Wednesday, December 24, 2025
Legally Reviewed and Edited by:Jeff Jacobs
Published on: October 17, 2025
Why Time Limits Matter After an Accident
If you’re dealing with an accident claim in Michigan, you need to be careful about the filing deadlines, because if you miss one, you lose the chance to recover compensation. The time limits in Michigan are strict for injury and property damage claims, so you’ve got to act fast to protect your interests, which might be hard to do if you’re also dealing with injuries and other problems related to your accident.
Michigan Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims
The Michigan statute of limitations for personal injury lets you have three years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit, which might sound like a lot of time, but three years go by a lot faster than you think.
If you don’t file by that time, the courts in Michigan won’t even take your case, and that’s exactly what insurance companies want to see happen. It’s better to get started as soon as possible to give Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. room to investigate, negotiate, and file for you if needed before time runs out.
How Long Do You Have to Sue After a Car Accident?
It depends on what you’re claiming. How long after an accident can you sue varies based on whether you’re seeking compensation for injuries, vehicle damage, or both.
Personal Injury Timelines
For bodily injuries caused by a car crash, you’ve got three years, and this includes broken bones, soft tissue damage, traumatic brain injuries, and any other physical or mental harm. The day of your accident is the day the three-year window for filing starts to count down.
Property Damage Claim Deadlines
The Michigan statute of limitations for property damage is also three years, but it applies only to damage to your vehicle or personal belongings. You can file a personal injury claim and a property damage claim separately, but you’ve got to file both before their respective deadlines expire.
When Does the Countdown Start?
In most cases, the statute of limitations begins on the day of the accident, so, for example, if you got rear-ended on June 5, 2024, then your time’s up on June 5, 2027.
But sometimes it happens that injuries don’t show up right away, and when that’s the case, Michigan law still starts the clock on the date of the crash, not the day you notice symptoms. That’s why it’s so important to get medical attention right away after the crash.
Why Is My Car Accident Settlement Taking So Long?
If you’re wondering why your car accident settlement is taking so long, it could be a number of things.
Insurance companies take their time on purpose because they want to pay you as little as possible. They hope you’ll get frustrated and desperate enough to take a lowball offer, but if your injuries are still being treated, there’s no way to know how much your claim’s actually worth.
Liability disputes slow things down, too. If the other driver blames you, or if there are multiple parties involved, the case becomes more complicated. So, filing a lawsuit can actually make things go faster. Get a personal injury lawyer in Michigan who knows how to negotiate and when it’s time to take things to court.
Exceptions That Can Extend the Filing Deadline
Michigan law does allow for just a few exceptions to the three-year rule. If the injured person is a minor under 18, then the statute of limitations doesn’t start until their 18th birthday. That means they have until they’re 21 to file.
If the at-fault driver leaves Michigan permanently after the crash, the time they’re gone doesn’t count toward your three years, but these exceptions are narrow and hard to prove, so don’t count on them to save your case.
Why Acting Early Can Protect Your Case
The sooner you call us, the stronger your accident claim in Michigan gets. If you wait, there are a lot of things that can work against you, since witnesses forget details, the scene of the accident gets cleaned up, evidence disappears, and any video footage could get lost or recorded over.
When Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. gets involved early, we’ll make sure to preserve all that evidence before it’s gone by sending preservation letters to businesses with surveillance cameras and interviewing witnesses while they still remember the details of what they saw and heard.
Early action also puts the insurance company on notice, which is good for your case because it often leads to faster, fairer settlements without ending up needing to go to trial. We’ve got a car accident lawyer in Michigan who’s ready to start building your case right away.
Protect Your Rights Before Time Runs Out
If you’ve gotten hurt in a crash, you need a legal team of experts on Michigan statute of limitations for personal injury rules that knows how to move fast. We’ve spent decades helping Michigan families meet these deadlines.
The Michigan legislature is clear on the fact that missing a statute of limitations deadline means you lose your right to compensation for good. The State Bar of Michigan talks about the importance of talking with an attorney as soon as possible after an accident, and we take your questions and review your case all on contingency, so you don’t have to pay a dime unless we win.
Contact us today for a free consult so we can tell you exactly where you stand. Call 1-866-MICH-LAW anytime, day or night, or reach out online.
FAQs
How long after an accident can you file a personal injury claim in Michigan?
You’ve got three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in Michigan, and missing that deadline means you lose your right to sue for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering for good.
What is the statute of limitations for car accident property damage?
The Michigan statute of limitations for property damage is three years, and that applies to damage to your vehicle or any personal belongings that were damaged in the crash.
Can I still sue if I didn't feel pain until weeks after the accident?
Yes, but the three-year deadline still starts on the date of the accident, not when you first felt pain. Delayed symptoms are common with soft tissue injuries and concussions, so you need to see a doctor ASAP, no matter how you feel after the accident, and document everything.
Why is my accident settlement taking longer than expected?
Settlements take time because insurance companies delay things on purpose or because your injuries are still being treated. Liability disputes and complex cases also slow things down. Filing a lawsuit can sometimes speed things up by putting pressure on the insurer.
Can minors sue for injuries after they turn 18?
If the injured person is under 18 at the time of the accident, the statute of limitations doesn’t start until their 18th birthday. After that, they’ve got three years to file, meaning they’ve got until they turn 21.
How can a lawyer speed up my claim process?
We preserve evidence quickly, take care of all communication with insurers, and know when to file a lawsuit to apply pressure. Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. moves fast, so you don’t have to wait years for compensation.
Disclaimer : The information provided is general and not for legaladvice. The blogs are not intended to provide legal counsel and no attorney-client relationshipis created nor intended.