Award-Winning Sterling Heights Car Accident Lawyers
Choosing the right attorney after a serious Sterling Heights car accident can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case. At Lee Steinberg Law Firm, we have spent more than 50 years fighting for injury victims throughout Michigan and recovering nearly $ 1 billion in settlements and verdicts.
Our attorneys have earned recognition from some of the most respected legal organizations in the country.
- Members of our firm have been named Super Lawyers numerous times. This peer-reviewed honor recognizes outstanding personal injury attorneys.
- Co-President Eric Steinberg is a former President of the Michigan Association for Justice. It is a leading group that supports injury victims across the state.
- Our legal team has won awards from groups like The National Trial Lawyers Top 100. We have also been honored by the Multi-Million-Dollar Advocates Forum.
These honors show our commitment to excellence and client success. This recognition shows our dedication to achieving strong results in and out of court. It also reflects our commitment to the highest ethical standards in the legal profession.
Michigan Personal Injury Lawyers Who Get Results
We are proud to have some of the best Michigan personal injury lawyers. Some of our recent results include.
- $5,750,000 for a man injured at a work site
- $3,250,000 for a woman injured at a major retailer
- $2,500,000 for a man injured by a semi-truck
- $2,000,000 for a woman killed in a car accident
- $1,300,000 for a man injured at a construction site
- $1,250,000 for a tenant injured at her rental complex
Free Consultation with a Sterling Heights Car Accident Attorney
We understand how difficult it is to make calls in the days and weeks after a crash. Our attorneys are available 24/7 and will come to you when needed. Contact our team at any time — free, confidential, and with no obligation.
There are never any upfront costs, retainers, or hidden fees when you hire our Sterling Heights car accident lawyers. We handle every case on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay absolutely nothing unless we successfully recover compensation for you.
Clients often ask what expenses are covered by contingency fees. Our firm advances the costs of expert witnesses, court filings, and other litigation expenses and only asks for repayment if we win your case. This model ensures that all car accident victims—regardless of income—can access top-tier legal help.
We believe every injured victim deserves access to experienced legal representation, regardless of their financial situation.
Sterling Heights and Macomb County Car Accident Statistics
Sterling Heights has one of the highest rates of car crashes in metro Detroit every year. In 2024, there were 21,960 motor vehicle crashes in Macomb County, resulting in 6,596 injuries and 70 fatalities.
The city of Sterling Heights alone accounted for 3,748 crashes, 825 injuries, and 8 fatalities. More than 70% of Sterling Heights crashes occurred on local streets rather than on state roads, freeways, or interstate highways.
Whether your accident occurred on Van Dyke Avenue, 16 Mile, Mound Rd. or Ryan Rd., our legal team is prepared to help you pursue maximum compensation. We have a deep, familiar understanding of Macomb County's unique legal landscape. By leveraging our local knowledge and deep resources, we can efficiently investigate accidents and anticipate the tactics insurance companies in the Sterling Heights area use.
Step-By-Step Guide to Your Sterling Heights, MI Car Accident Case
If you are involved in a car accident, it is important to do the following.
- Call 911 and the Police. It is essential to contact Sterling Heights PD or local law enforcement so they come to the scene and complete a report.
- Exchange Information. Get the names, addresses, numbers, and license plate information for everyone involved in the crash.
- Take Pictures. Take pictures of the accident scene. This includes photos of the other vehicles, their license plates, and the other people involved in the collision.
- Gather Evidence. Besides taking pictures, get the names of any witnesses if possible. Be sure to also obtain the insurance information from the other drivers involved in the wreck.
- Seek Medical Treatment. Go to a local urgent care or hospital to be evaluated by medical professionals.
- Consult an Attorney. Contact an experienced Sterling Heights car accident lawyer who can clearly answer your questions. The person you are talking to should be an attorney who can explain the complexities of Michigan no-fault law to you.
Why Is It Important to Hire Sterling Heights Car Accident Lawyers with Experience?
Every case is different, and every client is different. It is important to hire an attorney who knows the tactics insurance companies and their lawyers use to minimize your case. You also need an aggressive Sterling Heights car accident lawyer who will fight for you every step of the way.
Our Sterling Heights car accident lawyers have been litigating and winning cases in Michigan for decades. We hire the right experts, meet with treating doctors, prepare our clients for all phases of their case, and do what it takes to win. And the results show. We have obtained hundreds of millions in settlements for our clients.
What Compensation Can I Get From a Sterling Heights Car Accident?
There are two main ways to get compensation for injuries following a Michigan car accident.
The first is pain and suffering, or non-economic compensation. This usually comes from the insurance carrier for the negligent driver or owner.
The second means of compensation is through Michigan no-fault benefits. These benefits include economic losses, such as medical bills, lost wages, and other benefits.
