Some of the people who call us have never hired a lawyer before. They're sitting in a hospital bed, or they're burying someone they love, and they have no idea what comes next. What they do know is that the insurance company has already started calling, and something about that doesn't feel right.
It isn't right. That's exactly why we do what we do. George and Alex Hamo have spent their careers standing between good people and the billion-dollar insurance companies trying to pay them as little as possible. We are a father-and-son personal injury firm rooted right here in Flint, Michigan, and we take this work personally. Every single time.
What Is a Personal Injury Claim in Michigan?
A personal injury claim is a legal action against someone whose negligence caused you harm. In Michigan, that means proving the other party owed you a duty of care and failed to meet it. That failure has to be the direct cause of your injuries.
Michigan follows a modified comparative fault system under MCL 600.2959. This means your compensation can be reduced if you were partially at fault. If you are found to be 51% or more at fault, you may not recover anything. That is why how your case is investigated and presented matters so much from day one.
Who can file a personal injury claim in Michigan:
- Individuals injured by another party's negligence
- Surviving family members in wrongful death cases
- Parents or guardians filing on behalf of injured minors
- Personal representatives of a deceased person's estate
Michigan's No-Fault Insurance Law and How It Affects Your Claim
Michigan is one of the only true no-fault states in the country. Under MCL 500.3101, every driver must carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage. PIP pays for your medical expenses, lost wages, and replacement services regardless of who caused the accident.
The 2019 No-Fault reform changed everything. It introduced a tiered PIP benefit system, which gives drivers a choice of coverage levels. Some people chose lower tiers to save money on premiums without fully understanding what they were giving up. If your coverage is limited, your benefits could run out before your recovery does.
What PIP Benefits Cover
- Reasonable and necessary medical expenses
- Up to 85% of lost wages for up to three years
- Replacement services (household tasks you can no longer perform)
- Attendant care for serious injuries
When You Can File a Third-Party Claim
PIP only covers your own losses. To sue the at-fault driver, you must meet Michigan's "serious impairment of body function" threshold under MCL 500.3135. This standard requires that your injury affects your ability to lead your normal life. Insurance companies fight hard against this threshold. We fight harder.
Common Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Flint and Across Michigan
Truck Accidents
Truck accident cases are our highest priority. Commercial trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. When they hit a passenger vehicle, the consequences are almost always catastrophic.
These cases involve multiple layers of liability:
- The truck driver (fatigue, distraction, impairment)
- The trucking company (hiring practices, maintenance records, hours-of-service violations)
- Cargo loaders (improper loading leading to shift or rollover)
- Vehicle or parts manufacturers (defective brakes, tires, or systems)
Car Accidents
Michigan car accident claims involve both No-Fault PIP benefits and potential third-party liability. Navigating both at the same time is complicated. Insurance companies count on you being confused.
Common issues we see in car accident claims:
- Insurers disputing whether your injury meets the serious impairment threshold
- Lowball settlement offers made before you know the full extent of your injuries
- Attempts to blame you for the accident to invoke comparative fault
- Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage disputes
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists are often treated unfairly. Adjusters assume they were speeding or riding recklessly, even when the evidence says otherwise. We push back against that bias aggressively.
Michigan's helmet law does not require all riders to wear a helmet, but insurers still try to use helmet use as leverage in negotiations. We know how to separate safety choices from liability. Motorcycle injuries are frequently catastrophic, and victims deserve full compensation for what they've lost.
Rideshare Accidents (Uber/Lyft)
Rideshare accident claims are more complicated than standard car accidents. Coverage depends on which phase the driver was in when the crash occurred:
- App off: The driver's personal auto insurance applies
- App on, waiting for a ride: Uber/Lyft provide limited liability coverage
- Ride in progress: Uber/Lyft's $1 million liability policy may apply
Wrongful Death
Losing someone because of another person's negligence is devastating. Michigan's Wrongful Death Act, MCL 600.2922, gives surviving family members a legal path to justice. The personal representative of the estate files the claim on behalf of eligible survivors.
Damages that may be recoverable in a wrongful death case:
- Loss of financial support and contributions to the household
- Loss of companionship, society, and guidance
- Grief and mental anguish of surviving family members
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Medical expenses related to the final injury or illness
Premises Liability: Slip and Fall and Beyond
Property owners in Michigan owe a duty of care to people on their premises. When they fail to maintain safe conditions and someone gets hurt, they can be held liable. We have handled cases involving retail stores, restaurants, apartment complexes, and commercial properties.
Michigan's "open and obvious" doctrine can be a defense for property owners. However, there are exceptions when the hazard is unreasonably dangerous or when special circumstances made it hard to avoid. Knowing how to argue those exceptions is the difference between a dismissed case and a real recovery.
Common premises liability scenarios we handle:
- Wet or icy floors with no warning
- Broken or uneven walkways
- Inadequate lighting in parking lots or stairwells
- Malfunctioning doors or gates
- Negligent security leading to assault or harm
Dog Bites
Michigan is a strict liability state for dog bites under MCL 287.351. There is no "one free bite" rule here. If a dog bites you, the owner is liable, period. You do not have to prove the owner knew the dog was dangerous.
Dog bite injuries can be serious. They often involve deep tissue damage, nerve injury, and significant scarring. Children are especially vulnerable. We handle these cases with the same focus and aggression we bring to every serious injury claim.
How Michigan Law Determines What Your Case Is Worth
The value of a personal injury case in Michigan comes down to two categories of damages: economic and non-economic.
Economic damages include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
- Cost of future care, therapy, or medical equipment
- Replacement services and household support costs
Non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium (for spouses or close family members)
You Deserve Someone in Your Corner
There is a moment after a serious accident when everything feels uncertain. The bills are coming in. The insurer keeps calling. Your body is not what it was. And you are trying to hold everything together for yourself and your family. We have seen that moment hundreds of times, and we have never stopped being moved by it.
What we offer is not just legal strategy. It is a human bridge from where you are right now to where you deserve to be. That means carrying the weight of the legal fight so you can focus on healing, on your family, and on getting your life back. We have spent decades doing exactly that for people across Flint and all of Michigan, and we are not done yet.
Start Here: Speak with a Hamo Law Attorney at No Cost
You do not need to figure this out alone. One conversation with us costs you nothing, and it could change everything. We will listen to what happened, tell you honestly what we think your options are, and never pressure you into anything. That is a promise.
Reach out today to speak directly with George or Alex Hamo.
Hamo Law Firm 614 S. Grand Traverse Street Flint, Michigan 48502
The information provided on this page is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is unique, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Michigan No-Fault and personal injury laws are subject to change. Please contact a qualified attorney to discuss the specific facts of your situation.