What is a car accident claim worth in Michigan?

Every rule below is quoted from Michigan law or a state agency, with a link. Checked September 17, 2026.

Michigan · No fault3 yearsto sue for injuries

The short answer

Nobody can price your claim from a web page, and any site that gives you one number is guessing. What we can show you is real: the amount insurers actually paid per claim in Michigan, and the Michigan rules that raise or lower what you collect. $77,661 was the average injury claim paid in Michigan in 2022.

Six questions, no sign up

Nothing you pick is sent anywhere or saved. The answer appears on this page.

Was anyone hurt?
Who caused the crash?
Does the other driver have insurance?
How bad is the car?
Did anyone miss work?
Did police write a report?

What claims paid in Michigan

Injury claims in Michigan averaged $77,661 each in 2022.

Car and property damage claims averaged $5,184.

Average amount paid per claim in Michigan, 2022. Source: NAIC 2022/2023 Auto Insurance Database Report.
Injury claim paid by the at fault driver's insurance$77,661
Car and property damage$5,184
Personal injury protection, paid by your own policy$66,537
Medical payments coverage, paid by your own policy$23,207
Collision coverage, paid by your own policy$6,936

These are averages of every claim insurers closed, from the largest to the smallest. A claim with a hospital stay sits far above the average, and a fender bender sits far below it.

What changes the number in Michigan

If you were partly at fault

Michigan uses modified comparative fault for crash injury lawsuits. You can recover damages as long as you are 50% at fault or less. If you are more than half at fault, you get nothing.

“Damages must be assessed on the basis of comparative fault, except that damages must not be assessed in favor of a party who is more than 50% at fault”

MCL 500.3135(2)(b)

The other driver's policy limit is the ceiling

Michigan drivers must carry liability insurance of at least two hundred fifty thousand dollars per person and five hundred thousand dollars per accident for injuries you cause, and ten thousand dollars for property damage.

“a limit, exclusive of interest and costs, of not less than $250,000.00 because of bodily injury to or death of 1 person in any 1 accident”

MCL 500.3009(1)(a) and (c)

If the other driver has no insurance

Michigan does not require insurers to offer or include uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. It is an optional coverage you can choose to add to your policy.

“Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists Coverage These coverages will pay if an uninsured or underinsured motorist seriously injures you or a member of your household and you are awarded a settlement from the at-fault driver.”

Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS), Purchasing Auto Insurance FAQ

The deadline that ends the claim

You have three years from the crash to sue for your injuries.

“3 years after the time of the death or injury for all actions to recover damages for the death of a person or for injury to a person or property”

MCL 600.5805(2)

What a lawyer takes if you hire one

Michigan caps contingency fees in personal injury, wrongful death, and no-fault benefit cases at one third of the amount recovered. Charging more is treated as an unreasonable fee.

“The maximum allowable fee for the claims and actions referred to in subrule (A) is one-third of the amount recovered.”

MCR 8.121(B)

Sources on this page

Each one was opened and checked on September 17, 2026.

  1. MCL 500.3135(2)(b)
  2. MCL 500.3009(1)(a) and (c)
  3. Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS), Purchasing Auto Insurance FAQ
  4. MCL 600.5805(2)
  5. MCR 8.121(B)

Know My Claim is not a law firm or a government agency, and this page is not legal advice. Laws change, so check the linked source before you rely on a deadline.