that meets Michigan’s minimum requirements, you can neither claim nor sue for economic damages, like pain and suffering compensation, medical bills, lost wages, or vehicle damage repair costs—even if you were 100% not at fault in the accident.
Driving without insurance in Michigan is a misdemeanor offense that carries stiff penalties that include fines and potential jail time.
Michigan’s no-fault insurance laws require drivers to carry both liability coverage and “no-fault” PIP coverage (personal injury protection), in addition to other required coverages.
If you’re caught driving without insurance, both the offense on your driving record and the lapse in coverage will cause your car insurance rates to increase.
What to do if you’re in a car accident without insurance in Michigan and not at fault
It is a crime to drive in Michigan without car insurance and if you’re caught without insurance after being involved in an accident, you’ll likely face hefty fees as well as legal trouble.
If you find yourself in a car accident in Michigan without valid car insurance, do not leave the accident scene. The prospect of getting caught without car insurance can be stressful and scary—but your punishment will be much worse if you’re caught after fleeing the scene. If you leave the scene of the accident, you could be facing:
A felony charge with a $5,000 fine and up to five years in prison if the accident involves serious bodily impairment or death
A felony charge with a $10,000 fine and 15 years in prison if the accident involves serious bodily impairment or death and the fleeing driver is considered at-fault
without insurance as you would if you had coverage. These include:
Switching your hazards on and pulling out of traffic, if possible and safe
Checking yourself, your passengers, and others involved in the accident for injuries
Calling 911 to request an ambulance if needed
Exchanging information with the other driver or drivers involved in the accident, including driver’s license, their insurance, and all contact information
Unfortunately, if you’re involved in a motor vehicle accident without insurance in Michigan, you will be disqualified from all compensation and no-fault benefits.
You may have to pay out of pocket for all of your medical expenses and property damage
You may be able to file a claim through your own health insurance for medical bills (if you have coverage) but you'll be responsible for all of your vehicle repair bills
The other party is allowed to sue you, however, for their medical bills and lost wages—and their insurance company is allowed to sue you for the benefit money they pay out to their insured, any “incurred loss adjustment costs and expenses,” and “incurred attorney fees.”
The no-fault laws in Michigan are strictly upheld for everyone’s financial safety, so do everything you can to secure proper car insurance before driving in Michigan.
What if you’re at fault?
Because Michigan is a modified comparative negligence state, you’ll be financially responsible for your portion of the other driver’s damages if you are deemed 50% or more negligent for the accident, if you have insurance. If you don’t have insurance, however, the other driver can sue you for the damages whether or not you’re at fault.
, meaning that drivers with proper insurance coverage are protected from being sued if they’re “at fault” in an accident and each insured driver will be left to cover their own medical expenses through their personal injury protection insurance.
But even in a no-fault state like Michigan, liability still needs to be determined for property damages following an accident.
A police report will often record information insurance providers can use to help determine fault
If you’re involved in a car crash, speak to any police on the scene and give them a detailed report of what happened
Take pictures and videos of the accident and collect the contact information of any witnesses of the accident if possible
What to do if you’re hit by an uninsured driver in Michigan
helps you cover medical expenses in that situation and takes much less time to process a payout than a lawsuit—which is your only recourse for collecting damages from any of the 25.5% of uninsured drivers in Michigan.1
Aside from uninsured motorist coverage, some of the most beneficial types of coverage to add to your insurance are
in Michigan can be intense. In fact, many consider them the harshest in the country—especially when it comes to car accidents involving an uninsured driver.
Driving without insurance in Michigan is a misdemeanor offense that carries a $200 to $500 fine and the potential for up to one year in jail
You may also face license suspension and the Michigan Secretary of State will withhold your ability to renew plates, or transfer, replace, or buy new registration until you’re able to secure the proper insurance.
Michigan is a “no-pay, no-play” state—so if you don’t pay for insurance coverage, no insurers will “play” when it comes to you filing a claim against any of their drivers
If you choose to drive uninsured, Michigan law makes it impossible for you to file any claim or lawsuit against the other driver involved in an accident, even if they were 100% at fault
You will also be left at the mercy of the other driver and their insurance company because the law allows both the other driver and their insurer to sue you for compensation.
And unfortunately, purchasing car insurance directly after the event will not help you. It won’t work retrospectively. That said, if you had insurance at the time of the crash and were simply unable to provide
Of course, it’s always a good idea to hold more than the state-required minimum insurance because vehicle repairs and medical bills rack up easily. If you stick with the state minimum and don’t have enough coverage to pay for accident damages, you’ll be left to pay out of pocket.
Driving without insurance can increase premiums
Getting caught driving without insurance will result in more than just legal fees and fines—it will also result in increased insurance premiums. Not only will the misdemeanor driving offense on your record cause your rates to increase, but you’ll also be looking at increases due to a
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