A walk through downtown Detroit or along a Grand Rapids sidewalk should never end in an emergency room, yet for too many Michigan pedestrians, a careless driver makes it happen.
At Christensen Law, our Michigan pedestrian accident lawyers understand how a single careless driver can leave you facing painful injuries, mounting medical bills, and a future that suddenly feels uncertain. We are here to listen to your story, protect your rights, and fight for the full recovery you and your family deserve.
For more than 35 years, our trial attorneys have stood beside injured people across Michigan, from the D to the UP. From our offices in Southfield, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, and Troy, we represent injured pedestrians throughout the state.
If you or someone you love was hit by a vehicle while walking, you do not have to face the insurance companies alone. Call Christensen Law today at (248) 213-4900, 24/7, for a free, no-risk consultation, and let our team carry the legal burden while you focus on healing.
CHRISTENSEN LAW HAS A 24 HOUR RAPID RESPONSE SERVICE
How Our Michigan Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Help You
After being hit by a vehicle, you are likely dealing with serious injuries and a flood of questions about what comes next. Our job is to take the legal weight off your shoulders so you can concentrate on getting better.
We handle every part of your claim, from investigating the crash scene to dealing directly with the insurance companies. We gather police reports, traffic camera footage, and witness statements while the evidence is still fresh. Then we build a case designed to hold the at-fault driver accountable.
When you work with us, you get real, honest answers about your unique situation. There are no empty promises and no confusing legal jargon, just straight guidance you can use to make informed decisions. We treat every client like family, because that is how serious injury cases should be handled.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Pedestrian Accident?
You may be able to recover compensation for medical care, lost wages, and the pain and suffering caused by your injuries. The exact amount depends on the severity of your injuries and the specific facts of your case.
Pedestrian crashes often cause catastrophic harm, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and broken bones. These injuries can require surgery, long-term therapy, and ongoing care. Your claim should account for both your current losses and the future needs created by the crash.
In the most heartbreaking cases, a family loses a loved one. When that happens, we help surviving family members pursue a wrongful death claim so they can find a measure of justice and financial security.
Common damages in a pedestrian accident claim include:
- Medical bills, including hospital stays, surgeries, and rehabilitation
- Lost income and reduced earning capacity from time away from work
- Attendant care benefits for help with daily activities during your recovery
- Pain, suffering, and the emotional toll of a life-altering injury
Every case is different, so the value of your claim deserves a careful, individual review. We are ready to sit down with you and explain what your case may truly be worth.
How Does Michigan’s No-Fault System Apply to Pedestrian Accidents?
Michigan’s No-Fault system still covers you even when you are hurt while walking rather than driving. This surprises many people who assume auto insurance only protects those inside a vehicle.
Under Michigan’s No-Fault law, Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits pay for your medical expenses and a portion of your lost wages, regardless of who caused the crash. If you do not own a car, you may still draw PIP benefits through the insurance on the vehicle that hit you or through a household member’s policy. These are known as first-party benefits.
Sorting out which policy pays, and in what order, can get complicated quickly. Coordinated insurance policies, attendant care benefits, and strict filing deadlines all affect your recovery. Our attorneys handle these details so nothing falls through the cracks.
Beyond PIP, you may also have a third-party lawsuit against the at-fault driver for pain and suffering and other damages that No-Fault does not cover. We pursue both paths whenever the facts of your case support them.
Comparative Fault and Pedestrian Accidents in Michigan
Sometimes an insurance company will claim the pedestrian was partly to blame for the crash. Even if that were true, it does not automatically end your case.
Michigan follows a modified comparative negligence rule. This means you can still recover compensation as long as you are not found more than 50% responsible for the crash. If you share some fault, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault rather than erased entirely.
Insurance adjusters know this rule well and often try to shift blame onto the injured person to lower what they pay. We push back hard with evidence, accident reconstruction, and a clear account of what truly happened.
How Do Insurance Companies Try to Reduce Your Claim?
Insurance companies protect their profits, and that often means paying you as little as possible. Understanding their tactics is the first step toward protecting yourself and your family.
After a pedestrian crash, an adjuster may move quickly with a friendly phone call and an early settlement offer. That offer is almost always far below what your case is worth, and accepting it can close the door on future compensation.
Other common tactics include requesting a recorded statement, pushing for an independent medical exam, or delaying your claim in hopes you will simply give up.
You do not have to face these pressure tactics alone. Once we represent you, the insurance companies deal with us, not you. We protect you from manipulation so you can keep your focus where it belongs, on your recovery.
Why Trial Readiness Sets Our Firm Apart
Many firms settle quickly so they can move on to the next file. We prepare every case as if it is going to trial, and that preparation changes everything.
