Steven M. Gursten, auto accident attorney, Michigan Lawyer of the Year

• Lawyer of the Year, Michigan Lawyers Weekly
• Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers listing
• Top 100 Trial Lawyer, American Trial Lawyers
• Martindale-Hubbell AV-Rating, highest rating for legal ability and ethics
• Michigan Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers listing
• Top 100 Lawyers in the State of Michigan, Super Lawyers
• Best Lawyers, Crain's Detroit Business
• Best Lawyer/Best Law Firm, U.S. News & World Report
• Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit, DBusiness Magazine
• Million Dollar Advocates Forum, member
• Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell
• Leader in the Law, Michigan Lawyers Weekly
• Best Lawyer-Best Law Firm, U.S. News & World Report

Steve is an active leader in many legal organizations, including:

• Motor Vehicle Trial Lawyers Association
  President

  The MVTLA is a professional and trade association of trial attorneys throughout the country who represent injury victims and consumer plaintiffs in claims involving motor vehicle injuries

• Truck Accident Attorneys Roundtable visit website
  Founding member

  TAAR is an association of expert truck accident attorneys dedicated to making our roads safer and protecting truck accident victims.

• American Association for Justice
  Interstate Truck Litigation Group, Past President
  Traumatic Brain Injury Group, Executive Board Member

  The American Association for Justice is the nation's largest association of advocates serving the needs of personal injury victims, with more than 50,000 lawyer members.

• State of Michigan Model Civil Jury Instructions
  Subcommittee Member

  Steve advises on the most effective jury instructions regarding Michigan No-Fault and the auto accident law for the State of Michigan.

• Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America
  Board of Governors, Representing State of Michigan

  The APITLA is a national association of committed truck accident lawyers who have joined to help eliminate unsafe and illegal interstate trucking practices.

• Michigan Association for Justice
  Automobile Accident No‐Fault Committee, Past Co‐Chair

  The Michigan Association for Justice is the state's largest organization of trial lawyers and consumer advocates representing the needs of injured accident victims.

• Sarah Jane Brain Project
  Traumatic Brain Injury Legal Committee, Advisor

  The Sarah Jane Brain Project is a group of brain injury lawyers, doctors, professors and lawmakers dedicated to preventing and treating pediatric traumatic brain injury.

• TAOS Injury Lawyers visit website
  Member

  The TAOS Injury Lawyers is a group of renowned personal injury attorneys from across the country, who come together to learn and better serve accident victims.

Steve Gursten recovers some of the highest reported settlements and jury verdicts in Michigan every year, including the top-reported auto accident or truck accident verdict in 2008, 2009 and 2010, according to Michigan Lawyers Weekly. Below are some of his notable verdicts and settlements:

• Norris v. Atsalis Brothers Painting
  Macomb County, Michigan

  $9 million settlement, car accident/truck accident

• Broeren v. Bates
  Macomb County, Michigan

  $5.65 million jury verdict on $600,000 offer, auto accident

• Fini-Ross v. General Motors Corporation
  Oakland County, Michigan

  $4.2 million jury verdict on $100,000 defense offer, auto accident

• Nunez v. Utica Transit Mix and Supply
  Macomb County, Michigan

  $3.9 million settlement, truck accident

• Barnes v. Cassens Transport Company
  Wayne County, Michigan

  $3.6 million award on $300,000 defense offer, truck accident

• Fairley v. Schiber Truck
  Jackson County, Michigan

  $3.5 million verdict on $1 million defense offer, truck accident

• Estate of Michael Shekoski v. Allied Excavation
  Macomb County, Michigan

  $2.5 million verdict on $250,000 defense offer, wrongful death truck accident

• Lloyd v. First Choice Trucking
  U.S. District Court, Michigan

  $2.5 million jury verdict on $250,000 defense offer, truck accident

• Clouse v. Hughes
  Oakland County, Michigan

  $1.1 million jury verdict on $10,000 defense offer, auto accident

• Handling Automobile Accident Cases, West Publications
• State Bar of Michigan Negligence Law Section Quarterly
• Books on MichiganAutoLaw.com view books
  • How To Repair Your Car Damage
  • Protecting Your Legal Rights After a Car Accident
  • The Attorneys' Guide to the Best Auto Insurance Companies
  • Guide to Michigan No-Fault Law
  • What Auto Insurance is Right for Me?
  • How to Keep your Children Safe
  • How to Choose the Right Lawyer

Fordham University School of Law, New York, NY

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI - Phi Beta Kappa, highest academic distinction

Michigan Lawyers Weekly has written several articles about Steve Gursten. Here are some highlights:

"Gursten is clearly doing something right. Perhaps it's that his firm is the largest in the state specializing in serious car and truck accident cases. Perhaps it's the fact that he's willing to take difficult cases to trial and continues to receive spectacular results. Perhaps it's the fact that he practices law with honesty and integrity. More likely, it's all of these things."

