Finding a Personal Injury Lawyer in Michigan

Many people start by asking friends who are attorneys for help. Even if they don't practice personal injury, chances are they know someone who does. In many places, the legal community is surprisingly small and your friend can probably refer you to someone. You might also seek referrals from friends, family or co-workers who have had legal issues similar to your own.

You have probably seen plenty of TV commercials or billboards for a personal injury lawyer. Michigan viewers often see ads for the Bernstein Law Firm ("Call Sam")and Cochran-Foley.

Larger law firms with an advertising budget are not necessarily neither better than others just because they are larger. And they are not necessarily worse or 'ambulance chasers'--keep in mind it is normal for a business to advertise as best it can. Every firm is unique. If you call one of these firms, just take the time to have a consultation and evaluate them like your would any other service you are about to pay for.

There is nothing wrong with calling the larger firms that are well known-they get large and well-known for a reason. But don't assume that they are right for you. Take the time to interview and do your research.

If you aren't in the larger Michigan metropolitan areas like, you might do a little more work to find the right personal injury attorney for you, especially if you don't already know any lawyers. Besides the Yellow Pages, you should look at the Michigan state bar website or local bar associations.

In the larger Michigan counties and cities there is

• Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association (Wayne County)


• Genesee County Bar Association (Flint area)


• Grand Traverse - Leelanau - Antrim Bar Association


• Grand Rapids Bar Association


• Macomb County Bar Association


• Oakland County Bar Association


• Washtenaw County Bar Association

Once you have the names of a few potential lawyers, do a little more homework. The first step is to look up the attorney on the Michigan Bar Association website just to check if there are any disciplinary proceedings against the attorney. Disciplinary proceedings are public, so if the attorney has been sanctioned or reprimanded, you can find out.

Next, get a little background information on your lawyer. Simply run a Google search on the lawyer's name and the city where they are located. See if you get any news stories about him or her or any other sites that list him or her and their associations or work. The information you find can help you decide if the attorney is the right kind of attorney for you.

In the end, choose your attorney the same way you choose any service professional. Find out as much as you can, ask lots of questions, and communicate your goals and concerns as clearly as possible. With a little groundwork, you can find a good personal injury lawyer well versed in Michigan laws.