Get free answers to your Personal Injury legal questions from lawyers in your area.
I was involved in a car accident and have experienced wage loss due to missed work. My own insurance company is handling the claim. I have already submitted my tax returns. Do I still need to submit my bank statements to prove wage loss, or is other documentation sufficient?

answered on Jun 9, 2025
Normally, the insurance company would send a wage verification form to your employer to provide your wage information and that would be sufficient with a disability slip from your doctor. Past wage check statements also are sometimes sufficient. Tax returns are normally not required unless you are... View More
I was involved in a car accident where I hit another vehicle's rear, causing it to flip. I moved my car to a parking lot rather than staying at the crash site and did not approach the other vehicle. I provided my account to the police but did not take photos or gather witness info. Could the... View More

answered on May 21, 2025
Photos would have been helpful. If the car is not yet repaired, you could look into the possibility of photos at this point. As far as moving the car, insurance carriers and attorneys realize that cars often do need to be moved from their original positions in the interest of restoring traffic... View More
I was injured on March 24, 2025, after falling at Marquette General on the endoscopy floor right after my colonoscopy. I have a cut on my right eye and a broken right wrist, which will require surgery on April 4, 2025, at Bell Hospital. I'm also facing lost work time for at least three weeks.... View More

answered on Apr 1, 2025
Thank you for your question and I am sorry to hear about your injury. This is definitely something that should not have happened in that environment. As an important cautionary reminder, please remember that the patient advocate, despite that person's title, works with the hospital's... View More
I feel my attorney pressured me into settling my personal injury case. She would rush me off the phone, claimed the company had a lot against me, and said I wouldn't win if I went to court. I only spoke to her three times during my case—mostly through paralegals—and many of my calls and... View More

answered on Mar 29, 2025
Unlikely. I'm not sure what you expected as far as communication is concerned. She informed you of the offer and her opinion. You agreed to the settlement. Causing you to feel pressured is not malpractice; in fact, the opposite could very well be. Your lawyer's job is not to be a... View More
In my personal injury case, I agreed to a contingency fee where 1/3 of the settlement goes to my attorney. However, I'm concerned because the attorney ended up receiving more from the settlement than I did. Could you explain why this might happen, and what considerations or additional fees... View More

answered on Mar 31, 2025
I'm sorry about your frustration with the results of your case. There are a few common things to look at - terms of your retainer, out-of-pocket expenses, etc. You ask about considerations that could result in a reduction. A common one is liens, where a medical office may want money back if... View More
In my personal injury case, I agreed to a contingency fee where 1/3 of the settlement goes to my attorney. However, I'm concerned because the attorney ended up receiving more from the settlement than I did. Could you explain why this might happen, and what considerations or additional fees... View More

answered on Mar 29, 2025
In Michigan, contingent fee agreements need to be in writing and will outline how fees are calculated and what 'out of pocket' costs are recoverable by the attorney. My guess is that your case didn't settle for a lot of money and that the costs created the discrepancy that you are... View More
I discovered that my ex-husband lied about his marital status during our divorce, and I was not included in the real estate deed despite being married to him at the time. The houses were not included in the divorce decree, and I believe the title companies did not use my divorce decree for... View More

answered on Mar 28, 2025
Michigan had abolished 'dower rights' for spouses back in 2016. "Dower" was a legal right that gave a wife an interest in her husband's real property for her lifetime, usually up to a 1/3 interest in the real estate. So with regards to any real estate that your husband may... View More
One of my relatives was involved in a horrific auto accident three years ago, which was not their fault. As a result, they have undergone several surgeries and will walk with a limp for life. Earlier this year, they were offered a settlement in the low 6-figure range, which they declined. They... View More

answered on Mar 17, 2025
They have an attorney so they should discuss their legal options with their attorney who will make recommendations. If they are not satisfied with the offer, they could simply file a lawsuit and seek a jury trial. Some insurance companies will not make a reasonable offer until a lawsuit is filed.... View More
My father had 2 different cancers, mother had cancer and kidney failure -both dying as a result. My sister has early stage kidney failure and my brother and I both have autoimmune causing signficant medical issues. After reading up on this it has come to my attention that Berlin and Farro, a toxic... View More

answered on Mar 7, 2025
A Michigan attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for a month. I'm very sorry for the loss of your mother and father, and the ordeal you and your siblings have dealt with in terms of medical issues. The best way to answer your question about whether you have a case would be... View More
We received notice from a life insurance company after the probate was closed, asking us to file an Affidavit of Small Estate and provide a copy of the living trust that names us and The Humane Society as 50/50 beneficiaries. The Humane Society already received its share before probate closure.... View More

