Truck Accident Claims in Michigan
The safety and insurance rules for trucks in Michigan, how fault is shared, any limits on damages, and the deadline to sue.
Short answer: Michigan adopts the federal motor carrier safety regulations, including 49 CFR parts 382, 383, 385, 387, 390 through 393 and 395 through 399, except where the Motor Carrier Safety Act modifies them, with the state police acting in place of the federal agency. MCL 480.11a(1)(b)
| Truck safety and insurance rules | Michigan adopts the federal motor carrier safety regulations, including 49 CFR parts 382, 383, 385, 387, 390 through 393 and 395 through 399, except where the Motor Carrier Safety Act modifies them, with the state police acting in place of the federal agency. Read on legislature.mi.gov on 2026-10-28. Source: MCL 480.11a(1)(b) |
|---|---|
| Fault rule (comparative negligence) | Modified comparative fault. Damages are reduced by the injured person's percentage of fault. If the injured person's fault is greater than the combined fault of all others (that is, more than 50%), economic damages are reduced by that percentage and no noneconomic damages (such as pain and suffering) are awarded. In auto no-fault tort cases, no damages for noneconomic loss are assessed in favor of a party more than 50% at fault. Source: MCL 600.2959; MCL 500.3135(2)(b) |
| Damage caps | No general cap applies to all injury cases, but noneconomic damages are capped in medical malpractice and product liability cases (base amounts of $280,000, or $500,000 for the most serious injuries, adjusted annually by the State Treasurer for inflation). In a product liability case, the higher cap does not apply if the death or loss resulted from the defendant's gross negligence. In auto accident cases, noneconomic damages are available only for death, serious impairment of body function or permanent serious disfigurement. |
| Deadline to sue for an injury | Three years after the time of the injury for most actions to recover damages for injury to a person. Shorter periods apply to some claims, such as 2 years for assault, battery or false imprisonment and 2 years for malpractice; 10 years applies to claims for criminal sexual conduct. Source: MCL 600.5805(2), (3), (6), (8) |
More Michigan personal injury & wrongful death
- Deadlines to File an Injury Lawsuit in Michigan
- Wrongful Death Lawsuits in Michigan
- Medical Malpractice Rules in Michigan
- Car Accident Claims in Michigan
- Dog Bite Liability in Michigan
- Slip, Trip and Fall Injuries in Michigan
- Sidewalk and Public Property Falls in Michigan
- Motorcycle Accident Claims in Michigan
- Bicycle Accident Claims in Michigan
- Construction Site Injuries in Michigan
- All Michigan personal injury & wrongful death rules
FAQ
What safety and insurance rules apply to trucks in Michigan?
Michigan adopts the federal motor carrier safety regulations, including 49 CFR parts 382, 383, 385, 387, 390 through 393 and 395 through 399, except where the Motor Carrier Safety Act modifies them, with the state police acting in place of the federal agency.
Can you recover damages if you were partly at fault in Michigan?
Modified comparative fault. Damages are reduced by the injured person's percentage of fault. If the injured person's fault is greater than the combined fault of all others (that is, more than 50%), economic damages are reduced by that percentage and no noneconomic damages (such as pain and suffering) are awarded. In auto no-fault tort cases, no damages for noneconomic loss are assessed in favor of a party more than 50% at fault.
Does Michigan cap damages in personal injury cases?
No general cap applies to all injury cases, but noneconomic damages are capped in medical malpractice and product liability cases (base amounts of $280,000, or $500,000 for the most serious injuries, adjusted annually by the State Treasurer for inflation). In a product liability case, the higher cap does not apply if the death or loss resulted from the defendant's gross negligence. In auto accident cases, noneconomic damages are available only for death, serious impairment of body function or permanent serious disfigurement.
What is the statute of limitations for personal injury in Michigan?
Three years after the time of the injury for most actions to recover damages for injury to a person. Shorter periods apply to some claims, such as 2 years for assault, battery or false imprisonment and 2 years for malpractice; 10 years applies to claims for criminal sexual conduct.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.