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Michigan Personal Injury Overview
Personal injury law involves civil claims in which an individual is injured through the negligence, recklessness or intentional misconduct of another person, a company, or property owner. A personal injury lawsuit may arise from physical or emotional injuries. Personal injury law compensates individuals injured as a result of another’s negligence or intentional misconduct. Personal injury laws vary from state to state. If you believe you have a personal injury claim, you should contact a personal injury lawyer in Michigan to evaluate your claim.
Michigan follows a system using the modified comparative negligence – 51% rule. In states following a modified comparative fault – 51% rule, an injured party can only recover if it is determined that his or her fault in causing the injury does not reach 51%. If the injured party was 50% or less at fault, he or she may still recover damages. However, if a plaintiff’s fault reaches 51%, he or she recovers nothing. In other words, a plaintiff may have caused half of the accident and still recover damages from the court, but if it is found that the plaintiff’s fault was responsible for more than half of the accident, that plaintiff is barred from receiving any damages determined by the court. Here, as in a pure comparative negligence state, a plaintiff’s recovery is reduced by the degree of his or her fault. For example, if Debbie sued Dave for damages she suffered in a car accident involving their vehicles, and Debbie was 51% at fault, Debbie would not recover anything from Dave. If, however, Debbie was 40% at fault, she could recover damages, but the damage award would be reduced by her portion of the fault in causing the injury. Therefore, a finding that Debbie suffered $10,000 in damages would result in Debbie receiving an award reduced by 40%, or a final award of $6,000.
Click here to read about contributory vs. comparative negligence.
A statute of limitations is a type of law that restricts the period of time that a person may initiate legal proceedings. Time limits can vary depending on the type of case and the state where the particular cause of action occurred. To learn more about statutes of limitations, read our Statute of Limitations page. To see a state by state comparison chart for the personal injury statute of limitations for each state, read our Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Actions page.
Michigan Statutes of Limitations
In Michigan, the courts follow a pure several liability approach in entering judgment against multiple defendants. Here, the amount for which each defendant is financially liable is proportionate to his or her share of the fault. In other words, a defendant that caused the majority of the damages will be responsible for a majority of the financial judgment. This applies in cases of personal injury, wrongful death, or property damage. After six months from the date of judgment, the plaintiff may seek relief from the court if any portion of the judgment is not satisfied. In such a case, the court will re-allocate the remaining portion of the judgment based on the other defendant’s share of the fault.
Click here for more about Joint and Several Liability.
One of the best ways to research personal injury lawyers in Michigan is to contact courts in MI and ask them for information about the personal injury attorneys who utilize their legal facilities when they bring personal injury cases to court. We have compiled a list below of some courts in Michigan to get you started:
Supreme Court
Michigan Supreme Court
Michigan Hall of Justice
P.O. Box 30052
Lansing, MI 48909
517-373-0120
Court of Appeals
Michigan Court of Appeals – District I
Cadillac Place
3020 West Grand Boulevard Suite 14-300
Detroit, MI 48202-6020
313-972-5678
Michigan Court of Appeals – District II
Columbia Center
201 West Big Beaver Road, Suite 800
Troy, MI 48084-4127
248-524-8700
Michigan Court of Appeals – District III
State Office Building
350 Ottawa NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503-2349
616-456-1167
Michigan Court of Appeals – District IV
Hall of Justice
925 W. Ottawa St.
P.O. Box 30022
Lansing, MI 48909-7522
517-373-0786
Trial Courts
Alcona Circuit Court
106 5th Street
Harrisville, MI 48740
989-724-9410
Alger Circuit Court
101 Court St.
Munising, MI 49862
906-387-4636
Allegan Circuit Court
113 Chestnut St.
Allegan, MI 49010
269-673-0300
Alpena Circuit Court
720 W. Chisholm St.
Alpena, MI 49707
989-354-9573
Antrim Circuit Court
205 Cayuga
Bellaire, MI 49615
231-533-6353
Arenac Circuit Court
120 N. Grove
Standish, MI 48658
989-846-9186
Baraga Circuit Court
16 North Third St.
L’Anse, MI 49946
906-482-2102
Barry Circuit Court
220 W. State Street
Hastings, MI 49058
269-945-1286
Bay Circuit Court
1230 Washington Ave.
Bay City, MI 48708
989-895-4265
Benzie Circuit Court
448 Court Place
Beulah, MI 49617
231-723-6664
Berrien Circuit Court
811 Port St.
St. Joseph, MI 49085-1187
269-983-7111 ex. 8395
Branch Circuit Court
31 Division St.
Coldwater, MI 49036
517-279-4304
Calhoun Circuit Court
161 E. Michigan Ave.
Battle Creek, MI 49014-4066
269-969-6530
Cass Circuit Court
60296 M-62
Cassopolis, MI 49031
269-445-4412
Charlevoix Circuit Court
301 State Street
Charlevoix, MI 49720
231-547-7243
Cheboygan Circuit Court
870 S. Main Street
Cheboygan, MI 49721
231-627-8818
Chippewa Circuit Court
319 Court Street
Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783
906-635-6338
Clare Circuit Court
225 W. Main
Harrison, MI 48625
989-539-7883
Clinton Circuit Court
100 E. State St.
St. Johns, MI 48879
989-224-5132
Crawford Circuit Court
200 W. Michigan Ave.
Grayling, MI 49738
989-348-2841
Delta Circuit Court
310 Ludington St.
Escanaba, MI 49829
906-789-5103
Dickinson Circuit Court
705 S. Stephenson St.
Iron Mountain, MI 49801
906-774-2266
Eaton Circuit Court
1045 Independence Blvd.
Charlotte, MI 48813
517-543-7500
Emmet Circuit Court
200 Division
Petoskey, MI 49770
231-348-1748
Genesee Circuit Court
900 S. Saginaw St.
Flint, MI 48502
810-257-3252
Gladwin Circuit Court
401 W. Cedar Ave.
Gladwin, MI 48624
989-426-9237
Gogebic Circuit Court
200 N. Moore St.
Bessemer, MI 49911-1099
906-663-4211
Grand Traverse Circuit Court
328 Washington St.
Traverse City, MI 49684
231-922-4701
Gratiot Circuit Court
214 E. Center Street
Ithaca, MI 48847
989-875-5224
Hillsdale Circuit Court
29 N. Howell
Hillsdale, MI 49242
517-437-4321
Houghton Circuit Court
401 E. Houghton Ave.
Houghton, MI 49931
906-482-5420
Huron Circuit Court
250 E. Huron
Bad Axe, MI 48413
989-269-7112
Ingham Circuit Court
313 W. Kalamazoo St.
Lansing, MI 48901-7971
517-483-6500
Ionia Circuit Court
100 Main St.
Ionia, MI 48846
616-527-5315
Iosco Circuit Court
422 Lake
Tawas City, MI 48764-0658
989-362-3485
Iron Circuit Court
2 S. Sixth St.
Crystal Falls, MI 49920
906-875-3673
Isabella Circuit Court
300 N. Main St.
Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858
