Healing after a serious car crash takes time, support, and the breathing room to actually focus on getting better. Too often, that breathing room is the first thing taken away when insurance calls start, bills arrive, and the missed paychecks begin to add up.
Our Detroit car accident lawyers at Christensen Law step in so you can step back. We have been representing injured drivers, passengers, and families across the Detroit area since 1991, from crashes on I-94 near the airport to fender benders that turned serious along Michigan Avenue.
Whatever your situation looks like right now, you do not have to figure it out alone. We listen first, explain your options in plain language, and then build a case designed to recover everything Michigan law allows.
Reach us anytime at 313-546-1091 for a free, no-pressure conversation about your case.
Serious Car Accidents in Detroit Can Create Immediate Financial and Medical Pressure
A serious car accident can disrupt nearly every part of daily life within a matter of hours.
Many injured drivers are suddenly dealing with emergency medical treatment, missed paychecks, vehicle loss, insurance paperwork, and uncertainty about how long recovery may take — all while trying to keep up with rent, household bills, and family responsibilities.
In Detroit, crashes frequently happen on high-traffic routes like I-94, I-75, the Lodge Freeway, and Michigan Avenue, where congestion, construction, distracted driving, and commercial traffic create dangerous conditions for drivers throughout the city.
Some injuries heal relatively quickly. Others may require surgeries, rehabilitation, long-term medical care, or time away from work that places enormous financial pressure on families already trying to recover physically and emotionally from the crash.
We treat every client the way we would want our own family treated after a serious crash. When you are ready to talk, call our Detroit office at 313-546-1091 for a free, no-pressure consultation.
How Does Michigan’s No-Fault Auto Insurance Work?
Michigan operates under a no-fault auto insurance system, which means your own insurance company pays for certain expenses after a crash, regardless of who caused the collision. This system was designed to get injured people the help they need quickly, but it also creates layers of rules that can be confusing when you are trying to recover from an injury.
Under Michigan’s no-fault law, your auto policy provides Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits that may cover:
- Medical bills related to the crash
- A portion of lost wages if you cannot work
- Replacement services for tasks you cannot perform at home
- Mileage to and from medical appointments
- Attendant care for those who need help with daily activities
Knowing which benefits apply to your situation, how long you have to claim them, and how to push back when an insurer tries to cut them off can make a real difference in your recovery. We handle these details so you can focus on getting better.
When Can You Sue the At-Fault Driver in Michigan?
While no-fault covers many of your immediate expenses, Michigan law also allows injured people to file a lawsuit against the driver who caused the crash in certain situations.
To bring what is called a third-party claim, your injuries generally must meet the threshold of “serious impairment of body function,” “permanent serious disfigurement,” or death, as defined under MCL 500.3135.
A third-party claim can help recover damages that no-fault does not, including pain and suffering damages and excess wage loss and medical expenses beyond the no-fault cap.
Our Detroit car accident attorneys carefully review the facts of your case to determine every avenue of compensation available to you. Many people are surprised to learn how much more they may be owed beyond what the insurance adjuster initially offers.
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What Damages Might You Recover in a Detroit Car Accident Lawsuit?
A serious car crash can affect every part of your life, from your physical health to your finances to your relationships. Michigan law allows injured people to seek compensation for the full range of harm a crash causes, not just the obvious medical bills.
Possible categories of recovery include:
- Past and future medical treatment
- Rehabilitation, physical therapy, and home health care
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish and emotional distress
- Loss of consortium for spouses
- Property damage to your vehicle and personal items
- In wrongful death cases, funeral expenses and loss of companionship for the surviving family
We work to capture every loss, including the ones that are harder to quantify. Our goal is to help you rebuild not just financially, but in every area of life that the crash has touched.
Why the First Weeks After a Detroit Car Accident Often Feel Overwhelming
In a city built around constant traffic, long commutes, and busy freeways, a serious car accident can disrupt daily life almost immediately. One moment you are driving to work, heading home on I-94, or navigating traffic on the Lodge, and the next you are trying to manage injuries, medical appointments, transportation problems, and missed income all at once.
Many people are still physically recovering while simultaneously dealing with:
- damage to their vehicle
- calls from insurance adjusters
- confusion about Michigan no-fault benefits
- pressure to return to work
- ongoing pain or mobility limitations
- uncertainty about how long recovery may take
Serious Detroit crashes also often involve complicated insurance and liability issues, especially when commercial vehicles, rideshare drivers, multi-vehicle collisions, or uninsured motorists are involved. At the same time, important evidence like traffic camera footage, witness statements, crash reports, and vehicle data may need to be preserved quickly before it disappears.
