OT: Michigan Car Insurance Laws Stink

[Slab]

What is wrong with the State of Michigan's insurance laws.

3 weeks after my daughter buys a brand new car, she's driving back from Michigan with my wife in the car, and gets rear ended. They were on the highway, in a heavy down pour. Thank God they didn't get spun around!

They have this a “no fault” insurance law in Michigan, so their insurance company gets to stick it to me.

It's my insurance company that sends me a check for repairs, minus the deductible.

And it my car that my daughter has to drive for a month to get to work and school.

Their insurance won't pay the $1000 deductible and they won't pay for a loaner car. What's wrong with this picture. It's 100% their fault.

My daughter had the car 3 weeks, and now the dealer is taking 4 weeks to fix it. Additionally, the brand new car has diminished value because carfax reports the accident. To top it off, she gets to make a car payment for a car she won't see for a month!

[Slab]

Here's a picture of my daughter with her new car she purchased herself (with a little help from grandma) after graduating college. She's showing it off to her grandma (my mom) right after she got it 5 weeks ago.

[Hermin]

Was the other driver uninsured?

[Hermin]

Slab,

No fault limits the other persons liability to 10k to people out of state. Likely their insurance company already paid your daughters insurance company the 10k. The silver lining is your daughter can sue the driver. She is not protected by her insurance company ether. Make sure to save copies of all the costs incurred. She might even get to go on Judge Judy.

[Slab]

Was the other driver uninsured?

Nope, he has insurance.

[Slab]

Slab,

No fault limits the other persons liability to 10k to people out of state. Likely their insurance company already paid your daughters insurance company the 10k. The silver lining is your daughter can sue the driver. She is not protected by her insurance company ether. Make sure to save copies of all the costs incurred. She might even get to go on Judge Judy.

I spoke with my insurance company and they said they will try to get that 1k deductible from them but there are no guarantees, and if they do, it'll be two months or longer. It still stinks. This "no fault" crud is for the birds. Seems to protect insurance companies, and bad drivers "at fault".

[Hermin]

I spoke with my insurance company and they said they will try to get that 1k deductible from them but there are no guarantees, and if they do, it'll be two months or longer. It still stinks. This "no fault" crud is for the birds. Seems to protect insurance companies, and bad drivers "at fault".

I agree. I have no idea why it limits compensation to out of state drivers, driving cars registered out of state damages to $10,000. Call the other driver and inform him that you intend to sue him unless he pays for the cost of repairs.

[wicklundrh]

This is the best part... Michigan insurance companies have tried (for years) to get this law changed. They are actually listening to their customers. The problem........ Michigan house members are rejecting it each and every time.

In Michigan, you can file a "Mini-Tort" against the at fault party to recoup your deductable.

Side Bar: In Japan, no one can be 100% at fault. Even if you are parked at a stop light and a grand piano fell from the 3rd story window and landed on the hood of your car, you are still partially at fault simply for being at said stoplight (actual example given while I was stationed in Japan)

[Slab]

I agree. I have no idea why it limits compensation to out of state drivers, driving cars registered out of state damages to $10,000. Call the other driver and inform him that you intend to sue him unless he pays for the cost of repairs.

My insurance took care of everything except my deductable. All I want is for them to cover that $1000 deductible, I'm not talking 10k, just 1k. The damages to the car were only $2700, other than the diminished value of brand new car (that was in accident).

[yankee doodler]

Yup Ed. File that one in the "things to fix with this state" folder and don't hold yer breath! Glad that Sharon and your daughter didn't get hurt.