Michigan’s capital moves a lot of traffic for a mid-sized city. State workers commute in on I-496 and US-127, Michigan State University students cross back and forth between Lansing and East Lansing, and I-96 and I-69 bring trucks around the edges of town. In 2024, the Ingham County report from Michigan Traffic Crash Facts recorded 3,370 crashes in Lansing. Of those, 677 hurt at least one person, and 7 fatal crashes took 8 lives. If one of those crashes put you in a hospital bed or out of work, a Lansing car accident lawyer can take the insurance fight off your hands while you recover.
Khamo Law represents people hurt in crashes across Lansing, East Lansing, Lansing Township and the rest of Ingham County. Our offices are in Troy and Sterling Heights, and Lansing clients can meet with us by phone, by video or in person in Troy. Our attorneys and staff speak Arabic, Chaldean and English. Call (248) 466-0606 for a free consultation. We work on a contingency fee, so there is no attorney fee unless we recover money for you.
For the rules that apply anywhere in the state, see our Michigan car accident lawyer page.
How a Lansing Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
After a wreck on Saginaw Street or the US-127 ramps, most people expect one insurance claim. Michigan usually gives you two, and sometimes three: benefits from your own auto policy, a case against the at-fault driver, and occasionally a claim tied to a road agency or construction contractor. Our job is to run all of them at once. For clients in the Lansing area, that means we:
- File your personal injury protection (PIP) claim and send the insurer the medical bills, wage records and mileage it asks for
- Push back when the adjuster delays payments, schedules a hostile insurance medical exam or cuts off treatment
- Request the Lansing Police, State Police or East Lansing Police crash report and look for nearby business and traffic video before it is recorded over
- Build the medical record needed to show a serious impairment, which Michigan requires before you can collect pain and suffering damages
- Identify every policy that could pay, from the other driver’s bodily injury coverage to your own uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage
- Send written notice to a road agency within the legal deadline when a pothole, broken signal or work zone helped cause the crash
- Negotiate with the insurance companies and, if no fair offer comes, file suit in Ingham County and take the case to trial
REPRESENTATIVE RESULTS
Results That Reflect the Cases We Handle
Khamo Law has obtained millions of dollars in recoveries for injured clients.
Past results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome. Every case depends on its individual facts, injuries, liability, insurance coverage, and applicable law.
Lansing, MI Crash Numbers From the 2024 State Report
The city sits mostly in Ingham County, with small pieces in Eaton and Clinton counties that the state reports separately. These figures come from the municipality tables in the 2024 Ingham County crash profile:
- Lansing: 3,370 crashes, 677 injury crashes, 7 fatal crashes, 8 people killed and 63 people with suspected serious injuries
- East Lansing: 1,315 crashes and 258 injury crashes, with no fatal crashes that year
- Lansing Township: 793 crashes and 130 injury crashes
Lansing alone accounted for about 4 in every 10 crashes reported anywhere in Ingham County, which logged 8,235 in total. The longer view is similar. When the city began its Safe Streets for All safety plan, it reported more than 35,000 crashes in Lansing between 2014 and 2022, 86 of them fatal, according to FOX 47 News. The plan’s stated goal is zero traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2050.
Lansing Police, East Lansing Police or State Police?
Which agency investigates depends on exactly where the crash happened, and the borders here are confusing. The Lansing Police Department covers the city itself. East Lansing and Lansing Township each run their own police departments, so a crash a few blocks off Michigan Avenue or Saginaw Street can land with a different agency. Michigan State Police troopers handle many freeway crashes on I-96, I-496, US-127 and I-69. For the most serious crashes, local agencies can call in the Ingham Regional Crash Investigation Team, which reconstructs what happened. Knowing who responded tells you where your report is and who has the scene photos and witness statements.
