Introduction
A $7 million car accident settlement and nearly 30 years of practice in maritime law represent two points on a long arc of legal work at Goldman & Associates Law Firm. Founded by Akiva Goldman, the firm serves metro Detroit and southeastern Michigan clients across family law, personal injury, and criminal defense, with 25 or more years of legal experience behind its practice. Offices in Troy and Livonia give the firm two access points in the region. The firm is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and can be reached at (248) 590-6600 or toll-free at (877) 737-8800.
Website: akivagoldman.com/
Practice Areas
Family Law
Goldman & Associates handles the full range of family law matters that bring clients to court, including divorce, child custody, child support, alimony, paternity, property division, and domestic violence proceedings. Michigan family law cases frequently turn on the characterization of marital versus separate property, the calculation of parenting time and best-interest factors in custody disputes, and the financial modeling required for support determinations.
The firm also handles military divorce, which involves specific rules governing the division of military retirement benefits and raises procedural issues that civilian divorce proceedings do not. Clients going through divorce while one spouse is on active duty or receiving military retirement pay need counsel familiar with those requirements.
Personal Injury
The firm’s personal injury practice covers a broad range of accident types, and several Michigan-specific legal rules shape how these claims are evaluated.
Car accident claims in Michigan arise within the context of the state’s no-fault insurance system. Michigan’s no-fault law requires drivers to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits, which cover medical expenses and lost wages regardless of fault. However, a lawsuit against an at-fault driver for pain and suffering damages is available only when injuries meet certain thresholds under Michigan law. Goldman & Associates has secured notable settlements in this area, including a $7 million recovery in a car accident case, a $5 million recovery in a head-on collision, a $5 million recovery in a multi-car accident, and a $3.5 million recovery for a father and son injured in the same accident.
Motorcycle accident cases in Michigan involve a critical distinction: motorcycles are excluded from the No-Fault Act. This means motorcycle riders cannot access the PIP benefits available to other motorists. They may, however, pursue claims directly against at-fault drivers. Clients injured in motorcycle accidents need counsel who understands this exclusion and structures the claim accordingly.
Pedestrians injured in Michigan accidents have access to no-fault benefits regardless of who caused the accident, a protection that reflects the vulnerability of people on foot. The firm handles pedestrian accident claims and pursues the full range of available recovery.
Michigan is a strict liability state for dog bites. An owner is liable for injuries caused by their dog regardless of whether the owner knew the dog had a propensity for aggression. This legal standard makes these cases more straightforward on liability than in states that require proof of prior dangerous behavior.
Additional personal injury matters handled by the firm include boat and watercraft accidents, slip-and-fall incidents, and wrongful death claims. Attorney Steven Palermo is also listed for car accident cases within the firm.
Criminal Defense
The firm’s criminal defense practice covers DUI charges, domestic violence allegations, and traffic ticket defense. Michigan DUI cases involve specific procedural requirements around chemical testing, field sobriety assessments, and license sanctions, and the consequences of a conviction can affect driving privileges, employment, and custody proceedings. Goldman & Associates represents clients through these matters from initial charge through resolution.
Location and Service Area
Goldman & Associates Law Firm maintains two office locations in the metro Detroit area:
Troy: 3150 Livernois Rd., Suite 335, Troy, MI 48083
Livonia: 39111 6 Mile Road, Livonia, MI 48152
Phone: (248) 590-6600 / (877) 737-8800 (toll-free)
Available 24/7
The firm’s service area covers the metro Detroit region and southeastern Michigan, including Troy, Livonia, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Sterling Heights, Warren, Bloomfield Hills, Farmington Hills, Macomb County, and Dearborn Heights.
Website: akivagoldman.com/
Client Focus
The firm’s 24/7 availability is a meaningful commitment in personal injury and criminal defense practice. Accidents do not happen on a schedule, and criminal arrests often occur at night or on weekends. The ability to reach the firm at any hour allows clients to get guidance at the moment they need it rather than waiting until regular business hours.
The contingency fee structure for personal injury cases, combined with free initial consultations, removes the financial barrier to representation. Clients who have already sustained economic harm through medical bills and lost income can retain the firm without an upfront payment, and fees are collected only from any recovery obtained.
The scope of the firm’s personal injury practice reflects specific knowledge of Michigan law. The motorcycle no-fault exclusion, the strict liability standard for dog bites, and the threshold requirements for pain-and-suffering claims in car accident cases are all Michigan-specific rules that require an attorney who understands them to handle these cases effectively.
Michigan Law Notes
Several Michigan legal rules are particularly relevant to Goldman & Associates’ practice areas:
No-fault insurance: Michigan requires drivers to carry PIP benefits. Lawsuits against at-fault drivers for non-economic damages require meeting injury thresholds established by Michigan law.
Motorcycle exclusion: Motorcycles are excluded from the No-Fault Act. Injured motorcyclists cannot access PIP benefits but may pursue claims against at-fault drivers directly.
Dog bite strict liability: Michigan imposes strict liability on dog owners, meaning an owner is liable for bite injuries regardless of prior knowledge of the dog’s behavior.
Pedestrian no-fault benefits: Pedestrians injured in Michigan car accidents are entitled to no-fault benefits regardless of fault for the accident.
FAQ
Does Goldman & Associates handle military divorce cases?
Yes. The firm handles military divorce, which involves rules specific to the division of military retirement benefits and procedural considerations that arise when one spouse is on active duty. These matters require familiarity with the Uniformed Services Former Spouses’ Protection Act and related requirements.
Why are motorcycle accident cases different in Michigan?
Michigan’s No-Fault Act excludes motorcycles. Riders injured in accidents cannot access the PIP benefits available to occupants of other motor vehicles. They may still pursue liability claims against at-fault drivers, but the claim structure differs from a standard car accident case. An attorney familiar with this distinction is essential.
What is the significance of Michigan’s strict liability rule for dog bites?
Under Michigan law, a dog owner is liable for injuries caused by their dog biting someone in a public place or lawfully on private property, regardless of whether the owner knew the dog was prone to aggression. This differs from “one bite” states that require proof of prior dangerous behavior before liability attaches.
What notable settlements has the firm obtained in personal injury cases?
The firm reports settlements including $7 million in a car accident case, $5 million in a head-on collision, $5 million in a multi-car accident, and $3.5 million for a father and son injured in the same accident. These results represent specific cases and are not guarantees of future outcomes.
How do I contact the firm?
The firm can be reached at (248) 590-6600 or toll-free at (877) 737-8800. The firm is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. More information is available at akivagoldman.com/.
Closing
Goldman & Associates Law Firm brings decades of legal experience, two office locations in metro Detroit, and specific knowledge of Michigan’s distinct personal injury laws to its representation of clients in family law, personal injury, and criminal defense matters. The settlement record speaks to the quality of that representation: $7 million in a car accident, $5 million twice, and $3.5 million for a father and son, all recovered for southeastern Michigan clients. The firm accepts personal injury cases on contingency, offers free consultations, and is available at any hour. Call (248) 590-6600, (877) 737-8800, or visit akivagoldman.com/.