1. Mike Morse Law Firm
Focus Area: High-volume personal injury representation with extensive resources and community involvement
Practice Areas: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, dog bites, slip and fall injuries, premises liability, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, traumatic brain injuries
Background: The firm employs over 50 attorneys and legal professionals dedicated exclusively to personal injury cases. The firm has achieved significant verdicts including a $75 million jury award in a landmark drug overdose case. Mike Morse Law Firm has donated over 300,000 backpacks to local students and partners with Michigan Humane for pet adoption events.
Location: Southfield, Michigan (serving Detroit and Metro Detroit)
Contact: (855) 645-3946 | https://www.855mikewins.com/
Consultation: Free case review with response within 2 hours. No payment unless you win.
2. Fieger Law
Focus Area: Trial advocacy across multiple practice areas with national reach
Practice Areas: Car accidents, truck accidents, birth injuries, medical malpractice, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, nursing home negligence, product liability, premises liability
Background: Founded by Geoffrey N. Fieger, the firm has grown into one of the larger personal injury practices in Michigan. The legal team includes trained trial attorneys with experience handling complex litigation. The firm serves communities throughout Michigan including Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Lansing, and Traverse City.
Location: Southfield, Michigan (serving Detroit and all of Michigan)
Contact: (248) 355-5555 | https://www.fiegerlaw.com/
Consultation: Free consultation with no charge for the initial visit or phone call. Contingency fee arrangement with no fees unless the firm obtains a recovery.
3. Christensen Law
Focus Area: Catastrophic injury cases involving motor vehicle accidents
Practice Areas: Car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, semi-truck collisions, wrongful death, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, amputation injuries
Background: Firm founder David Christensen has achieved recognition in the legal field for trial work. The attorneys at Christensen Law have handled cases for over 30 years and obtained record-setting settlements and verdicts across Michigan. The firm emphasizes a team approach with regular client communication.
Location: Southfield, Michigan (serving Detroit and all of Michigan)
Contact: (248) 213-4900 | https://davidchristensenlaw.com/
Consultation: Free case review. No fee unless you recover compensation.
4. Davis Injury Lawyers, PLLC
Focus Area: Personal injury representation with focus on client rights and financial recovery
Practice Areas: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, slip and fall injuries, premises liability, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries
Background: Maurice Davis founded the firm to assist accident victims throughout Michigan. The firm handles all personal injury cases on a contingency basis with no upfront costs. Attorneys are admitted to practice in Michigan and handle cases from initial consultation through settlement or trial.
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Contact: (313) 462-7979 | https://www.michiganinjurylawyer.com/
Consultation: Free, no-risk case assessment. No charges unless you receive a recovery.
5. Buckfire Law
Focus Area: Personal injury and wrongful death litigation with emphasis on significant settlements
Practice Areas: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, dog bites, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, wrongful death, burn injuries, construction accidents
Background: Buckfire Law has operated since 1969 and has built a track record of securing large personal injury and car accident settlements in Michigan. Lawrence J. Buckfire has over 30 years of experience and has been named a Super Lawyer and recognized by U.S. News as a top attorney. The firm has handled cases involving Detroit Thermal steam burn injuries affecting pedestrians throughout the city.
Location: 29000 Inkster Road, Suite 150, Southfield, MI 48034
Contact: (800) 606-1717 | https://buckfirelaw.com/
Consultation: Free consultation. No fee unless you win.
Personal Injury Laws in Michigan
Statute of Limitations
Michigan law provides a three-year statute of limitations for most personal injury claims under Mich. Comp. Laws Section 600.5805(2). The clock begins running on the date of the injury. Wrongful death claims must also be filed within three years from the date of death. Medical malpractice claims have a shorter two-year statute of limitations from the date of the malpractice, though the discovery rule may allow additional time if the injury was not immediately apparent, with an absolute deadline of six years from the malpractice. Intentional torts such as assault and battery generally have a two-year filing deadline.
