Right after an injury—or a rights violation—doubt hits like a second impact.

“No one will believe me.”
“I waited too long.”
“They’ll crush me in court.”

If you’re thinking that, you’re not alone. But here’s the truth most people never hear: “I don’t have a case” is often a fear response—not a legal conclusion. It’s what happens when you’re overwhelmed, hurting, and staring down a system that feels built to protect the powerful.

And that’s not an accident. Big institutions—insurance companies, corporations, government agencies—count on you feeling powerless and walking away. Because when you don’t ask questions, they don’t have to answer them. When you stay silent, they get to keep their version of the story.

Why People Assume They Don’t Have a Case

Insurance companies train you to minimize your own harm

Insurance adjusters aren’t there to “help.” Their job is to reduce exposure—meaning pay as little as possible and close the file as fast as possible.

They do it by planting doubt:

• “You’re probably fine.”
• “It was just an accident.”
• “That injury is pre-existing.”
• “Let’s just get you something for your trouble.”

Employers and corporations lean on intimidation

If your case involves civil rights, discrimination, retaliation, or wrongful termination, you’ll often hear the same corporate script:

• “You signed paperwork.”
• “You were partly at fault.”
• “That’s just how it is.”

Real-life barriers that silence valid claims

Even strong cases get buried under real-world pressure:

• Shame, trauma, and self-blame
  Many people second-guess themselves, especially after being treated like they’re “overreacting.”
• Medical chaos and missed work
  Appointments, pain, medications, and job instability make legal action feel impossible.
• Fear of retaliation
  Especially in employment and civil rights cases, people worry: “If I fight this, what happens next?”
• Not knowing deadlines or where to start
  Legal timelines matter—and confusion is one of the biggest reasons people lose rights they didn’t even know they had.

The “Too Small / Too Messy / Too Complicated” Myth—Broken Down

“My case isn’t worth much.”

That’s what insurers want you to believe while you’re staring at bills and trying to keep your life from collapsing.

But cases aren’t valued on “how bad it looked” in the moment. They’re valued on damage—and damage adds up fast:

• Medical bills (ER visits, surgery, rehab, medication, future care)
• Lost income (missed work now + reduced earning ability later)
• Disability (limitations that change what you can do forever)
• Emotional harm (pain, sleep loss, anxiety, trauma, loss of normal life)

“There’s no proof.”

Proof isn’t something you either have or don’t have. It’s something a trial-ready team builds.

That can include:

• Medical records that tell the story of injury and recovery
• Witnesses who confirm what happened (or what should have happened)
• Surveillance footage (often deleted quickly unless preserved)
• Expert analysis (safety, medical, vocational, economic)
• A clean timeline showing cause → harm → impact

“They’ll say it’s my fault.”

They will. Almost every time. That doesn’t mean they’re right.

“Comparative fault” arguments can be challenged with facts:

• Photos, videos, measurements, and scene evidence
• Prior incidents or complaints
• Company policies that weren’t followed
• Witness testimony that contradicts the defense story

“It’s my word against theirs.”

That’s what people say right before a document surfaces. Or a video. Or an internal email.

Patterns and paper trails flip cases all the time:

• Shifting explanations
• “Backfilled” write-ups
• Missing logs
• Prior complaints
• Contradictions under oath

The Verdicts That Make People Rethink What’s Possible

Record-Setting Premises Liability

A catastrophic injury can happen in a place that was supposed to be safe—because safety systems were ignored, shortcuts were taken, and risk was treated as someone else’s problem.

In one Kroger-related premises case, Marko Law reports a jury verdict of $75.6 million, described as the largest premises liability award in Michigan, involving an HVAC explosion and life-altering injuries. 

On the firm’s Verdicts page, the same Kroger matter (listed as Mierendorf v Kroger) appears as a $76.6 million premises liability verdict. (Verdict totals can be reported differently due to rounding, interest, or how components are listed.) 

What matters for readers sitting in doubt is the message: when corporations deny, minimize, or deflect, a jury can still look at the evidence and say, “No—this was preventable, and it matters.” 

Civil Rights + Employment Retaliation

These cases often start the same way: someone complains about racism or harassment, and suddenly the target becomes the person who spoke up. Then comes the “papering the file”—write-ups, shifting performance standards, manufactured reasons to discipline, and the slow squeeze toward termination.

Marko Law’s Verdicts page lists The Griffeys v. Michigan Department of Corrections as an employment retaliation case with an $11.67 million verdict. 

The Michigan Court of Appeals opinion in the same matter reports a jury award of $11,670,128.33 on employment-discrimination and retaliation claims under Michigan’s Civil Rights Act. 

If you’re thinking, “They’ll crush me—my employer has all the power,” this is the reality verdicts can reveal: power isn’t the same thing as immunity. 

“They Said It Wasn’t That Serious” Injury Cases

One of the most common insurance lies is the quiet one: “You’ll be fine.” It shows up when injuries aren’t obvious to a stranger—TBIs, spinal damage, chronic pain, loss of function, ongoing care needs.

The firm’s Verdicts page lists a negligence case—Jane Doe v. Superior Ambulance Inc.—at $12.5 million. 

That number isn’t just a figure. It’s a reminder that long-term harm has weight in court—especially when the defense tries to reduce a person’s life-altering injuries to “not that bad.” 

Where People Get Tricked Into Giving Up Too Soon

Most people don’t lose valid cases in court. They lose them in the days and weeks after the incident—before they ever talk to a lawyer—because the system nudges them toward surrender.

Common traps include:

• Accepting the first insurance narrative
  “It’s not that serious.” “It’s partly your fault.” “This is the best we can do.”
• Giving a recorded statement while medicated or overwhelmed
  Those statements are designed to lock you into language you wouldn’t choose with a clear head.
• Signing severance/separation agreements without review
  Many contain waivers that permanently cut off your legal rights.
• Waiting until evidence disappears (or deadlines hit)
  Video gets overwritten. witnesses disappear. paperwork gets “lost.” legal timelines run out.

What to Do If You Think You Might Have a Case

Preserve What You Can Today

• Photos/videos of the scene, hazards, injuries
• Names and contact info for witnesses
• Medical records, diagnoses, discharge paperwork
• Emails, texts, HR communications (in employment cases)

Don’t Let the Other Side Control the Narrative

• Avoid recorded statements when you’re vulnerable
• Don’t sign anything “final” without legal review
• Be cautious about what you post publicly

Get a Real Legal Evaluation

Because the law doesn’t reward silence—and it definitely doesn’t reward waiting.

If you’re unsure whether you have a case, that uncertainty is exactly why a real investigation matters.

If You’re Asking “Do I Have a Case?” That’s Your Sign to Ask the Right People

If you’re sitting there wondering, “Do I even have a case?”—that’s not a weakness. That’s your survival instinct trying to make sense of a system that’s designed to make you doubt yourself.

Because here’s the truth: slamming the door on your own case is exactly what insurers and employers want. They want you to assume it’s hopeless. They want you to believe it’s “not worth it.” They want you to walk away before anyone ever looks under the hood.

But the facts—not fear—should decide what happens next. And if you’ve been injured, ignored, or retaliated against, you may have more leverage than you think. You just need the right team to investigate, preserve evidence, and force the other side to answer for what they did.

That’s where Marko Law comes in.

Contact Marko Law for a Free Case Evaluation

📞 Phone: +1-313-777-7777
📍 Main Office: 220 W. Congress, 4th Floor, Detroit, MI 48226
🌐 Website: www.markolaw.com