Michigan Auto Insurance Questions & Answers | Scott Goodwin Law

Michigan Auto Insurance Questions & Answers

Michigan Auto Insurance Questions & Answers

Some of the common questions we get about car accidents, in fact the first question I always hear is “who is going to pay my bills? How am I going to take care of my family? Who takes care of my wages? How do I do these things?” and it’s very important for the client to understand that in a car accident they think the driver of the car who caused the crash is the one that is going to be responsible to pay their bills but that’s not what happens at all. We have a “no fault” state here in Michigan and in Michigan the first priority of the person who pays the bills is your own auto insurance carrier. Now many times people don’t understand the difference between coordinated and uncoordinated benefits. That’s an important distinction. If you have a coordinated policy you’re paying less for your policy that means you have healthcare coverage so in 99% of the cases your own health insurance takes care of all your medical bills. Whatever they don’t pay your auto insurance comes in and picks up. So that’s the first issue that we have to deal with is who’s going to take care of my medical bills? If I need medical treatment what do I do? Well, you provide your own health insurance carrier’s number to the medical provider and you also give them the claim number from your auto accident. That’s the first step. The second question we get all the time is “I’m totally disabled. I can’t work right now. Who’s going to take care of my mortgage? How am I going to make my payments if I’m not getting wage loss? Again, if you have a disability carrier your disability carrier may pay that. Many people don’t have that luxury or that option so we have “wage loss.” Your own auto insurance carrier takes care of your wage loss. They will pay up to 85% of your wage loss if you’re injured in an accident. If you’re disabled they’re going to pay your wages for up to 3 years. Now, there’s a limit to what they’ll pay. They’re only going to pay about $55,000 in a year. Most people don’t earn more than $55,000 a year. If you do earn more than $55,000 a year then the driver who caused the accident is going to have to make up for the excess wage loss. Another issue is going to be “What do I do? I’ve lost a leg, I’ve got to get home, or I’m seriously injured, I’m in a wheelchair and my home doesn’t fit or suit my needs. How do I get my home modified?” Your own insurance company is responsible to do modifications to your home to make it user friendly. They may have to install a first floor shower. They may have to open up or widen the doorways to accommodate a wheelchair. What about mileage to and from the doctor? Well, your own insurance company takes care of that. They’re going to take care of your medical mileage. Another issue will be “What if I come home and I want a loved one to take care of me? Who’s going to pay that loved one if they leave their job? They’re going to take care of them to take care of your grooming needs, your personal needs, to get you to the bathroom, to dress you, to assist you at your own home so you don’t have to be housed in a facility and the next thing is who’s going to take care of my pain and suffering because through all these horrible injuries there’s going to be a lot of pain and suffering and that comes from the driver who caused the crash. Their insurance company will take care of your pain and suffering.

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