Dearborn Car Accident Lawyer

A serious car accident can leave you dealing with injuries, missed work, vehicle damage, and insurance calls all at once. A Dearborn car accident lawyer can step in early to protect your claim, investigate what caused the crash, and help you pursue the compensation available under Michigan law.

Michigan’s no-fault system may cover some losses regardless of who caused the collision, but that is only one part of your case. If another driver was at fault, you may also have a claim for pain and suffering and other losses. Insurance companies may dispute treatment, question wage loss, or push for a settlement before you know the full extent of your injuries.

Kajy Law Firm focuses entirely on motor vehicle accident cases. If you need a Dearborn, MI, car accident lawyer, our team can handle the insurance and legal issues, preserve important evidence, and build the claim while you focus on your recovery.

For a free consultation, call us at (248) 702-6641 or contact us online. We will evaluate your case and discuss your legal options. No pressure, no obligation, and no fees unless we win your case.

Why Choose Kajy Law Firm?

Motor Vehicle Accidents Are All We Handle

At Kajy Law Firm, motor vehicle accidents are all we handle. Our 10 attorneys and 35+ legal professionals bring more than 150 years of combined experience to car, truck, and motorcycle cases. 

Since its founding, Kajy Law Firm has handled 5,000+ cases and recovered more than $100 million for clients, giving our team the staff and resources to investigate serious crashes and litigate when necessary.

Litigation Versus Quick Settlement

Many firms operate as settlement mills, aiming to resolve cases as quickly as possible, sometimes for less than they are worth. We work differently when handling your car accident settlement.

Kajy Law Firm is a litigation firm, prepared to take every case to trial if necessary. Insurance companies know which firms will fight and which will fold. Our 98% success rate sends them a clear message: we are willing to go the distance to get you fair compensation if that’s what it takes.

We Fight Hard for Our Clients

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, but they show the dedication Kajy Law Firm brings to securing full and fair compensation for every client. Our results include:

• $2,517,000: T-bone collision that caused a woman to go into emergency labor.
• $1,350,000: Serious crash resulting in severe injuries and reconstructive surgeries.
• $1,250,000: Red-light collision causing injuries to the shin and ankle.
• $868,876: Crash while driving home that resulted in a skull fracture and brain bleed.
• $635,000: Intersection crash causing ankle fractures and pregnancy complications.
• $500,000: Rear-end collision resulting in multiple injuries and surgeries.
• $500,000: Collision while leaving a Walmart parking lot that caused back injuries requiring surgery.

No Fee Unless We Win

We work on a contingency fee basis, so you pay no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you. This arrangement gives everyone access to quality legal representation regardless of their financial situation.

Client Care and Communication

The Kajy Cares philosophy is our operational standard. In the early stages of your case, we pledge to communicate with you at least once a week. We want you to be informed and confident every step of the way. From our office in nearby Southfield, we are proud to serve the entire Metro Detroit area, including our neighbors in Dearborn.

Determining the Value of Your Claim

The goal of compensation is to restore your financial stability to where it was before the accident. In Michigan, the process for achieving this is divided into different types of damages, each with its own set of rules and requirements.

Economic Damages (PIP and Excess)

Economic damages are the tangible financial losses you suffer. These are generally split into two categories:

• First-Party Benefits (PIP): PIP may cover wage loss and replacement services regardless of fault. Medical benefits depend on the PIP medical coverage available to you, which may be limited or excluded under some Michigan policies.
• Excess Economic Damages: If your injuries are severe and your financial losses exceed what your PIP policy covers, we can pursue the at-fault driver. This lawsuit seeks to recover damages like lost wages that extend beyond the three-year limit or medical costs that surpass your policy’s cap.

Non-Economic Damages (Pain and Suffering)

This is compensation for the human cost of the accident, such as the physical pain, emotional distress, and reduction in your quality of life. Simply put, pain and suffering after a car accident addresses how the injury has affected your ability to live your normal life.

Under Michigan law, a third-party car accident injury claim for non-economic damages generally requires death, permanent serious disfigurement, or a serious impairment of body function.

What if I Am Partially at Fault?

Yes. Michigan generally reduces recoverable damages by your percentage of fault. If you are more than 50% at fault, you generally cannot recover non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, although economic damages may still be available depending on the circumstances.

How Car Accident Claims Work in Dearborn

The Two-Tiered System: First Versus Third Party

• First-Party (No-Fault) Claim: This claim seeks available PIP benefits, such as wage loss, replacement services, and, when applicable, medical expenses, from the insurer responsible under Michigan’s priority rules. You do not have to prove the other driver caused the crash to seek these benefits.
• Third-Party (Bodily Injury) Claim: This is a traditional lawsuit filed against the at-fault driver. This is where we work to prove the other driver's negligence caused your injuries and fight for non-economic damages (pain and suffering) and excess economic losses.

Who Can File a Claim?

• Drivers and passengers involved in the collision.
• Pedestrians and cyclists struck by a vehicle. The order of priority for whose insurance pays may be complicated in these situations, but coverage is available.
• Motorcyclists, whose claims follow different PIP priority rules than ordinary car-occupant claims. We also represent riders injured in Dearborn motorcycle accidents.

