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Timothy P. Smith, Personal Injury Attorney in Traverse City, Michigan

Smith & Johnson PC

Traverse City, MI

Trusted personal injury attorney serving Traverse City.

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Quick answer

Timothy P. Smith is an attorney based in Traverse City, MICHIGAN. The practice focuses on Personal Injury. Currently practicing at Smith & Johnson PC.

Based in
Traverse City, MICHIGAN
Experience
attorney
Known for
Personal Injury
  • Handles Personal Injury matters from Traverse City, MICHIGAN.
  • Recognized with Lawyer of the Year — Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs (Northern Michigan) (2026).

About Timothy P. Smith: Timothy P. Smith is an attorney based in Traverse City, MICHIGAN. The practice focuses on Personal Injury. Currently practicing at Smith & Johnson PC.

Areas of practice

Practice areas handled by Timothy P. Smith

Timothy concentrates on personal injury. Each area below outlines the kind of case Timothy handles, typical outcomes to expect, and how the intake process starts.

Personal Injury cases in Traverse City, Michigan

Timothy takes personal injury matters in Traverse City, Michigan. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before Timothy agrees to represent you.

Biography

About Timothy P. Smith — Attorney of Michigan personal injury experience

Timothy P. Smith is an attorney based in Traverse City, MICHIGAN. The practice focuses on Personal Injury. Currently practicing at Smith & Johnson PC.

Mr. Smith has practiced as a trial attorney since graduating Notre Dame Law School in 1992. He has litigated cases across the country including cases from Ventura County, California to Middlesex County, New Jersey. He practices in both State and Federal courts.In 2017, he began representing Michigan cities and counties in what has shaped up to be one of the largest pieces of litigation ever in the history of our federal court system.

The majority of Northern Michigan and Upper Peninsula counties retained Mr. Smith and his team to represent their interests in MDL No. 2804, In RE: National Prescription Opioid Litigation currently pending in the Federal Court for the Northern District of Ohio. In the fall of 2020 he filed 2 of the first Paragard IUD cases in Michigan. Those cases are now transferred, along with a recently filed third case, to MDL No. 2974 in the Northern District of Georgia as part of In RE: Paragard IUD Products Liability Litigation.In addition to complex Federal Court MDLs, he successfully represents individuals in a broad array of civil cases. In 1998, in Oscoda County, he obtained the highest plaintiff’s verdict in the history of that county in an auto accident case. He has a proven track record not only in injury cases, but also divorce, criminal and civil litigation.

As a commercial litigator, he has collected over 5.5 million dollars since 2017 for a single Credit Union client in south central Michigan.In 2002, at 34 years of age, he was one of the youngest attorneys in the state to receive an AV-rating, the highest rating, from Martindale-Hubbell. In 2016, 2018 and 2020, Best Lawyers listed Mr. Smith as the Plaintiff’s Lawyer of the Year for Northern Michigan. Both Best Lawyers and Martindale-Hubbell rely on peer review from other attorneys and local judges as to these rankings, which represent the highest level of professional excellence in the field. Mr. Smith has been identified as one of the Top 100 trial attorneys in the State of Michigan by the National Trial Lawyers since 2019.He is a frequent speaker in the area of litigation strategies and techniques and has annually moderated the Michigan Trial Lawyers Winter Seminar since 2000.

In 2006, he was named to the 40 under 40 list by the Grand Traverse Business News and was named to the “A-List” of attorneys in Northern Michigan by Traverse the Magazine.Mr. Smith has sat on the Board of Directors for the Father Fred Foundation, the Board of Trustees of the Great Lakes Children Museum, the Board of Directors for the Brain Injury Association of Michigan, and the Executive Board of the Michigan Association for Justice, a/k/a – Michigan Trial Lawyers Association.

He currently sits as a director on the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce Board.Mr. Smith was a licensed fly fishing guide from 1999 to 2009, spent many evenings coaching kids’ basketball, softball and volleyball, enjoys hunting and fishing throughout Northern Michigan and currently enjoys being an empty nester with his wife now that his three children have headed off to college.

How Timothy handles personal injury matters

Mr. Smith has practiced as a trial attorney since graduating Notre Dame Law School in 1992. He has litigated cases across the country including cases from Ventura County, California to Middlesex County, New Jersey. He practices in both State and Federal courts.In 2017, he began representing Michigan cities and counties in what has shaped up to be one of the largest pieces of litigation ever in…

The kind of cases Timothy takes

Timothy reviews new inquiries case-by-case for personal injury matters in Traverse City and the surrounding Michigan area.

Credentials

Timothy P. Smith's legal education and bar admissions

  • University of Notre Dame

    JD · 1992

Jurisdictions

Timothy's state bar admissions

  • Michigan, P48259

    ACTIVE

Timothy studied at JD in University of Notre Dame.

Law school and academic background

Timothy completed JD in University of Notre Dame. Formal legal training is one signal of substantive knowledge — the day-to-day practice Timothy runs in Michigan is where that training gets applied to real client questions.

