Auto Insurance Claims in Michigan: Guide

Michigan Car Insurance Claims: Deadlines, Limits & Your Rights

Michigan is a no-fault state that follows modified comparative negligence (51% bar), with minimum liability limits of 250/500/10 ($250,000 per person / $500,000 per accident / $10,000 property damage). Michigan is a no-fault state with comprehensive PIP benefits. Modified comparative negligence (51% bar) applies. Michigan has among the highest minimum liability limits at 250/500/10. Unlimited PIP was historically required but reforms now allow choice of PIP levels.

How fault works in Michigan

Michigan is a no-fault insurance state, which means your own insurer pays your medical bills and certain losses through Personal Injury Protection (PIP) regardless of who caused the crash, and your right to sue the other driver is limited unless your injuries cross the state's serious-injury threshold.

You can recover as long as you were no more than 50% at fault; cross the 51% line and you recover nothing. Michigan uses this more common version of the rule, so an even split of fault still leaves you able to claim.

Filing deadlines (statute of limitations)

Miss the deadline and you permanently lose the right to sue — adjusters know this and may run out the clock, so calendar these dates the week of your crash:

Statutory basis: Three-year statute. MCL 600.5805.

Minimum coverage required in Michigan

Every Michigan driver must carry at least:

• $250,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $500,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $10,000 property damage liability
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is not required in Michigan — but it's worth adding, since it pays when the at-fault driver has no insurance.
• Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is required in Michigan — your own policy pays your medical bills first.

These are legal minimums, not recommendations; they often fall short of the cost of a serious crash.

Know your rights when dealing with adjusters in Michigan

Michigan is a one-party consent state, so you may legally record your own calls with an adjuster as long as you are part of the conversation — useful for keeping an accurate record of what the insurer promised.

Michigan has a statutory bad-faith / unfair-claims-practices law, which can entitle you to penalties, interest, or attorney's fees when an insurer handles your claim improperly.

How to file your Michigan claim, step by step

1. Make the scene safe and call 911. Get to safety, check for injuries, and report the crash. A police report is one of the strongest pieces of evidence you can have.
2. Document everything. Photograph all vehicles, the road, signage, and visible injuries; collect the other driver's insurance and license details and any witness contacts.
3. Get medical care promptly. See a doctor even if you feel fine — gaps in treatment are the first thing insurers use to argue your injuries aren't serious.
4. Notify your insurer. Report the crash quickly to satisfy your policy's notice rules, but stick to the facts and avoid speculating about fault.
5. File and track the claim. Submit your claim, keep a written log of every call, and don't accept the first offer without checking it against your actual damages.

Where to get help in Michigan

If an insurer won't deal fairly, your regulator is Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services. You can file a complaint at https://www.michigan.gov/difs/consumers/file-a-complaint. General information: https://www.michigan.gov/difs.

Key takeaways for Michigan

• Michigan is a no-fault state using modified comparative negligence (51% bar).
• You generally have 3 years to sue for injuries and 3 years for property damage.
• Minimum liability limits are 250/500/10.
• UM/UIM is optional but recommended. PIP is required.
• Your regulator for complaints is Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services.

Educational information, not legal advice. Laws change — confirm current rules with Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services or an attorney licensed in Michigan. Last reviewed June 2026 · InsurifyAI Knowledge Hub.