Hiring a Personal Injury or Car Accident Lawyer in Michigan
What an injury lawyer costs in Michigan and how they usually charge, the deadlines and fault rules to know before you call, how to check a lawyer's license, and free help. We do not recommend or rank lawyers.
What a lawyer costs in Michigan: fee rules
| Rules on contingency fees | A contingent fee is allowed except where Rule 1.5(d) or other law prohibits it. The agreement must be in writing and state how the fee will be determined; at the end, the lawyer must give a written statement of the outcome and, if there is a recovery, the client's share and how it was figured. Michigan Court Rule 8.121 adds requirements for some contingent fee agreements. Lawyers may not charge a criminal defendant a contingent fee, or charge a domestic relations fee contingent on securing a divorce or on the amount of alimony, support or property settlement, or based on the lawyer's success, results obtained, value added or any factor that leaves the client unable to discern how the fee is determined. |
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| If a lawyer takes your money | The State Bar of Michigan Client Protection Fund reimburses clients harmed by a lawyer's dishonest conduct, such as theft or embezzlement of estate, trust or settlement funds, or failing to return unearned fees; it does not cover malpractice, negligence, fee disputes or consequential damages. Limits: $150,000 per claimant and $375,000 for all claims against one attorney (prorated if exceeded). File within two years after the loss or six months after discovery, whichever is later (or within one year after a discipline determination or the lawyer's death). A Request for Investigation with the Attorney Grievance Commission is part of the application. There is no filing fee; a lawyer who helps may charge no more than $250 unless the State Bar authorizes more. Contact: cpf@michbar.org, (517) 346-6354. Fund home: https://www.michbar.org/client/protectionfund |
Michigan rules to know first
| Deadline to sue for an injury | Three years after the time of the injury for most actions to recover damages for injury to a person. Shorter periods apply to some claims, such as 2 years for assault, battery or false imprisonment and 2 years for malpractice; 10 years applies to claims for criminal sexual conduct. Source: MCL 600.5805(2), (3), (6), (8) |
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| Fault rule | Modified comparative fault. Damages are reduced by the injured person's percentage of fault. If the injured person's fault is greater than the combined fault of all others (that is, more than 50%), economic damages are reduced by that percentage and no noneconomic damages (such as pain and suffering) are awarded. In auto no-fault tort cases, no damages for noneconomic loss are assessed in favor of a party more than 50% at fault. Source: MCL 600.2959; MCL 500.3135(2)(b) |
| Damage caps | No general cap applies to all injury cases, but noneconomic damages are capped in medical malpractice and product liability cases (base amounts of $280,000, or $500,000 for the most serious injuries, adjusted annually by the State Treasurer for inflation). In a product liability case, the higher cap does not apply if the death or loss resulted from the defendant's gross negligence. In auto accident cases, noneconomic damages are available only for death, serious impairment of body function or permanent serious disfigurement. |
Find and check a lawyer
| Lawyer referral service | The State Bar of Michigan Lawyer Referral Service matches people who can afford to hire a lawyer with a participating panel lawyer; a referral assistant matches you by type of matter and area. Per the program rules (May 2023), the service "charges a $25 administrative fee" and the panelist "will provide up to a 25-minute initial consultation free of charge"; the fee is waived for residential tenants, Social Security claimants, workers' compensation claimants and personal injury plaintiffs. Hours: 8:30 a.m.-4:45 p.m., Monday-Friday. A Modest Means Program connects moderate-income people with attorneys offering reduced-cost help. Program rules: https://www.michbar.org/file/lrs/lrs-programrules.pdf |
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| Check discipline history or file a complaint | Complaints (Requests for Investigation) about Michigan lawyers go to the Attorney Grievance Commission. Anyone may file, using the AGC form or a signed letter describing the misconduct with approximate time and place and any documents (unbound, unstapled). Requests are not accepted electronically or by fax; mail them to the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission, 755 W. Big Beaver Rd., Suite 2100, Troy, MI 48084. Intake decides whether the lawyer must respond or dismisses (you may ask for reconsideration); after investigation the Commission may close the file, issue a consensual admonition, place the lawyer on contractual probation, or authorize formal charges before the Attorney Discipline Board, and notifies the parties in writing. A lawyer's public disciplinary record can be requested from the Commission. Phone: 313-961-6585. |
Free legal help
| Free legal aid | Michigan's LSC-funded legal aid organizations give free civil legal help to eligible low-income people: Lakeshore Legal Aid, Legal Aid of Western Michigan, Legal Services of Eastern Michigan, Legal Services of Northern Michigan, Michigan Advocacy Program and Michigan Indian Legal Services. |
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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.