Michigan Car Accident Lawyers

If you were injured in a car accident in Michigan, the top-rated attorneys at Buckfire Law are ready to help you secure the compensation you deserve. Since 1969, our award-winning Michigan car accident lawyers have been representing accident victims across the state, helping them cover medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. We know how complex Michigan’s no-fault insurance laws can be, and we’re here to guide you through every step.

At Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C., we are dedicated to achieving the best possible outcome for every client. Our experience, knowledge, and commitment to excellence set us apart, and we’re proud to settle more than 99% of our cases for the maximum compensation before they even reach court. Let our skilled Michigan car accident lawyers put their expertise to work for you. Call today for a free consultation—there are no fees unless we win your case.

• Do I need to hire a car accident attorney?
• What to do after an automobile accident
• What are the most common types of car accidents?
• What will a lawyer do for me after a car accident?
• What are some common types of auto accident injuries?
• What’s the average car accident settlement?

Why Hire a Michigan Car Accident Lawyer?

It is important to have a lawyer begin an investigation as soon as possible after the crash. This is necessary to locate and interview eyewitnesses, photograph and examine the vehicle, and take pictures of the area of the accident. As time goes on, it is more difficult to find witnesses that can help your case, and evidence, like surveillance video on nearby buildings, can be deleted. Additionally, this could become more complex if the at-fault party is from out-of-state or is Canadian.

Your insurance company may also be underpaying your no-fault benefits and you may not even know. There are strict time deadlines for filing insurance and personal injury claims. If you miss a deadline, your case will be destroyed forever. A delay may forfeit rights to a settlement in the future.

We will answer all of your questions and tell you our opinions about your case, and if you hire us, we will start working immediately.

What Should I Do After a Michigan Auto Accident?

There are several things that you should do immediately after a Michigan car accident, which include:

• Notify the police of the accident, especially if they do not come to the accident scene.
• Get the driver’s license number and license plate number of the other vehicles in the crash.
• Take photographs on your phone of damage to your car and other vehicles.
• Get the names, telephone numbers, and addresses of all witnesses to the accident.
• Report the accident to your own auto insurance company after the accident.
• Request an Application for No-Fault Insurance Benefits from your insurance agent.
• Reach out to a Michigan car accident lawyer for help.

Do I Need to File A Police Accident Report?

Michigan law requires drivers to report any accident involving a motor vehicle that causes more than $1,000 in property damage, results in death or injury, or damages an unattended vehicle or other property.  Most times, the police officer who investigated the crash scene will prepare the report.

The accident must be reported but the driver may not be required to file a written report. However, many insurance company policies require a written report to be filed within 24 hours of an accident to qualify for insurance benefits.  We suggest you make a report report after even a minor crash just to make sure you do not get the insurance company runaround.

How Do I Get A Copy of My Police Accident Report?

You can get a copy of your traffic crash report (UD-10) from the police agency that investigated the accident.

If you choose our auto accident attorneys for your case, we will get it for you.  Our law firm can often get your accident report within 24 hours of the crash, depending on the police agency.

When Should I Contact My Insurance Company?

You should contact your insurance company immediately after the car accident to report any damage to the vehicle or personal injury claim. You will want an adjuster to assess the damage to your vehicle and to assist you in arranging repairs.

If you were injured, you will need to apply for no-fault insurance benefits with your own insurer. You should report all claims quickly so the insurance company does not try to deny your claims later on because they were not reported in a timely manner.

Our auto accident attorneys will help you with this process from start to finish.  We will send the forms directly to the insurance adjuster and follow up to make sure all of the bills get paid.

Common Types of Michigan Automobile Accidents

While a car crash can happen from any number of circumstances, there are some common types throughout Michigan. These include, but are not limited to:

• Rear-end wrecks
• T-bone collisions
• Speeding
• Failure to yield
• Road rage accidents
• Wrong-way accidents
• Distracted driving, such as motorists who are texting behind the wheel
• Drunk driving
• Seatbelt and airbag injuries
• Rollover wrecks
• Hit-and-run incidents
• Head-on accidents
• Red Light accidents
• Collisions in parking structures and parking lots.

How Our Lawyers Help You After a Michigan Car Accident

The Michigan no-fault insurance laws are confusing. You need to know your rights after a Michigan car accident. When you choose our law firm for your car accident case, we will:

• Get the accident report, witness statements, and full police investigation file.
• Get all of your medical records, hospital records, and treatment records.
• Deal directly with your auto insurance company adjuster for you.
• Communicate with the insurance adjuster to make sure all benefits have been paid.
• Sue the negligent driver and vehicle owner for your pain and suffering compensation.
• Negotiate with the insurance adjusters for you.

Should I Talk to an Insurance Adjuster After My Car Accident?

While you should contact your own insurance company to report the accident, it’s generally best to consult with a lawyer before speaking with an adjuster from the other driver’s insurance company. Adjusters are trained to minimize payouts and may use your statements against you, especially if you’re not aware of how to protect your claim.