answered on Feb 24, 2025
Something doesn’t ’add up’ here. If there was a trust there wouldn’t have been probate absent someone doing something wrong.
If the probate is closed you may need to reopen it but life insurance doesn’t usually go through probate at all unless there is a failure to name a... View More
I bought a house from a friend through a verbal agreement and paid him $18,000. He was supposed to pay the back taxes, but he didn't fulfill this obligation, and now I'm at risk of losing the house due to unpaid taxes. I also discovered that he didn't own the property nor was it in... View More

answered on Feb 19, 2025
If the conveyance was by a warranty deed, the seller breached one or more warranties and you could sue to enforce the warranties. There may be a claim for breach of contract as well.
The criminal matter should be referred to the police. You could sue him based upon the threats of arson... View More
I bought a house from a friend through a verbal agreement and paid him $18,000. He was supposed to pay the back taxes, but he didn't fulfill this obligation, and now I'm at risk of losing the house due to unpaid taxes. I also discovered that he didn't own the property nor was it in... View More

answered on Feb 19, 2025
OK -- what a mess. If you "bought" a house with a 'verbal agreement', you didn't really buy the house. A sale of Real Estate REQUIRES a written document. Did you even get a deed?
I concur to the extent there are threats of criminal activity, you need to contact the... View More
Let's say an ex had a cop gave you a no contact warning. You want to open up publicly about her verbal and emotional abuse. Can you legally do that if you don't use it to contact them or list any names?

answered on Jan 25, 2025
I get what you're saying, but what is the point? The people who know or care already have their opinion about you and her; people who don't know, probably also don't care, and you "coming out publicly" won't win you any allies.
Think about it: your best case... View More
I have no PIP coverage but I have liability insurance. I am in an accident that is not my fault. Can I receive PIP benefits such as wage loss from the at fault drivers insurance company? I have privet health insurance. Does the MACP apply to me?

answered on Dec 20, 2024
Hi,
You would still be eligible for wage loss benefits from your auto insurer even though you opted out of medical coverage under your policy. The only exception would be if you were older and opted out of wage loss coverage. Usually this would apply to individuals who are retired and are... View More
I broke my foot while caring for a mentally disabled young adult. He was my employer but his parents own the home. Employer does not own the home, his parents do. Therefore, I wouldn't be suing an employer. I did receive workman's comp while I was off work and was not able to return to... View More

answered on Dec 9, 2024
Hi - the easiest way is to sue them first and then request the insurance information in discovery. Trust also that insurance companies often fight to deny coverage. So there are actually 2 questions - 1) Is there Insurance and 2) Is the insurance company handling the defense. Once you sue them,... View More
Been in the hospital for a month losing my car and can't pay my bills because I had a stroke

answered on Nov 7, 2024
A Michigan attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for two weeks. The short answer is that based on such a cause and effect, it's possible you have the grounds for a case, simply on a textbook analysis. But from a practical standpoint, it's also possible that your... View More
We completed drywall repairs and painting for a 3000 plus sq ft home for a customer that amounted to over $9000.00 (materials included)
We also provided extra services outside of the scope of the estimate and did not charge the customer and we also had to move their personal items out of... View More

answered on Sep 26, 2024
Small claims court in Michigan involves cases in which the amount in controversy is less than $7,000.00 so that is the maximum amount they could sue your business under the rules. There is no reason why you could not file a counter-lawsuit seeking damages for the additional services that you... View More
My client experienced negligence by hospital staff and now seeks to file a medical malpractice claim. However, an expert testimony report of negligence is required to support the claim, but my client cannot afford this. What steps should we take next?

answered on Jul 5, 2024
If you are an attorney, I would suggest seeking co-counsel who can afford the cost of litigation, or refer the case out to a firm who can. Otherwise, there are loan companies who help finance litigation.
My client experienced negligence by hospital staff and now seeks to file a medical malpractice claim. However, an expert testimony report of negligence is required to support the claim, but my client cannot afford this. What steps should we take next?

answered on Jul 9, 2024
You're talking about an Affidavit of Merit. That's going to involve a review of the file. It may not end there. If you go to trial, that could also involve retaining medical experts, which don't come cheap. Med mal firms often front such costs and take them off the gross award at the... View More
Last week, my wife was involved in a car accident where she was going straight and collided with a vehicle turning left. She asserts she was moving on a yellow light, whereas the other driver claims he waited for a red light to turn green and then moved. Following the incident, the police issued my... View More

answered on Jun 20, 2024
One of your options might be to try to arrange a free initial consult with an attorney. I hope you wife is okay. Depending on whether she has the basis to move forward with a claim for her hand injuries, the determination of liability could be important in a comparative negligence setting with the... View More
Justia Ask A Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get free answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask A Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between Justia and you, or between any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions and you, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask A Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.