Michigan Car Accident Settlements From Michigan Auto Law

Our winning record of notable and top-reported Michigan accident settlements and verdicts for car, truck, motorcycle and personal injury cases speaks for the fact that our attorneys fight hard for our clients – consistently breaking records and setting higher standards for car accident litigation.

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Insurance companies always try to settle auto accident claims as cheaply as possible. Find out what your case is really worth. Request your free consultation today.

Michigan Auto Law has more million dollar trucking and auto accident settlement results than any lawyer or law firm in Michigan.

Specialization and subject matter expertise pay off for the people we are honored to represent and help.

Our trial record allows our attorneys to settle cases faster and for significantly more money than other personal injury lawyers and law firms who do not have this proven record of success protecting auto accident victims.

In fact, Attorney At Law Magazine duly noted:

“Michigan Auto Law has been listed for 17 consecutive years with the top reported injury settlements and trial verdicts in Michigan… This remarkable record eclipses every other law firm in Michigan…”

–Attorney At Law Magazine

Highest Auto Accident Settlement by any Michigan Law Firm or Lawyer

Steve Gursten recovered a $34 million settlement for a truck accident, the highest in the United States for that year. It remains the highest auto or truck accident settlement ever by a Michigan lawyer.

Settlement categories:

Michigan Car Accident Settlements and Verdicts

Car

$

7
Million
Plus $4 million over policy limits
The victim’s parents sued the speeding driver in an Oakland County lawsuit for the conscious pain and suffering their son endured before passing away. This was the top reported Michigan car accident settlement in 2015. This $7 million wrongful death auto accident settlement also involved a $3 million in personal assets contribution over the insurance policy limits.
Car

$

5.65
Million
$500,000 insurance company offer before trial ($1 million during jury deliberations)
A Macomb County jury awarded damages to a man who was driven over and suffered a traumatic brain injury, broken jaw and separated shoulder, which disabled him from returning to work. The defense offered only $500,000 before trial, and $1 million during jury deliberations.
Car

$

5.2
Million
Our attorneys obtained this car accident judgment in Sanilac County for the victim of a head-on collision who suffered multiple fractures in her legs, wrist, pelvis, and ribs requiring 5 surgeries and 5 procedures as well as nearly 6 months of hospitalization and in-patient rehabilitation.
Car

$

5.1
Million
This was the largest reported wrongful death settlement in Washtenaw County and the largest reported motor vehicle wrongful death settlement in Michigan for an individual killed in a car accident in 2018. (Based on confirmed/disclosed Washtenaw County case dispositions reported to VerdictSearch and based Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s year-end compilation of settlements and verdicts.)
Car

$

5
Million
Victim was struck and killed by a negligently driven car as she attempted to provide aid to the driver and passengers of an overturned vehicle on an interstate highway.
Car

$

5
Million
The victim was struck by a car while she was inspecting vehicle damage that was caused by a previous rear-end collision, resulting in facial fractures requiring reconstruction along with other orthopedic injuries from being struck as a pedestrian.

Truck Accident Settlements and Verdicts

Truck

$

34.5
Million
After a final insurance company offer of $14 million
The Michigan Auto Law team secured the largest-reported tractor-trailer crash settlement in the U.S. that year. It is the largest truck settlement by an attorney in the state of Michigan.
Truck

$

14.3
Million
Last insurance company offer was $25,000 
Our attorneys won this Truck Accident Verdict in Clinton County in a case involving a traumatic brain injury.
Truck

$

13.5
Million
Our attorneys settled a case for a victim in a car versus tractor trailer crash who suffered major burn injuries.
Truck

$

10.5
Million
Michigan Auto Law found $9 million extra dollars of insurance coverage that 2 other lawyers had missed
A woman was seriously injured when a truck crashed into her vehicle. Michigan Auto Law found $9 million extra dollars of insurance coverage that two other lawyers had missed.
Truck

$

9
Million
$1 million final insurance company offer to previous attorney
A man who had been seriously injured in a rear-end collision was offered $1 million by the insurance company. His previous attorney advised him to settle. The man then hired Michigan Auto Law, who was able to reach a $9 million settlement.
Truck

$

8.5
Million
This fatal truck accident, which occurred when highway traffic stopped due to a construction detour, involved claims against a road construction company for improper signage and traffic control and failure to monitor the traffic backup.

