Michigan Car Accident Deadlines: Tort, PIP, and Policy Claims

There is no single deadline that safely covers every claim after a Michigan car accident. Identify the claim, defendant, policy, accident date, and relevant events before calculating notice or filing requirements.

Negligence claims generally use a different rule from benefits

Michigan’s general personal-injury limitations statute, MCL 600.5805, ordinarily provides a three-year period for injury claims, subject to applicable exceptions and other governing provisions. Determine when the particular claim accrued and whether a different rule applies.

Do not assume every claim involving a child, disability, or death simply receives a fixed extension. The statutory conditions and claim type require review. Nor should a wrongful death deadline automatically be measured only from the date of death.

PIP has distinct notice and recovery provisions

MCL 500.3145 addresses notice, suit timing, a one-year-back restriction, and tolling provisions. Written notice, prior payments, a specific benefit claim, denial, reasonable diligence, and the applicable version of the law can affect the analysis.

The result is not accurately summarized as “every PIP lawsuit must be filed within one year of the accident.” Conversely, continuing discussions with an adjuster should not be assumed to preserve every deadline.

Policies and public defendants can add requirements

UM/UIM endorsements can have conditions needing attention before settling with another driver. Claims involving government also require review of immunity, the legal basis, and any applicable notice or filing rule. A generic car-accident period does not establish that a government claim is available.

Bring a dated timeline

• Accident and injury dates, policies, and potential defendant information.
• Notices, applications, and proof they were delivered.
• Bills, specific payment requests, and insurer payments.
• Denials, examination notices, proposed releases, and any filed court papers.

See PIP questions, UM/UIM conditions, and wrongful death procedure. Obtain prompt advice; this overview cannot calculate your individual deadline.

Talk with Logeman & Iafrate

Request a free consultation or call (734) 994-0200 to discuss your situation with our Ann Arbor office. Bring the relevant records and any insurer correspondence. Advice about your claim depends on the facts, coverage, and applicable deadlines.

General information only; this article is not legal advice for an individual case.

Can I rely on three years for every crash-related claim?

No. Benefits, policies, public entities, and specific legal claims can have different requirements.

Does negotiating with an adjuster automatically pause deadlines?

Do not assume so. Have the actual statute, documents, and timeline reviewed.