Key Points to Remember

Consult a Lawyer First: Always seek legal advice before speaking to any adjuster. A lawyer can guide you on what information to share and what to avoid, helping protect your rights from the start.

Stick to Basic Facts: If you do talk to an adjuster, keep it brief. Provide only essential details about the accident and avoid sharing opinions or speculating on who was at fault.

Don’t Admit Fault: Be mindful not to say anything that could be interpreted as admitting fault for the accident. Adjusters can use such statements to minimize or deny your claim.

You Can Decline to Answer Questions: You are not obligated to answer every question asked by an adjuster. Politely decline to discuss specific details until you have the support of legal counsel.

Never Speak with the Adjuster for the Other Driver: Their goal is to reduce or deny your settlement, and any statements you make could be used against you. Instead, let our Michigan car accident attorneys handle all communication with the insurance company to protect your rights and maximize your compensation.

Who Pays the Property Damage to My Vehicle?

Michigan has the mini-tort law that determines who is responsible for paying the property damage to the vehicle involved in an accident.

In most cases, the driver that caused damage to your vehicle is responsible for only paying a maximum of up to $1,000.00 to you for a property damage claim.

Michigan Car Accident Statistics

There were 287,953 total motor vehicle crashes in Michigan in 2023. This resulted in 71,085 reported injuries and 1,095 fatalities.

The months of October and November had the highest number of traffic crashes in 2023.  The highest number of fatal crashes occurred in August of that year. The largest number of fatalities were reported on Sundays.

The counties with the highest number of crashes were Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Kent, Genesee, Washtenaw, and Saginaw.

The bar chart below shows the total number of traffic crashes in the state of Michigan from 2019-2023.

According to the data, 2019 had the highest number of total crashes in Michigan, although there were 902 fatal crashes. Following 2019, there is an upward trend of fatal crashes with 1,010 fatal crashes in 2020.

Common Michigan Car Accident Injuries

The most common types of injury after a Michigan auto accident include:

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI), closed head injuries, and concussions.
• Damage to the spinal cord causing paralysis and quadriplegia.
• Herniated and bulging discs to the cervical neck and back.
• Broken and fractured bones, including ribs, the pelvic bone, and sternum.
• Arm and hand injuries, including degloving.
• Knee and leg injuries, including a fractured hip.
• Shoulder injuries, including a torn rotator cuff or labrum.
• Nerve damage, including paresthesia and loss of sensation.
• Scars and serious disfigurements.
• Psychological and emotional trauma.

Our law firm will get all of your medical records, reports, and x-rays to prove the full extent of your injuries. An experienced Michigan car accident lawyer will then provide these materials to the insurance adjuster along with our settlement demand letter to increase the amount of your compensation payout.

Can You Sue for Pain and Suffering After a Car Accident in Michigan?

Yes. You can sue the driver that caused the auto accident for pain and suffering resulting from the crash.

When you sue the at-fault driver and owner of the vehicle for personal injury compensation, you can claim compensation for your pain and suffering, psychological damages, disability, and scars caused by the accident.  There is no cap, or limit, on the amount you can demand for pain and suffering. Your settlement is often based on the insurance policy limits of the negligent driver.

These pain and suffering settlements are completely separate from your Michigan no-fault insurance benefits.  Most injured accident victims get their medical bills and lost wages paid in addition to receiving a large personal injury settlement.  Our experienced car accident lawyers will work hard to  get you every available type of compensation.

Can an Injured Passenger Sue the Negligent Driver?

Yes. Injured passengers can sue all drivers that were negligent in causing the auto accident. This includes the driver of the vehicle that the passenger was riding in at the time of the crash and all other vehicles responsible for causing the crash, such as rideshare drivers, including Uber and Lyft.

Claims are often filed by one spouse versus another spouse, a child versus a parent, and a friend versus a friend. The insurance policy provides for coverage to any innocent person harmed by the negligent driver and an injured person should still pursue a claim, even if it is against a family member or friend.

How much are Michigan Car Accident Settlements?

There are several factors that determine the amount of a Michigan car accident settlement. Every case is different, so there is no set formula to determine the right amount of the settlement. There is also no “average settlement” or “typical settlement” for injury settlements.

Auto accident victims can claim a compensation payout for these types of damages:

• Pain and suffering
• Fright and shock 
• Psychological injuries
• Scars and permanent disfigurements
• Disability from work and activities
• Loss of income and wages
• Bystander claims
• Death: Filing a wrongful death lawsuit. Claims are made for the pain and suffering of the victim from the time of accident until death, for loss of companionship of the surviving family members, and economic losses suffered by the family due to the death of a family member.

How Much Can I Get for Pain and Suffering Damages?

There are twenty-five types of pain and suffering damages that you can claim compensation for.  These include mental suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, shock, anger, and depression.

The amount of pain and suffering damages is determined by a number of factors including the seriousness of your injuries, the type, and length of medical treatment, and how the injuries have affected your ability to lead a normal life.  Our lawyers will evaluate your case to get you the maximum possible pain and suffering settlement.

