After an accident, even simple tasks can take more time and energy than they used to. If someone else caused your injury, understanding your rights under Michigan law can help you decide what to do next.
Goodman Acker, P.C. is a Detroit personal injury lawyer team representing people hurt in car and truck crashes, falls on unsafe property, dog attacks, and other serious accidents across Wayne County and metro Detroit.
We help injured people understand which claims apply to them under Michigan law and pursue the compensation those claims allow.
If you or someone in your family was hurt in Detroit, contact Goodman Acker to talk through what happened and what your options are.
Why Injured People in Metro Detroit Choose Goodman Acker
Goodman Acker, P.C. is a Michigan personal injury firm headquartered in Southfield, with additional offices in Grand Rapids and Sterling Heights. Our Southfield office places our team close to Detroit and the Wayne County courts where many of our clients’ cases are heard.
Clients working with us can expect:
- A clear explanation of which Michigan rules apply to their injury and why
- Prompt steps to preserve evidence and meet notice deadlines
- Coordination of no-fault benefits with any claim against the at-fault party
- Regular updates on where the case stands and what comes next
- Preparation for court from the start, so the case is ready if settlement talks stall
Every case turns on its own facts, and no lawyer can promise a particular result. Our focus is on doing the careful work that gives each claim its fullest consideration under Michigan law.
To discuss your injury with our team, contact Goodman Acker and we will walk you through the next steps.
What Personal Injury Cases Does Goodman Acker Handle in Detroit?
Goodman Acker handles a range of Detroit personal injury cases, with motor vehicle crashes at the center of our practice. Each case type follows different Michigan rules, so the first step is identifying which legal framework fits your injury.
| Case type | Main Michigan rules involved | What often decides the claim |
|---|---|---|
| Car accidents | No-fault PIP benefits and the tort threshold | Available coverage and how the injury affects daily life |
| Truck and commercial vehicle crashes | No-fault rules plus federal trucking regulations | Driver logs, maintenance records, and employer responsibility |
| Rideshare accidents | No-fault rules and rideshare insurance requirements | Whether the app was on and a ride was in progress |
| Slip and fall and premises liability | Michigan premises liability law | Whether the owner knew or should have known of the hazard |
| Dog bites | Michigan’s dog bite statute | Provocation and whether the person was lawfully present |
| Defective products | Product liability law | Whether a design, manufacturing, or warning defect caused the harm |
| Wrongful death | Michigan Wrongful Death Act | Who may bring the claim and which damages the family can recover |
Some cases fit more than one category, such as a crash caused by a defective vehicle part. Identifying every legal theory early helps make sure no responsible party is overlooked.
How Does Michigan No-Fault Affect a Detroit Injury Claim?
Michigan’s no-fault system means most people hurt in Detroit motor vehicle crashes first turn to their own auto insurer for medical bills and lost wages, no matter who caused the crash. A separate claim against the at-fault driver opens up only when the injury is serious enough under state law.
Personal Injury Protection Benefits
Personal injury protection (PIP) benefits can cover medical care up to the policy’s chosen limit, a portion of lost wages for up to three years, household replacement services, and medical mileage. Written notice must reach the insurer within one year under MCL 500.3145.
The Serious Impairment Threshold
Pain and suffering damages against an at-fault driver require death, permanent serious disfigurement, or a serious impairment of body function under MCL 500.3135.
The Michigan Supreme Court’s decision in McCormick v. Carrier focuses on whether the injury is objectively documented and affects the person’s general ability to lead a normal life.
Mini-Tort Claims for Vehicle Damage
Michigan drivers can recover up to $3,000 from an at-fault driver for vehicle damage their own insurance did not cover. This small claim can be pursued alongside, or separately from, an injury claim.
Detroit Injury Claims That Don’t Involve No-Fault
Many personal injury cases in Detroit have nothing to do with auto insurance, and they follow ordinary negligence and statutory rules instead. In these cases, there is no threshold to meet before seeking pain and suffering damages.
Slip and Fall and Unsafe Property
Property owners in Michigan owe visitors duties that depend on why the visitor was there, with business customers receiving the highest level of protection.
In Kandil-Elsayed v. F & E Oil, the Michigan Supreme Court held that an “open and obvious” hazard no longer automatically ends a claim; it now bears on whether the owner acted reasonably and on the injured person’s comparative fault.
Dog Bites
Under MCL 287.351, a dog owner is generally liable when the dog bites someone who did not provoke it and was lawfully on public or private property. The owner’s knowledge of the dog’s past behavior is not required, which makes these claims different from most negligence cases.
Defective Products
A product liability claim can arise when a defective design, a manufacturing flaw, or an inadequate warning causes injury. These cases often require preserving the product itself, so keeping the item and its packaging can be important.
Detroit Injury Cases With Added Layers
Some Detroit injury cases involve extra parties, extra insurance, or extra legal steps that change how the claim is built. Recognizing these early helps keep the case on the right track.