Motorcycle Accident Settlements and Verdicts

Motorcycle

$

6.2
Million
On $400,000 settlement offer
This confidential out-of-state wrongful death case involved a commercial motor vehicle causing the death of a motorcyclist.
Motorcycle

$

1.25
Million
The victim who was lawfully riding his motorcycle suffered severe injuries requiring multiple surgeries on both legs and below the right knee amputation as a result of a collision caused by a motorist who failed to yield the right of way.
Motorcycle

$

1.25
Million
The motorcyclist in this motorcycle accident wrongful death case was killed when a motorist attempted to turn left in front of him. Although the motorist strongly contested at first, the case was ultimately settled pre-litigation for the full policy limits.
Motorcycle

$

1.25
Million
This wrongful death settlement involved a t-bone collision where a motorist failed to stop for a “Stop” sign and drove into a motorcyclist, who was killed on impact. The case settled for the full policy limits.
Motorcycle

$

1.1
Million
In this accident case, the victim desperately needed Michigan attendant care benefits, which the insurance company was refusing to pay.
Motorcycle

$

1
Million
A motorcyclist suffered a neck fracture requiring surgery; a left knee dislocation with ACL tear, and traumatic brain injury.

Bus Accident Settlements and Verdicts

Bus

$

2.1
Million
The victim suffered a cervical spine injury and post-concussion syndrome as a result of being a passenger on a bus that rear-ended a street sweeper.
Bus

$

925
Thousand
The victim in this Macomb County bus accident case was seriously injured when a bus negligently made a left turn in front of the victim’s car.
Bus

$

850
Thousand
Settlement for a Wayne County bus accident involving two buses.
Bus

$

780
Thousand
A Wayne County pedestrian/bus accident occurred because a bus driver was driving while distracted and was not watching the road.

Personal Injury Settlements and Verdicts

Personal Injury

$

6.1
Million
Detroit Edison’s negligent installation/maintenance of power lines in Oakland County resulted in wrongful death of 5-year-old. Sanctions and interest brought total award to $10 Million.
Personal Injury

$

5.5
Million
Settlement for Oakland County swimming accident.
Personal Injury

$

4.6
Million
Improperly stacked merchandise in a retail pharmacy in Wayne County fell and struck a shopper, causing her to suffer a traumatic brain injury, cognitive limitations and debilitating headaches. This was the top reported brain injury verdict in Michigan in 2015.
Personal Injury

$

3
Million
Settlement in Oakland County for obstetrical malpractice.
Personal Injury

$

2.5
Million
When a press shaft fractured, the press operator was hit in the head by a falling piece of metal. Suit was brought in Washtenaw County against the successor to a power press manufacturer and a prior owner/maintainer of the press.
Personal Injury

$

1.8
Million
In this confidential case, the defendant corporation paid out $1.8 million to a husband and wife for groin injury and various orthopedic injuries and surgeries.
Personal Injury

$

1.5
Million
A Wayne County jury ruled in favor of a shopper who was injured by a store’s automatic sliding doors.
Personal Injury

$

1.2
Million
In this confidential case, the victim was killed by a gas explosion.
Personal Injury

$

1.1
Million
Arbitration Award in Oakland County for obstetrical malpractice
Personal Injury

$

900
Thousand
Workplace injury settlement in Macomb County

No-Fault Settlements and Verdicts

No-Fault Attendant Care

$

1.3
Million
$0 insurance company offer ($100,000 offer at trial).
No-Fault/Attendant Care
No-Fault Benefits

$

1.17
Million
Our attorneys secured this settlement for a seriously injured car accident victim after the insurance company refused to provide the No-Fault benefits it was legally liable for.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Top Michigan Car Accident Settlements and Verdicts