"Outstanding in his field. One of Michigan's foremost experts on No‐Fault litigation."

Visit our press room for more articles featuring Steve and Michigan Auto Law.

Steve Gursten frequently lectures at legal seminars locally and throughout the country on topics such as trial advocacy, Michigan No-Fault law, traumatic brain injury cases and maximizing settlements for those injured in car and truck accidents. To date, he has more than 100 professional speaking engagements, including:

• Speaker, "How to Maximize Auto Accident Settlements by Building a 21st Century Personal Injury Law Office," New Jersey Association for Justice; New Jersey; April 2013
• Speaker and moderator, "Advanced Motor Vehicle Litigation Seminar," Motor Vehicle Trial Lawyers Association; Las Vegas; November 2012
• Presenter, "Auto Accident Claims: The Influence of Colossus on Recoveries," Strafford; CLE Webinar, November 2012
• Presenter, "Helping Accident Victims: A Fresh Approach for Injury Lawyers," TAOS Injury Lawyers; Jackson Hole, WY, October 2012
• Moderator, "New Ways to Overcome Jury Bias and Increase Personal Injury Damages," Michigan Association for Justice; Southfield, MI, August 2012
• Speaker, "How to Maximize Damages in Truck Accident Lawsuits," 360 Advocacy Institute; Las Vegas, August 2012
• Speaker, "How Titan Insurance v. Hyten Affects Michigan Auto Accident Victims," Negligence Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan; Troy, Mich., August 2012
• Speaker, "Getting the Highest Car Accident Settlement," Michigan Association for Justice; Southfield, Mich.; July 2012
• Speaker, "How to Get the Highest Settlement in Car Accident Cases," American Association for Justice; New Orleans, Louisiana, May 2012
• Speaker, "Increasing Settlements in Auto Accident Tort Practices," Florida Justice Association; Orlando, Florida; March 2012
• Speaker, "Trucking cases and Client Advocacy," National Trial Lawyers; Miami, Florida; January 2012
• Speaker, "How Truck Accidents are Different from Car Accidents - What Lawyers need to know to achieve top truck accident settlements," State Bar of Wisconsin; December, 2011
• Speaker, "Darwin and the Evolution of Trial Lawyers - How to Reach and Connect with Today's Juries," Taos Trial Attorneys; Martha's Vineyard, October 2011
• Speaker, "Exploring the Value of Auto Accident Cases: Novel Ways to Build Damages," 360 Advocacy Institute - Insurance Settlement Mediation Summit; Las Vegas, Nevada, September 2011
• Speaker, "Traumatic Brain Injury Cases: New Legal Strategies/Tactics," Michigan Association for Justice - No-Fault Institute; Southfield, MI, September 2011
• Moderator, "Voir Dire Seminar for Personal Injury Attorneys," Michigan Association for Justice; Redford, Michigan, August 2011
• Speaker, "How to Successfully Lawyer the Big Truck Accident Case," American Association For Justice Truck Accident Lawyers Litigation Group; New York, NY, July 2011
• Speaker, "For Personal Injury Lawyers: Niche Specialization in Auto Accident Cases," Chicago Bar Association; Chicago, Ill., May 2011
• Speaker, "Restructuring your Auto Practice for Efficiency," Personal Injury Litigators Summit; Las Vegas, Nevada, March 2011
• Lecturer, "How Michigan Accident Attorneys Should Approach Auto Injury Cases After McCormick v. Carrier," Wayne State University Law School; Detroit, Mich., February 2011
• Speaker, "Representing Injured Clients and Finding Value in Car Accident Claims," State Bar of Michigan; Grand Rapids, Mich., September 2010
• Speaker, "Litigation Tips for Michigan Personal Injury Attorneys After McCormick v. Carrier," Michigan Association for Justice; Southfield, Mich. September 2010
• Speaker, "How to Settle Personal Injury Cases for More Money: Five Tips to Maximizing Personal Injury Settlements," Michigan Association for Justice; Novi, Mich., June 2010
• Speaker, "Commercial Transportation Rules of the Road," American Association for Justice Interstate Truck Litigation Group; New Orleans, La., February 2010
