“I fight for each client as if they were a member of my family.”
Michael Leizerman is a founder of The Law Firm for Truck Safety, which handles truck accident litigation across the United States. He is the co-founder of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (ATAA). He concentrates his practice in select catastrophic injury truck collision cases across the country.
He is the author of the treatise Litigating Truck Accident Cases, published by West Publishing, the world’s largest legal publisher. In this multi-volume work, Michael shares his wealth of experience and knowledge gained through years of trying truck accident cases and lecturing and teaching other attorneys across the country to do the same. He was the first Chair of AAJ’s Trucking Litigation Group. Michael attended truck driving school and obtained his Class “A” Commercial Driver’s License while managing his law practice.
Top Case Results
$34M Settlement
$22.75M Settlement
$18.5M Verdict
A Proven Leader in Truck Crash Litigation
Proven record of multi-million-dollar truck accident settlements and verdicts including a $34 million settlement, the highest in the United States for that year (2014).
Since 2006, has taken more trucking cases to trial than any other plaintiffs’ lawyer in the country.
Consistently wins multi-million-dollar verdicts for truck crash victims, including Ohio’s largest wrongful death case ever (consortium only) at $16 million.
Co-founder of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (ATAA).
Board Certified in Truck Accident Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.
Since 2010, has presented over one hundred continuing legal education talks, workshops, classes, and presentations.
Founding Chair of the American Association for Justice’s (AAJ) Trucking Litigation Group.
Class “A” Commercial Driver’s License holder with endorsements for double/triple trailers and tankers.
Referrals & Co-Counsel
No other law firm knows trucks quite like us. Our trucking law expertise and trial experience allow us to win multi-million-dollar results year after year.
Involved in a Crash?
Our team of truck accident attorneys works tirelessly to help your family find justice in the wake of a catastrophic truck crash.
Select Professional Associations and Memberships
National Board of Truck Accident Attorneys
Charter Member
Board of Directors
National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA), Member
Multi-Million-Dollar Advocate Forum, Member
American Bar Association Litigation Section, Member
American Association for Justice Interstate Trucking Litigation Group
Founding Chair (2002-2003)
Executive Board Member (2002-Present)
Public Affairs Chair (2013-2014)
Member (2002 – Present)
American Association for Justice (AAJ)
Member (1994-Present)
Leaders Forum
Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys
Co-Founder (2015-Present)
Education, Bar Admissions, and Certifications
Education
Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College Dubois, Wyoming
Graduate
University of Toledo College of Law Toledo, Ohio
Juris Doctor (J.D.)
University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan
Bachelor’s Degree (A.B.)
Concentrations in philosophy and film & video studies
U.S. House of Representatives’ Page School, Washington, D.C.
Congressional Appointment by Rep. John D. Dingell
Bar Admissions
U.S. Supreme Court, Ohio, Michigan, Tennessee, Illinois, New York
Federal District Courts
Northern District of Ohio | Eastern District of Michigan | Middle District of Tennessee | Southern District of Ohio | Northern District of Indiana | Eastern District of Texas | Southern District of Texas | District of New Mexico | Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals | Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals | Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
Certifications
Board-Certified Civil Pre-Trial Advocate
National Board of Trial Advocacy
Board-Certified Civil Trial Advocate
National Board of Trial Advocacy (recertified 2013, 2018)
Board-Certified in Truck Accident Law
National Board of Trial Advocacy
Trucking and Truck Safety Advocacy
ATAA and Legacy Driving School graduate and instructor
Testified before the Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee (MCSAC) to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on increasing the federal minimum insurance limits for motor carriers.
Class “A” Commercial Driver’s License holder
Connect with MichaelFeatured Speaking Engagements
Multiple Presentations Zen Lawyer Workshop, Toledo, OH (Oct 18-22, 2023)
“Uncovering the Hidden Truths: How Downloading All Cell Phone Data Can Transform Your Truck Crash Case” Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (ATAA) Symposium (September 27-29, 2023)
“The Power of Linking Liability to Damages to Increase Verdicts,” Michigan Association for Justice 2023 Summer Convention (June 6 -9, 2023)
Work Group Leader Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (ATAA) Educational Program for Women Plaintiffs Truck Lawyers (May 27 – June 1, 2023)
“Cell Phones and Apps in Trucks, App-Driven Trucking” Ohio Association for Justice 2023 Annual Convention (May 3-5, 2023)
Work Group Leader Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (ATAA) New Lawyer Bootcamp (March 29-April 1, 2023)
“Sources of Trucking Standards- Federal Regs, CDL Manuals, etc.,” and “Deposing the Defendant Truck Driver in Cell Phone and Sudden Medical Emergencies,” Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, Tractor-Trailer Litigation Retreat, Williamsburg, VA (November 11, 2022)
“Developing Themes and Strategies for Trial in Trucking Cases,” American Association for Justice, Trial Advocacy College: Litigating Truck Collision Cases, Denver, CO (November 9, 2022)
“TAKE: A Core Truth that Link Liability to Damages (even in admitted liability cases),” Sidney T. Marable Arizona Association for Justice, 2022 Annual Conference, Phoenix, AZ (October 14, 2022)
“The Long Game: Building a Reputation for Success with Trucking Cases Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys,” Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys, 2022 Annual Symposium, Austin, TX (October 6, 2022)
“Trucking History, Insurance and the Standards of Care Oklahoma Association for Justice,” Oklahoma Association for Justice, Trucking Litigation Intensive, Oklahoma City, OK (September 15, 2022)
“Trying the Complex Commercial Vehicle Case,“ American Association for Justice, 2022 Annual Convention, Seattle, WA (July 18, 2022)
“How to Find and Apply Standards in Trucking Cases,” Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys, New Lawyer Bootcamp, Las Vegas, NV (April 6-8, 2022)
“Litigating Broker Liability for Trucking Accident Injury Claims,” Strafford CLE Program (March 2, 2022)
“Trucking Basics for New and Experienced Lawyers (Plus TAKE: A Powerful New Damages Paradigm),” West Virginia Association for Justice, Mid-Winter Virtual Seminar (February 3, 2022)
“History of Trucking and its Relevance on our Cases,” Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys, Webinar (February 2, 2022)
Michael Leizerman has given talks on trucking law and trial strategy to attorneys in:
Published Works
Litigating Truck Accident Cases, West Publishing, 2005, 3-volume treatise (updated annually) (with co-author Rena Leizerman)
The Zen Lawyer: Winning with Mindfulness, Trial Guides, 2018
Finding Insurance in Truck Crash Cases, Trial Magazine, February 2008 (peer-reviewed)
Handling Motor Vehicle Accident Cases, 2nd Ed., Vol. 3—Truck Accident Litigation chapter, 2004, West Publishing
Media Appearances
9News, KUSA, Trucking Company in Fatal Crash had History of Letting Drivers on the Road Without Proper CDLs, Records Show (November 14, 2022)
9News, KUSA, Truck Driver in I-25 Crash that Killed 5 was Driving with Canceled License, CSP Says (July 26, 2022)
Transport Topics, Trucking Targets ‘Nuclear’ Verdicts (September 2016, 2020)
Trial Guides Live Fireside Chat, National Video Broadcast, The Zen Lawyer (May 29, 2018)
Referrals & Co-Counsel
No other law firm knows trucks quite like us. Our trucking law expertise and trial experience allow us to win multi-million-dollar results year after year.
Involved in a Crash?
Our team of truck accident attorneys works tirelessly to help your family find justice in the wake of a catastrophic truck crash.
