Jay Trucks & Associates, P. C.

Traverse City Car Accident Lawyers

FREE CASE CONSULTATION

No Fees Unless We Win

Recovering compensation from a car crash can be an important part of the recovery process for many victims and their families. In more than three decades serving residents of Michigan, the auto accident lawyers at Jay Trucks & Associates have helped to obtain tens of millions in compensation for our clients, including a $2,000,000 recovery for a crash the suffered a traumatic brain injury and $1,000,000 for a case involving a crash that claimed the life of a 17-year-old and her unborn baby.


We understand how to build strong car accident cases and can apply that knowledge to your potential lawsuit. Our founding attorney Jay Trucks has been handling injury lawsuits for more than 30 years and obtained numerous accolades during his career.

…The outcome could not have been better. These are hard working professionals who know their stuff!…
– Dennis Muller

There are no upfront fees for meeting with one of our attorneys about your accident. Our firm also operates on a contingency basis, which means there are no fees unless you receive compensation.


Free Consultation & No Upfront Fees. Call Now 989-254-6113989-565-9047.


What is the Value of My Claim?

In most situations, medical bills make a large percentage of the damages from a car crash claim, whether it is an insurance claim or a lawsuit. This includes the costs for treating your injuries, such as the cost of:

  • Emergency room treatment
  • Medications prescribed by your doctor
  • Tests to help doctors diagnose and treat your injuries (MRIs, X-rays, CT scans)
  • Casting of a broken bone
  • Costs of appointments with specialists and follow-up appointments
  • Surgeries

However, there are other damages that may be available, such as lost wages. This refers to wages you were not paid because you missed work, usually because you were physically unable to work or were under work restrictions from your doctor.

Sometimes we could pursue compensation for pain and suffering caused by your injuries.

The value of a claim is based on the value of the damages sustained. The worse the injury, the more valuable the claim. However, in an insurance claim, you may be limited by the value of the insurance policy you file a claim against.

Our goal in representing Michigan car crash victims is to recover maximum compensation to help them in their time of need.


Jay Trucks & Associates. Ph: Call Now 989-254-6113989-565-9047


Do I Have a Case?

If you suffered an injury in a car crash, you may well have a valid claim. However, it is important to talk to a licensed attorney about it. Our Traverse City car accident lawyers know how to determine the potential value of a claim and the next steps victims may need to take to pursue compensation.

In a free consultation, our attorneys may consider the factors involved in the crash:

  • What led to the accident
  • Where and when it happened
  • Vehicles involved
  • Traffic citations issued to the other driver
  • How the other driver may have been negligent
  • Whether there were witnesses
  • Pictures or other evidence you may have gathered
  • What your doctor told you about your injuries and how long it may take to recover

There are no costs or obligations for scheduling a free consultation to learn more about the benefits of working with an attorney.

How Can a Licensed Attorney Help?

When you hire our firm, we are prepared to manage the insurance claims process and the rest of the legal process on your behalf.

Our Traverse City auto accident lawyers want you to be focused on recovering from your injuries. You do not need the added stress of dealing with insurance companies looking to avoid providing fair compensation.

Our legal team is prepared to get to work gathering evidence of the other driver’s negligence, the extent of your injuries, possible future treatment needs, lost wages and damage to your vehicle.

If necessary, we are prepared to take steps to preserve evidence and consult industry experts to help us determine future treatment costs and the effects of your injuries on future earning capacity.

NOTE: Accident victims that have legal representation recover larger amounts of financial compensation compared to those that do not have a lawyer.

We have extensive knowledge of Michigan’s no-fault auto insurance system, as we have been navigating that system for three decades and have an established track record of success.

When is My Claim Due?

There is a one-year deadline for no-fault insurance coverage claims. That means you must file within one year of the crash or you may lose the ability to pursue these benefits.

Lawsuits over car crashes are only filed in rare cases in Michigan. The deadline for these cases is generally three years from the date of the crash. Lawsuits filed after this point are likely to be dismissed from court.

As there can be exceptions, such as for claims against government entities or claims over defective vehicle components, it is important to talk to a lawyer as soon as possible. The clock could already be ticking, and deadlines get here much faster than you may realize.

Restrictions on Car Crash Lawsuits

In fault states, car crash victims do not face as many restrictions on filing a lawsuit as residents of no-fault states like Michigan. Generally, you must pursue compensation from your own insurance policy. You can only file a lawsuit if your situation fits one of the criteria below:

  • Permanent disfigurement or serious injury
  • Crash victim was killed in the accident
  • The other driver was a non-resident and his or her vehicle was not registered in Michigan
  • You were a victim of a crash in another state
  • The driver of the other vehicle has been assigned more than 50 percent of the fault for damage to your car that is not covered by insurance – although you can only sue for a maximum of $1,000

We are ready to take your call 24/7. Phone: Call Now 989-254-6113989-565-9047


Insurance Coverage for Injured Drivers

Since Michigan crash victims need to turn to their own insurance to pursue compensation, the state requires you to buy personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. This coverage compensates crash victims for medical bills that are reasonable and necessary, and it does not matter who is at fault for the accident.

