If you have been hurt in a motor vehicle accident, you deserve to be compensated for your injuries by the person responsible for your accident. Seeking damages for your losses typically consists of filing a claim with the responsible party’s insurance company. In Michigan, however, the laws require you to file a claim with your own auto insurance even if you were not at fault.
Understanding Michigan’s requirements regarding insurance coverage and liability in an auto accident can be complicated. Our Okemos car accident lawyers at White Law PLLC can help you know what you are required to do after your auto accident. We can also review all your options for recovering your damages after your collision.
Fault and No-Fault Systems
The states in our country typically operate under a fault or no-fault system regarding automobile collisions. Fault states are those that hold a party who is liable for an accident responsible for paying damages to the injured party. No-fault states require each driver involved in an accident to file a claim with their own insurance company, regardless of who was at fault.
Michigan is a no-fault state. Accident victims in our state can file a legal claim for injuries that exceed insurance policy limits and pain and suffering. Because no-fault insurance laws can be complicated, it is in your best interest to consult with a car accident attorney in Okemos regarding your auto accident. We can help you determine whether you can file a legal claim for compensation for your injuries.
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Michigan Insurance Requirements
According to the Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS), Michigan law requires drivers to purchase no-fault auto insurance. Failure to obtain auto insurance is a crime. Drivers without the proper auto insurance can be fined or sentenced to jail time.
Drivers are required to carry at least three specific coverages with minimum limits. These coverages include personal injury protection (PIP), property protection (PPI), and residual liability. Residual liability insurance consists of bodily injury and property damage coverage.
It is important to carry the insurance coverage required by Michigan law. If you have questions regarding what insurance coverage you must have, consult with an Okemos car accident attorney. Our knowledgeable team of lawyers at White Law PLLC can answer all your auto insurance questions.
What No-Fault Insurance Covers
No-fault policies in Michigan cover all family members living in the same household. Some coverages will also pay benefits to a covered individual if they were a passenger in someone else’s vehicle or even a pedestrian who is injured in an accident. Let’s review what the following required no-fault insurance policies cover.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
PIP insurance covers all reasonable and necessary medical expenses for your lifetime, up to your policy’s limits. It also pays for your lost wages and replacement services for up to three years after your accident. According to the Michigan DIFS, unless you are covered by Medicare Parts A and B, and all members of your household are covered under another auto policy with PIP coverage, you must select a coverage option under a PIP medical policy.
Property Protection Insurance (PPI)
PPI insurance covers up to $1 million in damages that are caused by your vehicle to another person’s property. The other person’s property can include their properly parked vehicle, a building, or a fence. It does not cover other damage to vehicles.
Residual Liability Insurance – Bodily Injury (BI) and Property Damage (PD)
BI and PD insurance protects properly insured individuals from being sued as a result of a motor vehicle accident unless their insurance limits do not provide enough coverage to pay for the injured party’s damages. Residual liability insurance pays coverage limits for a party who causes an accident resulting in a fatality. It also covers accidents involving an out-of-state driver or accidents that occur in another state.
It is important to ensure you are covered by these required no-fault insurance policies. If you have questions regarding what policy limits you should choose, consult with a car accident lawyer in Okemos. We can help you determine which policy will cover damages you receive in an auto accident.
We understand that you may be going through a difficult situation and we are ready to help however we can.
Additional Insurance Options in Michigan
You may want to consider additional insurance options that can potentially cover more of your losses in a no-fault auto accident. You do not want to be caught in a position after your motor vehicle accident where your losses exceed what is covered by insurance. Three common types of additional insurance you should consider obtaining include:
- Collision and comprehensive insurance: Your required no-fault insurance does not cover damages to your vehicle. Collision insurance pays for repairs to your automobile that is damaged in an accident. Comprehensive insurance pays for repairs to your vehicle if you hit an animal, if it is damaged in a fire, flood, or by vandals, or if it is stolen.
- Limited property damage liability insurance: This coverage applies to mini-tort claims and is an exception to Michigan’s no-fault system. Under a mini-tort claim, if the person who caused your accident is more than 50% at fault and your damages exceed your insurance policy limits, you can file a legal claim against them. In such a lawsuit, you can sue the negligent driver for up to $1,000 in damages.
- Towing and rental car coverage: If you were injured in an accident, it is possible that your vehicle has been damaged as well. If it is not drivable, you will need to have it towed and may need to rely on a rental car for your transportation needs until your vehicle is repaired. This coverage covers the cost of these services.
Being injured in an auto accident can have significant physical and financial effects on you. Having appropriate insurance coverage can relieve much of your financial burden. However, if you have still not been fairly compensated for your accident injuries, consulting with our car accident attorneys at White Law PLLC is in your best interest.
You will always work directly with your attorney throughout your case.
How to Recover Additional Damages in Your Michigan No-Fault Accident
If you have experienced pain and suffering after your auto accident in Michigan, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the responsible party. You may also be able to file a legal claim if your insurance company refuses to pay benefits under your no-fault policy. An experienced Okemos car accident lawyer can help you review all the options available to you for collecting compensation for your motor vehicle accident injuries.
Retain an Okemos Car Accident Lawyer to Help You
Our car accident lawyers at White Law PLLC can help you get the compensation you deserve after your auto accident. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your injuries. We can determine what insurance policies may contribute to your losses and whether you may be eligible to file a legal claim for additional compensation.
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