I-96 crash in Kent County
A 17-year-old Grand Rapids boy was hospitalized with head injuries in a cross median crash Monday evening.
Michigan State Police Grand Rapids Post troopers said the crash happened about 5:40 p.m. on I-96 near Morse Lake Road in Kent County.
The preliminary investigation found that he was driving east when he crossed the median at high speed, broke through cable barriers and hit a Toyota Tacoma.
The teenager was taken to Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital. The Tacoma’s driver, a 22-year-old from Hudsonville, was not injured.
Troopers reported that the teenager had been driving recklessly before the crash. The crash remained under investigation when police released the information.
Michigan no-fault benefits and head-injury claims
An injured driver can qualify for Michigan no-fault benefits even if they caused the crash. Personal injury protection benefits are payable without regard to fault, subject to insurance eligibility, coverage limits and other statutory requirements. Covered medical expenses can include reasonably necessary treatment and rehabilitation for crash-related injuries.
A claim against another driver for pain and suffering has different requirements. Under MCL 500.3135, the injured person must establish another driver’s legal responsibility and an injury that meets Michigan’s threshold of death, permanent serious disfigurement or serious impairment of body function. Someone who is more than 50% at fault cannot recover pain-and-suffering damages.
For head injuries, medical records and evidence of changes in memory, concentration or daily activities can help establish the injury’s effects. Michigan Legal Center explains how that documentation relates to insurance benefits and potential lawsuits in its discussion of traumatic brain injury after a Michigan accident.
Get help from Michigan Legal Center
Michigan Legal Center: the Law Offices of Christopher J. Trainor & Associates handles car accident, head injury and no-fault insurance claims.
If you or a family member suffered a head injury in a crash, Contact Michigan Legal Center to discuss potential insurance benefits and whether a personal injury claim is available.
There is no attorney fee unless money is recovered for you. Case costs and fee terms are governed by the written fee agreement.