Michigan Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers
When a drunk driver shatters your life, you deserve more than an apology. We hold the driver and anyone who over-served them fully accountable. 1-800-TRUCK-CRASH takes on the at-fault driver and their insurer — so you can focus on healing.
Detroit & Michigan Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys
At 1-800-TRUCK-CRASH, Michigan trial attorney Solomon Radner and our team represent people who have been seriously injured by drunk and impaired drivers across Metro Detroit and throughout Michigan. A drunk driving crash happens when someone gets behind the wheel after drinking or using drugs and puts everyone around them at risk — with slowed reactions, blurred vision, and reckless decisions — that lead to devastating, preventable crashes.
Drunk driving crashes are almost never minor, because impaired drivers often speed, run lights, and never brake before impact — which is why these wrecks are among the deadliest on Michigan roads. Our Michigan car accident practice was built around one thing: holding at-fault drivers and their insurers accountable when careless driving puts Michigan families in danger. Below, we explain how drunk driving cases work, who can be held liable, how a Michigan claim works, and how our firm fights to recover everything you are owed.
A drunk driving crash can give you more than one path to recovery — including a claim against the bar or restaurant that over-served the driver. But Michigan’s dram shop deadlines are strict, so the sooner you act, the better. We carry that burden for you from day one — and we never charge a fee unless we win.
Related car accident cases: rear-end Accidents · Head-On Collisions · Hit-and-Run Accidents
How Drunk Driving Crashes Happen & Why They Are So Serious
Alcohol and drugs slow reaction time, blur vision, impair judgment, and reduce coordination, which is why an impaired driver so often fails to brake, drifts across lanes, or runs a red light. In Michigan it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or higher, but a driver can be dangerously impaired well below that limit. When they crash, the people they hit are the ones who pay the price.
How impairment leads to crashes
Alcohol and drugs affect everything a driver needs to stay safe:
- Slower reaction time that prevents braking in time.
- Impaired judgment that leads to speeding and risk-taking.
- Blurred or double vision that hides hazards and signals.
- Poor coordination and trouble steering or staying in lane.
- Drowsiness that can lead to drifting or falling asleep.
- Reckless choices like running lights or driving the wrong way.
Pinpointing the true cause is critical, because it determines who is legally responsible — and the at-fault driver’s insurer rarely volunteers that information.
Why drunk driving crashes are often so severe
Impaired drivers rarely slow down before a crash. Because they often fail to brake at all, they strike with full force, and they frequently speed or drive the wrong way. That combination is what makes drunk driving crashes so likely to cause catastrophic, permanent injuries — and far too many deaths.
Common injuries in drunk driving crashes
The injuries we see in drunk driving cases are frequently severe: traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and paralysis, multiple broken bones, internal injuries, and catastrophic harm that changes a family forever, including fatal injuries that give rise to a wrongful death claim. These are life-altering losses, with long recoveries, mounting medical bills, and time away from work.
In the days after a serious crash, everything hits at once. You may be facing doctor visits, time away from work, and a phone that will not stop ringing — adjusters, billing departments, maybe even the other driver’s insurer. Meanwhile the bills keep coming and it can feel like no one is on your side.
It is normal to feel overwhelmed and unsure who to trust. The other driver’s insurer has one goal: to pay you as little as possible, as quickly as possible, before you understand what your claim is really worth. You deserve someone in your corner who understands both the medicine and Michigan injury law — and who is not intimidated by a corporate legal team. That is the role we step into the moment you call.
How a Michigan Drunk Driving Accident Claim Works
Every case is different, but most Michigan drunk driving accident claims move through the same stages:
- Get medical care and protect your health. Your treatment records also become key evidence, so follow your doctors’ instructions and keep every appointment.
- We launch an immediate investigation. Critical evidence disappears fast — we move quickly to preserve the police OWI report, the driver’s blood-alcohol results, bar or restaurant receipts and surveillance, and witness accounts of how much the driver had to drink.
- We identify everyone who is liable. The drunk driver is the obvious at-fault party, but they are often not the only one. Under Michigan’s Dram Shop Act, a bar, restaurant, or store that served alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person or a minor can also be held responsible for the harm that follows.
- We handle Michigan No-Fault and your medical bills. Michigan’s No-Fault system is complicated. We make sure your own coverage pays what it should while we pursue the at-fault parties. Learn more about Michigan No-Fault here.
- We build and present your claim. We document your injuries, lost income, and future needs, then negotiate aggressively with the insurers from a position of strength.
- We take it to trial if they will not be fair. Insurers settle fairly when they know your lawyer is ready to go to court. We prepare every case as if it will.
Michigan gives accident victims a limited window to file a lawsuit, and No-Fault benefits have their own strict deadlines — so the sooner you involve a lawyer, the more we can do to protect your claim.
