When do I Need a Grand Rapids Personal Injury Lawyer?
The need for a personal injury attorney, unfortunately, likely means you or someone you love was seriously injured. It’s also likely that personal injury law or what that entails isn’t something you’ve considered unless it becomes personally relevant to your life. Leaving many with the question, when do I need a Grand Rapids personal injury lawyer? It’s important to understand, that not every injury suffered results in a legal claim. Personal Injury cases must meet specific criteria and are summarized by the following statement:
A successful personal injury case must show that a legal duty exists between the injured person and the defendant; this duty must be breached; and the breach should cause a quantifiable injury.
Breaking this down into three parts:
- Legal duty – The first question to answer on the viability of a personal injury claim, is whether there is a legal duty. Is there a legally recognized relationship between two parties, meaning between the person who was hurt and the person against whom they may pursue a claim. In the scenario of a motor vehicle crash, the legal duty is the recognized relationship between two drivers, and what the state says is the duty they owe to one another.
- Breach – Step two is determining whether that duty was breached. Meaning, did the person who caused the injury act in a way that was below what is the standard of care for that moment or below a reasonable level of safety? Using a car crash as an example, the state has a set of rules of the road known as the Michigan Motor Vehicle Code. If someone breaks those rules, that’s evidence that they were not acting safely, and breached the standard of care or legal duty to the other person.
- Causation – The final consideration on whether an incident qualifies as a personal injury claim, is causation. Simply meaning, did the breach of the legal duty result in an injury. For example, if someone runs a stop sign, violates the motor vehicle code, and causes a crash, the other person involved breaks a bone and is seriously injured. In that situation, the breach caused an injury.
After these elements are established and the potential of a personal injury claim is verified, the discussion moves to damages or harms suffered, which could be tangible, like medical bills, or intangible, like quality of life changes.
Personal Injury Attorneys in Grand Rapids with Decades of Experience
A serious injury or accident can change your life in the blink of an eye. Finding balance following a life-altering event such as a catastrophic injury or car crash is challenging at best. Between the doctor appointments, mounting medical bills, time off work, and managing your day-to-day duties, understanding the complex legal system oftentimes falls to the end of the to-do list. This is where a Grand Rapids personal injury lawyer steps in to help with these responsibilities so you can focus on your road to recovery.
If you or a family member has been injured and are navigating this overwhelming world following your accident, there is help. Our skilled West Michigan legal team – led by award-winning Grand Rapids personal injury lawyer, Tom Sinas – understands the ins and outs of West Michigan. We are familiar with the resources and information that can assist you on your road to recovery. We leave no stone left unturned on behalf of our clients, and work tirelessly so you can make the best recovery possible, both physically and financially.
Grand Rapids Personal Injury Law Firm
Address: 310 Fulton St E, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Phone: 616-301-3333
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West Michigan Personal Injury Verdicts and Settlements
These are just some of the many victories for our West Michigan clients.
$5,000,000 – Wrongful death settlement on behalf of a West Michigan family for the suffering and death of a beloved 74-year-old Barry County woman who suffered extensive personal injuries after being struck by a forklift in the parking lot of a local hardware store. The woman was survived by her husband of 51 years, adult daughter, and three grandchildren.
$4,000,000– Auto liability case involving serious and life-altering injuries to a young woman who sustained an injury to her spinal cord. Our firm helped secure a pre-suit settlement by putting together a comprehensive presentation that included a detailed written summary and a documentary-style film with extensive video footage, photographs, radiology images, and interviews with the young woman’s family, friends, and medical professionals.
$2,000,000 – Settlement for the wrongful death of a man killed when the wind blew shut the door of a shipping container/outdoor bar, crushing him against the bar counter.
$1,975,000 -Settlement for Ottawa County man who suffered leg amputation after being struck by a distracted driver. Recovery exceeded the first two layers of primary insurance.
$1,400,000 million settlement for propane explosion/burn injuries
$1,390,000 million settlement for death caused by a semi-tractor trailer
$1,250,000 – Policy limits personal injury settlement for a West Michigan woman who sustained orthopedic injuries as a result of a crash caused by a drunk driver.
$1,250,000 – Policy limits personal injury settlement for Grand Rapids area bicyclist who suffered a traumatic brain injury and visual injury after being struck by a car while on a city sidewalk.
$1,250,000 – Policy limits wrongful death settlement involving tragic death of Ottawa County man who was killed in a dual motor vehicle crash in Grand Rapids.
