1. If you are going to move it, insure it. If you own a motor vehicle disable it until it is insured. You own a motor vehicle if you hold legal title or have use of it for 30 days or if you have immediate right of possession under an installment contract. If you are caught without insurance you will be fined. If you are in an accident and are at fault you can be sued with the limitation imposed by the No Fault law. If you are hurt in a motor vehicle accident in the uninsured car no car insurance will pay your medical bills, wage loss, or replacement loss and you cannot sue the person at fault. If someone else is hurt in an uninsured car you own you may be required to reimburse the Assigned Claims Fund for No Fault benefits it may pay for those injured in the accident. The reimbursement may include medical bills, wages and replacement expenses. It may include injuries to your own relatives.
2. After an accident notify your insurance company and send or deliver your insurance company an Application of No Fault insurance. To be eligible for No Fault benefits an injured person must notify the insurance company that is required to pay No Fault benefits within one year of the accident. In some cases an insurance company aside from your own is required to pay No Fault benefits. If your insurance company will not pay contact a lawyer to see whose company is required to pay. Remember you only have 1 year to notify the correct insurance.
3. All medical bills, wage losses, and replacement services are paid before the first anniversary of the date the bill or loss was incurred. Not even a court can order the insurance company to pay for service rendered more than one year in the past. Do not let any bill or loss become stale.
4. If you are entitled to sue the driver at fault you must generally do so before the legal time limits expire. For a motor vehicle accident the legal time limits is generally 3 years of the date of the accident. There are exceptions, but as a rule of thumb make sure you do something well before the third anniversary of the accident. An attorney will need time to pull together all the information needed to file a lawsuit before the time limit expires.
5. Remember you can be entitled to No Fault benefits even if you are at fault in an accident. Michigan has a No Fault system. You are entitled to No Fault benefits for injuries arising of the operation, use, or maintenance of a motor vehicle as a motor vehicle. The law does not require you to be without fault.
6. If you are injured changing a tire on a motor vehicle you are may be entitled to No Fault benefits. Changing a tire is maintaining a motor vehicle and is covered.
7. If you are injured while entering or exiting a motor vehicle you may be entitled to No Fault benefits. Entering or exiting a motor vehicle is using a motor vehicle as a motor vehicle.
8. If you are working and are injured in a motor vehicle accident you may be entitled to both workers’ disability compensation and No Fault benefits. Deduction from No Fault apply when workers’ disability compensation pays, but it is definitely worthwhile to have a lawyer review your circumstances.
9. Keep track of medical expenses. You are the only person who can keep up to date on medical treatment. Some services are not apparent and you need to be vigilant to keep track of them. Surgery will require an anesthesiologist. Make sure you turn those bills into the insurance company. Remember a bill that is more than one year old will not be paid by the No Fault insurance company.
10. If you drive your own motorcycle insure it. Although you are not required to carry No Fault insurance, you are required to insure your motorcycle with liability coverage. If you do not and are in an accident you will not be entitled to No Fault benefits.
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