When an Out-of-State Resident is Involved in a Michigan Car Accident
Most people don’t think about how they are affected by differing laws when they travel across state lines. Our Michigan car accident attorney knows if you are a non-resident injured in a car accident while driving through Michigan, however, you may quickly realize you are “not in Kansas anymore.”
Michigan recently made drastic changes to its already complicated No-Fault insurance laws. Non-resident motorists with insurance policies written by certified Michigan insurers were once entitled to PIP benefits (i.e. automatic payment of medical bills, wage loss, attendant care, replacement services, etc.) when injured in a Michigan car accident, regardless of whether they were at fault or not. This provided a quick and convenient way for people driving through the state to have their medical bills covered and wage loss paid by their own insurance company without the need for complicated negotiations and/or litigation with another driver’s insurance company.
Law Changes in Michigan Surrounding Auto Accidents ![person with hands on head disgruntled after car accident in the background with cone in the middle]()
With the law change, however, only those non-residents who own a vehicle that is registered and insured in Michigan can receive PIP benefits. See MCL 500.3163. As you can imagine, most people who live outside of Michigan have no reason to register and insure a vehicle here. Thus, the vast majority of non-residents are now only able to pursue compensation of any kind for damages suffered in a motor vehicle accident by making a typical personal injury claim against the insurance company for the at-fault motorist. In this case, even if the non-resident is completely innocent of wrongdoing in the accident, their injuries must meet a threshold (i.e. death, serious impairment of body function, or serious disfigurement) before they can be compensated for their damages.
As you can see, there are many complications that must be considered if you are a non-resident involved in a Michigan motor vehicle accident. The attorneys at Keller & Keller routinely handle these cases and can advise you on your options.
Schedule a Free Consultation with a Michigan Auto Accident Lawyer
The personal injury attorneys at Keller & Keller have years of success handling Michigan car accident cases and would be honored to help you and your family with the legal recovery process while you focus on healing. We offer free consultations and would be happy to answer your questions.
Our Indiana offices are conveniently located in St. Joseph, and we have been proudly servicing clients throughout the surrounding areas. Contact us online today or call us at 1-800-253-5537.
