they will use a variety of tactics to diminish your claim, including:
- Low-ball offers – Insurance adjusters often attempt to get rid of cases as quickly as possible by presenting a low-ball offer in the form of a settlement agreement. Do not sign a settlement agreement, release, waiver, or any other type of legal document without consulting your attorney first. In fact, do not even communicate with the insurance company. If they call you, refer them to your Michigan slip and fall lawyer, who will negotiate a settlement on your behalf and get you an offer that reflects the true value of your case.
- Minimize your injuries – Insurance adjusters will also do whatever they can to claim your injuries are not connected to the accident, or not as bad as you say they are. This is why it’s important to see your doctor right away and attend all follow-up appointments so that you have the medical records to back up your claim.
- Surveillance – Insurance companies are also notorious for setting up surveillance in an attempt to catch you doing something you claimed you couldn’t do. Be aware that you may not always see them, and if you do get caught trying to stretch your limits, be honest about it. Lying will diminish your credibility and hurt the value of your case.
Be prepared to negotiate a slip and fall settlement in Michigan
It’s important that you have all the medical and employment records you need to back up your demands. It’s also important that you have ready access to the evidence that shows that the property owner is at fault for causing your injuries and, thus, is liable for your injuries, compensation, and money damages.
Be ready for a back-and-forth about what the settlement’s ultimate value should be – especially when the property owner or insurance presents you with their evidence as to why they should pay less . . . or nothing at all.
Listen to your lawyer’s advice and whether, in his or her opinion – based on their specialized experience – the final offer is worthy of your consideration. An experienced lawyer won’t just settle for a low number to get your case over with. Instead, they will fight and negotiate to get you the best possible slip and fall settlement for your Michigan case . . . and be ready to go to trial if a full and fair offer is not made.
Injured in a slip and fall accident in Michigan and looking for a lawyer to negotiate a full and fair settlement? Call our attorneys now for a free consultation!
If you are injured in a slip and fall accident in Michigan and you are looking for a lawyer to help you negotiate for a full and fair settlement offer, call now and let attorney Tim Holland and the skilled team at our law firm provide the support you need. With a proven track record of securing top settlements for victims, we’ll give you the peace of mind you deserve while working to get you the compensation needed to help rebuild your life.
We pride ourselves on offering every client personalized care, compassion, and respect. Clear communication is a cornerstone of our practice, and we promise to always be available for you. You can count on us to return your calls, respond to your emails, and answer any questions you may have.
To speak with an experienced attorney about your case, call us today or fill out our contact form for a free, no-obligation consultation. We’ll guide you through the laws and help you understand your options. There’s absolutely no cost or obligation. We’re here to support you every step of the way.
Get help from our Michigan slip and fall lawyers today
You do not have to go it alone after your slip and fall accident. Let the experience attorney Tim Holland and the lawyers at Michigan Slip and fall have on slip and fall cases along with their track record of getting the highest settlement amounts possible for their victims give you peace of mind, while they help to pick you back up and get you the compensation that you need and deserve to start rebuilding your life.
We pride ourselves on treating every client with care, compassion, and respect. We pride ourselves on communication and we will always be there when you need us. We will ALWAYS return your calls and emails and answer your questions.
To speak with an experienced slip and fall accident attorney about your injury, call us now, or fill out our contact form for a free consultation.
We will help you understand Michigan’s slip and fall law and answer all of your questions about how we can make the law work for you. There is absolutely no cost or obligation. We’re here for you now.
Meet Our Attorney
Tim Holland is arguably Michigan’s most experienced and successful slip and fall lawyer. You can read more about Tim Holland’s experience and success here.
What Is Your Slip and Fall Case Worth?
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