About Steven Gursten, Auto Accident Attorney
Steven Gursten of Michigan Auto Law has been selected a Michigan Lawyer of the Year and has been voted consistently among the top 50 attorneys in Michigan (out of over 65,000 lawyers) by Super Lawyers.
Steven Gursten is the current President of the American Association for Justice (AAJ) Distracted Driving Litigation Group. He is also the current President of the Belli Society. He is a past-President of the AAJ Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group, the AAJ Truck Accident Litigation Group, and a past-President of the Motor Vehicle Trial Lawyers Association. He has also been selected a JD Supra 2018 and 2019 Readers’ Choice Award winner – Top Author in the Insurance category for his writing on Michigan’s auto No-Fault laws and insurance litigation. Steven Gursten speaks throughout the country every year, teaching lawyers on such subjects as trial advocacy, traumatic brain injury, truck accident litigation, and on maximizing auto accident settlements.
Auto accident attorney Steven Gursten of Michigan Auto Law has recovered the largest ever auto and truck accident settlement of any Michigan lawyer or law firm. He has also received the top reported auto accident and truck accident settlements and jury verdicts in Michigan over multiple years, according to Michigan Lawyers Weekly and Verdict Reporter.
After interviewing four different lawyers, Steven Gursten of Michigan Auto Law stood out amongst them as the guy to go to for several reasons.
My husband was killed in an automobile accident involving a gravel hauler truck on the freeway. The left front steer tire of the gravel hauler blew on I-75 near the Rouge River bridge, and the truck hit my husband’s car, trapping him between the retaining wall and the gravel hauler.LOAD MORE
It became apparent that I needed to seek out an attorney. After interviewing four different lawyers, Steven Gursten of Michigan Auto Law stood out amongst them as the guy to go to for several reasons. There was a genuine nature about Steve. He was exceptionally easy to talk with and an incredible listener. Of course his knowledge and the know how to get the job done was apparent. He treated me with a real sense of kindness as an individual and not a potential case.
Steve settled my husband’s case out of court so I didn’t have to go through a trial. Throughout the whole process, Steve went above and beyond my expectations in terms of his hard work to uncover the truths of the matter and all of the things the trucking company did that were unsafe and contributed to the accident.
Steve treated me with a lot of respect. He responded to my questions and phone calls very promptly. I never felt like he was in a hurry to get me off the phone. He listened to everything I had to say all the time. In terms of when I had to give my deposition, he prepared me and was next to me every step of the way. That was also the case when I had to go to court before the judge for the settlement. It made me feel very safe. Steve gave me confidence and the strength to get up there and do what I had to do. He did so much research and he explored every possible avenue to get me the best settlement possible. He worked very hard for me.
Along the way, he kept me informed of the status of everything. I would say if anybody is involved in an automobile accident involving trucks or other commercial vehicles, to not hesitate to contact Steve. You will not be let down. If you’ve done your homework and investigated attorneys, Steve is the obvious right choice. I walked out of his office knowing it was a no-brainer decision to go with him. It was the right thing to do for my family, in the wake of such a terrible accident and traumatic time in our lives. I felt it in my heart, and I was right. Another thing I would like to note is that even after the case was closed, Steve is still here for me with advice and all the time I need.
Honors and Awards
- Lawyer of the Year, Michigan Lawyers Weekly
- Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers listing
- Best Lawyers in America for 10 years, Best Lawyers listing
- Top 10 Attorney Award for the state of Michigan, National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys
- 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 50 Lawyers in the State of Michigan, Super Lawyers
- AVVO Top-Rated Lawyer – Superb Attorney Rating
- Readers’ Choice Award winner – Top Author, JD Supra
- 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
- Top 100 Litigation Lawyer, American Society of Legal Advocates
- Lawyer of the Year – Personal Injury, Corporate LiveWire
- American Board of Trial Advocates – “Who’s who of trial lawyers nationwide”
- The Trucking Trial Lawyers Association – Top 10
- 2017 Melvin M. Belli Society Mel Award
- Listed as one of the Top 3 Personal Injury Lawyers in Detroit, MI by Three Best Rated®
Memberships and affiliations
Steven is an active leader in many legal organizations, including:
Melvin M. Belli Society
President
The Melvin M. Belli Society is a legal group of the best injury lawyers in the country that presents hard-hitting, practical seminars featuring lawyers who are experts in the courtroom and discussing innovative trial skills.