Insurance companies keep track of which firms actually take cases to court and which ones always fold. Because we are ready to stand in front of a jury, insurers take our demands seriously. That credibility often leads to stronger settlements without a trial ever taking place.
Our results reflect this approach. Christensen Law has secured a $17.8 million motor vehicle accident verdict and a $9.5 million wrongful death recovery for injured Michigan families. When the courtroom is on the table, the conversation with the insurance company changes for good.
What Causes Most Pedestrian Accidents in Michigan?
Most pedestrian crashes come down to driver negligence, often a driver who was not paying attention. Walkers have very little protection, so even a low-speed impact can cause devastating harm.
Distracted driving, speeding, and failing to yield at marked crosswalks put people on foot at serious risk every day. Poor lighting, bad weather, and drivers who ignore traffic signals only add to the danger on Michigan roads. Drunk and drugged driving remain a tragic cause of severe pedestrian injuries as well.
Whatever the cause, the law requires drivers to share the road safely with people on foot, a duty reinforced by federal pedestrian safety guidance. When a driver breaks that duty and someone gets hurt, our attorneys are ready to hold them accountable.
Catastrophic Injuries in Michigan Pedestrian Crashes
People on foot have almost no protection when a vehicle hits them, so the injuries are often severe and life-changing. These are exactly the kinds of cases our firm is built to handle.
A pedestrian crash can leave a person with a traumatic brain injury, a spinal cord injury, or serious burns that change daily life in an instant. Broken bones, internal injuries, and permanent scarring are also common. Many survivors need months of rehabilitation, and some require care for the rest of their lives.
We work closely with you and your doctors to account for every loss, including the future care your recovery may demand. That full picture is what allows us to pursue the compensation your family will need for years to come. When the harm is this serious, the legal response has to match it.
Why Choose Christensen Law?
When your health and your future are on the line, the firm you choose matters more than anything. Christensen Law combines deep courtroom experience with genuine, family-style care for every client we serve.
Our founder, David Christensen, is a Michigan Hall of Fame attorney, a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), and holds AV Preeminent status from Martindale-Hubbell. Managing Partner Sarah Stempky-Kime is a recognized “Leader in the Law” and also an ABOTA member. Together they lead a team known for results, not volume.
A few things set our firm apart:
- We focus on serious, life-altering injuries rather than handling cases like an assembly line.
- We treat clients like family, listening with compassion during the hardest moment of their lives.
- We charge nothing up front, and you owe no fee unless we win your case.
Our philosophy is simple: Listen, Protect, Win. With free consultations available 24/7 and a stellar client review record, reaching out costs you nothing. Call our Michigan pedestrian accident attorneys today at (248) 213-4900 to learn how we can help your family move forward.
FAQs: Michigan Pedestrian Accident Lawyers
Below are answers to some of the questions we hear most often from injured pedestrians and their families across Michigan.
Michigan law sets strict deadlines for both PIP benefits and third-party lawsuits, and missing one can cost you the right to compensation. PIP benefits in particular require prompt notice after the crash. Talking with an attorney soon after you are hurt is the safest way to protect your claim.
An early offer is usually a sign the insurer wants to close your claim cheaply. Before you sign anything, it is wise to have an attorney review the offer against the true value of your injuries. Once you accept a settlement, you generally cannot go back and ask for more later.
You may still have options, including PIP benefits and uninsured motorist coverage. Michigan’s No-Fault system is built so that injured pedestrians have a source of medical coverage even in these situations. We help you identify every policy that may apply to your case.
We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing up front. We only collect a fee if we recover compensation for you. Your first consultation is always free, with no risk and no obligation.
Possibly, yes. Even if you were partly at fault, Michigan’s comparative negligence rule may allow you to recover as long as you were not more than 50% responsible. The location of the crash is only one piece of a much larger picture.
Look for a firm with real trial experience, a strong record of results, and a true commitment to its clients. Ask whether the firm is willing to take your case to court if that is what your situation requires. A history of significant verdicts and settlements is a reassuring sign you are in capable hands.
We help injured pedestrians from our offices in Southfield, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, and Troy, and we proudly represent clients statewide. No matter where you are in Michigan, our team is ready to listen and help.
Talk With Our Michigan Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Today
If you were hit by a vehicle while walking, you deserve a legal team that will fight for you like family. The choices you make now can shape your recovery for years, so the time to act is up front, before the insurance company gets ahead of you.
Christensen Law is ready to listen to your story, protect your rights, and win the justice you and your family deserve. Our trial attorneys bring more than 35 years of experience and a record that includes a $17.8 million verdict to every case we take.
Serving all of Michigan, from the D to the UP, our team is standing by 24/7. Call Christensen Law today at (248) 213-4900 for your free, no-risk consultation.
