Handling auto accident and Michigan personal injury cases is unique to anywhere else in the United States. Michigan is one of a small handful of states that has a threshold test that an injured party from an auto accident must cross in order to recover non-economic damages. Michigan is also a no-fault state. An injured party from an auto accident, in the State of Michigan, can only pursue a claim against a negligent driver under Michigan law for:
Non-economic loss (pain and suffering),
Excess economic loss over the monthly statutory maximum, and
Economic loss after the first three years of no-fault lost wages.
An automobile accident attorney handling Michigan auto accident cases faces yet an additional challenge in that there is still no Supreme Court decision in the State of Michigan interpreting the exact meaning of the new threshold for auto accidents that took effect on March 28, 1996.
Any successful Michigan auto accident lawyer case must depend upon a thorough understanding and a careful analysis of the existing Federal and Michigan law. Therefore, the first analysis of our Michigan automobile accident attorney begins with the Michigan No-Fault Act and the separation of financial responsibilities between the at-fault driver and an injured person's own no-fault insurance company.
No-fault rights of a person personally injured in a auto accident in Michigan are allocated between a claim against the no-fault insurer - a "first-party" claim - and a claim against the negligent tortfeasor - a "third-party" claim.
Michigan auto accident first-party claims are made to a claimant's own no-fault insurer. The claimant's insurer, by contract and by law, is required to pay no-fault benefits to the claimant for expenses resulting from the auto accident. The first-party auto accident claims involve payments for medical expenses, wage loss, replacement services, mileage, survivor's loss, funeral expenses, and attendant care.
Michigan Auto Law is an AV RATED law firm, the highest possible rating for legal ability and ethics. Very few lawyers and law firms in Michigan have been selected with this top rating.
American Association for Justice
Steve Gursten is Chair for the 2008 Interstate Truck Litigation Group for the American Association for Justice (AAJ). Michigan Auto Law has been a long standing member and contributor to the American Association for Justice (AAJ), formerly the American Trial Lawyers Association (ATLA).
Michigan Super Lawyer
Top 5% of Attorneys in Michigan
Michigan Super Lawyer features only the Top 5% of attorneys in Michigan.
3 Michigan Auto Law attorneys
have been featured as
Michigan Super Lawyer:
Lawrence E. Gursten - 2007, 2006
Leonard M. Koltonow - 2007
David E. Christensen - 2007
Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
Only 5% of Law Firms in the U.S. Qualify
Only 5% of all U.S. law firms qualify to be included in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, making Michigan Auto Law one of the most distinguished and respected in the country.
Michigan Lawyer of the Year
Steven M. Gursten was selected as "Lawyer of the Year" for 2005, by Michigan Lawyers Weekly, the state's largest legal periodical. Steve was selected after winning a $9 million dollar pain and suffering settlement for one of his clients - the largest settlement for pain and suffering in Michigan in over ten years.
Michigan Trial Lawyers Association (MTLA)
Robert M. Raitt of Michigan Auto Law is President for the Michigan Trial Lawyers Association (MTLA) for 2008. The attorneys at Michigan Auto Law are well-respected members of the Michigan Trial Lawyers Association (MTLA), dedicated to helping Michigan families seek justice when they are injured by another person's negligence.