Detroit Car Accident Lawyer

Updated July 28, 2026

A serious car accident can disrupt every part of your life in an instant. One moment, you are driving through downtown Detroit, traveling I-94, navigating the Lodge Freeway, or heading home through Midtown or Corktown. The next, you may be facing painful injuries, mounting medical bills, missed time from work, vehicle damage, and insurance companies already looking for ways to reduce the value of your claim.

At Olsman MacKenzie Peacock, our attorneys have spent decades representing injured individuals and families throughout Michigan, including those hurt in serious Detroit car accidents. Since 1969, our law firm has built a reputation for handling complex injury cases involving catastrophic injuries, disputed liability, uninsured drivers, and high-stakes insurance claims.

Olsman MacKenzie Peacock’s Detroit car accident practice brings together attorneys with decades of combined trial experience: firm founder Jules B. Olsman (40+ years of trial experience), Donna M. MacKenzie (past president of the Michigan Association for Justice and repeat Michigan Top 100 Super Lawyer), Emily Peacock (2025–2026 Chair of the AAJ Women Trial Lawyers Caucus), and Chrissy Hagen, who has successfully litigated hundreds of auto accident cases and is Board Certified in Truck Accident Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. The team has recovered millions of dollars for car accident victims across Wayne County and the broader Detroit metropolitan area and has been recognized by Super Lawyers, Best Law Firms, Avvo, and dbusiness. Our Detroit car accident attorneys regularly handle cases arising from rear-end collisions on I-75 and I-94, intersection crashes along Woodward Avenue and the Lodge Freeway, hit-and-run incidents, drunk driving wrecks, distracted driving injuries, and crashes involving commercial trucks and uninsured motorists.

If another driver’s negligence caused your injuries, as Detroit car accident attorneys with decades of experience, we can step in immediately to protect your rights. We offer free consultations to evaluate your case, explain Michigan’s No-Fault and liability laws, and help you understand what compensation may be available.

When our firm takes a case, we move quickly to investigate the crash, preserve critical evidence, work with medical and accident reconstruction experts when necessary, and handle the insurance companies on your behalf. Our goal is simple: to pursue the maximum compensation available under Michigan law while allowing you to focus on your recovery.

Call 1.800.366.8653 to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Detroit car crash lawyer.

Why Hire A Detroit Car Accident Attorney From Olsman MacKenzie Peacock?

After a collision, insurance companies often move quickly. Adjusters may contact you within days, request recorded statements, or attempt to settle your claim before the full extent of your injuries has been evaluated.

Having a top Detroit car accident lawyer on your side can make a significant difference, as people who hire an experienced car crash attorney often recover substantially more than those who try to handle claims alone.

At Olsman MacKenzie Peacock, we understand that every accident affects a person differently. Some clients face months of rehabilitation after fractures or spinal injuries. Others suffer traumatic brain injuries, chronic pain, emotional trauma, or permanent impairments that affect their ability to work and care for their families. For many car accident victims, having a lawyer handle the legal process brings peace of mind and allows them to focus on treatment and recovery while their legal team works to protect their financial interests.

Our firm focuses exclusively on representing injured individuals. We do not represent insurance carriers or corporations against injury victims. Our car accident and personal injury attorneys negotiate with insurers for fair compensation that reflects future medical needs and decreased quality of life.

Clients choose Olsman MacKenzie Peacock because we provide:

• Free consultations
• No attorney fees unless we recover compensation
• Decades of experience handling Michigan injury claims, including Detroit car accident claims
• Extensive experience working with experts such as accident reconstructionists, medical experts, and economists to prove fault and the extent of injuries
• Decades of trial experience against major insurance companies
• Personal attention and communication with clients throughout the case

Our legal team, including Detroit car accident attorneys, can work with medical experts and accident reconstructionists when needed, and our extensive insurance negotiation experience helps to protect clients from low offers while positioning every case for trial if necessary to pursue maximum compensation.

Common Causes Of Detroit Car Accidents

Detroit roadways experience heavy traffic, construction zones, aggressive driving, and dangerous weather conditions throughout the year. Driver behavior is a significant factor in nearly 90 percent of fatal collisions, according to the Toward Zero Deaths (TZD) safety campaign. From congested expressways to busy city intersections, serious crashes happen every day across Wayne County.

