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Steven M. Gursten, partner, auto accident attorney

"Arguably the best in the business..." - Michigan Lawyers Weekly

Steven M. Gursten is recognized as one of the nation's top attorneys handling serious auto accident injury and wrongful death cases, and No‐Fault insurance litigation. He is head of Michigan Auto Law, the state's largest law firm handling car accident, truck accident and motorcycle accident cases for more than 50 years.

Honors and awards
Memberships and affiliations
Notable Michigan personal injury cases
Publications
Education
What the newspapers say
Client testimonials
Legal seminars and presentations
Interesting fact
For help from an attorney

Honors and awards

• 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

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

Motor Vehicle Trial Lawyers Association

• President

American Association for Justice

• Interstate Truck Litigation Group, Past President
• Traumatic Brain Injury Group, Executive Board Member

State of Michigan Model Civil Jury Instructions

• Subcommittee Member

Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America

• Board of Governors, Representing State of Michigan

Michigan Association for Justice

• Automobile Accident No‐Fault Committee, Past Co‐Chair

Sarah Jane Brain Project

• Traumatic Brain Injury Legal Committee, Advisor

Notable Michigan personal injury cases
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

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

Publications

• Handling Automobile Accident Cases, West Publications
• State Bar of Michigan Negligence Law Section Quarterly
• Books on MichiganAutoLaw.com:
  • How To Repair Your Car Damage
  • Protecting Your Legal Rights After a Car Accident
  • 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

Education
Fordham University School of Law, New York, NY

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

• Phi Beta Kappa, highest academic distinction

What the newspapers say
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.

Client testimonials
"Steve is absolutely wonderful. I was actually referred to him from another law firm. He is caring and very prompt with responding to any concerns that I may have had. He actually makes you feel as if you are his only client. He is very aggressive and knows his stuff. He talks with you in understandable terms, instead of the legal mumble jumbo. I actually call him for any legal questions that may arise (even not accident‐related), and he takes the time to help. I would recommend anyone at anytime to Steve Gursten and Michigan Auto Law." ‐ BB Rosson, Detroit

"When someone I love was hurt in a car accident I wanted the best auto attorney I could find. So I did my research. From my perspective, securing the best legal representation would equate to the best care she could receive. Steve Gursten's impressive reputation and results brought me to his door. Not only was my perception of Mr. Gursten's legal talent right on point, but to that ability, he combines good intentions, empathy, people skills and professionalism. He is at the top of his specialty." ‐ John Wilcox, Attorney, Lansing

"My lawyer Steve Gursten came into my life under the most devastating circumstances. One day, my girlfriend was driving to pick me up from work when she ran out of gas on I-75. As she was putting gas in her car on the side of the highway, a semi-truck veered from its lane and hit and killed her. My deceased girlfriend's family was not satisfied with the money the insurance adjuster was offering, so I called Michigan Auto Law to see if there were more benefits available for her children. Steve Gursten looked tirelessly for more insurance and he did it out of kindness — he didn't charge me a dime. I appreciated that so much. Steve also treated me with dignity and he was always there to answer my questions. I would recommend him for anybody who needs help with a truck accident in Michigan , because he is a polite man, a man of his word and he does what he says. You don't get that with most lawyers. Most other lawyers wanted to take 33 percent or charge $500 an hour, and didn't even care if insurance was there. Losing my girlfriend to a truck accident caused by a trucker who may have been asleep at the wheel was horrible. But at least now I had can lay my head on my pillow, knowing I did the right thing by getting all of the insurance possible for her family. I wouldn't have been able to do this without Steve Gursten's generous help." - Tony Harris, Newaygo

"I previously had an experience with a bad attorney, so when I was hit by an oil tanker, I was worried maybe my new lawyer wouldn't be attentive or even pay attention to me. But I found the exact opposite with Steve Gursten. Steve is very nice and attentive. He always takes time for me and I feel he genuinely cares about my well‐being. He always answers my questions, too. Steve has been tremendous, even in helping with my wage loss." ‐ Felicia Jackson, Macomb County

Here are more client testimonials about Steven Gursten.

Legal seminars and presentations
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 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," Michigan Trial Lawyers Association; 1999
• Speaker, "Handling Bad Faith Claims Against Insurance Companies," Allstate seminar; 1999

Interesting fact
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.

For help from an auto accident attorney
Steve Gursten has helped people who were told they had no case by other personal injury lawyers, or that their case was too old. We invite you to read real client testimonials or watch videos of real auto accident victims whose lives we have changed.

For more information on choosing an attorney, take a look at our Michigan Auto Law guarantee and our attorney evaluator. We also have a helpful resource center that's designed to answer your questions about hiring a lawyer after a car accident.

To speak with an auto accident attorney now, call (800) 777-0028, or you can fill out our consultation form. The call and the advice are free, and we're always here to help you.

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