Legally Reviewed and Edited by: Terry Cochran

Published on: September 18, 2025

If you were hurt in a Michigan car accident, personal injury protection (PIP) is likely the most important part of your auto policy, as it’s supposed to pay for medical treatment, lost wages, and replacement services so you can focus on recovery instead of worrying about money. However, getting those benefits isn’t always simple.

At Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C., we’ve got decades of experience dealing with PIP work loss disputes, denied claims, and insurance companies that move too slowly. Here’s what you should know about personal injury protection in Michigan and how it actually works.

What Is Personal Injury Protection (PIP)?

Personal injury protection refers to coverage under Michigan’s no-fault insurance system that pays your medical expenses and related costs after a car accident, no matter who caused the accident. Because Michigan is a no-fault state, you go to your own insurance company first, even if another driver was clearly at fault.

Besides doctor visits, PIP can cover things like hospital stays, physical therapy, prescription drugs, home care, and household help if your injuries keep you from doing daily tasks. Plus, if you can’t work because of the accident, you might qualify for PIP work loss benefits in Michigan, which replace a portion of your income.

Many people assume their insurer will just pay these bills, but companies often deny or delay coverage or pay less than they should, leaving you to pay the rest.

What Does PIP Cover?

Personal injury protection coverage in Michigan can go toward a variety of accident-related expenses, like the following:

• Medical expenses: PIP covers reasonable and necessary medical care that’s related to the accident. This can mean emergency treatment, surgeries, rehab, prescriptions, and follow-up visits. If you choose unlimited PIP, according to the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services, the Michigan law allows for full medical coverage with no maximum.
• Replacement services: If your injuries mean you can’t do things like clean your home or care for your children the way you could before, PIP can cover the cost of hiring someone to help.
• Work loss benefits: If you can’t work because of the accident, PIP replaces up to 85% of your lost wages for up to three years. Your employer and doctor have to confirm that you can’t go back to work.
• Survivor’s benefits: If someone dies in the accident, the family might qualify for limited death benefits.

A lot of policyholders ask what is personal protection insurance in Michigan. But the issue isn’t so much what it is or what it covers; it’s getting the insurance company to pay.

How Does PIP Work in Michigan?

After a crash, you file a claim with your insurer, and they assign an adjuster to your case, who tells you to send in medical bills, receipts, and wage statements, and to wait.

In many cases, you end up waiting a very long time, and some insurers deny treatments they claim weren’t necessary. They’re also known to dispute lost wages or pay less than they should.

According to Michigan law, you have just one year from the date of the accident to file a PIP claim. If you miss that deadline, you might not be able to get your benefits. So, besides filing, keep copies of every record, bill, and letter, and even emails and claim notes, because you might need them later if your insurer refuses to pay.

Common Challenges with PIP Claims

Insurance companies are known for making the process harder than it should be, and these are the most common issues that Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. has seen in our decades of experience:

• Denied claims: The insurance company says that your treatment wasn’t related to the accident or that it wasn’t really necessary.
• Delayed payments: The company says they’ll pay, but you have to wait months for the funds to be released, and your bills go to collections if you don’t pay them.
• Reduced benefits: You might get partial payments or have charges cut down if the insurance says the provider billed too much or that part of the care isn’t covered.
• Disputed wage loss: People who are self-employed or don’t have a regular income have a harder time proving lost wages, even if they have documentation.

We’ve helped clients recover PIP work loss benefits and other payments that were wrongfully denied or reduced. We know that it often takes persistence and pressure to make insurers act.

Why You May Need a Lawyer for PIP Issues

You don’t need a lawyer just to file a personal injury protection Michigan claim, but you might end up needing one if your insurer delays payments or refuses to pay.

Insurance companies have teams of lawyers whose job it is to limit payouts, and when they deny your claims or underpay, they assume you’ll just give up and take what you can get.

A personal injury lawyer will collect the right documentation and identify where you were underpaid, and we’ll push the insurance company to follow Michigan’s no-fault rules. And if they don’t, we’ll take legal action to get you what you’re owed.

You can find general information on consumer rights from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, but if you’re having issues, what you really need is a legal representative who can handle the process directly.

Get the Benefits You Deserve

Having to deal with things like medical treatment, time off from work, and bills after a Michigan car accident is hard enough without having to fight with your own insurance company, especially considering the premiums you pay.

At Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C., we work on contingency, which means you don’t pay anything up front. We only get paid once your settlement or award comes. We don’t charge any hourly rates or retainers, so there’s no risk.

We’ve got decades of experience helping families recover their benefits from personal injury protection coverage in Michigan. We know the law, and we hold insurers accountable when they don’t do their part.

If your claim was denied or delayed after your car accident, or if your benefits stopped for no reason, contact us anytime at 1-866-MICH-LAW or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. We’ll review your case, explain your options, and handle the next steps.

Disclaimer : The information provided is general and not for legal advice. The blogs are not intended to provide legal counsel and no attorney-client relationship is created nor intended.