Lansing Roads and Corridors Behind the Crash Numbers
US-127 and I-496: A Rebuild Running Through 2028
US-127 is the north-south freeway dividing Lansing from East Lansing, and I-496 loops through downtown. The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is in the middle of a $205 million rebuild of US-127/I-496 from I-96 to I-496, with overall completion listed for fall 2028. The agency says the project is meant to address safety concerns and improve roadway geometry. Until it is done, drivers will keep running into lane closures, shifting lanes and intermittent ramp closures. Sudden slowdowns in a work zone cause rear-end crashes, and a poorly marked lane shift can raise questions about the contractor as well as the other driver.
Saginaw Street and Grand River Avenue (M-43)
M-43 runs through Lansing as Saginaw Street and Grand River Avenue and continues into East Lansing. It is a state trunkline lined with businesses, side streets and driveways, which means constant turning and crossing traffic. Just west of the city line, a March 2026 crash on West Saginaw Street near Rosemary Avenue in Lansing Township killed a 36-year-old Lansing man and seriously injured five other people. Police said an eastbound SUV crossed into the westbound lanes, and that speed and alcohol were believed to be factors.
Cedar Street and Pedestrians Downtown and on the South Side
Cedar Street carries fast, multi-lane traffic between downtown and the south side. In May 2026, a driver struck a 65-year-old woman on Cedar Street near Kalamazoo Street, and she later died at a hospital. Lansing Police said drugs and alcohol were not suspected and the cause was under investigation. People hit while walking in Michigan can usually collect No-Fault benefits even if they do not own a car. Our pedestrian accident page explains how that works.
I-96, I-69 and MLK Boulevard (M-99)
I-96 links Lansing with Grand Rapids to the west and Detroit to the east, while I-69 heads north and east toward Flint. Both carry heavy commercial traffic, so crashes involving semi-trucks are part of the local picture. Inside the city, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (M-99) is another state trunkline with busy signals and turning traffic. A collision with a commercial truck brings in federal safety rules and much larger insurance policies; our Lansing truck accident lawyer page covers those cases.
What Causes Crashes Around Lansing
- Speeding and drunk driving, the factors police cited in the deadly West Saginaw crash
- Drivers crossing the center line on undivided stretches of M-43 and other arterials
- Rear-end collisions in US-127 and I-496 work zones where traffic stops without warning
- Drivers striking people on foot on wide streets like Cedar and near downtown crosswalks
- Left turns into driveways and side streets along commercial corridors
- Distracted driving, including phone use behind the wheel
- Winter roads, when ice and snow reduce stopping distance on freeway ramps and bridges
Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Lansing Crash
- The negligent driver, and in many cases the owner of the car they were driving
- An employer, when the driver was working, such as making deliveries or driving a company vehicle
- A trucking company, when a semi on I-96 or I-69 was involved
- A construction contractor, when barrels, signs or lane shifts on the US-127/I-496 project were set up unsafely
- A bar or restaurant, in limited cases under Michigan’s dram shop law, for serving a visibly intoxicated person
- A road agency, in narrow cases where a defect in the roadway contributed
Your No-Fault Benefits After a Lansing Wreck
In Michigan, your own auto insurer, or one covering someone you live with, pays most crash-related costs first, whoever caused the crash. These PIP benefits can include:
- Medical care, from the emergency room through surgery and therapy, up to the PIP medical limit on the policy
- Wage loss for up to three years after the crash, subject to a monthly maximum
- Replacement services of up to $20 a day for household work you can no longer do
- Medical mileage for driving to appointments
- Attendant care when you need someone to help with daily needs
For policies issued or renewed since July 2, 2020, drivers choose their PIP medical limit, so the amount available depends on that choice. People with no auto policy in their household may be able to claim through the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan. If benefits have stopped or been refused, start with our pages on denied PIP benefits and Michigan No-Fault insurance.
Suing the At-Fault Driver: Pain, Suffering and Excess Losses
No-Fault pays bills and part of your lost income, but never compensation for pain, emotional distress or the parts of life an injury takes away. For that, you bring a claim against the driver who caused the crash. Under Michigan Compiled Laws (MCL) 500.3135, that claim is open only if the crash caused death, permanent serious disfigurement or a serious impairment of body function. A serious impairment is an objectively manifested injury to an important body function that affects your general ability to lead your normal life. Fractures, surgeries and brain injuries often meet that standard, but each case turns on the medical proof.
