Should I Get A Lawyer For A Minor Car Accident In Michigan?
In Michigan, you generally do not need a lawyer for a minor car accident if no one was injured and the only issue is vehicle damage. However, you should get a lawyer if you have any injuries — even delayed ones — if fault is disputed, if the insurance company is downplaying your claim, or if you need to pursue a Michigan Mini Tort claim for vehicle damage up to $3,000. Insurance companies increasingly label serious crashes as “minor” to avoid paying legitimate claims, making legal consultation essential whenever injuries are involved.
But was your crash truly minor? Many insurance companies are now using a new playbook to discourage claims by telling people the crash they were in was a minor – even when people have suffered serious injuries! If you or a loved one were truly hurt in a crash in Michigan, and it’s the insurance company who is insisting the car accident was “minor,” then you should get a lawyer to protect your rights. Deliberately mischaracterizing even serious crashes as “minor” is an insurance company tactic increasingly being used to avoid paying legitimate claims.
It’s not uncommon for insurance claims adjusters to tell crash victims that their injuries are not serious and that the settlement value of their case is drastically lower than what it truly is. Understand this for what it is: this “disinformation” campaign usually begins with the claims adjuster trying to make you believe your Michigan car accident was “minor” and, thus, not worthy of compensation and certainly not worthy of you talking to a lawyer and bringing a claim or lawsuit for your injuries.
Sadly, the insurance companies are using this tactic because it works. As a Michigan car accident lawyer, I see this type of deliberate disinformation campaign being used more and more often when it comes to minor crashes. One thing that has always surprised me over the past three decades of helping people is how there are some people who have very serious injuries, but they are reluctant, even almost apologetic, for calling an attorney. Of course, there is some truth to the stereotype out there as well that there are some people who will sue too quickly for clearly minor injuries. But more often than not, it is people who have had fractures, surgeries, brain injuries, disc herniations and surgeries, who often are very reluctant to seek help because they don’t know if their case is serious or not (answer: it is). The insurance companies are using this reluctance as just one of many ways to try to maintain their incredibly high profit margins – by deterring legitimate and honest claims of people who are seriously injured by referring to the crash as minor.
When you are the target of this insurer tactic, getting a lawyer for your minor car accident in Michigan is the only way to protect yourself. Your attorney should be willing to hold the insurance company and the at-fault driver who injured you accountable by securing a full and fair settlement that balances all of the harms and losses, pain and suffering damages, medical bills, and wage loss you are legally entitled to.
To learn more about what the settlement value of your case may be, please check out our “Auto Crash Injury Settlement Calculator.”
Is a minor car accident in Michigan serious enough to justify getting a lawyer?
Calling your crash non-serious when it is anything but, is just the insurance company’s way of trying to deter claims. They hope to convince people who do not fully understand their legal rights that your injuries are “no big deal,” and that your case “isn’t really worth much” and, thus, you should just be “grateful” that you’re getting the couple hundred or couple thousand dollars that the claims adjuster eventually offers to you.
This is a classic negotiation strategy. In many states, this type of claim handling also clearly constitutes bad faith. It hurts a lot of innocent and truly injured people who really do need help after a serious crash.
If your auto insurance company is trying to tell you that your Michigan car accident was “minor,” then you should at the very least talk to an experienced lawyer to find out what your case might actually be worth. The first consultation is always free, and you will be on a more even playing field knowing what your legal rights actually are if you were hurt through no fault of your own in a serious crash. Understand that your auto insurer is often trying to trick you out of compensation and benefits that you are entitled to under the law, and only an experienced attorney is going to be help you when the insurance company is engaged in deceitful and bad faith dealings with you.
When should I get a lawyer for a minor car accident in Michigan?
Even if your crash seems minor, there are many situations where speaking with an attorney can protect your rights and help you avoid costly mistakes. Michigan’s no-fault insurance laws can be confusing, and issues often arise that aren’t obvious at first. Here’s when it’s smart to get legal help—even after a low-impact or seemingly minor collision:
- Delayed Injuries – Some injuries don’t show symptoms right away. What feels like a minor ache could turn into something more serious. A lawyer can help ensure your medical needs are fully documented and covered after a minor car accident in Michigan.
