FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Attention Michigan accident victims: the selection of your attorney is often the first decision about which you have 100% control.

It is also one of the most important decisions you will ever make.

Our firm has championed the cause of seriously injured accident victims for three generations.

Many people throughout Michigan and the rest of the United States are familiar with the warmth and professionalism generated by our firm. For almost half a century, we have honored the tradition of Mandell Bernstein in fighting for injury victims who need highly-qualified legal help.

• We have helped over 100,000 Michigan personal injury clients and recovered over $500 million in damages.
• We bring the significant academic and professional accomplishments of experienced personal injury attorneys to work on behalf of our clients.
• We are proud of the exceptional team of legal assistants and other professionals dedicated to the service of our clients.
• Our attorneys have a combined total of over 500 years of experience representing accident victims.

Many of our current clients were referred to us by other satisfied clients whom we helped in the past. Other attorneys and even insurance company employees have referred friends and family members to our firm, confident that an extraordinary team of professionals would handle their claims.

For almost half a century, The Sam Bernstein Law Firm has distinguished itself as a leader in the law. In fact, attorneys from across Michigan and Michigan Lawyer’s Weekly have twice awarded partners of the firm with the high honor of Leader in the Law.

Our lawyers are among the most accomplished in the personal injury and social security fields. We write scholarly articles on the law and lecture on the law in law schools. We serve our profession as members on Bar Association councils, panels, and conferences. In addition, we lead in the civic and cultural life of our state and nation.

Most importantly, the work we do for each client and their family is the only qualification that matters. Our results speak for themselves.

There are many different factors that affect your claim. The best way to find out if you have a case is to contact our firm for a free, quick consultation.

We have provided free consultations for almost half a century. Welcome to a long tradition of extraordinary legal work focused exclusively on our clients.

We know that every case is different. During your consultation, we examine the unique facts regarding your case. We look at your case from every angle. The information that you provide or that we may ask about includes:

• When, where, and how did the accident happen?
• What injuries did you or your loved one suffer?
• We’ll consider all the other facts that might impact the viability of the case.
• We also want to hear any other information that you think is important.

Remember – our consultation is simple, free, and quick.

Our firm is built around our clients.

When you or someone you love has been injured you feel like your life has been flipped upside down.

The most common questions we hear from our clients are – "How will my case proceed?" and "How does this work?"

You can always contact our law firm through this website or by phone to speak with us in greater detail. That’s what we are here for.

The facts surrounding each legal claim are unique. As each case is different, it is difficult to predict the length of time necessary to see a case to resolution or the nature of the resolution. However, there are certain things that you can generally expect to occur if we pursue an injury claim on your behalf.

We will come to you. We will visit you when and where it’s most convenient.

We understand that getting around after an accident is never easy. Often times mobility is impaired because of medical or logistical reasons.

During the visit, we will obtain the documents related to your case. Specifically, these documents will help us begin the investigation phase of your accident and injuries including accident reports, police reports and medical records.

If a face to face meeting is not practical, information can still be exchanged by phone, mail, or email.

Investigation

We believe that a careful investigation of personal injury cases is absolutely critical.

We thoroughly and carefully investigate each case.

Although every case is unique, our investigation process usually involves several important steps. We begin by obtaining police reports, accident reports, witness statements, and photographs.

The investigation process continues as the case proceeds. We may retain experts to help us present your case effectively. These experts may be necessary to reconstruct an auto accident, apply standards of care, identify building code violations, or determine if a produce was defective.

The most important factor in the investigation phase is, of course, experience and tenacity. Our investigators are highly experienced and treat each case as if their own family was involved.

Pre-Suit

During the pre-suit process, we work to assemble materials related to your case including medical records and other information about your injury. During this phase of the case the focus shifts from assessing the viability of the case to preparing the case for settlement or litigation.

Typically, our clients continue to receive medical treatment after the accident. During the pre-suit process, we work hard to maintain the most up-to-date medical, injury, and work related information.

During the pre-suit process, an attorney and legal assistant will be assigned to personally manage your case. You will receive the direct dial phone number and email for your attorney and legal assistant. You should never hesitate to contact us for any reason. Remember, we work for you.

Most clients quite reasonably want to know how much money they will be receiving at the end of a successful personal injury claim. The truth is, the value of your case depends upon the outcome of your medical treatment and extent of your recovery, as well as the circumstances of the accident.

Litigation

Many cases never reach the litigation stage because they are settled during the pre-suit process. Sometimes it is necessary to litigate a case when the insurance company is unwilling to settle the case for an appropriate value. In these instances, our clients benefit from the substantial trial experience and financial resources of our firm.

