Michigan No-Fault Law Order of Priority: Who pays my bills?

In Michigan, it is important to understand that even if the person who struck your vehicle and injured you is placed 100% at fault, typically your own auto insurance must pay your medical bills and your lost wages.

In personal injury cases arising from Michigan, determining who must by law pay your expenses is often referred to as “Michigan No-Fault Benefits.” This particular type of law is complex and filled with countless scenarios that require expert legal advice. 

The following is a helpful guide regarding order of priority in Michigan No-Fault cases:

Driver or Passenger Order of Priority
1st priority is your own insurance policy, if none then...
2nd priority is to the insurance company of a resident relative (i.e. spouse, parent, or sibling), if none then...
3rd priority is to the insurer of the owner of the vehicle occupied, if none then...
4th priority is to the insurer of the driver of the vehicle occupied, if none then...
5th priority is to the State of Michigan Assigned Claims Facility.

Pedestrian Order of Priority
1st priority is to your own insurance, if none then...
2nd priority is to the insurance company of a resident relative (i.e. spouse, parent, or sibling), if none then...
3rd priority is to the insurer of the owner of the motor vehicle involved in the accident, if none then...
4th priority is to the insurer of the driver of the motor vehicle involved in the accident, if none then...
5th priority is to the State of Michigan Assigned Claims Facility.

Motorcycle Order of Priority
A different order of priority exists if you were operating a Motorcycle at the time of your accident, as motorcycles are not considered "motor vehicles" under Michigan law. In a motorcycle/auto collision, the order of priority would be as follows:
1st priority is to the insurer of the owner of the motor vehicle involved in the accident, if none then...
2nd priority is to the insurer of the operator of the motor vehicle involved in the accident, if none then...
3rd priority is to the motor vehicle insurer of the operator of the motorcycle involved in the accident, if none then...
4th priority is to the motor vehicle insurer of the owner of the motorcycle involved in the accident, if none then...
5th priority is to the State of Michigan Assigned Claims Facility.