A claim against the at-fault driver can also recover:
- Lost income above the PIP monthly maximum, or after the three years of PIP wage benefits end
- Medical expenses beyond your PIP medical limit
- Up to $3,000 in vehicle damage your insurance does not cover, known as a mini-tort claim
When a crash is fatal, the family may have a wrongful death claim.
Road Defects and Work Zone Crashes in the Capital Area
Government agencies in Michigan are generally immune from lawsuits, with exceptions. The highway exception in MCL 691.1402 lets an injured driver sue the agency responsible for a road when it fails to keep the traveled portion in reasonable repair. In and around Lansing, MDOT is responsible for the freeways and state trunklines such as M-43 and M-99, while the city and Ingham County handle most other roads. A private contractor working on the US-127/I-496 rebuild does not share that immunity and can be sued under ordinary negligence rules.
The deadline is short. MCL 691.1404 generally requires written notice within 120 days that describes the exact location and nature of the defect, the injuries and any known witnesses. Photograph the pothole, signal or work zone as soon as it is safe, because roads get patched quickly.
If the Insurer Says You Were Partly at Fault
Michigan uses modified comparative fault. If you are found partly responsible, your recovery from the other driver drops by your percentage of fault. If you are found more than 50% at fault, you cannot recover pain and suffering damages at all. Your PIP benefits are not affected by fault and continue either way. In center-line and left-turn crashes, the other side often argues about speed and timing, so early witness statements, video and vehicle data matter.
Hit-and-Run and Uninsured Drivers in Ingham County
If the driver who hit you had no insurance, too little insurance or drove away, your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may cover the losses No-Fault does not. Michigan does not require these coverages, and each policy has its own notice and police-report conditions, so check your policy and report a hit-and-run to police right away. We explain more on our uninsured and underinsured motorist and Michigan hit-and-run pages.
Evidence That Matters in a Lansing Case
- The crash report from Lansing Police, East Lansing Police, Lansing Township Police or the State Police
- Reconstruction findings when the Ingham Regional Crash Investigation Team worked a serious crash
- Video from businesses along Saginaw, Cedar and Michigan Avenue, which is often recorded over within days
- Vehicle data from the event data recorder showing speed and braking
- Work zone records showing how the US-127/I-496 lanes and signs were set up that day
- Medical records connecting each injury to the crash
Injuries Common in Lansing-Area Collisions
- Concussions and traumatic brain injuries
- Herniated discs, whiplash and other neck and back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones in the arms, legs, ribs and pelvis
- Shoulder and knee tears that need surgery
- Internal injuries
- Scarring and disfigurement
Seriously injured people from across mid-Michigan are often taken to University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Lansing, which the American College of Surgeons verified in 2021 as the area’s only Level 1 trauma center for both adults and children. Even if you felt fine at the scene, get checked. Head and soft tissue injuries often show up a day or two later.
What to Do After a Car Crash in Lansing
- Call 911 and let the responding agency document the crash.
- Get medical care that day, and tell the doctor about every symptom.
- Take photos of the vehicles, the road, any construction signs and your injuries.
- Get names and phone numbers from witnesses and the other driver’s insurance information.
- Note any cameras on nearby businesses or homes.
- Notify your auto insurer and open a No-Fault claim.
- Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer before getting legal advice.
- Talk with a car accident attorney in Lansing early, especially if a road defect or work zone may be involved.
How to Get a Lansing Police Crash Report
The Lansing Police Department’s records page lists two ways to get a copy of a Michigan traffic crash report: an instant copy through LexisNexis for $19, or a $10 copy from the department. Requests can be made in person at Central Records, 120 W. Michigan Avenue, Lansing, by mail to the same address, or online through the city’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) records center. The department says it responds to FOIA requests within five business days. Records questions go to (517) 483-4680. If East Lansing, Lansing Township or the State Police handled your crash, request the report from that agency instead.
Once you hire Khamo Law, you do not need to do this yourself. We request the police report as part of opening your case.
