Steven Gursten

Steven Gursten

recognized lawyers icon Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2008
Awarded Practice Areas
Litigation - Insurance Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
Awarded Practice Areas
Litigation - Insurance Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
Steven Gursten
Steven Gursten
Farmington Hills, MI
Works at
Michigan Auto Law

11 Best Lawyers awards

Michigan Auto Law logo

Biography

A $2 million offer became $102.6 million.

That is what Michigan Auto Law won after the insurance company only offered $2 million to settle. It is not a one-time number. It is a pattern.

$102.6 Million verdict. Insurance offer: $2 Million. $40 Million wrongful death verdict. Insurance offer: $0. $34.5 Million trucking crash settlement. Final offer (in trial): $14 Million. 15 separate trial verdicts of between $1 million and almost $15 million, on final offers of between $0 and $30,000.

That is a record unmatched not only by any law firm in Michigan, but by any law firm in the country.

The gap between those offers and those verdicts is the point. It is what you actually gain between the insurance company's "best" final offer and a courtroom verdict that reflects the real truth of the harms involved.

That gap has a name behind it: Steven Gursten, head of Michigan Auto Law. According to published reports by Michigan Lawyers Weekly, Steve holds the top reported truck accident trial verdict in Michigan over multiple years, the highest reported truck accident settlement over multiple years, and the highest settlement on record for both a motor vehicle accident case and a truck accident of any attorney or law firm in Michigan history. Steve has been inducted into the American Association for Justice Truck Accident Lawyer Hall of Fame, one of only three lawyers in America today. Insurance companies know his name. That is the advantage you want on your side of the table.

Recognized Excellence

The recognition has followed the results. Michigan Auto Law has been named to U.S. News' "Best Law Firms," listed in Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers, ranked among the National Top 100 Trial Lawyers, rated AV Preeminent, the highest peer rating for professional excellence, and 10.0 "Superb" by Avvo, named Personal Injury Law Firm of the Year in Michigan, and recognized by VerdictSearch for a $34.5 million truck accident settlement in Michigan.

People Over Everything

We put clients before accolades, compassion before recognition. Sure, we have been named among the best lawyers in America, but what matters more is being called honest by a client in need. At Michigan Auto Law, we show up for people, through every challenge, and long after the case is closed. Because it has never been about the awards.

It has always been about you.

Do not accept the insurance company's first number. If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in an auto or truck crash, call Michigan Auto Law for a free consultation. You pay nothing unless we win.

844-373-2734 · michiganautolaw.com

Works at
Michigan Auto Law

11 Best Lawyers awards

Michigan Auto Law logo

Locations

Education

  • University of Michigan, B.A., graduated 1992
  • Fordham University, J.D., graduated 1995

Bar Admissions

  • Michigan, State Bar of Michigan

Affiliations

  • American Association for Justice - Distracted Driving Litigation Group - President
  • American Association for Justice - Trucking Litigation Group - Past-President
  • Melvin M. Belli Society - Past-President
  • American Association for Justice - Traumatic Brain Injury Group - Past-President
  • Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America - Board of Governors, Representing State of Michigan
  • Motor Vehicle Trial Lawyers Association - Past-President
  • State of Michigan Model Civil Jury Instructions - Subcommittee Member
  • TAOS Injury Lawyers - Member
  • Truck Accident Attorneys Roundtable - Founding Member

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2017 - Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs, Troy (2017)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Litigation - Insurance
  • Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Personal Injury Litigation
Special Focus:
  • Automobile Collision
  • Automobile Insurance (Michigan No-Fault Law)
  • Bad Faith
  • Brain Injury
  • Catastrophic Injury
  • Civil Litigation
  • Insurance
  • Litigation
  • No-Fault
  • Wrongful Death
Awards:
  • “Go To Lawyer” for Negligence Law, Michigan Lawyers Weekly

  • Lawyer of the Year, Michigan Lawyers Weekly
  • Top 100 Trial Lawyer, American Trial Lawyers
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV-Rating
  • Michigan Super Lawyer
  • Best Lawyers, Crain's Detroit Business
  • Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit, DBusiness Magazine
  • Million Dollar Advocates Forum, member
  • Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell
  • Leader in the Law, Michigan Lawyers Weekly
  • Top 50 Lawyers in the State of Michigan, Super Lawyers

Additional Information

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Case History

Cases
  • Doe v. ABC Trucking Company
$7 Million Motorcycle-Truck Wrongful Death Settlement - Confidential
  • Truck Accident Verdict
$2 million truck accident verdict on $250,000 defense offer
  • John Doe v. XYZ Trucking Company
Recovered a $1.95 million wrongful death truck accident settlement in a case after being brought in by another Michigan personal injury law firm that does extensive advertising to try to find more insurance coverage after the referring law firm was told there was only $1 million dollars in insurance coverage. Took the case and doubled the total settlement for the widow and her children.
  • Doe v. ABC Corporation
$8.5 Million Wrongful Death Truck Accident Settlement
  • Lloyd v. First Choice Trucking
$2.5 million truck accident jury verdict in U.S. District Court, Michigan, on a $250,000 defense offer, U.S. District Court, Michigan
  • John Doe v. Confidential
$3.5 million confidential truck accident settlement (out of state)
  • John Doe v. Confidential
$3.5 million tire off case causing significant TBI
  • Barnes v. Cassens Transport Company
$3.6 million truck accident award in Wayne County, Michigan, on a $300,000 defense offer
  • Nunez v. Utica Transit Mix and Supply
$3.9 million truck accident settlement in Macomb County, Michigan
  • Fini-Ross v. General Motors Corporation
$4.2 million auto accident jury verdict on a $100,000 defense offer in Oakland County, Michigan
  • Estate of John Doe v. Confidential
$6.2 million wrongful death truck accident settlement (Out of State). The defense made a $400,000 “final” offer to previous attorney before he asked Steve Gursten to take over case for trial.
  • John Doe v. Confidential
$7 million wrongful death auto accident confidential settlement including $3 million in personal assets contribution over insurance policy limits - Oakland County, Michigan
  • Jane Doe v. XYZ Company
$10.5 Million Confidential Truck Accident Settlement
  • John Doe v. A Trucking Company
$34.5 million confidential truck accident settlement. The defense's "final offer" before trial was $14 million. The case settled for $34.5 million in trial.
  • Clouse v. Hughes
$1.1 million car accident jury verdict on $10,000 defense offer - Oakland County, Michigan
  • Modzelewski-Shekoski, et al. v. Allied Excavation Inc., et al
$2.55 million wrongful death truck accident verdict on a $250,000 defense offer - Macomb County, Michigan
  • Fairley v. Schiber Truck et al
$3.5 million truck accident verdict for the pain and suffering of a 56-year-old man involved in a truck accident. Highest defense offer was $1 million.
  • Broeren v. Roy Bates II
$5.65 million Macomb County car accident jury verdict on $600,000 defense offer.
  • Norris v. Atsalis Brothers Painting Company
$9 million car accident settlement. Client had been offered $1 million and told to take it by his previous lawyer before he sought sought Steve Gursten for a second opinion.

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