Examples of Michigan Car Accident Settlements

• $7,000,000 fatal car accident settlement in an Oakland County car accident.
• $6,872,931 jury verdict for a Dearborn rear-end car accident causing herniated discs.
• $5,000,000  settlement in Flint car accident near Interstate 475
• $3,000,000 Detroit auto accident wrongful death lawsuit settlement
• $2,325,000  Lansing auto crash jury verdict for passengers hit by a propane truck.
• $2,250,000 settlement for a fatal head-on collision on Washtenaw County highway
• $2,000,000 settlement for a passenger in a rideshare vehicle
• $1,750,000 settlement for a Detroit car accident lawsuit causing a fractured spine.
• $1,500,000 Macomb County auto accident settlement.
• $1,000,000 Kalamazoo T-bone accident settlement for an injured truck driver.
• $950,000 settlement for Port Huron rear-end car accident.

Do I Need A Lawyer to Settle My Auto Accident Claim?

You do not need a lawyer to settle your own car accident claim, but you should be aware of many serious mistakes that you can make without an experienced Michigan car accident lawyer on your side. One study showed that the majority of accident victims who hired a lawyer believed that they received a much greater settlement than if they tried to settle their own case.

Insurance studies have shown that injury victims actually receive substantially larger settlements when they hire a lawyer for their case, even after paying the attorney fees. This is because insurance companies know that they cannot get low-ball settlements with experienced attorneys who know and understand the value of an injury.

Get the Best Michigan Car Accident Lawyers

Buckfire Law has earned the top awards and honors in the legal profession and are recognized as legal experts in automobile cases.

• The Best Lawyers in America
• U.S. News Best Law Firm
• Super Lawyers
• Named “Best Car Accident Lawyers in Detroit” by Expertise

How Long Does It Take to Get A Settlement?

The length of time that it takes to get paid a car accident settlement is different in every case.

Some cases settle quickly because the injuries are substantial and the insurance policy limit is low, so the adjuster will pay the entire policy right away. However, most cases can take up to a year or more after the accident to get a settlement check.  This is because the victim is still recovering and the future effect of the injuries is unknown.

How Much Time is There to File a Michigan Car Accident Lawsuit?

Under Michigan law, the deadline to pursue legal action for personal injuries from an auto accident is three years from the date of the incident. This is known as the statute of limitations. While there may be exceptions — such as if the claimant was a minor at the time of the accident — any claim made after this timeframe may face dismissal.

Additionally, a claim for first-party no-fault insurance (PIP benefits) must be filed within one year of the date of the accident. Similarly, any lawsuit demanding payment for unpaid medical bills, lost wages, and other benefits must be filed within one year of the date that each bill was incurred or became payable.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire A Car Accident Attorney?

It does not cost anything to hire our Michigan car accident lawyers. We do not charge any fees to start your case and only get paid when you receive your settlement check. This is called a contingency fee agreement.  If your case is unsuccessful for any reason, you owe us nothing.  We put that in writing for you!

What You Can Expect from Our Michigan Car Accident Lawyers

When you retain a Buckfire Law attorney for your Michigan car accident case, we manage every aspect to ease your recovery and maximize your claim. Here’s what you can expect from our dedicated team:

• Full Communication Management: We handle all interactions with the insurance company, the other party, and any legal representatives involved, so you can focus on recovery.
• Comprehensive Evidence Collection: Our attorneys gather all relevant documentation, including medical bills, the police report, witness statements, and proof of lost wages to build a compelling case.
• Exploration of Compensation Sources: We explore all avenues for compensation, including potential claims against a negligent driver, third parties, or even the manufacturer of a defective vehicle part.
• Strict Adherence to Filing Deadlines: Michigan law enforces a statute of limitations on personal injury claims, and our team ensures your case is filed within this timeframe.
• Protection Against Comparative Fault: Michigan follows modified comparative fault laws, so we work diligently to minimize or eliminate any potential liability that could reduce your compensation.

With Buckfire Law, you’ll have an experienced Michigan car accident lawyer by your side, advocating for the full and fair compensation you deserve.

Contact a Michigan Car Accident Attorney Today

For over 54 years, Buckfire Law has been committed to helping Michigan car accident victims secure the compensation they deserve. Our skilled and experienced car accident lawyers are ready to fight for your rights and maximize your settlement.

Call us today or fill out our Free Case Review form online to get started—no fees unless we win your case. Let Buckfire Law help you on the path to recovery.

Michigan Car Accident References and Resources

• Michigan Department of State Police
• Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning
• Traffic safety videos
• Michigan Traffic Crash Facts
• Michigan Drunk Driving Audit
• Michigan OWI Training
• Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Legally reviewed by:

Lawrence J. Buckfire, J.D., Lead Trial Attorney at Buckfire Law
Lawrence J. Buckfire, J.D. has over 30 years of experience specializing in personal injury and wrongful death cases. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and attended Wayne State University School of Law. Lawrence has been named a Super Lawyer, U.S. News Best Lawyer, and in The National Trial Lawyers-Top 100 Trial Lawyers.
Date of Review: Nov., 2024