Michigan Automobile No-Fault Insurance Act

The Michigan No-Fault law provides certain benefits to a person who is injured arising from the operation, use or maintenance of a motor vehicle without regard as to who was at fault for the accident. These benefits are commonly called No-Fault Benefits or Personal Injury Protection Benefits (PIP) and consist of the following:

• Any expense reasonably incurred for medical care, treatment and/or rehabilitation (including reimbursement for mileage, going back and forth to the doctor, care in your own home (even by a family member), modification of your home, if reasonably necessary, any medical appliance (for example a hospital bed or wheelchair) and even vocational retraining);
  
  
• Wage loss benefits (subject to certain limitations); and,
  
  
• Replacement services benefits (also subject to certain limitations).

It is important to note that an injured person is entitled to no-fault benefits regardless whether or not the injured person was in his/her own motor vehicle, someone else’s motor vehicle or was a pedestrian.

If an injury arises out of the use, operation or maintenance of a motor vehicle (a motor vehicle includes any vehicle, including a trailer, operated or designed for operation on a public highway by power other than muscular power which has more than two wheels) generally, there will be no-fault coverage under Michigan’s No-Fault Act. To make a claim for no-fault benefits, an individual must notify and make the claim against the proper insurance company responsible for paying the no-fault benefits.

Because of the short time limitation to make a claim and/or recover back benefits, we recommend that you contact a knowledgeable attorney as soon as possible to learn your rights.

In addition to no-fault (PIP) benefits, Michigan’s No-Fault Act allows an individual to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver and/or owner only under certain circumstances. Generally, to bring a lawsuit against an at-fault driver and/or owner of the vehicle at fault for non-economic damages an individual must have sustained injuries resulting in either death, permanent serious disfigurement and/or a serious impairment of body function. One can recover excess economic loss, that is loss of wages, which is in excess to which one would be entitled to recover as a wage loss benefit. In general, an injured person must file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver and/or owner within three years of the date of the accident or the claim might be barred.

If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, call us immediately to learn what rights you have to recover benefits or compensation for your injuries.

If you or a loved one is in need of legal assistance, call Goidosik, Morse & VanDeusen PLC toll free by dialing (800) 968-5566. The initial consultation is free of charge, and if we agree to handle your case, we will work on a contingency fee basis, which means we get paid for our services only if there is a monetary recovery of funds. In many cases, a lawsuit must be filed before an applicable expiration date, known as a statute of limitations. Please call right away to ensure that you do not waive your right to possible compensation.