What a car accident attorney does in Ann Arbor
A car accident attorney in Ann Arbor handles the insurance claim and legal side of your crash so you do not have to manage it alone. They contact the other driver's insurance company, gather evidence like police reports and medical records, negotiate a settlement, and file a lawsuit if the insurance company will not pay fairly. Most work on contingency, meaning they take a percentage of what you recover instead of charging you upfront—typically 25 to 40 percent depending on whether the case settles or goes to trial.
The reason to hire one is straightforward: insurance adjusters are trained to pay as little as possible, and they know most people do not understand Michigan's no-fault insurance rules or how to value their own claim. An attorney knows what your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering are actually worth under Michigan law, and they have the leverage to push back when an insurer lowballs you.
Ann Arbor attorneys also understand Washtenaw County court procedures, which judges handle car cases, and which local insurance adjusters are more likely to settle reasonably. That local knowledge matters when you need to file in court.
Key Takeaways
- Car accident attorneys in Ann Arbor work on contingency, taking a percentage of your settlement or judgment instead of charging you upfront fees.
- Michigan's no-fault insurance system requires you to file a claim with your own insurer first, and an attorney can guide you through that process and challenge denials.
- You should contact an attorney within days of the crash, before the insurance company pressures you to settle or before the statute of limitations runs out.
- Most Ann Arbor attorneys offer a free initial consultation where they review your police report and medical records to tell you whether you have a case worth pursuing.
- An attorney handles all communication with the insurance company, so you do not have to negotiate directly or sign anything without legal review.
When to hire an attorney after a car accident
Contact an attorney as soon as possible after the crash—ideally within the first week. The reason is not urgency for its own sake, but practical: evidence disappears, witness memories fade, and the insurance company will contact you quickly to try to settle before you understand what your claim is worth. An attorney can tell the insurer to stop calling you directly and can review any settlement offer before you sign.
You should definitely hire an attorney if any of these explore: you have serious injuries requiring ongoing medical care, the other driver was clearly at fault but their insurance company is denying responsibility, you have lost wages or cannot work, or the accident involved a commercial vehicle or hit-and-run. You should also hire one if the insurance company has already denied your claim or offered you far less than your medical bills alone.
Even if your injuries seem minor now, an attorney can advise you on whether to wait before settling. Some injuries—whiplash, back strain, concussion—get worse over weeks or months, and settling too early locks you out of recovering for future treatment.
How Michigan's no-fault insurance system affects your claim
Michigan is a no-fault insurance state, which means your own car insurance pays your medical bills and lost wages regardless of who caused the crash. This is different from most states, where the at-fault driver's insurance pays. You file a claim with your own insurer first, and they pay up to your policy limits. Only after you exhaust your own coverage can you pursue the at-fault driver's insurance for additional damages.
This system creates a common problem: your own insurance company may deny your claim or refuse to pay for certain treatments, arguing they were not medically necessary. An attorney can challenge those denials by sending a letter demanding reconsideration, and if the insurer still refuses, can file a lawsuit against your own company to force payment. This sounds counterintuitive—suing your own insurer—but it happens regularly in Michigan.
An attorney also knows the difference between allowable expenses (medical bills, mileage to treatment, lost wages) and non-allowable ones (pain and suffering, which you can only recover from the at-fault driver's insurance). They can structure your claim to maximize what your own insurer must pay and preserve your right to sue the other driver for the rest.
What to look for in an Ann Arbor car accident attorney
Look for an attorney who has handled car accident cases in Washtenaw County for at least five years and who works on contingency. Ask how many cases they have taken to trial versus settled, because some attorneys settle everything quickly to move volume, while others are willing to fight in court when the insurer will not pay fairly. Neither approach is wrong—it depends on your case—but you should know which type you are hiring.
Check whether they have a physical office in Ann Arbor or Washtenaw County. Local attorneys know the judges, the court staff, and the local insurance adjusters, and they can often move cases faster. They also make it easier for you to meet in person and review documents together.
Ask about their communication style: will they call you back the same day, or will you wait a week? Will they explain what is happening in your case, or will they keep you in the dark until settlement? A good attorney should be willing to answer your questions and keep you informed without you having to chase them down.
Finally, ask about their fee structure. Most charge 25 to 33 percent if the case settles and 33 to 40 percent if it goes to trial. Some charge a higher percentage for appeals. Make sure you understand what percentage applies to your case and whether they will advance costs like court filing fees and informed witness fees, or whether you pay those out of pocket.
