Kalamazoo Personal Injury Lawyers

At Conybeare Injury and Accident Lawyers, we know how easily an injury can change your life. You may face months or even years of expensive medical treatment, an inability to work, and struggle to enjoy life like you used to.

When that happens, our Kalamazoo personal injury lawyers will protect your best interests and demand a fair settlement that supports your recovery. Whether you’ve been involved in a motor vehicle accident, suffered a fall, or experienced any other type of personal injury, the right legal counsel can make all the difference.

Why You Should Hire Conybeare Injury and Accident Lawyers

When you’re seeking financial compensation after an accident, you want an attorney who’s not only well-versed in personal injury law but also focused on your well-being. At Conybeare Injury and Accident Lawyers, we don’t treat you like a case number – we get to know your story, understand your fears and concerns, and pursue a settlement or verdict that protects your future. 

When you work with our Kalamazoo personal injury lawyers, you benefit from the following: 

• Decades of Experience: Conybeare Injury and Accident Lawyers has been handling personal injury claims since 1984, and Barry Conybeare has been recognized as Lawyer of the Year in the Kalamazoo region 4 times by Best Lawyers in America. Our seasoned attorneys have faced a myriad of cases, gaining valuable insights and honing their skills to ensure the best outcomes for our clients.
• Client-Centric Approach: We deeply value the relationships we build with our clients. You can expect regular communication and a strategy that’s tailor-made for your personal injury claim.
• Proven Track Record: Our commitment to justice is reflected in our impressive track record of successful settlements and verdicts. Our determination and dedication to each case have led to countless satisfied clients receiving the monetary compensation they deserve.
• Transparent Fee Structure: We believe in a transparent, contingency-based fee structure. This means you owe us nothing unless we win your case. Our motivation is aligned with yours, ensuring that we are invested in obtaining the best possible outcome for you.
• Extensive Support: Beyond the courtroom, our personal injury attorneys provide support by dealing with insurance companies, medical professionals, expert witnesses, and other involved parties. Our goal is to give you the time and space to focus on recovery from your injuries. And while you do, we will keep you informed what is happening with your case.
• Unwavering Commitment: Personal injury claims can be emotionally taxing. That’s why we not only provide legal representation, but also emotional support during difficult times.

You can trust Conybeare Injury and Accident Lawyers to tirelessly advocate for you and refuse to settle for anything less than full and fair compensation.

Personal Injury Cases We Handle

Our attorneys handle a wide range of personal injury cases across Michigan. Each case is approached with careful attention to detail, thorough preparation, and a clear goal – to secure the financial compensation you need to move forward after an injury.

Car Accidents

We represent clients injured in all types of car accidents, from low-speed crashes to high-impact collisions involving serious injuries. Our team investigates the cause of the crash, reviews police reports and witness statements, and works with medical providers to document your injuries. We pursue compensation for hospital bills, ongoing treatment, wage loss, and physical pain resulting from the crash.

Rideshare Accidents

Auto accidents involving Uber, Lyft, or other rideshare services often involve more than one insurance company. Our attorneys are familiar with how coverage applies when a driver is logged into the app, transporting a passenger, or between trips. We handle communication with insurers on your behalf and work to recover damages for medical costs, lost income, and other injury-related losses.

Pedestrian Accidents

When a vehicle strikes a person on foot, the injuries are often severe. We represent pedestrians injured by drivers who failed to yield, ran red lights, or were distracted at the time of the crash. Our role includes proving fault, documenting the extent of your injuries, and pursuing full compensation for your recovery.

Dog Bites

Dog attacks can result in deep wounds, infections, and lasting emotional trauma. We assist clients injured by aggressive dogs by identifying the owner, reviewing local ordinances, and filing claims with homeowners’ or renters’ insurance. Damages may include medical treatment, psychological counseling, and compensation for scarring or disfigurement.

Trucking Accidents

Collisions with commercial trucks usually result in serious injuries or wrongful death. Our truck accident attorneys understand federal and state regulations governing truck drivers, including hours-of-service rules, maintenance requirements, and licensing standards. We gather driver logs, inspection records, and crash data to build strong cases for clients harmed in these crashes.

Bicycle Accidents

Cyclists injured by negligent drivers can suffer broken bones, head injuries, or other trauma. We investigate how the crash occurred, assess road conditions, and pursue insurance claims against the at-fault driver. Our goal is to recover compensation that reflects the full impact of the injury on your health, work, and quality of life.

Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcyclists risk severe injuries due to a lack of protection in a car crash. We represent riders injured by careless drivers who failed to check blind spots, ignored traffic laws, or acted recklessly. Our attorneys handle all aspects of your case, including proving liability, documenting injuries, and demanding compensation for lost income, medical care, and property damage.

