Michigan Car Accident Attorney

Almost everyone in Michigan is entitled to first-party no-fault benefits.  The only exception is if you were driving your own vehicle without insurance.

If you were injured in a car accident, your rights to insurance benefits are often quite complex and time-sensitive. Consult with a Michigan car accident attorney right away at (231) 722-2444.

The following is a brief explanation of the types of first-party no-fault benefits a person injured in an automobile accident may be entitled to:

Medical Expenses

100% of your medical expenses for injuries sustained as the result of the motor vehicle accident are paid for the rest of the injured person’s life, as long as the medical expenses are related to injuries sustained in the accident.

Wage Loss

85% of an injured person’s gross wage loss will be paid by the first-party no-fault provider for a maximum period of up to three (3) years from the date of the accident.  The basis of the wage loss must be related to the injuries sustained in the accident.  There are certain maximum amounts that are payable by the first-party no-fault provider.

Replacement Services

Services for which an injured party is required to hire others to perform that the injured party would normally perform, but is unable to due to the injuries sustained in the accident, are called replacement services.  Examples of replacement services include raking, shoveling snow, doing the laundry, preparing meals, and other household chores.

Regardless of the expenses incurred by the injured party, one cannot claim more than $20.00 per day for a maximum period of three (3) years for replacement services.

Attendant Care Services

An injured party may also have the right to attendant care services.  Attendant care services are similar to nursing or professional medical care.  For example, if the injured party requires wound care or physical therapy while at home, the injured party is entitled to have a qualified medical professional hired for the purposes of performing these services.  The first-party no-fault provider is required to pay a reasonable rate of pay for these services.

Mileage Reimbursement

The first-party no-fault provider is responsible for the reasonable cost of travel to and from medical facilities.

Death

In the event of death, no-fault benefits can be paid to surviving dependents.  These benefits consist largely of the same benefits described above.  A dependent is entitled to “contributions of tangible things of economic value” that the dependent has lost as a result of the death of a relative.  These “tangible things” include lost wages, social security benefits, workers’ compensation benefits, pension benefits, medical insurance premiums, and fringe benefits.  In addition to these items, the $20 per day replacement service benefit is also paid.  Funeral expenses are also payable in the amount specified by the applicable no-fault insurance policy.

General Information

All of the above benefits assume they are necessitated by the automobile accident.  You must present each of the claims to the first-party no-fault insurance company within one (1) year of the date the expense accrues, or the benefit will be denied.

Once it is determined who the first-party no-fault insurance carrier is, the appropriate forms to complete should be supplied by the insurance company.  All proper forms have to be submitted before the insurance company has any obligation to pay you or your medical providers.

These benefits and your rights are often quite complex and time-sensitive.  Call a Shafer Swartz Michigan car accident attorney at (231) 722-2444 for your free consultation.