- Significant Property Damage – If your vehicle has substantial damage—even without major injuries—an attorney can help you fight for fair compensation and deal with insurance company delays or denials.
- Disputed Fault – When the other driver won’t admit fault or if the crash details are unclear, legal representation can help gather evidence and protect you from being blamed unfairly.
- The Insurer Is Difficult – If the insurer undervalues your claim, delays payment, or denies coverage, an attorney can step in and negotiate on your behalf.
- Complex Legal Issues – Even small crashes can involve complicated legal and insurance processes. An experienced attorney can help you understand your rights, file for benefits, and avoid missing important deadlines.
- Pain and Suffering Threshold – To sue for pain and suffering after a crash, you must meet the legal threshold of a “serious impairment of body function.” (MCL 500.3135) A lawyer can evaluate whether your injury from a minor car accident in Michigan meets this legal standard and help build the medical and legal documentation needed to support your claim.
- Maximize Your Settlement – Studies show that crash victims who hire an attorney often recover significantly more in compensation compared to those who handle the claim alone.
- Michigan Mini Tort Claim — If you were not injured but suffered vehicle damage not covered by collision insurance, you may need to pursue the at-fault driver for up to $3,000 in property damage under the limited property damage law. (MCL 500.3135)
When you may not need an attorney after a crash
In some cases, getting a lawyer after a minor car accident in Michigan may not be necessary. For example:
- Truly minor crashes with no injuries – If your crash involved little to no damage, no injuries, and both drivers agree on fault, you may be able to handle it on your own.
- Property damage only with clear liability – When you’re not hurt and the other driver clearly caused the crash, it’s often possible to resolve the property damage portion directly through insurance.
How much will it cost to get an attorney after a minor car crash?
If your car accident was truly minor and you are not hurt, most reputable Michigan lawyers will not take your case. If you are hurt and your car accident was not minor, then hiring an experienced Michigan lawyer will not cost you one penny. This is because most reputable auto injury attorneys work on a one-third (1/3) contingency-fee basis which is paid only after your case is won.
Injured in a minor car accident in Michigan and need a lawyer? Call our attorneys now for a free consultation!
If you were injured in a minor crash in Michigan, call now (800) 968-1001 for a free consultation with an experienced car accident lawyer near you. There is no cost or obligation. You can also visit our contact page or use the chat feature on our website.
Michigan Auto Law is Michigan’s largest and most successful law firm that specializes exclusively in helping people who have been injured in automobile crashes.
Our secret? Our attorneys deliberately handle fewer cases than other personal injury law firms. This allows us to focus more time and attention on our cases.
Unlike other law firms, our attorneys are never too busy to promptly return phone calls and answer questions.
We have more than 3,000 5-Star reviews that reflect this care and attention to detail.
More importantly, this client-focused approach leads to better and faster settlements for our clients. Michigan Auto Law has recovered more million-dollar settlements and trial verdicts for motor vehicle crashes than any other attorney or law firm in Michigan. We’ve also recovered the highest ever reported truck crash and auto crash settlement in the state.
Call now so we can start making a real difference for you.
Written By
Steve M. Gursten,
Attorney,
License#: P53632
Steven Gursten, attorney at Michigan Auto Law and one of the most successful auto accident attorneys in Michigan. Michigan Auto Law represents people seriously injured in car, truck, motorcycle, and bus accidents, including catastrophic injury, traumatic brain injury, and No-Fault insurance cases. Steven has recovered the largest reported auto and truck accident settlement of any Michigan lawyer, and has been named Michigan Lawyer of the Year and a Top 50 Michigan Super Lawyer.
Read Steven Gursten’s full attorney profileLegally Reviewed by Todd Berg, Attorney
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. See our Community Guidelines.