After the Crash: Is Your Insurance Company Telling You about All Benefits Available?

The Michigan No-Fault Law allows persons injured in a Michigan auto accident to seek the following Personal Protection Insurance (PIP) benefits from their own insurance company:

 

(1). Medical expenses;

(2)  Incidental expenses necessary for medical care and treatment (such as private nurses, home aides, family member reimbursement for providing necessary care);

(3). Wage loss benefits for an injured claimant;

(4)   Transportation costs (to and from treatments);

(5).  Home modifications (for example, wheelchair ramp);

(6).  Survivor’s loss benefits in cases of death;

(7).  Replacement services (cooking, cleaning, and lawn care) up to $20 per day (very often overlooked);

(8). Other benefits related to necessary and reasonable treatment (for example, food and lodging for a severely injured person requiring 24 hour care in a treatment facility).

After an auto accident it is important to contact your insurance company claim’s department and make a formal claim for benefits.  Under Michigan law, waiting for more than a year to make claims for PIP benefits may limit your eligibility for full benefits.  The law requires that the benefits you are seeking to be necessary for medical care and treatment, reasonable, and related to the auto accident.  In special circumstances other benefits not listed above will also be paid but it may be necessary to consult with an attorney in order to secure payment from your insurance company.

Pain and Suffering Damages and Wage Loss benefits beyond three years are recovered from the Negligent Driver’s insurance company rather than your own insurance company.  A separate claim must be made to recover for these damages and you can only recover these damages if you are seriously injured and your injuries meet Michigan’s threshold of injury level.   

http://www.michiganautoaccident.com/Practice-Area/Common-Injuries.shtml