Medical Malpractice

When doctors, nurses, or other healthcare providers fail to meet the standard of care, patients often suffer harm. Our firm handles cases involving misdiagnosis, surgical errors, prescription mistakes, and birth injuries. We work with medical professionals to evaluate the care you received and build a case for financial recovery.

Slip and Fall Accidents

Falls on unsafe surfaces can lead to broken bones, concussions, or spinal cord injuries that incur high medical bills. We represent clients injured due to poor lighting, unmarked hazards, wet floors, or snow and ice that wasn’t cleared. Our team documents the hazard, secures witness statements, and pursues claims against negligent property owners or managers.

If you’ve been injured due to someone else’s actions, contact our office to discuss your case and learn how we can help.

Compensation in a Personal Injury Claim

In a personal injury claim, compensation is awarded to cover the losses suffered due to another party’s negligence or intentional wrongdoing. Compensation can typically be divided into two main categories: economic damages and non-economic damages.

Economic Damages

Economic damages refer to the financial losses you experience due to the accident. These damages can be tracked through bills, receipts, pay records, and tax returns. Because they’re based on actual costs, insurance companies use them as a starting point when valuing a claim.

• Medical Expenses: This includes the full range of treatment you receive after the crash. It may cover ambulance transport, emergency care, hospital admission, diagnostic tests, surgery, physical therapy, and follow-up visits. If your injuries are serious, future medical needs, such as rehabilitation, injections, durable medical equipment, or home health care, may also be included. Medication, assistive devices like crutches or braces, and visits to specialists are part of this category as well.
• Lost Wages: If your injuries kept you from working, you may be entitled to recover your lost income. This includes time missed for recovery, medical appointments, or injury-related limitations. If you can’t return to the same type of work or your earning capacity is reduced, compensation may also include projected losses over time, as well as resources to help retrain you into a field that meets your ongoing limitations.
• Property Damage: This refers to damage to your vehicle or other personal belongings inside the car at the time of the crash. It includes repair costs, the cost to replace a totaled vehicle, or reimbursement for damaged items such as electronics, eyeglasses, or clothing. 
• Other Out-of-Pocket Expenses: A serious injury can incur additional expenses that fall outside medical care or lost wages. Examples include rideshare or public transit costs to reach doctor’s appointments, hotel stays during treatment, over-the-counter supplies, or home modifications such as ramps or shower bars. Keeping a record of these expenses can help ensure they’re included in your insurance claim.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages reflect the personal impact an injury has on your life. These losses are evaluated based on how your injury has changed your ability to function, enjoy daily life, or maintain relationships.

• Pain and Suffering: This refers to the physical discomfort and limitations caused by your injuries. It includes both immediate pain and ongoing effects, such as back pain, headaches, reduced mobility, or joint stiffness. 
• Emotional Distress: An injury can affect your mental health. Emotional distress damages cover issues such as anxiety, depression, fear of driving, nightmares, or feelings of isolation. These responses may arise after a traumatic crash, long recovery, or life-altering changes caused by the injury.
• Loss of Consortium: If the injury has damaged your relationship with your spouse, compensation may be available for the loss of companionship, affection, and support. This type of damage, which is usually claimed by the uninjured spouse, reflects how the injury has changed the couple’s life together.

The Michigan Personal Injury Claim Process

The personal injury lawsuit process involves careful planning, thorough investigation, and settlement negotiations. Below is an overview of the key stages.

• Initial Consultation and Case Evaluation: A case typically begins with an initial consultation with a personal injury lawyer. During this meeting, the lawyer will evaluate your case, including the nature of the injury, what caused the accident, and the potential for compensation. 
• Investigation and Evidence Collection: If you decide to move forward, your lawyer will thoroughly investigate your case. This includes collecting evidence such as photographs, witness statements, medical records, and police reports. The goal is to substantiate how the injury occurred and who is at fault.
• Pre-Suit Negotiations: Once the evidence is gathered, the parties often try to negotiate a settlement without a lawsuit. This can benefit clients because it allows them to receive their settlement funds sooner and avoid the costs and stresses associated with litigation. However, if the insurance company is unreasonable, a lawsuit may be necessary. 
• Filing a Complaint: Your personal injury attorney will prepare and file a formal legal complaint against the liable party or parties. This document outlines what happened, the legal basis for the claim, and the damages sought. It serves as the official start of the lawsuit.
• Discovery Process: After the complaint is filed, both sides enter the discovery phase. This is a period where both parties exchange information, evidence, and conduct depositions. Each side evaluates the other’s case and prepares for possible negotiations or trial.
• Negotiation and Settlement or Trial: If negotiations are successful, the case can be resolved at any stage during the litigation. However, if a settlement can’t be reached, the case will proceed to trial. In a trial, both sides present their case to a judge or jury, who will then renders a verdict.
• Case Resolution and Closure: Whether through settlement or trial, the case eventually reaches a resolution. If a settlement is agreed upon, the terms will be documented, and the case will be closed. If a trial verdict is rendered, there may be additional steps, such as appealing the decision or enforcing the judgment. Once all legal avenues are exhausted, the case is officially closed.