Getting top-reported car accident settlements and verdicts is not something new for Michigan Auto Law. Here’s what we’ve accomplished:

2022

Top-reported motor vehicle trial verdict. Top-reported traumatic brain injury trial verdict. Top-reported truck accident trial verdict for first-party No-Fault and attendant care benefits. Top-reported motor vehicle arbitration award. Our attorneys obtained 8 of the top 30 largest reported motor vehicle settlements in the state in 2022.

2021

Top-reported truck and auto settlement in Michigan. Our attorneys obtained 7 of the top 24 largest reported auto accident verdicts and/or settlements in the state.

2020

The top two (2) largest reported judgments in Michigan. These $5 million judgments were the largest for all categories, not just car accidents.

2018

Largest pain and suffering verdict ever in Ottawa Co, MI. Largest auto verdict in West Michigan in 2018.

2017

Top-reported personal injury settlement in a wheel separation auto accident crash

2015

Top negligence brain injury verdict; top truck accident settlement

2014

Top truck settlement in U.S.; highest ever by Michigan attorney

2012

Top truck verdict, car verdict and auto settlement

2011

Top truck verdict

2010

Top truck verdict and auto settlement

2009

Top auto verdict and auto settlement

(Source: Year-end verdicts and settlements reports by Michigan Lawyers Weekly and VerdictSearch.)

Settlement FAQs

Of course, it’s one thing to see how much money we’ve been able to win for other clients. But what does that mean for your case? Here are some of the most frequently asked questions we receive about auto accident settlements in Michigan.

What’s the average car accident settlement in Michigan?

There is no public or private entity, at either the state or the national level, that collects, updates, reports and/or publishes that data. Because of this, and also the wide variety of factors that can impact the amount of damages awards, there’s no way to calculate an average settlement.

Looking just at the results that Michigan Auto Law has obtained for our clients, we have many Michigan car accident settlements that exceed $1 million, including, but not limited to a $7 million pain and suffering settlement, a $5.65 million traumatic brain injury verdict, and a $2.5 million settlement for back and neck injuries.

If you want to find out how much your case is worth you can use our calculator or contact us for a  free consultation with one of our experienced attorneys.

How can I get car accident compensation in Michigan?

  • There are three ways that auto accident victims in Michigan can receive pain and suffering compensation after having been injured in a car crash:
  • A pre-lawsuit settlement.
  • A settlement after a lawsuit has been filed.
  • A jury returns a verdict in favor of the car accident, directing how much the at-fault driver (as well as his or her auto insurer) must pay to the victim for the pain and suffering his or her negligence has caused.

How long will it take for me to get my car accident settlement?

Unfortunately, there is no average time for how long a car accident settlement can take in Michigan. There are so many variables at work that it’s impossible to predict exactly how long it will take to settle an automobile crash case in Michigan.

 

However, there are three critical factors in every case that can drastically affect how quickly a case settles or how long it’s dragged out:

  • The auto insurance company for the at-fault driver.
  • The adjuster from the at-fault driver’s insurer.
  • The defense lawyer assigned to represent the at-fault driver (though the lawyer, in reality, has the insurer’s interests (i.e., avoiding having to pay benefits, boosting profits) as his or her top priority).

How much should I expect from my car accident settlement in Michigan?

Many important factors affect how much you can expect from a Michigan car accident settlement – or how much a jury awards with its verdict in Michigan. However, what those factors are and which ones are the most important depends on the facts of each case.

Based on the extensive litigation experience of the car accident lawyers at Michigan Auto Law, we’ve identified the following “Michigan car accident settlement factors” as being frequently among the most important in most cases.

How much is my case worth?

Our free personal injury calculator can give you a good ballpark estimate. (It’s probably a lot more than the insurance company is offering.)

