The hardest part of a brain injury is often what comes weeks later, when the hospital lights fade but the headaches, the missed words, and the short tempers stay. Spouses notice it first. Then the boss notices. Then the bills start arriving.
At Christensen Law, our Detroit brain injury lawyers represent people whose lives have quietly come apart after a crash that was never their fault, and we know how to put the pieces of a case together when the injury itself is invisible to everyone but the person living with it. You deserve a legal team that takes your symptoms as seriously as your MRI.
If you or a loved one suffered a brain injury in a Detroit-area accident, we want to hear your story. Call our Detroit office at 313-546-1091 for a free, no-pressure consultation. There is no fee unless we win your case.
How Can a Detroit Brain Injury Lawyer Help You?
A Detroit brain injury lawyer can take the legal burden off your shoulders, so you can focus on healing. From the moment you call us, we begin building your case by gathering medical records, accident reports, and witness statements that show what happened and how it affected your life.
Our team works closely with neurologists, neuropsychologists, life-care planners, and economists who understand the lasting impact of brain trauma. These professionals help us show the full scope of your losses, including future care costs and the way the injury has changed how you live, work, and connect with your family.
We also handle every conversation with insurance carriers and at-fault parties, so you are not pressured into accepting a quick settlement that falls short of what you actually need. If a fair resolution cannot be reached, our trial attorneys are ready to take your case to court here in Detroit.
What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is damage to the brain caused by a sudden bump, blow, jolt, or penetrating wound to the head. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, TBIs range from mild concussions to severe injuries that cause permanent disability or death.
Even injuries labeled “mild” can have a lasting impact on memory, mood, concentration, and the ability to hold down a job. Some symptoms appear right away, while others develop over hours, days, or even weeks after a crash. This is one reason it is so important to see a doctor after any head trauma, even if you feel fine at first.
Brain injuries are often invisible from the outside, which can make them harder to prove without strong medical evidence. Our team knows how to document these injuries clearly, so insurance companies and juries understand what you are truly living with.
Common Types of Brain Injuries
Brain injuries take many forms, and each one carries its own challenges. The most common types we see in Detroit cases include:
- Concussions, which are often called mild TBIs but can still cause headaches, dizziness, and memory problems for months
- Contusions, which are bruises on the brain caused by a direct impact
- Diffuse axonal injuries, where the brain shifts inside the skull and tears nerve fibers
- Penetrating brain injuries, caused by an object piercing the skull
- Anoxic and hypoxic brain injuries, caused by a lack of oxygen during an accident
- Second-impact syndrome, when a person suffers a second head injury before fully healing from the first
No matter which type of brain injury you suffered, our Detroit brain injury lawyers are ready to look at the facts and explain your options in plain language.
Common Causes of Brain Injuries in Detroit
Many of the brain injury cases we handle involve motor vehicle crashes on Detroit’s busiest roads, including I-75, I-94, the Lodge Freeway, and the Davison. Heavy traffic near Downtown, Midtown, and the bridges leading to and from Belle Isle can lead to serious collisions, especially when drivers are distracted, speeding, or impaired.
Truck accidents are another major source of severe brain trauma, given the size and weight of commercial vehicles moving through the Detroit area each day. Motorcycle and bicycle riders are also at high risk because they have far less protection than people inside cars or trucks.
Beyond crashes, brain injuries can result from pedestrian accidents, slip and falls, construction accidents, drunk driving collisions, and rideshare wrecks. Whatever caused your injury, we can investigate and pursue the parties whose careless or reckless conduct turned an ordinary day into a life-changing event.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Brain Injury?
Compensation in a brain injury case is meant to cover the financial, physical, and emotional losses you have suffered because of someone else’s negligence. The exact amount depends on the severity of your injury, your future care needs, and how the injury has changed your daily life.
Many brain injury victims need ongoing therapy, assistive devices, home modifications, and round-the-clock care for years to come. We work hard to make sure these long-term costs are included in any settlement or verdict, so your family is not left paying out of pocket later on.
You may be able to recover damages for past and future medical bills, lost wages and reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and the loss of enjoyment of life.
In wrongful death cases involving fatal brain injuries, surviving family members can seek compensation for funeral costs, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship.
How Does Michigan’s No-Fault Law Apply to Brain Injuries?
Michigan’s No-Fault Insurance Act gives crash victims access to Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits, regardless of who caused the accident. These benefits can pay for medical care, attendant care, lost wages, and other costs related to your injury, which is especially important after a serious brain injury.