Common causes of car accidents in Detroit include distracted driving, impaired driving, and inclement weather, which often lead to serious injuries for accident victims. Many Detroit car accident cases involve:

• Distracted driving
• Speeding
• Drunk or drug-impaired driving
• Rear-end collisions
• Failure to yield
• Running red lights
• Aggressive or reckless driving
• Driver fatigue
• Unsafe lane changes
• Weather-related crashes
• Multi-vehicle pileups

Certain areas of Detroit see particularly heavy crash activity, including I-75, I-94, M-10 (The Lodge), Southfield Freeway, Woodward Avenue, and major downtown intersections, where violations of traffic laws can quickly increase the risk of a car crash.

When another driver’s negligence causes harm, as Detroit car accident attorneys, we can investigate the collision, preserve vital evidence, obtain crash reports, interview witnesses, and work with experts to establish liability and prove injuries.

What Compensation Can Be Recovered After A Detroit Car Accident?

A car accident claim can involve several categories of compensation depending on the severity of the injuries and the circumstances of the crash. Victims may seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life.

Potential damages may include:

• Medical expenses for emergency care and surgeries
• Future medical treatment for ongoing injuries
• Lost wages
• Reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Rehabilitation costs
• Disability accommodations such as home modification for wheelchair access
• Property damage
• Wrongful death damages for surviving family members

In a wrongful death case, surviving family members may pursue financial support for economic loss, emotional anguish, and loss of companionship.

Michigan’s no-fault law factors into calculation of potential compensation. In Michigan, injured people usually start by filing through their own insurance coverage, and health insurance may also affect available PIP options, before they can pursue the at-fault party. Questions often arise involving Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits, threshold injuries, excess medical expenses, and third-party liability claims.

At Olsman MacKenzie Peacock, our team helps clients understand how Michigan’s insurance laws apply to their situation, whether a serious injury threshold is met for pain and suffering damages, and whether they may pursue compensation beyond basic no-fault benefits in a Detroit car accident case.

Serious Injuries Frequently Seen In Detroit Car Accident Cases

Some crashes result in relatively minor injuries. Others leave victims facing catastrophic injuries and life-changing disabilities.

Our firm regularly represents clients suffering injuries such as:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
• Neck and back injuries
• Herniated discs
• Broken bones
• Internal injuries
• Severe lacerations
• Burns
• Crush injuries
• Permanent disabilities
• Wrongful death

Some conditions including traumatic brain injuries and spinal injuries can require extensive treatment, long-term monitoring, and a very different recovery timeline than other injuries.

Even injuries that initially seem manageable can worsen over time. Seeking prompt medical attention after an accident is important not only for your health, but also for documenting injuries connected to a collision. These records are critical in personal injury cases because they can directly affect the compensation available.

What Should You Do After A Detroit Car Accident?

The steps taken after a crash can affect both your physical recovery and any future legal claim. If possible, consider taking the following actions after an accident:

Seek Medical Attention Immediately

Some injuries may not show symptoms right away. Prompt medical evaluation helps document injuries and creates medical records that can become important later in supporting a claim. Treatment records and bills can also show the extent of harm and any ongoing medical needs.

Report The Accident

Michigan law requires certain accidents to be reported to law enforcement, and you should obtain a police report because it can support a later claim. If possible, document the scene and gather witness information, including witness statements and contact information.

Document The Scene

If you are physically able, take photographs of vehicle damage, injuries, roadway conditions, traffic signals, and the surrounding area.

Avoid Speaking To Insurance Adjusters Without Legal Advice

Insurance companies may try to obtain statements that later undermine your claim. They may also offer a settlement offer that seems appealing but is actually too low to cover your expenses for recovery. Avoid speaking with insurance companies and wait until you have legal representation to consider any settlement offers.

Contact An Experienced Detroit Car Accident Lawyer

The sooner auto accident lawyers can step in after a crash, the easier it may be to preserve evidence and protect your rights. Handling a car accident in Detroit requires local and state knowledge to help maximize the compensation you recover. Michigan generally gives injured people three years from the date of the crash to file a car accident lawsuit or wrongful death action under Michigan law. Many auto accident attorneys, including the Detroit car accident attorneys at Olsman MacKenzie Peacock, work on a contingency fee basis, which can ease financial stress during your recovery. If you think negligence played a role, speaking with counsel early can help you evaluate a potential car accident case and get the ball rolling to receive the compensation to which you may be entitled.

