Your Plain English Guide

Hurt in a crash? Here’s how to use No‑Fault (PIP) benefits without getting lost in the fine print.

Michigan’s No‑Fault system is supposed to get bills paid quickly after a motor‑vehicle crash. In reality, coverage choices, forms, and deadlines can trip up good people at the worst time. This guide keeps it simple, so you can protect your benefits from day one.

Free consult • No fee unless we win — Call 248‑584‑1300 or 1‑855‑LISS‑LAW. We’ll file correctly, fight denials, and coordinate your benefits with any injury claim.

What No‑Fault (PIP) can pay — in plain English

• Medical care: ER, hospital, surgery, rehab/therapy, prescriptions, medical equipment, home/vehicle modifications when necessary.
• Attendant care: in‑home or facility care if your injuries require it (family members can sometimes be paid when properly documented).
• Wage loss: a portion of income if injuries keep you from working, subject to limits and timeframes.
• Replacement services: reasonable help with daily tasks you can’t perform during recovery.
• Mileage/transportation: to and from medical appointments.
• Funeral/burial: benefits in tragic cases.

The exact amounts depend on your policy choices and the facts of the crash. We’ll translate your declarations page into plain English.

Who pays first? (Priority without the legalese)

1. Your own auto policy (if you have one).
2. A resident relative’s policy (if you don’t).
3. The insurer of the vehicle you occupied (in some situations).
4. If none apply: the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan (MACP) — a safety net with its own forms and rules.

We identify the correct path and send the right forms to the right place so your claim doesn’t stall.

Deadlines you shouldn’t miss

• Apply ASAP. File your Application for Benefits quickly after the crash; keep a copy.
• Keep submitting bills. Many PIP items have a short window to submit and recover; waiting can leave money on the table because of the “one‑year‑back” rule.
• Special notices. Claims involving government entities or road defects can have very short notice deadlines.

If you’re reading this and the crash was weeks or months ago, don’t panic — call us. We’ll triage what’s still recoverable and how to fix gaps.

How to start your PIP claim (five steps)

1. Get medical care and follow your treatment plan.
2. Call the correct insurer (we can help you find it). Ask for your claim number and the PIP application.
3. Complete the forms carefully. Provide accurate info; use targeted medical releases — not blanket authorizations.
4. Track everything. Save bills, EOBs, mileage, medication lists, and home‑care logs.
5. Send copies, keep originals. Time‑stamp or email yourself everything you submit.

Common roadblocks (and how we clear them)

• IME cut‑off after a short exam → We counter with treating‑provider support and, when needed, litigation to reinstate benefits.
• “We need more records” delays → We supply what’s required, challenge fishing expeditions, and push the claim with clear medical proof.
• Coverage level confusion → We map PIP, health insurance, and any UM/UIM or liability claims so benefits work together.
• Assigned Claims (MACP) hurdles → We complete and support the MACP submission, then press the assigned carrier to pay on time.

FAQs — fast answers

I don’t own a car. Do I still get PIP?
Often yes. We follow the priority rules or use the MACP when appropriate.

Can family members be paid for helping me at home?
Yes, when medically necessary and properly documented. Keep a daily log.

Will PIP reduce my injury settlement?
PIP and liability cover different buckets. We coordinate both so you don’t double‑count or miss compensation.

What if the insurer sends me to an IME doctor?
Go, be honest, and call us. We prepare you and line up treating‑provider support.

Quick safety & evidence tips

• Cameras & maps can help: traffic cams, dash‑cams, and even state tools like real‑time traffic maps can preserve details and timelines. Save screenshots and note locations.
• After police response, write down the report number and which agency handled it (local PD, MSP post, county sheriff). Our team can order the report for you.

When to call LSM (earlier is better)

• You’re unsure which insurer is responsible.
• You changed your PIP medical coverage level and need to understand gaps.
• An insurer is delaying, denying, or cutting off benefits.
• You have serious injuries and need help coordinating PIP with a liability or UM/UIM claim.

Call 248‑584‑1300 or 1‑855‑LISS‑LAW. We’ll take the stress off your plate.

Too Long; Didn’t Read? Here's the 60 seconds recap

• No‑Fault (PIP) can cover your crash‑related medical care, some lost wages, mileage to appointments, help with daily tasks, and funeral benefits in fatal cases — regardless of fault.
• Coverage level matters. Your policy’s medical coverage level and coordination options affect what’s payable and by whom.
• Someone pays. If you don’t have a policy, the law uses a priority order (household policies, the involved vehicle’s policy, or the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan).
• Deadlines are strict. Apply fast and save receipts/bills; don’t let the “one‑year‑back” and other timelines erase benefits.
• Denied or delayed? You can challenge IME cut‑offs and slow‑pay tactics. We pursue all available remedies.

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This post is general information, not legal advice. For guidance on your specific facts and deadlines, contact LSM.

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