How Much Does a Personal Injury Attorney Cost? 

Most Kalamazoo personal injury lawyers operate on a contingency fee arrangement. This means that the attorney fees are contingent upon winning the case or achieving a settlement. Under a contingency fee arrangement, the lawyer agrees to accept a fixed percentage of the recovery. If they win the case, their fees are taken out of the amount awarded. This percentage can vary, but is most commonly one-third. The fee agreement is agreed upon before the lawyer takes on the case.

The benefit of this arrangement is that you don’t pay any legal fees unless your lawyer successfully recovers money on your behalf. It aligns the interests of the client and the attorney, as both parties are motivated to achieve the best possible outcome. Additionally, it allows those who might not otherwise be able to afford legal representation to seek compensation for their injuries.

How Long Do You Have to File a Negligence Claim?

In Michigan, most personal injury claims based on negligence must be filed within three years from the date of the accident. This deadline is known as the statute of limitations, and it applies to lawsuits seeking compensation for bodily injury, pain and suffering, and other losses caused by another person’s careless actions.

If you miss this deadline, the court will likely dismiss your case, even if you have strong evidence. This rule applies whether the injury came from a car crash, a fall, a dog bite, or another type of accident. The clock typically starts on the date the injury occurred, not when you first noticed symptoms.

There are a few situations where different time limits may apply. For example:

• If the claim is against a government agency, you may have to provide written notice within 120 days or six months, depending on the agency involved.
• If the injured person is a minor, the three-year deadline usually doesn’t begin until they turn 18.
• If the injured person is legally incapacitated, the time limit may be paused until they regain capacity.
• Claims for medical malpractice most commonly have a 2-year statute of limitations from the date of the medical error.

It is important to speak with a lawyer as early as possible if you think you have a claim. Gathering medical records, witness statements, and insurance documents takes time, and waiting too long can weaken or lose your case.

What if You Were Injured by a Hit-and-Run Driver?

If you were hurt by a driver who left the scene, you still have options under Michigan law. Even if the at-fault driver isn’t identified, certain insurance benefits may be available to help cover your medical expenses, lost wages, and other injury-related costs.

Michigan follows a no-fault system, which means your own auto insurance policy normally covers your initial medical bills and wage loss, regardless of who caused the crash. This includes injuries from a hit and run, as long as you have a valid no-fault policy. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits apply even when the driver who hit you can’t be located.

If your injuries are serious enough to meet the legal threshold for a third-party claim, you may be able to pursue additional compensation through your uninsured motorist coverage. Uninsured motorist claims allow you to seek damages for pain and suffering, excess wage loss, and other losses that go beyond what PIP provides. You’ll need to immediately report the incident to the police and your insurer, and provide documentation of the hit and run, such as a police report or witness statement.

If you don’t own a vehicle or don’t have insurance, you may still qualify for benefits through the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan. This program helps uninsured victims get access to basic no-fault benefits when no other policy applies. The process involves filing an application and meeting certain eligibility requirements. A Michigan personal injury attorney can help you review your coverage and take the necessary steps to protect your claim.

How Michigan’s Threshold Law Affects Pain and Suffering Claims

In Michigan, not every car accident injury qualifies for pain and suffering compensation. To bring a claim against the at-fault driver for non-economic damages, such as pain, emotional distress, or loss of enjoyment of life, your injury must meet a legal standard known as the threshold requirement. This rule limits pain and suffering claims to cases where the injury is serious and has had a lasting impact.

Under Michigan law, you must prove that your injury resulted in one of the following:

• A serious impairment of body function
• Permanent serious disfigurement
• Death

Examples may include a back injury that prevents you from doing physical work, a concussion that limits concentration, or a broken limb that keeps you from driving or maintaining your home. If the injury heals quickly with no lasting effects, it may not qualify under the threshold law. If you were injured, then you should consult with a Kalamazoo personal injury lawyer to have these issues evaluated.

Pain and suffering claims are filed separately from no-fault insurance benefits and require evidence beyond basic medical records. Witness statements, photographs, and physician reports can help demonstrate how the injury has disrupted your life. A Kalamazoo personal injury attorney can evaluate your case and determine if your injuries meet Michigan’s legal threshold.

Get a Free Consultation From Our Kalamazoo Personal Injury Lawyers Today

From car accidents to dog bites to medical malpractice, injuries resulting from negligence require an experienced and compassionate legal partner. If you or a loved one have been affected by someone else’s negligence in Kalamazoo, contact Conybeare Injury and Accident Lawyers today. To schedule your free initial consultation, call our personal injury law firm at 269-769-BEAR or fill out this contact form. Remember: If it’s not fair, call the Bear!