Why Local Experience Matters In Detroit Car Accident Cases

Detroit accident claims can involve unique local considerations, including:

• Heavy urban traffic patterns
• Wayne County specific court rules and procedures
• Commercial trucking traffic frequently involved in areas such as I-94 and I-75
• Construction zones
• Dangerous intersections
• Weather-related roadway hazards
• High uninsured driver rates in the Detroit metro area

Common factors contributing to local car accidents include distracted driving, impaired driving, and inclement weather, and truck accidents are also common on Detroit roads.

Olsman MacKenzie Peacock’s attorneys have represented injured clients throughout the Detroit metropolitan area for decades. Our firm understands the local court system, medical landscape, and insurance tactics commonly involved in serious Detroit injury cases. As car accident lawyers in Detroit, we pair our local knowledge with dedicated negotiation and trial experience and lean on local medical experts and accident reconstructionists when needed to build stronger cases.

For clients located in Oakland County and surrounding communities, visit our Berkley & Detroit Personal Injury Lawyers page to learn more about our local representation.

Notable Detroit Car Accident Case Results

Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes. That said, our firm’s experience handling complex auto accident, wrongful death, and product liability cases is reflected in the following representative results obtained for car accident clients:

$3,750,000 Settlement — for a 37-year-old woman rendered quadriplegic in a collision. Her seat belt tore during the crash due to a defectively designed sharp edge on the seat back recliner mechanism, a defect the automobile manufacturer had identified before the vehicle went to market. This case involved both a motor vehicle negligence claim and a product liability claim against the manufacturer.

$3,500,000 Settlement — for wrongful death after a fatal car accident.

$1,250,000 Settlement — for a 19-year-old woman who suffered permanent paralysis of her right arm after being struck by a deploying passenger-side airbag. The injury resulted from a product defect rather than the collision itself, requiring a claim against the vehicle manufacturer alongside the standard motor vehicle liability claim.

$1,210,000 Settlement — for wrongful death caused by a drunk driver and dram shop liability against the bar that served him.

$1,100,000 Settlement — for a child injured in a rear-end truck accident in a construction zone.

What Do Clients Say About Olsman MacKenzie Peacock?

Clients frequently mention communication, responsiveness, and dedication when discussing their experience with Olsman MacKenzie Peacock. The following are excerpts from verified Google reviews left by former car accident clients of the firm.

A. | Injury Case | Google 5-Star Review

“I have not one negative word to say regarding Jules Olsman and this Law Firm! Jules was always available to answer my questions and set my mind at ease. Always had my best interest in mind, was always professional. I would definitely recommend Jules Olsman to anyone in need of a Personal Injury Attorney! If I had to say one word to describe my experience with this Law Firm…AWESOME!!!!!!!!”

J.A. | Car Accident Case | Google 5-Star Review

“Christina Hagen at Olsman MacKenzie is truly exceptional. After my auto accident, she fought tirelessly against State Farm to secure my full compensation. Her expertise, dedication, and professionalism were unmatched throughout the process. Meeting her in person was a delight! She was incredibly kind, welcoming, and supportive. Christina made a stressful situation so much easier, and I’m deeply grateful for her help. I highly recommend her to anyone in need of a phenomenal attorney!”

D.H. | Car Accident Case | Google 5-Star Review

“Ms. Peacock and her team worked to represent me with a caring and sensitive professional approach. They assembled a team that did the research to back up medical reasoning. Thanks for your diligent efforts, they are much appreciated!”

Our team understands how stressful the aftermath of a serious collision can be. We work to provide clear communication and strong advocacy throughout the process.

How Much Does It Cost To Hire A Detroit Car Crash Attorney?

Olsman MacKenzie Peacock handles car accident claims on a contingency fee basis, meaning no payment is due unless compensation is received from a settlement or trial verdict.

That means:

• No upfront attorney fees
• No hourly billing
• We advance the costs of investigation and expert witnesses

Initial consultations to evaluate your case and discuss your options are also free.

Schedule A Free Consultation With A Detroit Car Accident Lawyer Today

If you or a loved one was injured in a Detroit car accident, please know you and your family do not have to navigate the legal process alone. We have spent more than 50 years fighting for injured people across Michigan, including car accident victims. As Detroit car accident attorneys with decades of experience, our team is ready to listen to your story, explain your options, and help you seek compensation after a motor vehicle accident.

Call Olsman MacKenzie Peacock today at 1-800-366-8653 for a free consultation with a Detroit car crash attorney.