Common Accident Scenarios

In our years of practice, we see recurring accident patterns in and around Dearborn, such as:

• Rear-End Collisions: These are frequently caused by distracted driving or sudden stops in heavy traffic.
• Intersection T-Bones: Occur when a driver fails to yield the right-of-way at one of the city's many busy intersections.
• Sideswipes: Common during lane merges on high-speed roadways like the Southfield Freeway (M-39).
• Truck Collisions: Dearborn truck accidents may occur on I-94 and major routes that connect through the city, including the Southfield Freeway (M-39), Michigan Avenue (US-12), and Telegraph Road (US-24). Freeway ramps, merging traffic, and busy intersections along these corridors regularly put passenger vehicles alongside semis, delivery trucks, and other commercial vehicles.

Common Causes of Negligence

Our team of Dearborn auto accident lawyers looks for the evidence that connects a driver’s careless act to the collision. Common examples of negligence include:

• Distracted driving (texting, eating, or using a GPS).
• Speeding or reckless driving.
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Typical Injuries We Handle

We have experience with a wide range of catastrophic injuries, including:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI).
• Spinal cord damage and herniated discs.
• Fractures requiring surgical intervention.

Deadlines You Must Know (Statute of Limitations)

• The One-Year Notice Rule: Michigan law generally requires written notice of injury to the appropriate PIP insurer within one year of the accident unless the insurer has already paid PIP benefits. A separate one-year-back rule can limit recovery of unpaid benefits incurred more than one year before a lawsuit is filed.
• The Three-Year Rule: You generally have three years from the date of the accident to file a third-party lawsuit against the at-fault driver for your pain and suffering.

Local Insight: Driving in Dearborn and Wayne County

Dearborn carries heavy commuter, commercial, pedestrian, and freight traffic across roads such as Ford Road, Michigan Avenue, Telegraph Road, and the Southfield Freeway. Where a crash occurs can shape the investigation because intersection design, turning lanes, signal timing, traffic volume, and nearby businesses may determine what evidence exists.

High-Risk Intersections and Roadways

• Ford Road: Known for extreme congestion and a high number of access points, the stretch between the Southfield Freeway and Telegraph Road is a frequent site of collisions.
• Michigan Avenue: This roadway features a dense mix of commercial traffic, stoplights, and pedestrian activity, creating a difficult and challenging driving environment.
• The Southfield Freeway (M-39): Higher speeds and short merge areas can make lane-change and rear-end collisions more serious, especially when traffic compresses quickly.

Knowing where Dearborn crashes most often occur helps us identify what evidence may exist. At a busy intersection, that can mean checking signal timing, nearby business cameras, witness locations, and the exact path each vehicle took before impact.

Dealing with Insurance Companies

Attempting to manage the claims process on your own puts you at a significant disadvantage. Insurance companies have teams of adjusters and lawyers whose job is to protect the company's financial interests.

The Delay, Deny, Defend Strategy

Adjusters are trained to scrutinize every detail of your claim, looking for reasons to deny coverage or reduce the payout. They may request endless paperwork or delay payments, hoping that financial pressure will force you to accept a lowball settlement offer out of desperation.

What to Look Out For

• The Recorded Statement: Before giving a recorded statement, understand which insurer is asking and why. The at-fault driver’s insurer may use your answers to evaluate liability or damages, while your own policy may require you to cooperate with your insurer. If you are unsure what you must provide, get legal advice before responding.
• Medical Authorization Forms: Be cautious with broad medical authorizations from an insurer. A blanket form may give the insurer access to records far beyond the treatment related to your crash. We can review the request and help limit disclosure to records that are relevant to the claim.
• The Quick Check: An early settlement offer may arrive before you know the full extent of your injuries, future care, or lost income. Don’t sign a release that could end your claim. If you were injured in the crash, always talk to a lawyer about the value of your case. It may be much higher than you think it is.

What to Do After an Accident (From Home)

Once you are safely home from the emergency room or urgent care, the actions you take may either protect or jeopardize your legal case. The insurance company's investigation starts immediately, and so should your preparation.

Steps to Protect Your Claim

• Adhere to Medical Advice: Attend all follow-up appointments, physical therapy sessions, and specialist visits. Gaps in your treatment record give an insurance company an opening to argue that you weren't truly injured or that you have already recovered.
• Give Written Notice of Your PIP Claim: Michigan law generally requires notice of injury to the appropriate insurer within one year of the crash unless an exception applies. Do not wait until the deadline to sort out which insurer is responsible.
• Documentation: Keep a simple daily journal. Note your pain levels, any difficulties you have with daily tasks (e.g., "could not lift a gallon of milk," "unable to sleep through the night due to back pain"), and any activities you can no longer do. This firsthand account is evidence.
• Social Media Blackout: Do not post photos, videos, or status updates about the accident or your recovery. Insurers routinely monitor social media accounts. A single photo of you at a family barbecue could be used to argue that your injuries are not as limiting as you claim.
• Secure Your Evidence: Gather and keep all relevant documents in one place. This includes medical discharge papers, the police report (or report number), photos of your vehicle's damage, and contact information for any witnesses.

FAQ for Dearborn Car Accident Victims

Do Not Let the Insurance Company Dictate Your Recovery

Recovering from a serious injury is a full-time job. You shouldn't have to spend your nights trying to become a legal expert just to ensure your medical bills are paid and your rights are protected.

The Michigan No-Fault system is filled with difficult deadlines that might easily trip up an unrepresented person, potentially costing them their benefits entirely. At Kajy Law Firm, we have the experience and the resources to manage the investigation, the paperwork, the deadlines, and the negotiations. We front the costs and don't get paid unless you win so that you can focus solely on your health.

If you have questions after a car crash, a Dearborn, MI, car accident lawyer from Kajy Law Firm is ready to listen. Call (248) 702-6641 or contact us online for a free, no-obligation case review. We’ll give you straight answers and explain what comes next.