Deadlines for Lansing Car Accident Claims
- Road defect claims against a government agency: written notice usually within 120 days (MCL 691.1404)
- No-Fault benefits: written notice to the insurer within one year of the crash, and in a lawsuit, recovery is generally limited to expenses from the year before filing (MCL 500.3145). Our page on the one-year-back rule explains this trap.
- Assigned Claims Plan: application within one year when no policy applies (MCL 500.3174)
- Injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver: generally three years from the crash (MCL 600.5805)
Where Lansing Crash Lawsuits Are Filed
Cases from crashes in the city are usually filed in Ingham County. Claims of $25,000 or less can go to the 54-A District Court on the sixth floor of Lansing City Hall, 124 W. Michigan Avenue. East Lansing crashes go to the 54-B District Court at 101 Linden Street. Larger cases are filed in the 30th Circuit Court, which has a Lansing location at 313 W. Kalamazoo Street, according to the Ingham County courts. Certain claims against state agencies must be filed in the Michigan Court of Claims.
Other Crash Cases We Handle for Lansing Residents
- Motorcycle crashes
- Bicycle crashes, including riders hit near downtown and campus
- Uber and Lyft crashes
Hurt some other way, such as a fall or a dog bite? Our Lansing personal injury attorney page covers those claims. I-69 connects Lansing with Flint. If you were hurt there, see our Flint car accident lawyer page.
Why Lansing Clients Choose Khamo Law
- Focused on auto claims: No-Fault disputes and claims against negligent drivers are a core part of our practice.
- Distance is not a barrier: consultations by phone or video mean you do not need to drive to Troy to get started.
- Your language: our attorneys and staff speak Arabic, Chaldean and English.
- No upfront cost: we are paid only from a recovery.
Khamo Law has recovered more than $40 million for injured clients, and our team brings more than 40 years of combined experience. We hold a 5.0-star rating from more than 230 Google reviews. Founding attorney Koro E. Khamo has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Star and one of The National Trial Lawyers’ Top 40 Under 40.
Lansing Car Accident FAQs
Should I settle with the insurance company or hire a lawyer?
For a minor crash with no injuries, you may be able to handle it yourself. If you were hurt, an early settlement can release your claim before you know how serious the injury is, and you cannot reopen it later. It usually makes sense to speak with a lawyer before signing anything.
How much can a lawyer get me for a car accident in Michigan?
No honest lawyer can give a number at the start. The value depends on whether the injury meets the serious impairment threshold, the medical treatment needed, lost income, your share of fault, and the insurance limits available. We can explain those factors in a free consultation.
How long do I have to sue after a crash in Michigan?
Usually three years to sue the at-fault driver, and one year to give your insurer written notice of a No-Fault claim. A claim over a defective public road needs written notice within 120 days.
How soon should I contact a car accident lawyer in Lansing, MI?
As soon as you are getting medical care. Business video can disappear within days, and early notice protects your No-Fault benefits.
Can a Lansing auto accident attorney help with an East Lansing crash?
Yes. We handle crashes throughout Ingham County, including East Lansing. Your report will come from the East Lansing Police Department, and smaller lawsuits go to the 54-B District Court.
Do I have to come to Troy to work with you?
No. Many clients work with us by phone, video, email and e-signature. You are welcome to meet in person at our Troy office if you prefer.
I was hit while walking downtown. Am I covered?
Usually, yes. A pedestrian hit by a car can generally claim No-Fault benefits through a household auto policy or, if there is none, through the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan. A claim against the driver may also be possible if the injury is serious enough.
What does Khamo Law charge?
The consultation is free, and we work on contingency. If we do not recover money for you, you do not owe an attorney fee.
Talk With a Lansing Car Accident Lawyer
Whether the crash happened on US-127, Saginaw Street or a side street in East Lansing, we can review it with you and explain your options. Call (248) 466-0606 or contact us online for a free consultation.
This page offers general information about Michigan law and is not legal advice for any particular situation. Results in past cases do not guarantee a similar result in your case.