Recognition

Awards, publications, and recognition of Timothy P. Smith

Timothy has received 12 formal recognitions from bar associations, industry bodies, and peer-review services.

  • Lawyer of the Year — Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs (Northern Michigan)

    2026

  • Lawyer of the Year — Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs (Northern Michigan)

    2024

  • Lawyer of the Year — Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs (Northern Michigan)

    2022

  • Lawyer of the Year — Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs (Northern Michigan)

    2020

  • Lawyer of the Year — Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs (Northern Michigan)

    2018

  • Lawyer of the Year — Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs (Northern Michigan)

    2016

  • Best Lawyers in America — Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs

    2026

  • Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice:

    2026

  • Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation

    2026

  • Best Lawyers in America — Family Law

    2026

  • Best Lawyers in America — Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs

    2026

  • Best Lawyers in America — Awards:

    2026

Legal awards and honors

Lawyer of the Year — Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs (Northern Michigan) (2026). Lawyer of the Year — Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs (Northern Michigan) (2024). Lawyer of the Year — Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs (Northern Michigan) (2022). Lawyer of the Year — Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs (Northern Michigan) (2020). Lawyer of the Year — Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs (Northern Michigan) (2018). Lawyer of the Year — Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs (Northern Michigan) (2016).

Locations

Timothy P. Smith's office in Traverse City

Timothy's primary office is at 534 E. Front Street, Traverse City, Michigan, 49686. In-person meetings are by appointment; a phone intake usually comes first.

Main office

Smith & Johnson PC

534 E. Front Street

Traverse City, Michigan 49686

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Client feedback

Client reviews of Timothy P. Smith

Timothy has not yet collected verified client reviews on LawyersListed. Reviews here are all from confirmed clients; anonymous ratings are moderated out.

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Hiring guide

How to hire Timothy P. Smith — what to expect in your first consultation

Working with a new personal injury attorney should feel structured. Here's how the first two conversations with Timothy usually go, from the moment you request a consult to the day representation begins.

Consultation formats and pricing

Timothy charges for the initial consult. That fee is credited toward representation if you retain Timothy's office.

What to bring to your first meeting

Bring any documents you already have — police reports, medical records, filed pleadings, correspondence from an insurer, a copy of the contract at issue. If you're not sure, err on the side of bringing everything; Timothy will tell you what matters and what doesn't.

Questions to ask a personal injury attorney in Traverse City, Michigan

A short list to run through before you commit: How many personal injury matters have you handled in the last year? What's your fee structure? Who else in the office will work on this? What's your realistic estimate of timeline and range of outcomes? How do I reach you between meetings?

Fees & payment

Fees, payment methods, and consultation options for Timothy

Timothy discusses fees during intake so the arrangement fits the matter. Contingency, hourly, and flat-fee options are all common in personal injury practice — ask which fits.

Hourly rates, contingency fees, and flat-fee options

Every personal injury matter is priced differently. Simple document review might be a flat fee. Injury litigation is often contingency. Complex commercial disputes usually run hourly with a retainer. Timothy confirms the model in the engagement letter before any work starts.

Payment methods and payment plans

Timothy's office accepts standard payment methods. Ask about payment plans if the retainer is a stretch — many personal injury practices work with clients on structured schedules.

Frequently asked

Frequently asked questions about Timothy P. Smith

  • How much does it cost to hire Timothy for a personal injury case?

    Cost depends on the type of matter, the fee model (contingency, flat, hourly), and how contested the case becomes. Timothy walks through the likely range during the consult so there are no surprises.

  • Does Timothy offer a free consultation?

    Timothy charges for the initial consult; that fee is credited toward representation if you retain Timothy's office. Some personal injury attorneys offer free consults — check Timothy's current terms during booking.

  • How long do personal injury cases in Michigan typically take?

    Simple personal injury matters can wrap in a few weeks; disputed cases can run 6–18 months from intake to resolution, longer if the matter goes to trial. Timothy gives a realistic estimate for your facts at the consult — vague answers here are a red flag.

  • Can Timothy take my case if I'm outside Traverse City?

    Timothy is licensed in Michigan. Matters governed by Michigan law are the natural fit. Out-of-state matters are handled case-by-case, sometimes with local co-counsel. Ask during intake — Timothy will tell you if the case is a fit or refer you to someone closer to your court.

  • What should I bring to my first meeting with Timothy?

    Bring every document that touches the dispute: contracts, correspondence, police or medical reports, filed pleadings, invoices, photographs, insurance letters. Also bring a written timeline of what happened, in your own words. Timothy will filter what matters — over-preparing at intake is always cheaper than needing a second meeting.

  • Is Timothy accepting new personal injury clients right now?

    Timothy's intake status shifts week to week. Submit the form; the office will confirm availability or refer the matter out.

Areas served

Personal Injury attorneys serving Traverse City, Detroit and Grand Rapids in Michigan

Timothy handles personal injury matters throughout Michigan. Each city below is a direct link into the search page for verified personal injury attorneys in that community.

More counsel

If Timothy's intake is full or the fit isn't right, these personal injury attorneys in Traverse City handle similar matters. Every profile below is verified and open to consultations.