Michigan car accident settlement calculator

Michigan filing deadlines

Same 3-year period for personal injury, property damage and wrongful death (MCL 600.5805(2); snapshot of MCL complete through PA 114 of 2026).

If you were partly at fault

Michigan follows modified comparative negligence, 51% bar. Your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, and you recover nothing if you were more at fault than the other side (51% or more). At exactly 50% you still recover half.

• With $100,000 in damages and 30% of the fault, you would recover $70,000.
• With 55% of the fault, you would recover $0, because the rule bars your claim.

Auto accident tort claims (noneconomic damages and excess economic loss under the no-fault act) are barred if the injured party is more than 50% at fault; at 50% or less damages are reduced. General tort rule (MCL 600.2959) is a hybrid: if plaintiff's fault exceeds the others' aggregate fault, economic damages are reduced but noneconomic damages are not awarded. Also, noneconomic damages require death, serious impairment of body function, or permanent serious disfigurement (MCL 500.3135(1)).

Source: MCL 500.3135(2)(b) (motor vehicle tort claims); MCL 600.2959 (general rule). Compare all states in the comparative negligence table.

No-fault state

Your own personal injury protection pays your medical bills and lost wages first, with a required minimum of Medical PIP limit chosen by insured: $50,000 (Medicaid enrollees only), $250,000, $500,000, or unlimited; opt-out allowed for Medicare Parts A and B enrollees (MCL 500.3107d). The threshold to claim pain and suffering from the at-fault driver: Noneconomic damages only for death, serious impairment of body function, or permanent serious disfigurement. 'Mini-tort' up to $3,000 for vehicle damage not covered by insurance (accidents after July 1, 2020).

MCL 500.3107c(1) lists PIP medical levels: $50,000 (if Medicaid etc.), $250,000, $500,000, or 'No limit'. Since 2019 reform, injured persons may also sue for medical costs exceeding PIP limits.

Minimum car insurance in Michigan

$50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for injuries, $10,000 for property damage. Uninsured motorist coverage is optional or can be rejected in writing.

Many drivers carry only the minimum, so the bodily injury limit is often the most the at-fault driver's insurer will pay one person. Subsection (1): 'after July 1, 2020... not less than $250,000.00 because of bodily injury to or death of 1 person' and $500,000 per accident; (c) 'not less than $10,000.00 because of injury to or destruction of property of others'. Absolute minimum with election is 50/100/10.

Damage caps

Michigan does not cap pain and suffering in ordinary car accident cases. Punitive damages: Michigan generally does not allow punitive damages unless a statute authorizes them (exemplary damages are compensatory).

Dog bite law

Strict liability statute. Applies to bites only (other dog injuries fall under common law negligence/known-propensity rules).

Source: MCL 287.351. Estimate a claim with the dog bite calculator.