Crash

Hurt here? We're here.

You scanned the card, so you are probably on the side of the road right now. Take a breath.



Here is what to do in the next hour, and the deadlines that quietly started today.

Right Now: 7 Steps

1

Check for injuries. If you feel that you are injured and need medical treatment, call 911.

2

Move to safety if you can. Turn your hazards on.

3

Take photos when safe: every car, every plate, the road, the area.

4

Get names, phone numbers, and insurance cards of everyone involved.

5

Ask the officer for the report number before you leave.

6

If you feel the need to treat medically, seek immediate medical treatment. Adrenaline hides injuries, and a gap in care can hurt your claim.

7

Contact us before you talk to anyone. It is free, and it should not take long.

Michigan law requires you to report a crash to police if anyone is hurt or the damage looks like $1,000 or more. Call 911 or the non-emergency line and stay put until an officer arrives.

Before You Talk to Any Insurance Company

You will get a call from the other driver’s insurance company, maybe the same day. Be polite, and then:

  • Do not give a recorded statement. You are not required to, and it will be used to lower your claim.
  • Do not say "I'm fine." You do not know that yet. Say you are getting checked out.
  • Do not sign anything or accept a check. Early offers are made before anyone knows what the injury is.

Your own insurance company is different. You have to report the crash to them, and they pay your medical bills and lost wages under Michigan no-fault whether or not the crash was your fault. Tell them the basics and ask for the no-fault application.

Deadlines That Started Today

What When Why it matters
Report the crash to your own insurer As soon as possible, within days Your policy requires prompt notice.
File your no-fault (PIP) application Within 1 year of the crash Miss it and your medical and wage benefits are gone for good.
Mini-tort claim for your vehicle damage Within 3 years Up to $3,000 from the at-fault driver's insurer for your car.
Lawsuit against the at-fault driver Within 3 years After that the courthouse door closes, with narrow exceptions.

Three years sounds like a long time. It is not. Evidence disappears in weeks: dashcam footage is overwritten, witnesses move, cars are repaired. The best time to talk to us is this week.

Let’s Talk Before You Settle

Who We Are

We are Garske Hewitt & Rodenbo, a Bay City law firm at 708 S. Euclid Avenue, across the river from the courthouse, not a call center in Detroit. Aaron Rodenbo has handled injury cases in the Great Lakes Bay Region since 2017, and he is the one who will call you back. The consultation is free, and you will talk to a lawyer, not a screener.


We're who you need to know.

This page is general information for people in Michigan, not legal advice for your situation. Injury cases are handled on a contingency fee: no attorney fee unless we recover money for you. Clients may be responsible for case costs. Responsible attorney: Aaron C. Rodenbo, Garske Hewitt & Rodenbo, PLC, 708 S. Euclid Ave, Bay City, MI 48706.