Being represented by a lawyer

The chances of getting a fair car accident settlement or verdict are greatly improved if you are represented and protected by a lawyer who is both:

  • experienced in litigating motor vehicle accident cases, and
  • has a reputation for being willing to take a case to trial if the Michigan car accident settlement offers are too low.

Insurers know who the “superstar” lawyers are in a given area, and they will take cases more seriously and more generous car accident settlement offers in cases where the victim’s lawyer has a reputation and track record for taking solid cases, working tirelessly, never being afraid to go to trial and, most importantly, winning in front of juries.

Insurance policy limits

The insurance coverage is the most important factor in determining what the value of Michigan car accident settlements are worth. As such, the relevant policy limits for purposes of determining a case’s potential settlement value include:

  • Liability policy limit of the at-fault driver (and owner of the vehicle) who crashed into the victim
  • UM (uninsured motorist) or UIM (underinsured motorist) policy limits for the car accident victim
  • Liability policy limit for a truck or trucking company (federal law sets the minimum bodily injury liability policy limit at $750,000).

State in which your car accident occurs

A car crash victim’s right to sue for pain and suffering compensation – and whether there are any limitations on that right – depends on the laws of the state in which his or her accident occurred and whether it is a no-fault state or a “pure tort” state.

Liability or fault

Determining who was at fault in causing the auto accident that injured a victim is a crucial factor in determining the potential Michigan car accident settlement value of a case.

Injuries

Injury information includes medical diagnosis of the injury, type of injury, symptoms and duration of symptoms, injury-related impairments and duration, and medical treatment for injury.

Diagnostic testing and imaging

Assuming a car accident victim’s injuries can be detected by diagnostic testing and imaging (unfortunately, all serious injuries can), this evidence is essential for successful Michigan car accident settlements. Medical tests are used to prove the existence of the injuries that are causing pain, impairment, and disability and ensure that victims get properly referred to the appropriate medical specialist.

Medical specialists

Insurance company adjusters will want to know the areas of practice of the doctors who are treating the victim, especially when those treaters are specialists themselves.

 

Employment

How much time has the victim missed from work? Was the victim disabled from work by a treating doctor? Does a victim’s time off-work and/or monthly wages exceed the statutorily prescribed amounts?

Economic damages

Although economic damages such as wage loss are generally covered by no-fault benefits, in many cases the need for wage loss benefits exceeds the time and/or dollar amount limits in the statute and, thus, excess wage loss benefits may be warranted.

Impairments

In order to sue for pain and suffering under Michigan’s no-fault law, a car accident victim must prove he or she suffered “an objectively manifested impairment of an important body function that affects the person’s general ability to lead his or her normal life.” Although the no-fault Law doesn’t specifically define what an “impairment” is, the Michigan Supreme Court (in its landmark ruling in McCormick v. Carrier) explained that “an impairment generally relates to the effect” of a victim’s injury (i.e., “the actual damage or wound”) on “a particular body function.”

 

Insurance company claims-handling software

Because of Colossus and other insurance company claims software programs, the process of litigating Michigan car accident settlements has been turned on its head. Offers for Michigan car accident settlements now come from a computer, with the adjuster relegated to the task of merely feeding data and information into the computer and with attorneys being shut out of the process completely.

Have You Been Injured? You May Have a Case

Are you sure the insurance company is making you a fair offer?

Reach out to Michigan Auto Law for a free consultation and sound legal advice.

Protecting the Injured Statewide

No matter where you live in Michigan, our lawyers are accessible. Our firm has four conveniently located offices and our attorneys will even drive to you.

How Much Is Your Michigan Auto Accident Case Worth?

Use our online settlement calculator to get a rough estimate of your potential recoverable damages.

An Experienced Team of Attorneys

Our firm includes many of the most accomplished and respected attorneys in the state. Meet the team!

Get the Answers You Deserve

Insurance companies always try to settle auto accident claims as quickly as possible. Find out what your case is really worth. Request your free consultation today.