Truck and Commercial Vehicle Crashes
A crash with a semi-truck or commercial vehicle can involve the driver, the trucking company, the vehicle owner, and a maintenance or loading contractor. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rules on driver hours, inspections, and recordkeeping often supply key evidence, and that evidence can disappear if no one asks for it promptly.
Rideshare Accidents
Injuries involving an Uber or Lyft vehicle raise questions about which policy applies at the moment of the crash. The answer can change depending on whether the driver’s app was off, waiting for a request, or in the middle of a ride, so the trip records matter.
Wrongful Death Claims
When an injury is fatal, Michigan requires the claim to be brought by the personal representative of the person’s estate under MCL 600.2922. That usually means opening an estate in probate court before the lawsuit can move forward, with any recovery distributed to eligible family members.
What Affects the Value of a Detroit Personal Injury Case?
The value of a Detroit personal injury case depends on the injuries, the available insurance, and how clearly fault can be shown. No two cases are alike, which is why any honest evaluation starts with the specific facts rather than an average figure.
Factors that commonly shape what a claim may be worth include:
- The severity of the injury and whether it causes lasting limitations
- Medical expenses already incurred and future care that is reasonably expected
- Lost income and any reduced ability to earn in the future
- How the injury has changed daily activities, relationships, and enjoyment of life
- The insurance coverage and assets available from the responsible parties
- The injured person’s share of fault, if any, under Michigan’s comparative fault rules
Insurers weigh these same factors when they evaluate a claim. Thorough documentation of each one gives the claim its strongest footing.
How Does a Personal Injury Case Move Forward in Wayne County?
Most Detroit personal injury cases follow a similar path, although many resolve before trial. A typical case moves through these stages:
- Investigation: gathering the police or incident report, photos, video, witness information, and medical records.
- Claim and negotiation: presenting the claim to the insurer and responding to its evaluation.
- Filing suit: when a fair resolution is not offered, filing in Wayne County Circuit Court for claims over $25,000.
- Discovery: exchanging documents, taking depositions, and obtaining medical evaluations.
- Facilitation or mediation: a court-ordered or agreed attempt to resolve the case with a neutral third party.
- Trial: presenting the case to a judge or jury if no settlement is reached.
The timeline depends on the injuries, the insurer’s position, and the court’s schedule. Cases with ongoing treatment often take longer because the full extent of the injury needs to be known before resolving the claim.
How Long Do You Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in Michigan?
Most Michigan personal injury lawsuits must be filed within three years of the injury under MCL 600.5805. Shorter deadlines can apply to no-fault benefits and to claims against government agencies, and longer periods can apply to minors.
How Fault Can Reduce a Recovery
Michigan reduces damages by the injured person’s share of fault under MCL 600.2959. A person found more than 50% at fault cannot recover noneconomic damages, such as pain and suffering, though economic damages may still be reduced rather than barred.
FAQs for a Detroit Personal Injury Lawyer
Do I need a lawyer if my injury seems minor?
Some minor injuries resolve through no-fault benefits or a simple insurance claim without a lawyer.
Injuries that seem minor at first sometimes worsen, though, so many Michigan injury victims talk with a lawyer before signing a release, since a signed release usually ends the right to seek more later.
Who pays my medical bills while my Detroit injury case is pending?
In a Michigan motor vehicle crash, your PIP coverage pays allowable medical expenses as they come in, up to your policy limit. For other injuries, health insurance usually pays first and may seek repayment from any later settlement, which is why lien amounts are part of every resolution.
Can I file a personal injury claim in Detroit if I live in another state?
A non-resident injured in Detroit can generally bring a claim in Michigan, since the injury happened here and Michigan law usually governs it. For motor vehicle crashes, an out-of-state driver’s own policy and Michigan’s no-fault rules for non-residents affect which benefits apply.
Can a personal injury claim settle without a lawsuit in Michigan?
Many Michigan personal injury claims settle through negotiation with the insurer without a lawsuit ever being filed. Filing suit becomes necessary when the insurer disputes fault or value, or when the three-year deadline is approaching before the claim can be resolved.
How long does a personal injury case take in Michigan?
A Michigan personal injury case can resolve in a few months or take more than a year, depending on the injuries, the insurer, and whether a lawsuit is filed. Cases that go to suit in Wayne County Circuit Court move through discovery and facilitation before a trial date, which adds time.
Start Your Injury Claim With a Detroit Personal Injury Lawyer
Recovery rarely follows a straight line, and the legal side of an injury should not add to the strain. Knowing where you stand under Michigan law can make the road ahead feel more manageable.
Goodman Acker represents injured people throughout Detroit and metro Detroit. Contact our team to talk about your injury and how we can help you move forward.
Goodman Acker P.C.
Serving Detroit from Our Southfield Headquarters
Two Towne Square, Suite 444 Southfield, MI 48076
Phone: 248-861-8100
LEGALLY REVIEWED BY BARRY J. GOODMAN
Barry J. Goodman has devoted his professional life to keeping courthouse doors open for victims seeking justice. Always a tireless advocate for his own clients, Goodman sees his responsibility as a Detroit personal injury attorney in a broader sense as well. [ Attorney Bio ]
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