No-Fault Auto Insurance System
Michigan is a no-fault auto insurance state. Injured drivers and passengers first seek compensation through their own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance for medical bills, lost wages, and related expenses regardless of who caused the accident. Following reforms effective July 1, 2020, drivers can choose from various PIP coverage levels, including unlimited coverage or capped amounts at $50,000, $250,000, or $500,000 depending on health insurance status. The “one-year-back rule” requires that lawsuits for no-fault benefits be filed within one year of incurring the expense. To sue the at-fault driver for pain and suffering damages, the injured party must have suffered death, serious impairment of body function, or permanent serious disfigurement.
Modified Comparative Negligence Rule
Michigan follows a modified comparative negligence standard. If an injured party is 50 percent or less at fault, they can recover both economic damages (medical bills, lost wages) and non-economic damages (pain and suffering), reduced by their percentage of fault. If the injured party is found to be more than 50 percent at fault, they can still recover economic damages reduced by their percentage of fault, but they are barred from recovering any non-economic damages.
Damage Caps
Michigan does not cap damages in most personal injury cases including car accidents and premises liability claims. However, Michigan does cap non-economic damages in medical malpractice and product liability cases. For 2024, the caps are $569,000 for most medical malpractice and product liability cases, and $1,016,000 for medical malpractice cases involving catastrophic injuries such as paralysis or brain injury, and for product liability cases involving death or permanent loss of a vital bodily function. These amounts are adjusted annually for inflation.
Auto Insurance Requirements
Following the 2020 no-fault reform, Michigan requires drivers to carry minimum liability coverage of $250,000 per person and $500,000 per accident for bodily injury, though drivers can opt for reduced coverage of $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident. Property damage liability minimum is $10,000 per accident. All policies must include Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage, with various levels available. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is also required.
Dog Bite Liability
Michigan imposes strict liability on dog owners under Mich. Comp. Laws Section 287.351(1). An owner is liable for injuries their dog causes regardless of whether the dog had bitten someone before or the owner knew of any dangerous tendencies. The owner may defend against liability by proving the victim was trespassing or provoked the dog.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean that Michigan is a no-fault state for car insurance?
Michigan’s no-fault system means that after a car accident, you first seek compensation through your own auto insurance policy regardless of who caused the crash. Your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage pays for your medical expenses, lost wages, and replacement services without needing to prove the other driver was at fault. This system is designed to provide quick payment for accident-related expenses. However, no-fault benefits do not cover pain and suffering. To recover those damages, you must meet certain injury thresholds and file a claim against the at-fault driver.
Can I sue the driver who caused my accident if I have injuries?
You can file a lawsuit against an at-fault driver in Michigan only if your injuries meet the state’s serious injury threshold. Specifically, you must have suffered death, serious impairment of body function, or permanent serious disfigurement. If your injuries do not meet this threshold, your recovery is limited to no-fault benefits through your own insurance. If you do qualify, you can pursue the at-fault driver for pain and suffering, excess medical expenses beyond your PIP coverage, and excess wage loss.
What is the one-year-back rule and how does it affect my no-fault claim?
The one-year-back rule is unique to Michigan’s no-fault system and limits how far back you can recover for expenses. If you file a lawsuit for no-fault benefits, you can only recover benefits incurred within one year before the date you filed the lawsuit. For example, if you incurred medical expenses starting in January 2023 but did not file suit until January 2025, you could not recover for any expenses incurred before January 2024. This rule makes timely action critical if your no-fault insurer denies or delays payment.
How does being partially at fault affect my personal injury case in Detroit?
If you bear some fault for the accident, Michigan’s modified comparative negligence law will reduce your recovery. For economic damages such as medical bills and lost wages, your award is reduced by your percentage of fault regardless of how much fault you have. For non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, the rule is stricter. If a jury finds you more than 50 percent at fault, you cannot recover any non-economic damages at all. If you are 50 percent or less at fault, your non-economic damages are reduced by your fault percentage.
What happens if I am hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver in Michigan?
If you are injured by a driver who has no insurance or insufficient coverage, you can file a claim under the uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage on your own policy. Michigan law requires drivers to carry UM/UIM coverage, which protects you when the at-fault driver cannot pay. Your UM/UIM policy essentially steps into the shoes of the at-fault driver’s missing or inadequate insurance. Even though you are dealing with your own insurance company, the claim process can be adversarial, and legal representation may help you obtain full compensation.