989-772-0911
Jackson Circuit Court
312 S. Jackson St.
Jackson, MI 49201
517-788-4268
Kalamazoo Circuit Court
227 W. Michigan Ave.
Kalamazoo, MI 49007-3757
269-383-8950
Kalkaska Circuit Court
605 N. Birch
Kalkaska, MI 49646
231-258-3335
Kent Circuit Court
180 Ottawa Ave., NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503-2751
616-632-5480
Keweenaw Circuit Court
Eagle River, MI 49950
906-482-2102
Lake Circuit Court
800 Tenth Street
Baldwin, MI 49304-7969
231-745-4641
Lapeer Circuit Court
255 Clay Street
Lapeer, MI 48446
810-667-0320
Leelanau Circuit Court
301 E. Cedar St.
Leland, MI 49654
231-922-4701
Lenawee Circuit Court
425 N. Main Street
Adrian, MI 49221
517-264-4597
Livingston Circuit Court
204 S. Highlander Way
Howell, MI 48843
517-548-1120
Luce Circuit Court
407 W. Harrie
Newberry, MI 49868
906-293-5521
Mackinac Circuit Court
100 Marley St.
St. Ignace, MI 49781
906-643-7300
Macomb Circuit Court
40 N. Main
Mt. Clemens, MI 48043-5654
586-469-5351
Manistee Circuit Court
415 3rd Street
Manistee, MI 49660
231-723-6664
Marquette Circuit Court
234 W. Baraga
Marquette, MI 49855
906-225-8205
Mason Circuit Court
304 E. Ludington Ave.
Ludington, MI 49431
231-845-0516
Mecosta Circuit Court
400 Elm Street
Big Rapids, MI 49307
231-592-0780
Menominee Circuit Court
839 10th Ave.
Menominee, MI 49858
906-863-8981
Midland Circuit Court
301 W. Main Street
Midland, MI 48640
989-832-6830
Missaukee Circuit Court
111 S. Canal St.
Lake City, MI 49651
231-839-4967
Monroe Circuit Court
106 E. First St.
Monroe, MI 48161
734-240-7020
Montcalm Circuit Court
631 N. State Street
Stanton, MI 48888-0296
989-831-5226
Montmorency Circuit Court
Atlanta, MI 49709
989-785-8022
Muskegon Circuit Court
990 Terrace
Muskegon, MI 49442-3357
231-724-6323
Newaygo Circuit Court
1092 Newell
White Cloud, MI 49349
231-689-7269
Oakland Circuit Court
1200 N. Telegraph Rd.
Pontiac, MI 48341-0404
248-858-0344
Oceana Circuit Court
100 S. State Street
Hart, MI 49420
231-873-3977
Ogemaw Circuit Court
806 W. Houghton Ave.
West Branch, MI 48661
989-345-3560
Ontonagon Circuit Court
725 Greenland Rd.
Ontonagon, MI 49953
906-884-4699
Osceola Circuit Court
301 W. Upton
Reed City, MI 49677
231-832-3261
Oscoda Circuit Court
311 Morenci
Mio, MI 48647
989-826-1109
Otsego Circuit Court
800 Livingston Blvd.
Suite 1-C
Gaylord, MI 49735
989-731-0223
Ottawa Circuit Court
414 N. Washington St.
Grand Haven, MI 49417
616-846-8320
Presque Isle Circuit Court
151 E. Huron
Rogers City, MI 49779
989-734-3288
Roscommon Circuit Court
500 Lake Street
Roscommon, MI 48653
989-846-6131
Saginaw Circuit Court
111 S. Michigan Ave.
Saginaw, MI 48602
989-790-5471
Sanilac Circuit Court
60 W. Sanilac
Sandusky, MI 48471
810-648-2120
Schoolcraft Circuit Court
300 Walnut
Manistique, MI 49854
906-341-3655
Shiawassee Circuit Court
208 N. Shiawassee St.
Corunna, MI 48817
989-743-2239
St. Clair Circuit Court
201 McMorran Blvd.
Port Huron, MI 48060
810-985-2031
St. Joseph Circuit Court
125 Main
Centreville, MI 49032
269-467-5500
Tuscola Circuit Court
440 N. State St.
Caro, MI 48723
989-673-3330
Van Buren Circuit Court
212 Paw Paw St.
Paw Paw, MI 49079-1492
269-657-8218
Washtenaw Circuit Court
101 E. Huron
Ann Arbor, MI 48107-8645
734-222-3270
Wayne Circuit Court
2 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, MI 48226
313-224-5261
Wexford Circuit Court
437 E. Division
Cadillac, MI 49601
231-779-9490
