Being hit by a drunk driver can be devastating, and finding the right Southfield drunk driving victim lawyer should not add to your family’s stress. At Christensen Law, we listen to your story, protect your rights, and work to hold every responsible party accountable.
We have advocated for injured people across Michigan since 1991, and that experience shows in our results, including a $17.8 million motor vehicle accident verdict and a $9.5 million wrongful death recovery. Our founder, David Christensen, is a Michigan Hall of Fame trial attorney, an ABOTA member, and holds AV Preeminent status from Martindale-Hubbell.
If an impaired driver hurt you or someone you love in Southfield or anywhere in Oakland County, we are ready to help, 24 hours a day. Call Christensen Law at (248) 600-4591 for a free, no-risk consultation.
From the D to the UP | Proven Expertise | Powerful Results
CHRISTENSEN LAW HAS A 24 HOUR RAPID RESPONSE SERVICE
Recovering After a Southfield Drunk Driving Crash
A drunk driving crash leaves you with far more than physical injuries, so our first job is to take the pressure off your shoulders. We handle the insurance calls, the paperwork, and the investigation, so you can focus on healing.
Southfield sits at the crossroads of some of Michigan’s busiest roads, from Telegraph Road and the Lodge Freeway (M-10) to I-696 and the Southfield Freeway (M-39). Impaired drivers put everyone on these roads at risk, at every hour of the day and night.
If you were hit by a drunk driver in Southfield, MI, an attorney from our firm can step in right away and start protecting your claim. As your Southfield car accident lawyer, we build each drunk driving case with the same care we bring to every serious injury claim.
When we take your case, we treat you like family, not a file number. That means honest answers, steady communication, and a legal team that prepares every case as if it will go to trial. A Southfield drunk driving victim lawyer from our team can begin protecting critical evidence within hours of your call, and we never charge for that first conversation.
Insurance companies often move fast after a crash, and not always in your favor. An adjuster may ask for a recorded statement, push an early settlement, or request an independent medical exam, and each of these steps can be used to reduce what you receive. We deal with the insurers directly, so you never face those tactics alone.
How Does Michigan’s No-Fault System Work After a Drunk Driving Crash?
Michigan’s No-Fault system means your own auto insurance pays your medical bills and part of your lost wages first, no matter who caused the crash. These Personal Injury Protection benefits, known as PIP, apply even when a drunk driver is clearly at fault.
PIP benefits can cover reasonable medical care, wage loss, and attendant care when you need help with daily activities during your recovery. Michigan’s No-Fault law, at MCL 500.3107, sets out the medical and related expenses these first-party benefits are meant to include.
Because these rules can feel confusing, we explain each benefit in plain language and help you claim everything you are owed. The same framework shapes Michigan drunk driving accident claims across the state, from Detroit to the Upper Peninsula.
Attendant care can be especially valuable after a catastrophic injury, because it pays for the day-to-day help you need at home, and family members can sometimes be paid for providing it. We also review how your coverage is coordinated with other policies, since the way your plan is set up can affect which insurer pays first.
We coordinate your PIP claim with any health coverage you carry, so nothing falls through the cracks. Getting these first-party benefits right early on protects your finances while your injury claim moves forward.
Can You Sue a Drunk Driver in Oakland County?
Yes. When your injuries are serious, you can file a third-party lawsuit against the drunk driver for the pain, suffering, and losses that No-Fault benefits do not cover.
Under MCL 500.3135, you may recover these noneconomic damages if your injury meets Michigan’s serious impairment of body function threshold. That means an objective, documented injury that changes your ability to live your normal life, such as a traumatic brain injury, a spinal cord injury, or serious fractures.
Suing a drunk driver in Oakland County also puts their choice front and center. Driving while impaired is a clear breach of the duty every motorist owes to others, and a jury is allowed to weigh that decision when it awards damages.
Michigan follows a modified comparative fault rule under MCL 600.2959. You can still recover compensation if you were partly at fault, as long as you were not more than 50% responsible, though your award is reduced by your share of the fault. We take the time to build the strongest possible case for full accountability.
