Hit-and-Run Accidents Are Epidemic in Michigan
Michigan ranks among the worst states in the nation for hit-and-run accidents. In Detroit alone, a disproportionate number of serious injury and fatal crashes involve a driver who flees the scene. The reasons are structural: Michigan has one of the highest uninsured driver rates in the country (estimated 20-25%), sky-high insurance premiums incentivize driving without coverage, and drivers who are intoxicated or unlicensed flee to avoid criminal charges. Victims are left picking up the pieces.
Michigan's Unique Insurance Protections for Hit-and-Run Victims
Michigan's no-fault system provides a safety net that most states lack. Your PIP benefits under MCL § 500.3107 pay your medical expenses even when the at-fault driver disappears. Your wage loss benefits under MCL § 500.3107(1)(b) cover 85% of your lost income up to three years. Attendant care benefits cover the cost of having family members help with your daily needs during recovery. These benefits come from your own policy and are available immediately — you do not need to identify the hit-and-run driver to access them.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage: Your Key to Full Recovery
The single most important coverage for hit-and-run protection is uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. Under Michigan law, a hit-and-run driver is treated as an uninsured motorist. If you carry UM coverage, you can file a claim with your own insurer for pain and suffering damages — the same damages you would pursue against an identified at-fault driver. Without UM coverage, your recovery is limited to PIP benefits, which do not include pain and suffering compensation.
Identifying the Hit-and-Run Driver
Koussan Law's investigation team has successfully identified hit-and-run drivers in cases that police had classified as unsolved. We subpoena traffic camera footage from MDOT and municipal systems, pull business surveillance video from the accident corridor, work with forensic specialists to analyze paint transfer and vehicle debris, canvas neighborhoods with door-to-door inquiries, and monitor social media and body shop records for vehicles matching the damage profile. Identification unlocks the full third-party claim including pain and suffering damages.
Statute of Limitations
Michigan's three-year statute of limitations under MCL § 600.5805 applies to hit-and-run claims. However, if a government vehicle was involved, the 120-day notice requirement under Michigan's Governmental Immunity Act applies. Time is the enemy in these cases — evidence disappears, footage is overwritten, and witnesses relocate. Call Koussan Law at (313) 800-0000 as soon as possible or try our case calculator.