The majority of our claims are settled during the pre-suit process without ever having to file a lawsuit. We attempt to negotiate with the insurance company or companies involved to reach a satisfactory settlement. If we cannot negotiate an acceptable settlement without a lawsuit, then litigation will be initiated. Our client always makes the final decision regarding the acceptance or rejection of a settlement offer.

The litigation process usually involves a process called discovery. During the discovery process you may be called upon to answer written questions called interrogatories or give testimony known as a deposition. Of course, an experienced trial lawyer from our office will be with you every step of the way.

It may be necessary to present your claim in court in front of a judge or jury. If so, our team of accomplished trial lawyers will ensure that your case is tried with professionalism and skill.

Conclusion

At the conclusion of your claim, our goal is to far exceed your expectations in both service and value. We will work tirelessly to accomplish this goal. After a settlement or verdict, the disbursement process concludes our work. This process typically involves receiving funds from the insurance company, reviewing and approving the release, sorting out any lien issues, and then delivering a check to you as quickly as possible.

If you or a loved one needs legal help, submit a simple, free consultation form now to get started.

Get The Bernstein Advantage^® today!.

The No Fee Guarantee^®!

The No Fee Guarantee^® is our promise that if we don’t collect money for you, you don’t owe us an attorney fee. If there is no recovery, there is no fee.

We don’t get paid unless you do. It’s that simple. We will do our best every single day to make sure you get every dollar you deserve.

Put over 500 years of collective experience in your corner against the insurance company.

Get a free consultation – and the No Fee Guarantee® – submit a simple, free consultation form now. We are ready to help you today.

Michigan Ethics rules require us to inform you that costs remain the client’s responsibility.

We work exclusively with victims of personal injury accidents and those that need help obtaining Social Security Disability benefits.

We have represented clients in virtually every county in Michigan. Our lawyers are also licensed to practice law in Ohio, Illinois, New York and Florida.

We take cases where our client needs a champion to help get what’s fair. Our clients didn’t ask to get injured, but they turn to us when they need help.

• We specialize in cases involving every type of motor vehicle accident from car and truck accidents to motorcycle, bicycle or pedestrian accidents.
• We protect the rights of vulnerable seniors in nursing home neglect and abuse cases.
• We fight for victims of dog bite attacks.
• We handle slip and fall/trip and fall cases when property owners neglect their duty to maintain safe premises.
• We champion the cause of the disabled in Social Security disability claims.
• We work with victims of medical malpractice, defective medical devices, and dangerous pharmaceuticals.
• We help workers stricken with cancer or mesothelioma caused by exposure to asbestos.

We take cases where we think our work can make a positive difference for our clients and their families.

To find out more about the types cases we handle, please visit our Case Types page.

This is a fair and reasonable question.

When it comes to protecting your rights, experience pays. For almost half a century, we have recovered more than $500 million in damages for more than 100,000 accident victims. No matter the case, we fight to recover every dollar you deserve. Depending on your situation, you may be eligible for millions of dollars. Choosing the right attorney can make a huge difference.

The facts surrounding each legal claim are unique. As each case is different, it is impossible to know the length of time necessary to resolve a case or the nature of that resolution.

For some examples of claims we have won in the past, please visit our Verdicts and Settlements page.

To protect you and your family in difficult times, it takes a compassionate and trustworthy team of exceptional attorneys, legal assistants, investigators, and administrators. Every person in our firm is committed to going above and beyond.

An experienced trial lawyer, sometimes more than one, is assigned to you from the minute we start working on your case. As the case proceeds, additional team members may be added to bring more specialized talent to work on your case.

We promise to thoroughly explain your rights, keep you informed as your case proceeds, and always answer any questions you may have.

Learn more about our employees on Our Team page.

The Sam Bernstein Law Firm is one of the leading personal injury law firms in the United States.

Our firm had a humble beginning. In 1968, Sam Bernstein graduated from law school and earned admission to the Michigan Bar. After working at Chrysler, he decided to strike out on his own.

From the start, he dedicated his law practice to helping people in urgent need of legal representation – the victims of personal injury accidents.

Sam quickly gained a reputation as a lawyer committed to his clients. He was always ready to listen, answer their questions, explain their options, and fight for their rights.

Clients began telling their family and friends to "CALL SAM." To help all these injured victims, Sam started recruiting highly-qualified attorneys to join his law firm, which became known as the Law Offices of Sam Bernstein.

During the next four decades, people throughout Michigan came to know and respect the Law Offices of Sam Bernstein. New clients came to the firm, knowing that they could trust Sam and his team of experienced lawyers.

Over the years, Sam’s children became attorneys and joined his firm. Now, Mark and Beth Bernstein are working with their father Sam to lead the firm to greater success representing injured people.

Clients and their families trust The Sam Bernstein Law Firm. They turn to us because they have come to know and respect our work – in both the courtroom and community. We do the right thing for our clients.