What to Do After a Car Accident in Michigan

You were just in a car accident in Michigan. You might not feel hurt yet, but the other driver’s insurance company may call before you even get home. You’re unsure what to say, what you’re owed, or whether you can afford legal help.

Every statement you make, every day you delay treatment, and every form you sign without legal guidance can affect what you recover. Michigan’s no-fault system was built to protect you, but insurers know exactly how to use it against you.

We have handled Michigan no-fault car accident claims for decades. We work across the state of Michigan, including the Upper Peninsula, and we guide you through every step personally. Our contingency fee is 22%.

What to Do Immediately After a Car Accident in Michigan

The first thing most people feel after a car accident is shock. Your hands are shaking, your mind is moving fast, and you are not sure what just happened. What you do in the next 30 minutes can affect your Michigan car accident claim, and it is worth knowing ahead of time.

Get to Safety and Call 911

If you can move your vehicle without making things worse, pull to the side of the road and turn on your hazard lights. Call 911 if anyone may be hurt, if the crash caused death, or if the property damage appears to total $1,000 or more. When in doubt, call and ask for police guidance. The police report that follows can become one of the most important documents in any injury claim or future lawsuit.

Michigan law requires immediate reporting when a crash causes injury, death, or apparent property damage totaling $1,000 or more.

When officers arrive, answer their questions factually. Do not speculate about how the crash happened, and do not apologize. Stay until an officer confirms you are free to go, and get the report number before you leave.

Document the Scene Before You Leave

If you are physically able, take photos before anything gets moved. Photograph all vehicles, the visible damage, license plates, road conditions, traffic signals, and any skid marks.

Exchange your name, insurance carrier, policy number, license plate, and vehicle information with the other driver. If witnesses are present, get their names and a phone number. A full written statement is not required at this stage, just contact information. If your injuries prevent you from doing this yourself, ask a passenger or bystander to help.

What to Do in the 24 to 72 Hours After a Michigan Car Accident

Most guides on this topic stop at the scene. The legal window that follows, the 24 to 72 hours after the crash, often determines what you actually recover. Two steps in this window matter more than any others.

Seek Medical Attention the Same Day

Adrenaline is real, and it is one of the main reasons people walk away from serious crashes feeling fine. Whiplash, neck injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal injuries often do not show up until hours or days later. Going to an emergency room or urgent care the same day protects your health and creates a medical record that connects your injuries to the crash.

Every gap in treatment gives the insurance company a reason to argue your injuries were not serious or were not caused by the accident. Follow your doctor’s treatment plan carefully, and keep records of every visit, diagnosis, and prescription.

Notify Your Insurance Company and Know the One-Year Filing Deadline

In Michigan, you usually notify your own insurance company for personal injury protection (PIP) benefits, not the at-fault driver’s insurer. Under MCL 500.3145, you generally have one year from the accident date to give your insurer written notice of your injury, unless the insurer has already paid PIP benefits for that injury.

Notify your insurer in writing. The notice should include your name and address, the injured person’s name, and the time, place, and nature of the injury. Try to avoid giving a recorded statement until you have spoken with a Michigan car accident attorney, because adjusters can use your words to reduce what you recover. Do not sign any medical authorization sent by the at-fault driver’s insurer without attorney review.

MCL 500.3145 is more nuanced than “file a PIP claim within one year.” The statute allows an action after one year if written notice was given within one year or the insurer previously made a PIP payment for the injury. It also limits recovery for older unpaid losses.

Understanding Michigan’s No-Fault System and Your PIP Benefits

Michigan is a no-fault state, which means your own insurance pays for your medical bills and lost wages after a car accident, regardless of fault. The Michigan no-fault system is not automatic. You have to file correctly, meet deadlines, and know what your coverage actually includes.

What PIP Covers and What It Does Not Cover

Under Michigan’s no-fault law (MCL 500.3107), your PIP coverage may pay for:

• Allowable medical expenses related to the crash, subject to the coverage level selected in the policy.
• Wage loss benefits at 85% of your pre-tax income for up to three years, paid as non-taxable benefits.
• Replacement services up to $20 per day for household tasks you can no longer perform, for up to three years, when a doctor deems them necessary.
• Hourly attendant care or nurse’s aid services when medically necessary.
• Mileage reimbursement to and from medical appointments, the pharmacy, and therapy.
• Survivor’s loss benefits for eligible dependents if the accident resulted in death.
• Funeral expense reimbursement, in an amount selected in the policy, between $1,750 and $5,000.

What PIP does not cover is just as worth knowing: pain and suffering, non-economic damages, and property damage to your own vehicle. Recovering those requires a separate claim against the at-fault driver. Michigan’s no-fault reform also gave drivers the option to select different levels of PIP medical coverage. Available options include unlimited coverage, up to $500,000, up to $250,000, up to $250,000 with PIP medical exclusions, up to $50,000 for eligible Medicaid enrollees, and PIP medical opt-out for eligible Medicare enrollees.