Who can be held liable for a drunk driving crash?
One of the most valuable things a car accident lawyer does is uncover every responsible party — because more liable parties can mean more insurance coverage available to pay for your injuries. The impaired driver is responsible for the crash, but Michigan law may extend liability to others. Under the Dram Shop Act, a bar, restaurant, or liquor store that served a visibly intoxicated patron or a minor can share responsibility, and a social host who served alcohol to a minor may as well. If the driver was working at the time, their employer may also be on the hook. Each additional responsible party can mean additional insurance coverage for your recovery.
Compensation you may be able to recover
While no two cases are alike, people injured by drunk drivers in Michigan can often pursue compensation for:
- Medical expenses — emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, rehabilitation, and future treatment.
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity — income lost now and your ability to earn going forward.
- Pain and suffering — the physical pain and emotional toll of a serious injury.
- Long-term and life-care costs — in-home care, assistive devices, and home modifications after catastrophic injuries.
- Wrongful death damages — when a family has lost a loved one.
The value of a drunk driving claim depends on how serious your injuries are, how they affect your daily life and ability to work, and how much insurance coverage, including from an over-serving establishment, is available.
Michigan car accident laws that affect your claim
A few features of Michigan law shape almost every drunk driving accident case. Michigan is a No-Fault state, so your own auto policy pays personal injury protection (PIP) benefits for medical care and lost wages no matter who caused the crash, while a separate claim against the at-fault driver can recover pain and suffering once your injury meets Michigan’s “serious impairment” threshold. Michigan also follows a modified comparative fault rule — being partly at fault can reduce your recovery, and being found more than 50% at fault can bar you from certain damages. The statute of limitations for most auto injury lawsuits is generally three years from the date of the crash, but No-Fault benefits carry their own much shorter deadlines, and important exceptions can apply. Because one missed deadline can end an otherwise strong case, the safest step is to talk with us as soon as possible.
Drunk Driving Accident FAQs
Can I sue a drunk driver who hit me in Michigan?
Yes. The criminal case the state brings against the drunk driver is separate from your civil claim for compensation. You have the right to pursue the driver, and often their insurer, for your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering, whether or not they are convicted.
What should I do after a drunk driving crash?
If you can, move to safety and call 911 so police respond and document the driver’s impairment. Photograph the scene and your injuries, get the names of any witnesses, and note anything the driver says or where they had been drinking. Seek medical attention right away, and talk to a car accident lawyer quickly, because claims against a bar or restaurant have strict deadlines.
Can a bar be sued for serving a drunk driver?
Yes. Under Michigan’s Dram Shop Act, a bar, restaurant, or store that serves alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person or a minor can be held liable if that person then causes a crash. These claims have strict notice deadlines — acting quickly is essential to protect this source of recovery.
Do I have to wait for the criminal case to finish?
No. Your civil injury claim is separate from the state’s criminal case and can move forward on its own. In fact, a conviction can help prove your civil case, but you do not have to wait for it – and waiting too long can cost you important evidence and deadlines.
How much is my drunk driving accident case worth?
There is no one-size-fits-all number. Your case value depends on the severity of your injuries, your past and future medical bills, lost wages and earning capacity, pain and suffering, and the available insurance coverage. Because drunk driving crashes often cause severe injuries and may involve more than one responsible party, having a lawyer pursue every source of recovery and document the full impact can make a major difference in what you receive.
Can I still recover compensation if I was partly at fault?
Possibly. Michigan follows a modified comparative fault rule, which means your compensation can be reduced by your share of fault, and being found more than 50% at fault can bar certain damages. Even if you think you were partly to blame, it is worth having a lawyer review the facts; fault is often not what the insurer first claims.
How long do I have to file a claim in Michigan?
Michigan sets strict deadlines for both personal injury lawsuits and No-Fault benefits, and missing them can bar your claim entirely. Because the exact deadline depends on your situation, you should speak with a lawyer as soon as possible. The safest move is to call us right away so no deadline slips by.
Do I really need a lawyer for a drunk driving accident?
Insurance companies have adjusters and defense lawyers working to minimize what they pay from the moment a crash happens. Going up against them alone — while you are trying to heal — puts you at a serious disadvantage. An experienced car accident lawyer levels the playing field and protects the evidence your case depends on.
What does it cost to hire 1-800-TRUCK-CRASH?
Nothing upfront. We work on a contingency fee, which means there is no cost to you unless and until we win your case. Your consultation is always free.
Talk to a Michigan Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer — Free
If you or someone you love was hurt by a drunk driver, do not wait — evidence disappears and deadlines pass. Find out what your case is worth in a free, no-obligation consultation. You pay nothing unless we win.