For many injured drivers, the legal and insurance process becomes another source of stress during an already difficult period. Early legal guidance may help protect important evidence, handle insurance communications, and allow you to focus more fully on your physical recovery and financial stability moving forward.
Our Car Accident Case Results Speak for Themselves
Results matter, and our record speaks for itself. We have recovered millions of dollars for car accident victims and their families across Michigan, including some of the largest verdicts and settlements in the state for motor vehicle injury cases.
A few representative car accident and motor vehicle results include:
- $17,800,000 for a motor vehicle accident personal injury case
- $4,197,000 for a car accident
- $3,200,000 for a car crash
- $2,000,000 for a motor vehicle accident
Past results do not guarantee a particular outcome in your case because every situation is unique, but they do show what is possible when you have an experienced trial team on your side.
We pursue full and fair compensation, and we are not afraid to take a case to trial when an insurance company refuses to do right by our client.
How Does Michigan’s Comparative Fault Rule Affect Your Case?
Sometimes more than one driver shares blame for a crash. Michigan follows a modified comparative fault rule under MCL 600.2959, which can reduce or even eliminate your recovery depending on how fault is divided.
Here is how it generally works:
- If you are found 50 percent or less at fault, your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault.
- If you are found more than 50 percent at fault, you cannot recover non-economic damages like pain and suffering.
- Economic damages such as medical bills and lost wages can still be recovered, though they are reduced by your share of fault.
Insurance companies often try to shift blame to the injured person to lower what they have to pay. Our team pushes back hard against unfair fault assignments and works to make sure the evidence tells the true story of what happened.
How Long Do You Have to File a Detroit Auto Accident Claim?
Michigan law sets strict deadlines for both no-fault PIP claims and third-party lawsuits, and missing one can mean losing your right to compensation entirely.
Generally, you have one year from the date of the crash to file an application for no-fault benefits, and three years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver under MCL 600.5805.
Important deadline considerations include:
- Notice requirements that may apply if a government vehicle was involved
- Shorter deadlines for claims against city, county, or state entities
- Special rules for minors and those with certain legal disabilities
- Time-sensitive evidence like surveillance footage that may be deleted within days
The sooner you reach out, the more we can do to protect your rights and preserve the proof your case will need. Even if you are unsure whether you have a claim, a quick conversation with our team can give you clarity at no cost.
Your Questions Answered by Our Detroit Car Accident Lawyers
Below are some of the questions we hear most often from people considering whether to call a Detroit car accident lawyer. If your question is not answered here, please give us a call.
At our firm, you pay nothing up front. We handle car accident cases on a contingency fee basis, which means our fees come out of the settlement or verdict only if we win your case. Initial consultations are always free, so there is no risk in calling to learn about your options.
It is generally a good idea to speak with a lawyer before giving any recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer. Adjusters are trained to ask questions in ways that may hurt your claim, and even an innocent comment can be used against you later. We can communicate with the insurance company on your behalf so your words are not twisted.
You may still have options. Many Michigan drivers carry uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage as part of their own policy, which can provide compensation when the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough coverage. We can review your policy and explain how this coverage works in your situation.
Every case is different. Some claims resolve in a few months through settlement, while others, especially those involving serious injuries or disputed liability, may take a year or longer. We always push for a fair resolution as quickly as possible without sacrificing the value of your claim.
Most car accident cases settle before trial, but not all of them. We prepare every case as if it will go to court, which often encourages insurers to offer fair settlements. If a trial becomes necessary, our team has the experience and record to advocate for you in front of a jury.
If you have them handy, it helps to bring the police report, photos of the crash and your injuries, insurance information, medical records or bills, and any correspondence from insurance companies. If you do not have these things yet, do not worry. We can help you gather everything you need.
Talk to Our Detroit Car Accident Lawyers Today
You do not have to face the insurance companies alone. At Christensen Law, our car accident lawyers in Detroit are ready to listen to your story, protect your rights, and fight for the full compensation you deserve. We have spent more than three decades helping Michigan families recover after life-changing crashes, and we are ready to put that experience to work for you.
Call us at 313-546-1091 or contact us online for your free consultation. There are no fees unless we win your case, and there is no obligation to hire us after we talk. The sooner you reach out, the sooner we can start building your case and helping you move toward the future you deserve.