A third-party claim can also account for future losses, such as ongoing medical care, a reduced ability to earn a living, and the lasting effect of a serious injury on your daily life. When an impaired driver caused the crash, that choice often strengthens the case for full and fair compensation.
Injury lawsuits arising from Southfield crashes are generally handled in the Oakland County Circuit Court, and we know how these cases move through the local system. That familiarity helps us set clear expectations and keep your case on track from filing through resolution.
Southfield Dram Shop Liability and Bar Responsibility
A bar or restaurant that kept serving a visibly intoxicated driver can share legal responsibility for the crash. This path is called Southfield dram shop bar liability, and it can open an important second source of recovery for drunk driving victims.
Michigan’s Dram Shop Act, found at MCL 436.1801, makes it unlawful for a licensed business to serve alcohol to someone who is visibly intoxicated or to a minor. When that unlawful service is a cause of your crash, the business can be held accountable alongside the driver.
These claims turn on evidence, so we move quickly to preserve it. We gather receipts, credit card records, and surveillance video, and we interview staff and other patrons before that proof disappears.
Michigan’s law focuses on licensed businesses, so a private social host who served an intoxicated adult guest is treated differently under the statute. That distinction is one reason these cases call for a careful, early look into exactly where and how the driver was served.
Dram shop claims also carry strict deadlines and special rules, including a requirement to name and keep the intoxicated driver in the case. Because a bar can be held liable, holding it accountable often means the difference between a partial recovery and a full one.
What Types of Drunk Driving Crashes Do We Handle?
We handle the full range of drunk driving crashes, from intersection collisions to high-speed freeway wrecks. Impaired driving tends to cause the most violent crash types, and those crashes often cause the most severe injuries.
Alcohol slows reaction time, clouds judgment, and encourages risky decisions behind the wheel, which is why impaired crashes so often turn catastrophic. The result is frequently a high-speed or unexpected impact that a sober driver would have avoided.
- T-bone and intersection crashes, when an impaired driver runs a red light or a stop sign
- Head-on collisions, often caused by a driver drifting across the center line
- Wrong-way crashes, which happen when a driver enters a freeway going the wrong direction on roads like I-696 or the Lodge Freeway
- Rear-end crashes, when an impaired driver fails to slow or stop in time
- Single-vehicle crashes that seriously injure passengers
Whatever form your crash took, we build the case around your injuries and the driver’s choice to get behind the wheel impaired.
Many of these crashes cause life-altering harm, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and severe burns. The scale of the problem is real: Michigan recorded 307 alcohol-involved traffic deaths in one recent year, and roughly 27% of the state’s fatal crashes that year involved alcohol, according to the Michigan State Police.
For the families behind those numbers, a claim is not about money. It is about justice and the resources you need to rebuild your life.
I recommend all of my friends and family to Christensen Law. The attorneys and staff there are amazing and really care about their clients where you're treated with care and not...
Jason Waddell
Excellent! From the 1st interaction with Christensen Law it was a positive, wonderful experience! Dustin, Samantha and the entire staff, had...
Susan Schroeder
Christensen Law’s attorneys are filled with compassion and knowledge They took amazing care of my uncle after his accident. I would recommend then to anyone injured in an auto...
Steve Huber
The team at Christensen Law impressed me with their vast knowledge and experience in handling... They were well-versed in the intricacies of the law and provided me with clear explanations of my rights and legal...
Shana Goodrich
It is with extreme gratitude and positive emotions that I write about my relationship with... I presented to them a situation that was quite scary and financially overwhelming. David and his kind staff listened to...
Wendy Henn
If it wasn't for Christensen Law, I don't know where I would be today. Thanks to Dave, Stephanie, and Michelle for getting me through this hard time. I didn't know what to do, I...
Tim Taylor
My name is Erin, my experience with Christensen Law was Overwhelming… But in the very... Christianson Law stepped in after my motorcycle accident when another firm had dropped the ball—and they completely and very quickly...
Erin Magee
I hired this law firm after being hit by a drunk driver in my of... They were communicative, compassionate, made the process easy for me to understand. I was able to effectively receive a size-able...
Wren Bell
From the moment I spoke with Dustin, I felt like I was in good hands He, Samantha, and the entire staff at Christensen Law treated me like family, demonstrating kindness, expertise, and a genuine interest...
