The Ultimate Michigan Car Accident Handbook

By Lawrence J. Buckfire, President, CEO and Lead Trial Attorney · Last reviewed October 2026 under our editorial and review process

Editor’s note: Read this book before you hire a lawyer or give a statement to any insurance company.

After a Michigan car crash, two insurance systems apply at once. Your own no-fault insurer owes you benefits for medical bills and lost wages no matter who caused the crash. Separately, you may have a claim against the at-fault driver for pain and suffering. Each system has its own rules and deadlines, and insurers count on people not knowing them.

Lawrence J. Buckfire wrote The Ultimate Michigan Car Accident Handbook to explain both systems in plain English. He has represented people hurt in Michigan car accidents since 1989. The 69-page guide walks through no-fault benefits, injury claims, and how to choose the right lawyer.

Book Details

What the book covers

• Choosing the right lawyer (pages 11–13): why not every lawyer handles auto cases, and the questions to ask before you hire one.
• Three types of insurance claims (pages 15–19): injury claims vs. vehicle damage claims, what “no-fault” means, and coverage types.
• Getting a fair injury settlement (pages 21–27): common crash scenarios and how a lawyer maximizes recovery.
• Claiming no-fault benefits (pages 29–34): the steps, the deadlines, and warnings about adjusters.
• Lost wages (pages 37–40): who pays, how much, and for how long.
• Medical bills (pages 41–44): prescriptions, other expenses, and how your health insurance fits in.
• Attendant and in-home nursing care (pages 45–47): the documentation you need and what to do when a claim is refused.
• Household help (pages 49–51): replacement services and what they pay.
• Case management (pages 53–59): what case managers do and when they help.
• Medical mileage and special transportation (pages 61–65): getting reimbursed for travel to treatment.
• Bonus: the top ten things your insurer won’t tell you about no-fault, and free no-fault forms.

Michigan rules the book explains

• No-fault (PIP) benefits: Your own auto insurer pays allowable medical expenses, up to 85% of lost wages for up to three years (subject to a monthly cap), and up to $20 a day for household help, regardless of fault (MCL 500.3107).
• One-year notice: You generally must give your no-fault insurer written notice of your claim within one year of the crash (MCL 500.3145).
• Pain and suffering: You can sue the at-fault driver only if the injury caused death, a serious impairment of body function, or permanent serious disfigurement (MCL 500.3135). The usual deadline is three years.
• Vehicle damage: You can recover up to $3,000 from the at-fault driver for vehicle damage your own insurance doesn’t cover (the “mini-tort”).
• Excess economic loss: If your medical bills or wage loss exceed your PIP coverage, you may recover the difference from the at-fault driver.

Michigan law since this edition

Michigan’s 2019 no-fault reform changed several benefits described in older editions. Drivers can now choose their level of PIP medical coverage, family-provided attendant care is capped at 56 hours a week, and medical providers are paid under a fee schedule. Learn more about Michigan no-fault benefits, or call us to see how the changes affect your claim.

Why a lawyer wrote a free book

Most people learn the no-fault system the hard way, after a claim is denied or a deadline passes. We’d rather you understand it first, so you can judge any offer and any lawyer, including us. See our car accident settlements, read what clients say, and learn about our no-fee promise.

Related free books: The Michigan Drunk Driving Accident Handbook and Little Kids, Big Accidents (for injured children). Also see truck accidents and recoverable damages.

About the Author

Lawrence J. Buckfire is President, CEO and Lead Trial Attorney of Buckfire Law (Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C.), the Michigan injury firm his father, David Buckfire, founded in Detroit in 1969.

• B.A. in Economics, University of Michigan (1986); J.D., Wayne State University Law School (1989)
• Licensed in Michigan (since 1989) and Ohio; U.S. District Courts, Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan
• Best Lawyers 2027 Lawyers of the Year, Medical Malpractice Litigation
• Best Lawyers 2023 Lawyer of the Year, Product Liability Litigation
• Michigan Super Lawyers, 2013-2026
• AV Preeminent peer rating, Martindale-Hubbell, 2004-2026
• Contributing author, Forbes Legal Council and The National Law Review
• Author of more than ten Michigan personal injury guides. See all books.
• ORCID iD: 0009-0004-5471-7143

The firm was named Michigan Lawyers Weekly Best Family-Led Law Firm in 2024, 2025 and 2026. See awards and recognition.

Frequently asked questions

Is the book really free? Yes. The paperback sells on Amazon, but the PDF is free through the form on this page.

Who pays my medical bills after a car accident in Michigan? Usually your own auto insurer, through no-fault (PIP) benefits, regardless of who caused the crash. How much it covers depends on the PIP level on your policy.

Can I sue the other driver for pain and suffering? Yes, if your injury is serious enough to meet Michigan’s threshold: death, a serious impairment of body function, or permanent serious disfigurement.

How long do I have to file a claim? Generally one year to give your no-fault insurer written notice, and three years to sue the at-fault driver. Some claims have shorter deadlines, so talk to a lawyer early.

Does the book replace talking to a lawyer? No. It explains Michigan law in general terms, and every case turns on its own facts. Request a free case review to discuss yours.

Request your free copy

Complete the form to get The Ultimate Michigan Car Accident Handbook by email.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.