American Association for Justice: the nation’s largest association of advocates serving the needs of personal injury victims, with more than 50,000 lawyer members
- President – Distracted Driving Litigation Group, American Association for Justice
- Past-President – Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group, American Association for Justice
- Past-President – Trucking Litigation Group, American Association for Justice
State of Michigan Model Civil Jury Instructions
Subcommittee Member
Steven 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.
Motor Vehicle Trial Lawyers Association
Past 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
TAOS Injury Lawyers
Member
The TAOS Injury Lawyers is an invite only group of preeminent trial attorneys from around the nation.
Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys
Board of Regents
The Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys is a national group of renowned plaintiff’s lawyers who are dedicated to helping families affected by serious truck and bus accidents throughout the U.S.
Truck Accident Attorneys Roundtable
Founding member
TAAR is an association of expert truck accident attorneys dedicated to making our roads safer and protecting truck accident victims.
Notable Michigan Personal Injury Cases
Steven Gursten recovers some of the highest reported settlements and jury verdicts every year, including the top-reported auto accident or truck accident jury verdict and the highest auto accident and truck accident settlement in Michigan over multiple years, according to Michigan Lawyers Weekly. Below are some of his notable verdicts and settlements:
John Doe v. A trucking company
Confidential as to parties injuries and insurers
$34 million settlement, truck accident
Norris v. Atsalis Brothers Painting
Macomb County, Michigan
$9 million settlement, car accident/truck accident
John Doe v. Confidential
Oakland County, Michigan
$7 million settlement including $3 million in contribution over insurance policy limits, auto accident
Estate of John Doe v. Confidential, Out of State Trucking Death Case
Confidential as to parties injuries and insurers
$6.2 million settlement, 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
John Doe v. Confidential
Confidential as to parties and insurers
$3.5 million tire off case causing significant TBI
John Doe v. Confidential, Out of State Truck Accident Case
Confidential as to parties, injuries and insurers
$3.5 million settlement, 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
Publications
Handling Automobile Accident Cases, West Publications
State Bar of Michigan Negligence Law Section Quarterly
Free books:
VIEW BOOKSThe Attorneys’ Guide to the Best Auto Insurance Companies
Guide to Michigan No-Fault Law
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 Steven 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.”
In addition, Steve has recently been quoted as an attorney expert in several national publications. Here’s what they had to say about Steve:
“For 20 years, taking on truck companies” — CBS News, April 2016
“… Michigan attorney specializing in severe trucking accident cases” — The Wall Street Journal, October 2016
Visit our news page for more articles featuring Steven and Michigan Auto Law.
VISIT NEWSLegal Seminars and Presentations
Steven 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.
Previous Events
To date, he has more than 200 professional speaking engagements, including:- Speaker/Faculty, "Inside Trucking Litigation: Limited Edition Series"; American Association for Justice Trucking Litigation Group; Hosted from Washington, D.C.; December 2020
- Speaker, "Proving and Winning Distracted Driving"; American Association for Justice/SeminarWeb; Hosted from Washington, D.C.; November 2020
- Speaker, "Evidence of Distracted Driving in Car Crashes: Find it, prove it, and use it to help your client's case"; Michigan Association for Justice – SeminarWeb; Hosted from Lansing, MI; November 2020
- Speaker, "4 Ways to Double the Value of Your TBI Case"; Maximizing the Value of Your TBI Case: Tips from the Masters - North Carolina Advocates for Justice; Hosted from Raleigh, NC; November 2020
- Speaker, "Deposing Truck Drivers in Injury Cases – Encore Presentation with Live Q & A"; Strafford's Webinars; National ; October 2020
- Speaker, "Winning Truck Accident Cases"; American Association for Justice Trucking Litigation Group Webinar Series; Hosted from Washington, D.C.; October 2020
- Speaker, "Settlement and negotiation strategies that work for every case"; Utah Association for Justice Annual Conference; Hosted from Salt Lake City, UT; October 2020
- Speaker, "Deposing Truck Drivers in Injury Cases"; Strafford's Webinars; National; September 2020
- Moderator, "In the Spirit of Mel Belli: Cutting-Edge, New and Innovative Ideas for Your Cases and Your Practice"; First Ever Melvin M. Belli Society Seminar; Atlanta, GA; Postponed due to COVID-19. Reschedule date to be determined.
- Speaker, "Major Value Drivers and Devastating Hidden Damages You Can Utilize to Add Millions to Your Auto Crash Cases"; 360 Advocacy’s Auto Crash Litigation 7.0; Las Vegas, NV; Postponed due to COVID-19. Reschedule date to be determined.
Interesting Fact
When he was 28, Steven 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.