$1,000,000 – Policy limits settlement of commercial semi-truck case involving injuries to a Grand Rapids area husband and wife.
Hear From Our Grand Rapids Clients
Finding the best Grand Rapids personal injury attorney to work with is key to your successful recovery. We believe that one of the best ways to narrow your search down is by reading firsthand accounts from real clients – real people, just like you. Here you will find a small sample of what our West Michigan clients have to say about our legal representation and services.
Our Team in Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids Personal Injury Lawyer Tom Sinas
Focusing on personal injury law, Tom Sinas handles a variety of cases, from car crashes and motorcycle accidents in Grand Rapids and beyond, to complex wrongful death claims. While many of his clients are from West Michigan, Tom skillfully handles cases and litigates throughout the state of Michigan. He was the only West Michigan attorney to be recognized as a “Top 10 Plaintiff’s Personal Injury Lawyer” by Leading Lawyers in 2020 and was also named a Grand Rapids Top Lawyer by Grand Rapids Magazine and Grand Rapids Business Journal in 2019.
Tom’s commitment to and involvement in the West Michigan community is extensive. Tom is an integral part of the “Lids for Kids” program – the firm’s annual bicycle helmet giveaway in Grand Rapids, Lansing, and Traverse City. To date, the event his properly fitted and given away 12,000 free helmets to Michigan kids. Additionally, as part of his dedication to helping Michigan residents understand many of Michigan’s laws and legal rights, Tom appears every Saturday morning on Fox 17 “Know the Law.” These quick, 3-minute segments cover a range of topics and are enjoyed by viewers in Grand Rapids and greater West Michigan.
Grand Rapids Personal Injury Lawyer Brian Lawson
Brian joined Sinas Dramis Law Firm in 2022 but has handled personal injury cases in West Michigan for 30 years. He primarily works out of the firm’s Grand Rapids office location. Brian handles a wide variety of case types including motor vehicle crashes, trucking accidents, gas fires and explosions, construction site injuries, and premises liability cases. In addition to his work as a Grand Rapids personal injury lawyer, Brian represents personal injury victims throughout the state. His years of experience have helped him become a skilled Grand Rapids car accident lawyer, understanding the complexities of the auto no-fault system. Additionally, he is skilled at representing people who have been injured in auto accidents as the result of another driver’s negligence or reckless driving. Brian has been part of the firm’s Lids for Kids endeavors in Grand Rapids and will continue to help expand the firm’s community involvement in West Michigan in the years to come.
News About Our Grand Rapids Personal Injury Practice
4 Reasons to Choose Sinas Dramis as Your Grand Rapids Personal Injury Lawyer
When you’re dealing with insurance claims and the legal system, you need someone in your corner who will go to bat for you. You need someone who can not only explain your legal rights and the legal system, but who will tirelessly fight on for the fair compensation you deserve as a result of your injuries – both in and out of the courtroom. Tom Sinas is an award-winning Grand Rapids attorney with a lengthy track record of successfully handling a variety of personal injury matters from case intake all the way through trial.
Tom Sinas is one of the most well-regarded personal injury lawyers in Grand Rapids. Over the course of his career, he has earned the respect of his peers, the public, and his clients alike, garnering a variety of accolades and honors along the way. In 2021, he was voted as the “Best Personal Injury Attorney of Grand Rapids” by readers of the Grand Rapids Magazine. In 2019, 2021, and 2022, Grand Rapids Magazine named him a “Grand Rapids Top Lawyer.” Additionally, Tom was the only Grand Rapids personal injury lawyer to be named a Top 10 Plaintiff’s Personal Injury Lawyer by Leading Lawyers in 2020. He has also been named a Michigan “Super Lawyer,” a “Rising Star,” and an “Up and Coming Lawyer.”
Time and again, Tom’s clients leave 5-star reviews commenting on how pleased they were with the work of Tom and his team. We pride ourselves in providing regular, prompt, and clear communication, and making sure that our clients fully understand what is happening in their case so that they can make the best decisions for themselves and their family. Our clients are encouraged to contact us with questions and we strive to provide top-line communication in return.
You’ve probably seen the gimmicky lawyer commercials flashing big, multi-figure case results. While we do pride ourselves in the compensation we obtain for our clients, you won’t see the same type of marketing here at Sinas Dramis. You can rest assured, however, that we will passionately fight for the compensation that you deserve as the result of your injuries, whether that’s a denied insurance claim, or a claim against an at-fault party who causes injuries due to negligence.