Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance benefits are benefits available to people who have been injured in car accidents.  Because PIP benefits are provided by your insurance company in accordance with the Michigan No Fault Act, they are often referred to as No Fault insurance benefits as well.

PIP benefits are available to any insured person who has been injured in a car accident.  They are available without regard to fault, which means you can collect PIP benefits whether you caused the accident or whether you were the accident victim.  This is another reason they are called “No Fault” benefits.

PIP benefits include the following benefits.  More information about each individual benefit is available at our law firm’s website, www.BuckfireLaw.com.

• Medical expenses, including hospital bills, follow-up treatment, and the cost of prescriptions
• Wage loss
• Household replacement services
• Attendant care
• Case management services
• Home modification
• Medical mileage
• Special transportation
• Survivor loss

Although some of these benefits have fixed amounts the insurance company will pay, many of them are based on what is reasonable and necessary in light of the accident and your injuries.  For example, your insurance company is obligated to pay all reasonable and necessary medical expenses caused by the accident until the injuries heal.  This is not the case with household replacement services, which are limited to a maximum of $20 per day for three years after the accident.  Even this amount can be substantial, however, since $20/day comes out to over $7000/year for up to three years.

If you would like more information about your rights after a Michigan car accident, you can order our FREE book, “The Ultimate Michigan Car Accident Handbook” by clicking on the book link.  We will send it out immediately along with other important information. 

For more information about Michigan car accident cases, visit our law firm web site at www.BuckfireLaw.com.  If you would like to speak with one of our Michigan car accident attorneys about your case, feel free to call us anytime at (800) 606-1717 or simply submit this contact form and we will get back to you quickly.

A Grand Rapids car accident seriously injured a pedestrian.  The accident occurred at about 12:30am on December 14, 2008 on South Division near State Bank.  The driver of the car did stop after the accident.  The pedestrian was taken to the hospital with a head injury, but he is expected to survive.  It is unclear if weather conditions played a role in the accident.

I am very sorry this accident occurred.  I hope that the accident victim is able to experience a full recovery.

In an accident like this, the victim’s family should file a claim for Michigan No Fault benefits as soon as possible.  No Fault insurance will pay for all medical expenses, including any reasonable and necessary follow-up treatment.  No Fault insurance will also pay for lost wages, household replacement services, and attendant care benefits, which are payments that can be made to either a health professional or a family member for supervision and care after a car accident victim is released from the hospital.

When an accident involves a head injury, the consequences can be very severe, especially if the injury involves a brain injury.  Anytime one of my clients is seriously injured in a car accident, but especially when they suffer from a brain injury, I encourage them to take advantage of the case management services benefit from their No Fault insurance.  This benefit pays for them to hire a case manager who can help schedule and coordinate medical treatment, transportation, and other aspects of their lives.  Since the insurance company will pay a reasonable rate for a case manager, there is no reason not to use this benefit if the client’s injuries are severe enough that the client will benefit from having a case manager.

A lawyer can help the accident victim or a family member file for the correct benefits and can help them evaluate whether they should sue the driver who caused the car accident.

If you would like more information about your rights after a Michigan car accident, you can order our FREE book, “The Ultimate Michigan Car Accident Handbook” by clicking on the book link.  We will send it out immediately along with other important information. 

For more information about Michigan car accident cases, visit our law firm web site at www.BuckfireLaw.com.  If you would like to speak with one of our Michigan car accident attorneys about your case, feel free to call us anytime at (800) 606-1717 or simply submit this contact form and we will get back to you quickly.

A Jackson car accident resulted in serious injuries for a Stockbridge man on November 21, 2008.  The accident occurred on M-106 near Territorial Road when a man driving a car lost control of his vehicle due to icy roads and collided with a pickup truck.  The driver of the car was flown to UM Hospital where he was in critical condition.  The driver of the pickup truck and his passenger were treated at the scene for minor injuries.

This is an unfortunate but all too common accident now that winter weather has returned to Michigan.  I hope this man has a full recovery, and I hope every motorist is more careful now that they have to deal with snow and ice again.

Even though the news article makes it appear that the accident was the car driver’s fault, he can still collect Michigan No Fault insurance benefits.  No Fault insurance is available regardless of fault.  No Fault insurance will pay all reasonable and necessary medical expenses, a portion of this man’s lost wages, household replacement services, and attendant care benefits if these are necessary.  If his injuries will require prolonged treatment, his No Fault insurance will pay for the follow up treatment and for a case manager to coordinate his treatment. 

If you would like more information about your rights after a Michigan car accident, you can order our FREE book, “The Ultimate Michigan Car Accident Handbook” by clicking on the book link.  We will send it out immediately along with other important information. 

For more information about Michigan car accident cases, visit our law firm web site at www.BuckfireLaw.com.  If you would like to speak with one of our Michigan car accident attorneys about your case, feel free to call us anytime at (800) 606-1717 or simply submit this contact form and we will get back to you quickly.