How to prepare for your first meeting with an attorney
Bring the police report, your insurance policy, any medical records or bills you have received so far, photos of vehicle damage, and contact information for any witnesses. If you have already communicated with the other driver's insurance company, bring those emails or letters too. Do not bring a recording of the accident unless you made it yourself—do not rely on social media videos or news footage.
Write down a timeline of what happened: the date, time, location, weather, what you were doing before the crash, and how the collision occurred. Write down your injuries as they developed: what hurt when ready, what started hurting days later, and what treatments you have had. This timeline helps the attorney understand the full scope of your case and spot issues you might have forgotten.
Be honest about anything that might complicate your case: if you were speeding, if you did not have your seatbelt on, if you have a prior accident on your record, or if you posted on social media about the accident. An attorney needs to know the weak points in your case so they can prepare for them. Nothing you tell an attorney is confidential in the way you might think—they can use it to advise you—but they cannot share it with the insurance company without your permission.
What happens after you hire an attorney
Your attorney will send a letter to the other driver's insurance company notifying them that you are represented and that all communication should go through the attorney's office. The insurer will then assign a claims adjuster to your case. Your attorney will request the police report, medical records authorization forms, and any surveillance video from the accident scene.
You will continue your medical treatment, and your attorney will collect all bills and records. Once your treatment is complete or has stabilized, your attorney will send a demand letter to the insurance company outlining your injuries, treatment, lost wages, and the amount of money you are seeking. The insurer will respond with a counteroffer, and negotiation begins.
Most cases settle within three to six months. If the insurance company will not budge, your attorney will file a lawsuit in Washtenaw County District Court or Circuit Court depending on the amount in dispute. Filing a lawsuit often pushes the insurer to settle because they now face the cost of a trial and the risk of a jury awarding you more than they offered. If the case does go to trial, your attorney will present evidence and argue your case before a judge or jury.
Understanding contingency fees and what you actually pay
A contingency fee means the attorney is paid only if you recover money. If you lose, you owe nothing. If you win, the attorney takes a percentage of the recovery. This aligns the attorney's interest with yours—they only make money if you do.
However, you may still owe costs even if you lose. Costs are different from attorney fees: they include court filing fees, service of process fees, informed witness fees, medical record retrieval fees, and deposition costs. Some attorneys advance these costs and deduct them from your settlement. Others ask you to pay them as they come up. Ask your attorney which approach they use before you sign the engagement agreement.
If you settle for $50,000 and your attorney's fee is 33 percent, they take $16,500. If costs were $2,000, those come out too, leaving you with $31,500. The attorney should explain this breakdown in writing before you accept any settlement offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I switch attorneys if I am unhappy with mine?
Yes, but it can be complicated. You can fire your attorney at any time, but if they have already done work on your case, they may have a lien against your settlement to recover their fees and costs. The new attorney will need to coordinate with the old one and may need court permission to take over. It is better to choose carefully the first time, but switching is possible if your attorney is not communicating or is pushing you toward a settlement you do not want.
What if the other driver does not have insurance?
Michigan requires all drivers to carry insurance, but some do not. If the other driver is uninsured, your own insurance policy should have uninsured motorist coverage that pays your damages up to your policy limits. Your attorney will file a claim with your own insurer under this coverage. The process is similar to a regular claim, but you are suing your own company instead of the at-fault driver's.
How long does a car accident case take?
Most settle within three to six months. Cases that go to trial can take one to two years from the time you hire an attorney. The timeline depends on how quickly you finish medical treatment, how willing the insurance company is to negotiate, and how backed up the court is. Your attorney can give you a better estimate once they review your specific case.
Do I have to go to court?
No. The vast majority of car accident cases settle without trial. You may have to give a deposition—a recorded statement under oath—but that happens in your attorney's office, not in court. If your case does go to trial, your attorney will prepare you for what to expect and what questions the other side's lawyer will ask.
What if I already settled with the insurance company before hiring an attorney?
If you have already signed a release, you generally cannot hire an attorney to reopen the case. A release is a legal agreement that you accept the settlement in exchange for giving up your right to sue. This is why it is important to contact an attorney before you sign anything, even if the insurance company tells you the offer is final or time-limited.