Janelle Garza
I am extremely pleased with the experience I had with this law firm, and their... The Christensen Law firm, compassionate approach to my injuries. Their attentive listening, and thorough understanding are truly commendable I highly...
Mr. Douglas
I was in difficult time in my life, it’s a great to know I have... Whole team of Christensen law is amazing and wonderful from start to finish. They often contact me to see how...
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I had an excellent experience working with Christensen Law on my settlement case. From start to finish, the entire team was professional, compassionate, and dedicated to achieving the best possible outcome for me....
Gjon Ivezaj
Why Injured Southfield Drivers Trust Christensen Law
Since 1991, we have guided injured people and grieving families through some of the hardest moments of their lives. When you hire a Southfield drunk driving victim lawyer from our firm, you get more than a case handler, you get a team that treats your recovery as its own. Our approach comes down to three words we live by, Listen, Protect, Win.
- Trial-ready from day one. We prepare every case for court, so the insurance company knows we will not accept a lowball offer.
- Proven results. Our verdicts and settlements include a $17.8 million motor vehicle accident verdict and a $9.5 million wrongful death recovery.
- Recognized credentials. David Christensen is a Michigan Hall of Fame attorney and ABOTA member, and Managing Partner Sarah Stempky-Kime is a Leader in the Law and an ABOTA member.
- Client-first service. We hold a 4.9 to 5.0 review rating across our offices, and we keep you informed at every step.
Together, these strengths let us stand shoulder to shoulder with you against the insurance companies and their lawyers.
As Managing Partner Sarah Stempky-Kime puts it, no single witness makes or breaks a case, because the client is the most important part of it, and the defendant’s own conduct usually tells the story. We let the treatment team speak to your injuries, and we let the evidence do the rest.
Call Christensen Law 24/7 at (248) 600-4591 for a free consultation with a Southfield drunk driving victim lawyer.
FAQs Answered by Our Southfield Drunk Driving Victim Lawyers
Here are answers to questions we often hear from people hurt by impaired drivers in Southfield and across Oakland County.
Deadlines depend on the type of claim, so timing matters. In general, third-party injury lawsuits in Michigan carry a three-year deadline and No-Fault PIP benefits follow a much shorter one-year rule. Dram shop claims against a bar or store are shorter, at two years, and they also require written notice within 120 days of hiring an attorney.
Because these limits differ, we encourage you to reach out early, and you can review the general personal injury case timeline in Michigan to understand what to expect.
No. A criminal conviction can help, but your injury claim is separate from the criminal case. We can pursue compensation even if charges are dropped or still pending, because civil cases use a lower standard of proof than criminal cases.
You may still have options. If the at-fault driver was uninsured or underinsured, we look to your own uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, and to any bar or business that unlawfully served the driver. Finding every available source of recovery is a core part of our investigation.
Compensation depends on your injuries and losses. It can include medical bills, lost wages, and attendant care, along with non-economic damages for pain and suffering when your injury meets Michigan’s serious impairment threshold. In a wrongful death case, it can also include the family’s loss of companionship and support.
Nothing upfront. We handle drunk driving injury cases on a contingency fee, which means you pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you. Your first consultation is always free, and it is available 24/7.
We are deeply sorry for your loss, and we will handle your case with compassion and care. A wrongful death claim lets your family seek accountability and the resources you need to move forward. This is never about money. It is about justice for the person you lost.
Talk to a Southfield Drunk Driving Victim Lawyer Today
You did not choose this crash, and you should not have to carry its weight alone. As your Southfield drunk driving victim lawyer, we listen to your story, protect your rights, and fight for the full recovery you and your family deserve.
Christensen Law serves clients from our Southfield headquarters at 25925 Telegraph Road, Suite 200, and from our offices in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, and Troy. David Christensen and Sarah Stempky-Kime lead a team of ABOTA trial attorneys with a proven record, including a $17.8 million motor vehicle accident verdict and a $9.5 million wrongful death recovery.
Call us 24/7 at (248) 600-4591 for your free, no-risk consultation. Serving all of Michigan, from the D to the UP.
