{"id":374078,"date":"2017-10-03T14:03:54","date_gmt":"2017-10-03T19:03:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/michigan-law\/michigan-car-accident-report-basics.html"},"modified":"2023-01-18T16:38:33","modified_gmt":"2023-01-18T21:38:33","slug":"michigan-car-accident-report-basics","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/michigan-law\/michigan-car-accident-report-basics.html","title":{"rendered":"Michigan Car Accident Report Basics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Michigan Car Accident Report Basics<\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last updated\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Michigan is a no-fault insurance state, which simply means that parties involved in a car accident are entitled to benefits from their own auto insurance companies no matter who caused the accident. However, you must still call the police when there is a serious accident, and an accident report will need to be made. Getting up to speed on Michigan car accident report basics could save you time down the road.<\/p>\r\n

How to File a Car Crash Report in Michigan<\/h2>\r\n

This chart provides a summary of Michigan laws and procedures for filing a car crash report.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
State Accident Statutes <\/b><\/td>\r\n
When to Report a Crash<\/b><\/td>\r\n
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  • More than $1,000 in property damage<\/li>\r\n
  • A person injured or killed as a result<\/li>\r\n
  • A parked vehicle damaged and the owner can\u2019t be immediately contacted<\/li>\r\n
  • Unattended property damaged in an accident<\/li>\r\n
  • A mechanic receives a vehicle for repair that was damaged in an accident<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>
Crash Reporting<\/b><\/td>\r\n
  • <\/a><\/a><\/a>Purchase a Traffic Crash Report<\/a> from the Michigan State Police<\/li>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\r\n

    Note:<\/i><\/b> Laws are subject to change. It\u2019s important to verify the information you read about by conducting your own research or consulting with a Michigan attorney.<\/i><\/p>\r\n

    When Does an Accident Need to be Reported?<\/h2>\r\n

    Michigan law requires drivers to report any vehicle accident<\/a> that causes more than $1,000 in property damage, results in death or injury, or damages an unattended vehicle or other property. The driver is typically not required to draft an actual report, but must immediately alert the police that an accident has occurred.<\/p>\r\n

    Cities and counties can also have additional crash reporting rules. For example, Detroit requires you to report the accident<\/a> whenever a car can no longer be driven in its usual manner. So even if the crash is minor but you end up in a ditch and need to be towed out, you must report it to the Detroit Police Department.<\/p>\r\n

    Failing to Report a Michigan Car Crash<\/h2>\r\n

    It\u2019s normal for people to be anxious when an accident occurs, but not reporting an accident in Michigan can make a bad situation worse. The driver of a vehicle who has reason to believe they were involved in an accident must immediately stop at the scene<\/a>, check to see if there are any injuries, and exchange information with the other party.<\/p>\r\n

    If the accident is serious, the police must be immediately informed. A hit and run without injuries can result in a suspended license, fine, and misdemeanor conviction. If you flee the scene and someone is seriously injured or dies, you could receive a felony conviction punishable by 15 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.<\/p>\r\n

    Mechanic\u2019s Duty to Report Vehicles Involved in Accidents<\/h2>\r\n

    Michigan has tough laws designed to catch people who try to hide their involvement in an accident. When a garage or repair shop receives a vehicle for repair which shows evidence of being involved in an accident, the garage manager is required to immediately report<\/a> this information to the nearest police station or sheriff’s office. The police will record the engine number, vehicle registration number, and the name and address of the owner of the vehicle, to assess its involvement in any recent accidents.<\/p>\r\n

    Drafting an Accident Report<\/h2>\r\n

    Situations may arise when the police are unable to go to the accident scene. It\u2019s a good idea for you to file a report yourself<\/a>. A personal accident report will also be useful for your car insurance claim. Even in a no-fault state, insurance companies want to know what happened before they pay a claim. Record the following information when drafting your accident report:<\/p>\r\n