30 May

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Grand Rapids Car Accident Claims: Deadlines Injured Victims Need to Know

in Accidents, Auto No-Fault, Michigan Laws, Motor Vehicle Crashes

Highway traffic in Grand Rapids representing car accident claim filing deadlines in Michigan.

In Grand Rapids, most car accident lawsuits must be filed within three years of the crash, but no‑fault benefit claims, uninsured motorist claims, and claims involving government entities often have much shorter deadlines. Missing these deadlines can permanently bar recovery. After a car accident in Grand Rapids, most injured people focus on medical treatment, insurance calls, and getting life back on track. Legal deadlines often feel distant or unimportant - until it’s too late. Unfortunately, Michigan law imposes strict filing deadlines on car accident claims, and missing even one can permanently eliminate the right to recover compensation. These deadlines apply regardless of...

27 May

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How Long Do You Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Michigan?

Posted by Delaney Morgenstern

in Accidents, Auto No-Fault, Michigan Laws, Motor Vehicle Crashes

Judge’s gavel on a calendar representing filing deadlines for Michigan car accident claims.

In Michigan, most car accident lawsuits must be filed within three years of the date of the accident. However, no‑fault claims, claims against governmental entities, and uninsured motorist claims may have much shorter deadlines. After a car accident, many injured people understandably focus on medical treatment and recovery. Legal deadlines are often the last thing on their minds. Unfortunately, Michigan law imposes strict time limits on car accident claims, and missing a deadline can permanently eliminate the right to recover compensation. Knowing how long you have to file a car accident claim in Michigan - and which deadlines apply to which types...

07 May

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How to Prove “Serious Impairment of Body Function” in Michigan (and Why Insurers Dispute It)

Posted by Delaney Morgenstern

in Auto No-Fault, Injuries, Michigan Laws

Reviewing injury claim documents to prove serious impairment of body function in a Michigan insurance case

To prove “serious impairment of body function” in Michigan, you must show (1) an objectively manifested impairment, (2) of an important body function, that (3) affects your general ability to lead your normal life. Strong proof usually includes medical documentation and testing, records of functional limitations, and clear before‑and‑after life impact evidence - because insurers often dispute seriousness, causation, or “normal life” impact. After a Michigan car accident, you may hear the term “serious impairment of body function” and wonder what it means for your case. Under Michigan’s No‑Fault law, this threshold often determines whether an injured person can pursue pain...

03 March

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What Is “Serious Impairment of Body Function” Under Michigan Law?

Posted by Delaney Morgenstern

in Accidents, Injuries, Michigan Laws, Uncategorized

Judge’s gavel and legal documents representing Michigan’s serious impairment of body function standard.

If you were injured in a Michigan car accident, you may hear a phrase that sounds confusing but matters a lot for your case: “serious impairment of body function.” Under Michigan’s No‑Fault system, this legal threshold is a gatekeeper - because it determines whether you may pursue pain and suffering (non‑economic damages) from the at‑fault driver. For many people, the most frustrating part is that this isn’t just a medical question. You can have real pain, real treatment, and real disruption - and still face arguments from the insurance company that the injury “doesn’t qualify.” The key is understanding what Michigan...

02 July

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Boating Safety in Michigan: Laws, Tips, and Requirements Every Boater Should Know

Posted by Dana Lawrence

in Injuries, Michigan Laws, Safety Information

Boating safety in Michigan requires a boat with life jackets and following Michigan's boating laws

With more than 11,000 inland lakes, boating in Michigan is a favorite summer pastime. Unfortunately, boating accidents happen—many of which are preventable. Understanding Michigan’s boating safety laws can help keep you and your loved ones safe while avoiding costly fines or legal trouble. Katie Tucker, a personal injury attorney at Sinas Dramis Law Firm in Lansing and a boat owner herself, recently shared important boating information on WILX Studio 10’s “The Legal Answer,” to help you stay safe and compliant this summer. That information is summarized below. Life Jackets: Michigan Boating Law’s #1 Requirement Before you leave the dock, make sure every...

06 May

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What You Need to Know After a Grand Rapids Car Accident – Does Your Injury Meet the Threshold for a Claim?