• Speaker, "Opening Statements and Cross-Examination of the Defense "Independent" Medical Examiner," Michigan Association for Justice; Southfield, Mich., February 2010
• Faculty, "How to Present Opening Statements, Cross Examinations and Closing Arguments in an Auto Case," Michigan Association for Justice; Southfield, Mich., February 2010
• Speaker, "Winning Auto Accident Cases," Belli Society; November 2009
• Speaker, "Careers in Personal Injury Law and Trial Law," University of Detroit Mercy School of Law; Detroit, Mich., October 2009
• Speaker, "Maximizing Damages in Trucking Cases, Missed Opportunities in Protecting Clients," Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America; live web cast, August 2009
• Speaker, "The Disabling Brain Injury that Most Lawyers Miss," Michigan Association for Justice; West Bloomfield, Mich., August 2009
• Speaker, "Using Fatigue in Car Accident Cases to Recover Economic Damages and Prove Disability," American Association for Justice, San Francisco, Calif., July 2009
• Speaker, "Traumatic Brain Injuries in Trucking Cases," American Association for Justice, San Francisco, Calif., July 2009
• Speaker, "Maximizing Personal Injury Damages in Trucking Accident Cases," Association of Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America; Atlanta, Ga., October 2008
• Speaker, "Locating and Effectively Dealing with Experts on Direct and Cross Examination in First- and Third-Party Litigation," Institute of Continuing Legal Education; Plymouth, Mich., October 2008
• Moderator, faculty and speaker, "Teaching Lawyers How to Handle Truck Accident Cases," American Association for Justice Interstate Truck Litigation Group; Chicago, Ill, October 2008
• Faculty, "Traumatic Brain Injury Law in Michigan," Michigan Association for Justice; Novi, Mich., September 2008
• Speaker, "Fatigue in Traumatic Brain Injury Cases," American Association for Justice; Philadelphia, Pa., July 2008
• Speaker, "Closing Argument in Automobile Accident Case," Michigan Association for Justice; Southfield, Mich., June 2008
• Speaker, "Personal Injury and Insurance Law for Future Lawyers," Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Lansing, Mich., February 2008
• Moderator and faculty, "Litigating Truck Accident Cases," American Association for Justice; New Orleans, La., February 2008
• Guest professor, "Understanding Serious Impairment of Body Function and Third-Party Tort Litigation," Thomas M. Cooley Law School; Lansing, Mich., 2007
• Speaker, "Dealing with IMEs and DMEs after Michigan Auto Accident Cases," Institute of Continuing Legal Education; Plymouth, Mich., 2007
• Moderator and faculty, Evidence Seminar: "Preparing for Battle," Michigan Association for Justice; Novi, Mich., 2007
• Speaker, "Litigating Traumatic Brain Injury Cases in Michigan," Michigan No Fault Institute, Michigan Trial Lawyers Association; Southfield, Mich., 2007
• Moderator and faculty, "Litigating Truck Accident Cases," American Association for Justice; Chicago, Ill., 2007
• Panel speaker, "Kreiner Evening Forum," Michigan Trial Lawyers Association; Novi, Mich., 2006
• Moderator and faculty, "Litigating Truck Accident Cases," American Association for Justice; Las Vegas, Nev., 2006
• Speaker, "Careers as a Personal Injury Lawyer in Michigan," Thomas M. Cooley Law School; Lansing, Mich., 2006
• Speaker, "Winning the Michigan Auto Accident Case:Increasing Settlement Values and Trial Verdicts Through the Plaintiff, Treating Doctors, PME and Defendant's Own Doctors," Institute of Continuing Legal Education; Plymouth, Mich., 2006
• Keynote speaker, "Achieving the Highest Settlements and Jury Verdicts for Car Accidents," Michigan Trial Lawyers Association; Southfield, Mich., 2006
• Panel speaker, "Kreiner Forum," Michigan Trial Lawyers Association; Novi, Mich., 2006
