No-Fault Auto or PIP Benefits

In Michigan, all drivers are required to carry no-fault auto insurance. These benefits are also referred to as Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits or first-party benefits. If you are injured in a motor vehicle accident, you should file a no-fault claim with your insurance company right away.

No-Fault Auto Benefits Available to Insured

Your no-fault insurance coverage may offer the following benefits:

• 100% payment of medical bills, physical therapy, prescriptions, products or accommodations necessary for an injured person’s care, recovery, or rehabilitation.
• Wage loss benefits of 85% of your gross pay for up to three years, if you are unable to work due to your injuries.
• Mileage reimbursement: a small per mile amount can be reimbursed to an injured person for all visits to medical appointments or pharmacies; further a no-fault insurance company may pay for additional necessary transportation costs.
• Replacement services benefits may also be available. The insurance company may pay a person, even a friend or relative of the injured person, up to $20 per day for assistance with household chores.
• In cases involving a more serious injury, an injured person may have the right to attendant care or medical care modifications to his or her home, such as a ramp or barrier-free bathroom.
• If an accident results in death, additional benefits are available, such as funeral and burial expenses. MCL 500.3107

In addition to a no-fault claim, an injured person may also have a legal claim against the negligent driver, also known as a third-party claim.

What to do After an Accident or Injury: Notify Your Insurance Company

If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, you should notify your no-fault insurance company right away and, at most, within ONE YEAR of the date of the accident to file a no-fault auto claim. You should continue to submit regular claims to your insurance for all of the benefits that apply to your case, outlined above. If your insurance denies or refuses to pay a benefit, you must file a lawsuit within one year of the date the unpaid bill, cost, or benefit was incurred to protect your rights.

This area of law can be complicated and confusing to the average working person. With offices in Muskegon, Grand Rapids, and Battle Creek, our personal injury and no-fault attorneys are readily available to meet with you. Initial consultations are always free. If you are an injured person with questions about your no-fault auto policy, call McCroskey Law today.