If you were just in a car accident in Lansing, the decisions you make in the next few hours matter more than most people realize. Michigan’s no-fault insurance system means your own insurance company pays for your medical bills and lost wages regardless of who caused the crash, but that does not mean the process is simple or that your interests and the insurance company’s interests are aligned. Documenting the scene thoroughly, getting medical attention immediately, and understanding what not to say to insurers can be the difference between a claim that is fully compensated and one that falls apart before it gets started. Here are the 4 most important things to do after a car accident in Lansing, Michigan.
The moments immediately following a car accident are the only time you will ever have direct access to the scene exactly as it was. That window closes quickly, which is why documenting the scene thoroughly before vehicles are moved or conditions change is one of the most important things a Lansing Michigan car accident lawyer will tell you to do.
Start with the vehicles. Photograph every point of impact on both cars from multiple angles, including close-up shots of the damage and wide shots that show the position of the vehicles relative to each other. Photograph the license plates and any visible vehicle identification numbers. If airbags deployed, document that. If there is debris on the road, photograph it.
At the scene, gather the following information before you leave:
Call 911 and wait for police to respond. A police report is an official record of the accident and a critical piece of evidence in any subsequent claim. Under Michigan law, accidents involving injury or significant property damage must be reported to police. In Lansing, the Lansing Police Department handles accident response within city limits, while the Ingham County Sheriff’s Office and Michigan State Police may respond in surrounding areas.
Beyond the vehicles themselves, the surrounding environment contains evidence that can be critical to establishing what happened and who was at fault. A car accident lawyer in East Lansing or Lansing will tell you that this broader documentation is something most people skip entirely and later wish they had not.
Photograph the road conditions, including any skid marks, debris fields, potholes, or road defects that may have contributed to the crash. Document traffic signals and signage at the intersection or location of the crash. Note and photograph weather and lighting conditions. If there are traffic cameras, security cameras on nearby businesses, or residential doorbell cameras that may have captured the accident, note their locations immediately and ask your attorney to preserve that footage before it is overwritten.
Document your own injuries at the scene as well. Photograph any visible injuries, even minor ones, before you receive any treatment. These images establish a baseline that connects your injuries directly to the accident, which becomes important when insurers or defense attorneys later try to minimize the severity or question the cause of your injuries.
This is not optional. Even if you feel fine after the accident, get medical attention the same day. Adrenaline and shock can mask the symptoms of serious injuries for hours, and some of the most significant car accident injuries, including whiplash, traumatic brain injuries, and soft tissue damage, do not always present immediately.
Under Michigan’s no-fault law, your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits cover your accident-related medical expenses regardless of who caused the crash. These benefits are paid by your own auto insurance company and cover medical expenses, lost wages up to the monthly maximum set by the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services, replacement services, and in some cases attendant care. For policies issued or renewed after July 1, 2020, the level of PIP medical coverage you selected determines how much of your medical expenses are covered, with options ranging from $50,000 to unlimited coverage.
The most important thing to know is that you must file your PIP benefits application within one year of the accident or you permanently lose those benefits. Getting medical attention immediately starts the documentation trail that supports your claim and satisfies the medical necessity requirements your insurer will scrutinize.
Gaps in medical treatment are one of the most common tools insurance adjusters use to minimize or deny claims. If you waited days or weeks to see a doctor, the insurer will argue that your injuries were not serious or were not caused by the accident. Seeing a doctor the same day eliminates that argument entirely.
This is the step most people get wrong, and it is the one that can do the most damage to a valid claim. After a car accident in Lansing, you will likely receive a call from an insurance adjuster within hours or days of the accident. They will sound helpful. They will say they just need a few details. Do not give a recorded statement, do not accept a quick settlement offer, and do not sign any release or authorization without speaking to a car accident lawyer in Lansing Michigan first.
Insurance adjusters are trained professionals whose job is to minimize the company’s payout. A recorded statement made in the days following an accident, before you fully understand the extent of your injuries or the value of your claim, can be used against you in ways that are very difficult to undo. Statements about how you feel, what you remember, or what happened can be taken out of context or used to create inconsistencies that undermine your credibility later.
In Michigan, you are generally required to cooperate with your own insurer’s reasonable requests for information about the accident in connection with your PIP claim. But that does not mean giving a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer, accepting a settlement offer before you know the full extent of your injuries, or signing documents that waive your rights. A Lansing car accident injury lawyer can handle all insurer communications on your behalf and make sure nothing you say or sign compromises your claim.
If you were in a car accident in Lansing or East Lansing, the right steps taken early can protect your claim, your health, and your financial recovery. Monument Legal is a personal injury law firm serving car accident clients across Lansing and Michigan. We know how these cases work, and we are not afraid to fight for you.
Michigan has a three-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims from car accidents under MCL 600.5805. However, the deadline to file a PIP benefits application with your own insurer is one year from the date of the accident. Missing that one-year deadline permanently bars your right to PIP benefits regardless of how serious your injuries are. If you are pursuing a claim against the at-fault driver for pain and suffering or excess damages beyond your PIP coverage, the three-year limitation applies. A Lansing car accident injury lawyer can make sure all applicable deadlines are met for every aspect of your claim.
Michigan’s no-fault law requires drivers to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage, which pays for accident-related medical expenses, lost wages up to the applicable monthly maximum, replacement services up to $20 per day for household tasks you can no longer perform, and in some cases attendant care. These benefits are paid by your own insurer regardless of fault. The amount of medical coverage available depends on the PIP coverage level you selected when you purchased or renewed your policy after July 1, 2020. Michigan’s Department of Insurance and Financial Services oversees PIP compliance and handles insurer complaints.
Yes, under certain circumstances. Michigan’s no-fault system limits lawsuits against at-fault drivers, but you can pursue a third-party claim against the at-fault driver if you suffered a serious impairment of body function, permanent serious disfigurement, or death under Michigan’s tort threshold established in the Michigan No-Fault Act. You can also sue for excess medical expenses and lost wages that exceed your PIP coverage limits. A car accident lawyer in East Lansing or Lansing can evaluate whether your injuries meet the threshold for a third-party claim and what additional compensation may be available beyond your PIP benefits.
Do not give a recorded statement and do not accept any settlement offer without speaking to a Lansing Michigan car accident lawyer first. The other driver’s insurer is not your insurer, and they have no obligation to protect your interests. Early settlement offers are typically far below the full value of a claim, particularly before the extent of your injuries is fully known. You can politely decline to give a statement and tell them you have retained or are consulting an attorney. The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services provides guidance on your rights when dealing with insurance companies after a car accident.
No-fault insurance: A type of auto insurance system in which each driver’s own insurer pays for their medical expenses and lost wages after an accident, regardless of who caused the crash. Michigan is a no-fault state.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP): The component of Michigan’s no-fault auto insurance that covers medical expenses, lost wages, replacement services, and attendant care after a car accident, regardless of fault.
Statute of limitations: The legally mandated deadline by which a lawsuit must be filed. Michigan’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims from car accidents is three years under MCL 600.5805.
Recorded statement: A formal statement given to an insurance adjuster that is recorded and can be used later in the claims process. Giving a recorded statement without legal counsel can damage a personal injury claim.
Tort threshold: The legal standard a plaintiff must meet to sue an at-fault driver in a no-fault state. In Michigan, the threshold requires proof of serious impairment of body function, permanent serious disfigurement, or death.