• Speaker, No Fault Institute III: "Lawyers Auto Accident Survival Guide," Michigan Trial Lawyers Association; Detroit, Mich., 2006
• Speaker, Handling Auto Accident Cases Successfully, Association of Trial Lawyers of America; Toronto, Canada, 2005
• Speaker, "No Fault Institute II," Michigan Trial Lawyers Association; 2005
• Speaker, "Litigation Strategies and Techniques," Institute of Continuing Legal Education; 2005
• Speaker, "Exposing and Debunking Junk Science at Trial," Michigan Trial Lawyers Association; 2005
• Moderator and panel member, "Handling Truck Accident Cases Successfully," Association of Trial Lawyers of America; 2005
• Speaker, "Avoiding the Threshold Defense in Car Accident Cases," Institute for Continuing Legal Education; 2005
• Speaker, "Third-Party Litigation: Practical Issues from the Plaintiff's Perspective," Institute of Continuing Legal Education; 2004
• Author, "Point/Counterpoint: What does Serious Impairment of Body Function Really Mean? How the Supreme Court Will Interpret Kreiner v. Fischer," State Bar of Michigan Negligence Law Section Quarterly; 2004
• Speaker, "Taking and Defending Effective Depositions in Michigan: the Plaintiff Attorney's Perspective," Lorman Legal Education Seminars; 2004
• Speaker, "Your Car, Your Rights, Your Ticket to Freedom," Oakland County Bar Association; 2004
• Moderator, Evidence Seminar, Michigan Trial Lawyers Association; 2003
• Speaker, "Winning No Fault Trials," Michigan Trial Lawyers Association; 2003
• Speaker, "How to Destroy a Biomechanical Engineer," No Fault Extravaganza; 2003
• Speaker, "Handling No Fault Trials," Institute for Continuing Legal Education; 2003
• Speaker, "Your Car, Your Rights, Your Ticket to Freedom," Oakland County Bar Association; 2003
• Speaker, "Winning Motions for Summary Disposition on Serious Impairment of Body Function," No Fault Extravaganza; 2002
• Speaker, Negligence Update, State Bar of Michigan; 2002
• Speaker, "New Theories on Damages," Institute for Continuing Legal Education; 2002
• Speaker, "Taking and Defending Effective Depositions in Michigan: the Plaintiff Attorney's Perspective," Lorman Legal Education Seminars; 2002
• Speaker, "Doubling the Value of Your Auto Negligence Cases," Michigan Trial Lawyers Association; 2002
• Speaker, "Your Car, Your Rights, Your Ticket to Freedom," Oakland County Bar Association; 2002
• Author, "Handling Automobile Accident Cases in Michigan," Michigan Lawyer's Manual; 2002
• Speaker, "Expanding Damages in Auto and Premises Liability Cases," Institute for Continuing Legal Education; 2001
• Speaker, Negligence Update, State Bar of Michigan; 2001
• Speaker, "Maximizing Damages in Auto Cases," Michigan Trial Lawyers Association; 2001
• Speaker, "Your Car, Your Rights, Your Ticket to Freedom," Oakland County Bar Association; 2001
• Author, "Making and Opposing Motions for Summary Disposition on Serious Impairment of Body Function," State Bar of Michigan Negligence Law Section; 2001
• Representative, State Bar of Michigan Assembly; 2000-01
• Speaker, Negligence Update, State Bar of Michigan; 2000
• Speaker, "Your Car, Your Rights, Your Ticket to Freedom," Oakland County Bar Association; 2000
• Speaker, "Handling the Low Damage Car Accident Case," Michigan Trial Lawyers Association; 2000
• Speaker, Negligence Update, State Bar of Michigan; 1999
• Speaker, "Your Car, Your Rights, Your Ticket to Freedom," Oakland County Bar Association; 1999
• Speaker, "The Masters Series, Closing Arguments," Michigan Trial Lawyers Association; 1999
• Speaker, "Meeting Michigan's Auto Threshold Law," Michigan Trial Lawyers Association; 1999
• Speaker, "How to Hammer Allstate," Michigan Trial Lawyers Association; 1999
• Speaker, "Handling Bad Faith Claims Against Insurance Companies," Allstate seminar; 1999

When he was 28, Steve became the youngest attorney in Michigan history to receive a million-dollar jury verdict. The case was in Oakland County, and the insurance company, Allstate, was only offering $10,000 to settle.