Quick facts about our Michigan auto accident attorneys

Verdicts and settlements, awards and legal leadership

Top verdicts and settlements
Michigan legal awards
Michigan legal honors
National legal honors
Legal leadership
Client testimonials

Top verdicts and settlements

Top reported jury verdicts
Michigan Auto Law has recovered the top reported jury verdicts for Michigan automobile accident cases or truck accident lawsuits in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, according to Michigan Lawyers Weekly. The firm has more than 60 jury verdicts and arbitration awards over $1 million for car accident and truck accident victims in the state.

More than 98 percent of Michigan Auto Law cases result in great settlements
We have an excellent trial record that defense attorneys pay to avoid. This makes for larger settlements and faster returns. No other personal injury firm in Michigan can match our results — 98 percent of our cases end with outstanding settlements. Year after year, we receive settlements among the highest in the state.

Largest pain and suffering settlement
Steven Gursten received the largest reported settlement in Michigan — $9 million — for a pain and suffering car accident case. This settlement was the largest pain and suffering settlement in Michigan in the past decade, according to Michigan Lawyers Weekly.

Michigan legal awards

Michigan Leader in the Law, 2012
David Christensen has been honored by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as a Leader in the Law. Out of more than 40,000 Michigan lawyers, he was chosen among the state's top 25 for his trial success and for his astute leadership as Chair of the Negligence Section of the State Bar of Michigan.

Michigan Leader in the Law, 2008
Steven Gursten has also been honored by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as a Leader in the Law. He was chosen among the state's top 25 for his continuing efforts to force unsafe trucking companies to comply with mandatory state and federal regulations.

Michigan Lawyer of the Year, 2005
Steven Gursten was named Michigan Lawyer of the Year in Michigan Lawyers Weekly. The newspaper quoted, “Gursten is clearly doing something right. Perhaps it's the fact 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. Most likely, it's all of these things.”

Michigan legal honors

Michigan Super Lawyers
Nine attorneys from Michigan Auto Law are Michigan Super Lawyers, including partners Lawrence Gursten, Leonard Koltonow, Steven Gursten, David Christensen and Robert Raitt, as well as trial lawyers Kevin Seiferheld, Ian Freed, Thomas James and Joshua Terebelo. Super Lawyers is a listing of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.

Best Lawyers in Metro Detroit
Lawrence Gursten and Steven Gursten have been named the Best Lawyers in metro Detroit in DBusiness magazine, under the personal injury litigation specialty. The magazine honored Michigan lawyers who are well-versed, respected and successful in nearly every aspect of the law.

Crain's Detroit Business Best Lawyers
Lawrence Gursten and Steven Gursten have been named in Crain's Detroit Business among the best lawyers in metro Detroit. They are listed in the personal injury litigation specialty, for their outstanding ethics, reputation and legal accomplishments.

National legal honors

Best Lawyers in America
Lawrence Gursten and Steven Gursten were selected for inclusion in the Best Lawyers publication, which is based on an exhaustive peer-review of two million evaluations by top lawyers across the country. It is considered the definitive guide to excellence in the United States and is limited to the top 2.4 percent of attorneys.

AV-Rated Lawyers
All five partners of Michigan Auto Law also have AV Ratings from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest mark for legal ability and legal ethics based upon confidential opinions attorneys and judges. This rating shows that an experienced lawyer has reached the peak of professional excellence and is recognized for the highest levels of skill and integrity.

Top 100 Trial Lawyers
Lawrence Gursten and Steven Gursten were named Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the American Trial Lawyers Association. The association is a national organization composed of the top lawyers from each state, where membership is only extended to attorneys who exemplify superior qualifications of leadership, reputation and stature.

Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
Michigan Auto Law is listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, the nation's most exclusive lawyer directory for more than 80 years. Only 5 percent of attorneys qualify and are included, making Michigan Auto Law one of the most distinguished and respected in the country.

Legal leadership

President, Motor Vehicle Trial Lawyers Association, 2010-2015
Steven Gursten is president of the Motor Vehicle Trial Lawyers Association. This group is a professional and trade association of trial attorneys from throughout the country who represent injury victims and consumer plaintiffs in claims involving motor vehicle injuries.

President, Negligence Law Section, State Bar of Michigan, 2010-11
David Christensen is past president of the Negligence Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan. The section is the largest single section of the bar, and composed of more than 4,300 litigators. Its purpose is to promote the fair, equitable and speedy administration of negligence litigation in Michigan courts. David was voted president by his peers — personal injury attorneys including plaintiffs and defense lawyers alike.

President, Michigan Association for Justice, 2007-08
Robert Raitt, a partner of Michigan Auto Law, is past president of the Michigan Association for Justice, the state's largest organization of trial lawyers and consumer advocates representing the needs of accident victims. Michigan Auto Law has been a long-standing member, contributor and lecturer to the organization, formerly called the Michigan Trial Lawyers Association.

President, Interstate Truck Accident Litigation Group, American Association for Justice, 2007-08
Steven Gursten served as chair of the American Association for Justice Truck Accident Litigation Group. The group's mission is to educate and assist lawyers handling serious truck accident cases throughout the United States. The American Association for Justice is the nation's largest association of advocates serving the needs of injury victims, with more than 50,000 lawyer members. Michigan Auto Law has been a long-standing member, contributor and lecturer to the organization, formerly called the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.

Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group, American Association for Justice, 2007-14
Steven Gursten serves on the board of the American Association for Justice Traumatic Brain Injury Group; a group of trial lawyers who dedicate major portions of their legal practices to helping victims of traumatic brain injury.

Co-Chair, Auto No-Fault Committee, Michigan Association for Justice, 2005-10
Steven Gursten was co-chair of the Michigan Association for Justice Auto No-Fault Committee. The committee's mission is to provide education, training and assistance to Michigan auto accident lawyers. It is actively engaged in seeking political and legislative correction to issues facing car accident victims, including first- and third-party tort legislation.

Board of Governors, Association of Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America, 2007-12
Steven Gursten serves on the Board of Governors for the Association of Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America, a national association of committed lawyers who have joined to help eliminate unsafe and illegal interstate trucking practices.

State of Michigan Model Civil Jury Instructions, Subcommittee, 2010-12
Steven Gursten is on the subcommittee for the State of Michigan Model Civil Jury Instructions. He advises on the most effective jury instructions regarding Michigan No-Fault PIP aggravation, causation instruction, analysis of McCormick v. Carrier and current auto negligence serious impairment of body function instruction.

Our auto accident attorneys are here to help you

Year after year, Michigan Auto Law is recognized by legal experts and the media for our unmatched success, leadership and ethics. But our greatest accomplishment is the way we make our clients feel. Our firm is large enough to handle the most challenging cases, yet we also give the personalized, responsive attention that every client deserves.

We have helped people who were told they had no case or that their case was too old. Call for a free consultation with one of our auto accident attorneys. You can also use our consultation form . Our lawyers are here to help you recover.