Michigan Fault Rule
Modified Comparative Negligence (51% Bar) + No-Fault PIP Tiers: Michigan operates under a hybrid system featuring modified comparative fault (51% bar) for non-economic claims and statutory No-Fault PIP covering medical expenses according to selected policy coverage tiers.
Statute of Limitations
3 Years (MCL § 600.2959 & MCL § 500.3101 et seq.): Claimants must finalize settlement agreements or initiate formal civil litigation within 3 years of the collision date.
Statutory Insurance Minimums
50/100/10 ($50k bodily injury / $100k per accident / $10k property damage): These mandatory insurance minimums represent the maximum available coverage under standard policies unless the driver purchased higher optional coverage.
How Fault Apportionment Affects Claims in Michigan
When negotiating auto accident claims in Michigan, insurance adjusters calculate damages using an itemized formula that adds economic losses (medical bills, future treatment, lost earnings, property repair) to non-economic damages (pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life).
Under MCL § 600.2959, damages for non-economic loss are barred if the claimant is more than 50% at fault. Additionally, third-party tort claims for pain and suffering require meeting the statutory threshold of "death, serious impairment of body function, or permanent serious disfigurement" under MCL § 500.3135. Understanding this threshold prevents accident victims from being pressured into unfair initial liability splits during adjusters' telephone recorded statements.