Michigan overhauled its No-Fault system in 2019, and the changes still catch truck accident victims off guard today. If you were hurt in a truck crash, the reform affects how much medical coverage you have, how your bills get paid, and what choices you should double-check on your own policy. Here’s what actually changed and why it matters.
Background: why Michigan reformed No-Fault
For decades, Michigan was unique in guaranteeing unlimited lifetime medical benefits to anyone injured in an auto accident. That coverage was generous but expensive, and Michigan drivers often paid some of the highest auto-insurance premiums in the country. The 2019 reform was designed to lower premiums by giving drivers choices — but those choices shifted real risk onto consumers, especially in catastrophic cases like truck crashes.
You now choose your PIP medical coverage level
Before the reform, Michigan drivers had unlimited lifetime PIP medical coverage automatically. Now you choose a level. In general terms, drivers can select from capped coverage amounts up to unlimited coverage, and some people with qualifying health coverage can opt out of PIP medical altogether. Lower levels mean lower premiums — but they also mean that if you suffer a catastrophic truck injury, your PIP medical coverage could run out, leaving you to rely on other sources. Checking your selected level is one of the first things to do after a serious crash. (For what PIP actually pays, see our PIP benefits guide.)
A medical fee schedule
The reform introduced a fee schedule that limits how much medical providers are reimbursed for crash-related care, tied to a percentage of what Medicare or the provider’s customary charges would be. In practice, this has affected some providers’ willingness to treat auto-injury patients and has complicated how long-term and attendant-care claims are handled — issues that come up constantly in severe truck-injury cases, where care is expensive and ongoing.
Changes to attendant care
The reform also placed limits on family-provided attendant care — capping the number of hours per week that in-home care provided by family members will be reimbursed unless the insurer agrees to more. For catastrophically injured truck-crash victims cared for at home by loved ones, this change can have a major financial impact and is a frequent source of disputes.
What did NOT change: your claim against the trucking company
Reform reshaped PIP, but it did not take away your right to sue an at-fault trucking company once your injury meets the serious injury threshold. That liability claim — for pain, suffering, and economic damages beyond your PIP coverage — remains the heart of most serious truck cases. If anything, with PIP medical coverage now potentially capped, the third-party claim against the trucking company is more important than ever for making a badly injured victim whole.
What the reform means in a truck crash today
Put it together and the practical picture is this: your PIP medical coverage may be limited, the fee schedule may complicate your care, and family attendant care may be capped — all while your injuries from a truck crash can be catastrophic and lifelong. Maximizing your recovery now depends even more on identifying every available source of coverage and pursuing the full liability claim against the trucking company and any other at-fault parties.
What to check now
- Pull your auto policy and confirm your PIP medical coverage level.
- Understand whether you opted out of PIP medical (and whether that was appropriate).
- Keep detailed records of all care, especially attendant care provided at home.
- Talk to a lawyer who works within the post-reform rules every day.
The rules are still evolving
Michigan’s No-Fault statute and its fee schedule have continued to be litigated and refined since 2019, including court decisions about how the changes apply to people injured before the reform. Because the landscape keeps shifting, it’s worth having a lawyer who follows these developments rather than relying on general articles alone.
Frequently asked questions
Did the reform take away my right to sue the trucking company? No. That right remains once your injury meets the serious injury threshold.
What if I chose a low PIP level? You may need to lean more on the liability claim and other coverage — a lawyer can map out your options.
Does the reform apply to me if I was hurt before 2019? It’s complicated and has been litigated; a lawyer can tell you how it affects your specific situation.
Talk to a Michigan truck accident lawyer
Don’t let the reform quietly cost you benefits you’re owed. Our Michigan truck accident lawyers work within these rules every day. The call is free, the consultation is confidential, and you pay nothing unless we win. Call 1-800-TRUCK-CRASH or request a free case review.
General information about Michigan law, not legal advice. The No-Fault statute and fee schedule continue to evolve; consult a licensed Michigan attorney about your situation.