If you have been in a car accident in Michigan, there are several things you need to consider as well as a few actions to take with your Michigan auto insurance company. First, reach out to your car insurance agent immediately after the accident. Your insurance agent will advise you on what to do next, depending on several factors such as your individual insurance limitations. In many cases, the damage is not in excess of the policy deductible, however, this is why having the best insurance agent is critical.
Michigan is a “No-Fault” state. What does that mean?
Michigan is a No-Fault insurance state, which means that the parties involved in a car accident are entitled to benefits from their own auto insurance company, regardless of who actually caused the accident.
Look over your insurance policy language.
All Michigan auto insurance policies require Personal Injury Protection, known as PIP. There are two ways this coverage applies. Coordinated and uncoordinated, aka primary. With coordinated medical coverage, your health insurance company pays medical benefits for auto related injuries first before auto insurance does. With uncoordinated or primary coverage, your auto insurance coverage is responsible to pay those medical benefits. Michigan personal injury protection benefits are unlimited, meaning there is no cap for the dollar amount of benefits paid. It is very important that you contact your health insurance company to understand what, if any, benefit they will take responsibility for. Doing so ensures you have the correct coverage and to avoid significant financial burden being place on you at the time of loss.
Do I need to file for Personal Injury Protection/PIP benefits?
To get your benefits, you must apply with your own auto insurance company by filling out an application for benefits. You can request this form from your local auto insurance company. Filing the application for benefits form in Michigan is extremely important – and absolutely essential for protecting your No-Fault rights. There’s no danger in completing this form, even if your personal injuries do not seem severe. This form is required to receive five important benefits:
• Medical benefits
• Wage loss
• Replacement services
• Mileage for medical appointments
• Attendant care benefits
If you have been injured, read on about responsible party for medical bills.
The medical expense provision of the no-fault act provides reimbursement for all medical expenses you incur from your car accident. Depending on your individual insurance coverage, these may be coordinated benefits or full benefits. Coordinated benefits pay all expenses not covered by your basic health insurance. Full benefits pay all medical expenses incurred, even if those are paid by a health insurance provider.
What to do if you have been in an accident with an uninsured driver.
If you have Michigan no-fault insurance, and the other driver involved does not have insurance, you are still entitled to benefits, regardless of whose fault it was. The only way to make a claim for pain and suffering damages is by turning to your own uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. In Michigan uninsured motorist coverage and underinsured motorist coverage prove to be a valuable source of recovery if you’re injured in a car accident by an uninsured driver.