When You Can Pursue a Claim Against the At-Fault Driver

PIP handles your medical bills and lost wages. If your injuries are serious and you were not more than 50% at fault for the crash, you may also have a claim against the driver who caused the crash for pain, suffering, aggravation, and inconvenience.

Michigan’s serious injury threshold under MCL 500.3135 requires that you meet one of three categories: death, permanent serious disfigurement, or a serious impairment of body function. The third category is the most common, and it means an objectively manifested impairment of an important body function that affects the person’s general ability to lead their normal life. The injury does not need to be permanent to qualify.

Michigan law bars damages for a party who is more than 50% at fault, so “not more than 50%” is more precise than “less than 50%.” The statute also uses “permanent serious disfigurement,” not “serious permanent disfigurement.”

What Not to Do After a Michigan Car Accident

The decisions you make in the days after a crash can affect your claim just as much as what happened at the scene.

Try to avoid admitting fault, even casually. Saying “I’m sorry” at the scene may feel like basic courtesy, but the at-fault driver’s insurer may use that statement to reduce what you recover. If their insurance company calls, you have no legal obligation to give a recorded statement right away. Adjusters often contact accident victims early and ask open-ended questions designed to minimize the value of a Michigan car accident claim. You can tell them you need time to speak with a Michigan car accident lawyer first.

Do not sign any medical authorization sent by the at-fault driver’s insurer without having an attorney review it. Those forms can grant access to your full medical history, well beyond what is relevant to this accident. If you receive a quick settlement offer in the first days after the crash, do not accept it before you understand the full scope of your injuries. Early offers rarely reflect what a Michigan no-fault claim is actually worth.

Why Choose Matz Injury Law for Your Michigan Car Accident Case

Steven and Jared Matz personally handle every case at our firm. We have recovered more than $300 million for personal injury clients across the state of Michigan, and we cover most of Michigan, including the Upper Peninsula.

Our contingency fee is 22%. There is no charge for an initial consultation, and you pay nothing unless we win your case.

Steven Matz has practiced personal injury law in Michigan for decades. Jared Matz focuses his practice on motorcycle accident cases and cases involving children. When you call, we will review the details of your situation directly with you.

Client Testimonials

“If you are looking for the best attorney to handle your automobile accident claim, look no further! I have known Steve Matz for more than 20 years. He successfully represented me in 2001 then again in 2019 following serious automobile accidents. He leads you step by step through the entire complex legal process. Put Steve Matz on your team to get the justice you deserve! The Matz team is a clear winner!” — Gary C.

“Many thanks to Jared and the staff at Matz law! You definitely helped ease a very stressful situation. I really didn’t have to do anything, you folks did it all, which I appreciated very much. It’s never a pleasant experience when someone runs a red light and you wind up with life long injuries…and I sure didn’t want to have to deal with the insurance company too. 2 thumbs up from me!” — Kim B.

“Mr. Matz was great helping me after my auto accident. I had no idea what was going on or where to turn but he led me the correct direction and to the right kind of doctors I needed to treat my injuries. He was there to answer any questions and still is, even if its not to do with the case he represented me on. His son is very helpful and caring also!” — Judy W.

Common Questions About Michigan Car Accidents

Do I Need a Lawyer After a Michigan Car Accident?

Not always. If your PIP benefits are being delayed or denied, if you have suffered serious injuries, or if you may qualify for pain and suffering damages, legal representation can help your position. We handle insurer communications, gather evidence, and negotiate on your behalf while you recover. Most people who qualify for a third-party claim benefit from having counsel.

How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Michigan?

Two separate deadlines apply. You have one year from the accident date to file a PIP claim under MCL 500.3145. You have three years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver under MCL 600.5805. Missing either deadline can eliminate your right to benefits or additional compensation permanently.

What If the At-Fault Driver Had No Insurance?

Your own PIP coverage pays your medical bills and lost wages regardless of the other driver’s insurance status. For compensation beyond PIP, the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan may provide coverage when no other insurance is available. We can help identify every available source of recovery when an uninsured driver caused your crash.

How Much Does a Michigan Car Accident Attorney Cost?

We charge a 22% contingency fee, which means you pay nothing unless we win your case. There is no charge for an initial consultation. Call us any time at 866-226-6833 to discuss your case at no cost.

Talk to a Michigan Car Accident Attorney Today

If you have been hurt in a car accident in Michigan, you do not have to sort through the no-fault system alone. We offer free consultations, charge no fee unless we win, and personally handle every case, from Southfield to Grand Rapids, Flint, Ann Arbor, Kalamazoo, and across the Upper Peninsula to Escanaba and Houghton. Call us at 866-226-6833 or reach us through our contact form. The sooner we connect, the better we can protect what you are owed.