Pain and Suffering for a Sterling Heights Car Accident
If another driver is negligent in causing a crash, such as by running a red light or making an illegal turn, the injured person can seek compensation for pain and suffering. This is also known as a negligence case, or third-party claim. Both the driver and the owner of the at-fault vehicle are liable for the harms and losses caused by the collision. These “non-economic damages” can include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of society and loss of companionship
- Depression and anxiety
- Loss of quality of life and
- Mental suffering
There is currently no cap to pain and suffering compensation, although the defendant’s insurance policy provides a ceiling in most cases. That is why it is important to purchase uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist insurance coverage.
Proof Needed to Get Pain and Suffering
To get pain and suffering compensation, the injured person needs to provide a few things: (1) the other person was at least 50% at-fault for causing the crash (negligence), (2) the person was injured, (3) the injuries were caused by the crash or the crash aggravated a pre-existing condition, (4) the injured person sustained a threshold injury.
Demonstrating a threshold injury requires medical documentation, proof of specific limitations or impairments, and an explanation of how the crash has impacted your life. An aggressive Sterling Heights car accident lawyer should help you show the insurance company you sustained a threshold injury.
Michigan No-Fault Claims
Michigan is a no-fault state. This means you obtain medical benefits from a car insurance company for injuries caused by an accident, even if you are at-fault. These benefits are also available to those not injured in a car, such as pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists.
The no-fault claims benefits available to individuals injured in a car accident include:
- Medical Expenses – This includes hospital bills, doctor’s bills, rehabilitation costs, surgery bills, prescriptions, and out-of-pocket costs. It also includes other medical expenses that health insurance does not cover.
- Lost Wages – 85% of lost wages for up to 3 years from the date of the crash. This includes self-employed individuals and those paid under the table.
- Replacement Services – Family members or friends who complete household chores, such as laundry, cooking, and other household chores.
- Attendant Care – nursing care provided by friends, family, or nursing professionals.
- Out-of-Pocket – payment for prescriptions, co-pays, medical mileage, and other medical expenses.
Who Pays First-Party No-Fault Benefits?
This is an important question. An injured person must file a first-party claim against the correct auto insurance carrier. Failing to do so can result in the loss of all no-fault benefits.
There is a priority order for determining which insurance carrier is responsible. The order is the following:
- Your own auto insurance - if you have car insurance of your own, your own car insurance company is responsible for paying PIP benefits. This is true even if your vehicle or vehicles had nothing to do with the accident. If you are a named insured on the policy, your auto insurance must pay all first-party benefits.
- The auto insurance company of a resident relative – this includes a spouse, sibling, child, parent, and possibly other relatives. Again, it doesn’t matter if their car had nothing to do with the crash. That insurance carrier must step up and pay all first-party benefits.
- The Michigan Assigned Claims Plan (MACP) – If an injured person does not have auto insurance and does not live with a relative who has car insurance, then they MUST turn to the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan, or the MACP. The Michigan Automobile Insurance Placement Facility runs the MACP.
To receive benefits through the MACP, a claimant must complete the Application for Benefits. Usually, a police report or some proof of the accident must also be provided. The application asks for a lot of information. An experienced Sterling Heights car accident law firm is highly recommended to assist you in making this claim.
How Much Time Do You Have to File a First-Party Claim?
Under Michigan law, specifically MCL 500.3145, a person must file a claim for no-fault benefits within one (1) year of the accident. The notice must be in writing, and the name and address of the claimant must be given. The notice must also indicate the name of the person injured, and the time, place, and nature of the injury.
This rule is strict. If a person fails to give proper notice to the correct insurance carrier within one year, they forever lose the right to seek no-fault benefits.
Common Causes of Sterling Heights Car Accidents
Car and truck accidents in Sterling Heights can occur for a variety of reasons. Macomb County and surrounding areas have several busy freeways, highways, country roads, and city streets that create opportunities for serious crashes. The most common causes for these accidents include:
Trial-Ready Sterling Heights Car Accident Attorneys
Many personal injury law firms focus primarily on negotiating settlements. While settlement may be appropriate in many cases, insurance companies often offer less compensation when they know a law firm is unlikely to take a case to trial.
Being trial-ready is a significant advantage, as insurers recognize which law firms are willing to litigate aggressively on behalf of their clients. This readiness often leads to higher settlement offers and faster resolutions, as insurance companies seek to avoid the risks and costs associated with a jury verdict.
At the Lee Steinberg Law Firm, every case is prepared as if it will ultimately be presented before a jury. We meticulously gather medical records, expert opinions, accident reports, and financial documentation to build a comprehensive case file. Our preparation includes developing compelling visual aids, such as accident diagrams and medical illustrations, to clearly communicate the facts to a judge or jury, if necessary.
Our attorneys bring decades of courtroom experience to every claim:
- We conduct extensive discovery and take all needed depositions,
- Retain highly qualified experts,
- File strategic motions, and
- Develop persuasive trial strategies designed to prove fault and demonstrate the full extent of our clients' injuries and losses.