Posted by Dana Lawrence

in Accidents, Auto No-Fault, Injuries, Michigan Laws, Motor Vehicle Crashes

Car crashes are, unfortunately, a daily occurrence. While many are minor, others cause life-changing injuries. If you or a loved one has been seriously hurt in a motor vehicle accident, it is in your best interest to talk to a personal injury lawyer. Tom Sinas, an expert Grand Rapids car accident attorney with Sinas Dramis Law Firm, has been advocating for injured people in West Michigan for over a decade. He will help you understand your rights following a Grand Rapids car accident and determine if you meet the complicated legal standard of threshold injury law—a first step in any...

28 April

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Child Injured in a Car Accident? What Parents Need to Know

Posted by Dana Lawrence

in Accidents, Injuries, Michigan Laws, Motor Vehicle Crashes

child riding in the back seat, passenger in a motor vehicle

Every hour in the United States, nearly 150 children under the age of 19 are treated in emergency departments for injuries sustained in car accidents. What's more, transportation-related injuries are the leading cause of fatal injury for children ages 1-18 in Michigan. At Sinas Dramis Law Firm, our attorneys are experts in advocating for victims of car accidents caused by an at-fault driver, and we understand how devastating it is to watch your child suffer due to someone else’s negligence. That’s why it’s important for parents to know their child's rights under Michigan law, in the event they are severely...

23 April

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Reduce the Risk of Michigan Car Accidents by Staying Focused While Driving

Posted by Dana Lawrence

in Accidents, Injuries, Michigan Laws, Motor Vehicle Crashes, Safety Information

prevent Michigan car accidents by avoiding distracted driving

We’ve all been there. Your phone buzzes. A song needs skipping. Your coffee spills. Distracted driving happens faster than you think, but the consequences of a Michigan car accident can last forever. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 3,000 lives were lost and an estimated additional 424,000 people in the United States were injured in car accidents involving distracted drivers in 2023. That same year, a total of 15,136 crashes occurred in Michigan involving a distracted driver; 56% of those crashes resulted in a fatality. It’s interesting to note that the top five counties in our state...

01 April

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New Laws Seek to Protect Michigan Children Involved in Car Accidents

Posted by Dana Lawrence

in Michigan Laws, Motor Vehicle Crashes, Safety Information

The Sinas Dramis Law Firm is well aware of the life-changing dangers that car accidents pose to children. Unfortunately, we’ve witnessed one too many times the increased severity of an injury when a child was not properly secured in a car seat or booster seat. That’s why we applaud Michigan for instituting the new child passenger safety laws taking effect in our state on April 2, 2025. These laws are an important step in improving safety standards and reducing the risk of injury and death of Michigan children involved in car accidents....

27 March

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Request to Admit – Not Your Average Discovery Tool

Posted by Dana Lawrence

in Accidents, Auto Insurance, Michigan Laws, Uncategorized

Let’s be honest about it: no one likes written discovery in civil cases. Practitioners and judges are too familiar with the months-long effort that amounts to stacks of paper full of objections and little substantive information. Thus, it is easy to lump all written discovery into one unsavory group. But requests for admissions under MCR 2.312 are different for two key reasons. Admission or Denial First, requests to admit force one party to either admit or deny a fact or conclusion. As MCR 2.312(A) states: “A party may serve on another party a written request for the admission of the truth of...

Grand Rapids Car Accident Claims: Deadlines Injured Victims Need to Know

How Long Do You Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Michigan?

How to Prove “Serious Impairment of Body Function” in Michigan (and Why Insurers Dispute It)

What Is “Serious Impairment of Body Function” Under Michigan Law?

Boating Safety in Michigan: Laws, Tips, and Requirements Every Boater Should Know

What You Need to Know After a Grand Rapids Car Accident – Does Your Injury Meet the Threshold for a Claim?

Child Injured in a Car Accident? What Parents Need to Know

Reduce the Risk of Michigan Car Accidents by Staying Focused While Driving

New Laws Seek to Protect Michigan Children Involved in Car Accidents

Request to Admit – Not Your Average Discovery Tool

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