Policies that were issued or renewed before July 1, 2020 contain unlimited coverage of medical bills. PIP may also provide compensation for as much as 85 percent of wages you would have earned from employment if not for your injuries. This compensation can be paid out for up to three years. PIP also compensates you for household services when you need to hire someone to complete these services because of your injury.

Policy Limits Recovery – $500,000
For a family business owner that suffered neck fractures and shoulder injuries in an automobile accident.

Drivers who purchased or renewed PIP policies on or after July 1, 2020 had to choose their level of coverage, policies did not automatically provide unlimited coverage. While unlimited is still an option, you can also choose coverage limits of $250,000 or $500,000. People on Medicare can go without PIP coverage and those on Medicaid can choose $50,000 in coverage. Those with health coverage that does not exclude car crash injuries can also go without PIP coverage.

Liability Insurance Coverage

Every driver is required to obtain liability insurance coverage if they are found at fault for a crash. Minimum coverage in policies issued or renewed before July 1, 2020 is:

  • $20,000 per person and $40,000 per crash for bodily injury
  • $10,000 for property damage

Bodily injury minimums went up to $250,000 and $500,000 for liability insurance policies bought or renewed after July 1, 2020.

What if the Other Driver is Uninsured?

In these situations, including crashes with drivers whose insurance coverage will run out before covering the full value of your damages, you may be able to draw coverage from your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

These types of claims can be complex, as there may be requirements that must be satisfied before you can obtain compensation from your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

Our experienced Traverse City auto accident attorneys are available to answer your questions about these kinds of claims. Phone: Call Now 989-254-6113989-565-9047

What to Say to Insurance Adjusters Who Call

The short answer is, not much. That is generally the best way for crash victims to deal with insurance companies. You may be thinking things are different because you are dealing with your own insurance company. However, an insurers’ goal after a crash is to pay out the least possible amount of compensation.

If you talk to the insurance company, stick to basic facts about the accident and avoid too many specifics about your injuries and what caused the crash. Otherwise, you could accidentally say something that may be used against you, such as:

  • “I’ll be OK.”
  • “I feel fine.”
  • “It could have been a lot worse.”
  • “I do not remember much of what happened.”

Statements like these and many other comments could easily be used against you to discredit things you say later. The insurance company will use these kinds of statements to minimize the severity of your injuries or attempt to deny your claim.

You should strongly consider talking to an attorney before agreeing to provide a recorded statement. If you give a recorded statement, your claim could be limited by what you say.

Settlements offered early in the process are likely to be far below the full value of your claim. Insurers know you are vulnerable and may be more likely to accept a lowball offer out of desperation for compensation because bills are piling up.

How to Protect Your Claim

Going to the hospital right away is your number one concern. You need treatment for your injuries so you can begin the recovery process. Sometimes quick treatment can prevent injuries from getting much worse.

Auto Accident Recovery – $350,000
Obtained for a 59 year old mother that sustained a head injury and her 26 year old daughter that suffered a back injury in a car crash.

Quick treatment also helps to prove a strong connection between the accident and your injuries, as this connection is often something that is disputed by insurance companies.

Report the accident to the police so they can create an accident report as an official record of what happened. The report may contain the officer’s opinion on which driver is at fault.

When possible, and when it will not put you in danger or worsen your injuries, gather evidence at the scene, especially pictures of the damaged vehicles and visible injuries. When you leave, the scene will be cleaned up so this may be your only chance to photograph how the scene looked right after the crash.


Experienced car accident lawyers ready to assist you. Call Now 989-254-6113989-565-9047


There are many types of accidents on Michigan roadways that can lead to injuries and car crash claims:

  • Drunk driving crashes
  • Wrong-way crashes
  • Rear-end crashes
  • Sideswipes
  • Distracted driving accidents
  • Right-of-way crashes
  • Left-turn accidents

These accidents are often caused by other drivers’ negligence, which may include distracted driving, drunk driving, breaking traffic laws, speeding or simply not paying attention.

Contact a Licensed Traverse City Car Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation

Have questions about your claim, such as what it may be worth and how we may be able to help you?

We offer crash victims a free claim review with one of our experienced attorneys. There is no cost or obligation, so there is no risk to you. For more than 30 years, we have been representing auto accident victims, helping them obtain the compensation they need to move forward with their lives.

If you choose to hire our firm, there are no attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation. If necessary, we are ready to go to court to hold the insurance company accountable and recover the compensation you need.


Jay Trucks & Associates. Ph: Call Now 989-254-6113989-565-9047