To bring a separate lawsuit against an at-fault driver for pain and suffering or other non-economic damages, your injury must meet what the law calls a “threshold injury.” That means a death, permanent serious disfigurement, or serious impairment of body function.
Most moderate to severe brain injuries meet this threshold, but proving it requires careful medical and legal work.
The rules around no-fault, PIP, and third-party claims have changed significantly in recent years, and they continue to be a source of confusion for many families. Our attorneys stay current on these changes and will walk you through how they apply to your case.
Filing Deadlines You Should Know
Michigan law sets strict deadlines for filing brain injury claims. In most cases, you have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit under MCL 600.5805, but PIP-related claims often have much shorter notice and filing requirements.
Waiting too long can mean losing the right to recover anything, so it is wise to speak with a lawyer as soon as you can.
Why Choose Christensen Law for Your Detroit Brain Injury Case?
Since 1991, we have stood up for injured people across Michigan, from the heart of Detroit to the Upper Peninsula. Founder David Christensen is a member of the MILW Hall of Fame, and our firm has earned a First-Tier ranking in Detroit for Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs from U.S. News – Best Lawyers® in the 2026 Edition of “Best Law Firms.”
Managing Partner Sarah Stempky-Kime is a recognized “Leader in the Law” and, along with David, is also an American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) member.
Families turn to us when the stakes are high, and we treat every case with the focus and care it deserves. Here is what sets our Detroit brain injury lawyers apart:
- A proven trial record, including multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements in catastrophic injury cases, including for a $17.8 million motor vehicle accident and a $9.5 million motorcycle crash
- Deep medical knowledge, built through years of work with leading hospitals across the Detroit area
- Personal attention from start to finish, with clear communication every step of the way
- No up front costs, because you pay nothing unless we win your case
We know that no settlement can undo a brain injury, but we can fight to give your family the financial security and answers you need to move forward. Call 313-546-1091 today to talk with our team about your case.
FAQs for Detroit Brain Injury Claims
Brain injury cases bring up many practical and legal questions, and we want to make sure you have the information you need. Below are some of the questions Detroit families ask us most often.
Brain injury cases vary widely in length depending on the severity of the injury, the strength of the evidence, and whether the insurance company is willing to negotiate fairly. Some cases settle within a year, while complex cases involving lifelong care can take two or three years or longer to resolve.
We focus on building a strong case as quickly as possible, while never settling for less than your future requires.
Yes, family members can often pursue a claim on behalf of a loved one who is unable to communicate due to a severe brain injury. Michigan law allows a court-appointed guardian or conservator to act on the injured person’s behalf in legal matters. We help families through this process and treat your loved one’s case with the same dedication we would give any client.
A prior health condition does not bar you from recovering compensation under Michigan law. If a crash made an existing condition worse or triggered new symptoms, you can still pursue damages for the added harm you suffered. Insurance companies often try to blame older issues, but our team is prepared to push back with strong medical evidence.
Many brain injury cases settle before trial, but some require a courtroom to reach a fair result. We prepare every case as if it will be tried, which often leads insurance companies to offer better settlements rather than face our trial team. If your case does go to court, you will have experienced Detroit brain injury lawyers by your side every step of the way.
At Christensen Law, you pay nothing up front to hire us for your brain injury case. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means our fees come out of the recovery we obtain for you, and you owe us nothing if we do not win. Your initial consultation is always free, with no obligation to move forward.
Michigan follows a modified comparative fault rule, which means you can still recover damages as long as you were not more than 50 percent responsible for the crash. Your award may be reduced by your percentage of fault, but partial fault does not automatically end your case. We can review the facts and explain how this rule might apply to you.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke offers detailed, plain-language information on the causes, symptoms, and treatment of TBIs. Reviewing trusted medical resources can help you understand what your loved one is going through and what to ask their doctors. We are also happy to share educational materials when you meet with our team.
Contact Our Detroit Brain Injury Attorney Today
If you or someone you love is living with a brain injury caused by another person’s negligence, the time to act is now. Evidence can disappear, witnesses can move, and insurance companies start building their defense the moment a crash happens.
Reaching out early gives our Detroit brain injury lawyers the best chance to protect your rights and your future.
We offer free, confidential consultations, and we will travel to hospitals and homes when you cannot come to us. Whether you live in Downtown Detroit, Corktown, Dearborn, Hamtramck, or anywhere else in the metro area, we are ready to help. We serve all of Michigan, from the D to the UP.
Call Christensen Law at 313-546-1091 or reach out through our website to schedule your free consultation. There is no fee until we win for you.
