Personal Injury Complaint - Auto Accident - Michigan

IMPORTANT LEGAL NOTICE
• This template is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
• No attorney–client relationship is created by your use of this template.
• Statutory citations are included only where the drafter is certain of their accuracy; nevertheless, you must verify all citations, court-rule references, and local-practice requirements before filing.
• Always consult a licensed Michigan attorney to adapt this template to the specific facts, damages, venue, and procedural posture of your client’s case.

PERSONAL INJURY COMPLAINT—AUTO ACCIDENT

(State of Michigan No-Fault / Tort Action)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Document Header (Caption; Recitals; Effective Date & Jurisdiction)
II. Definitions
III. Operative Provisions (Factual Allegations & Causes of Action)
IV. Representations & Warranties
V. Covenants & Restrictions
VI. Default & Remedies (Damages & Prayer for Relief)
VII. Risk Allocation
VIII. Dispute Resolution
IX. General Provisions
X. Execution Block (Signature, Verification, Certificate of Service)

Page numbers to be completed after final formatting.

I. DOCUMENT HEADER

1. Caption

STATE OF MICHIGAN
IN THE [__________________________] CIRCUIT COURT

2. Title

COMPLAINT, JURY DEMAND, AND REQUEST FOR DAMAGES

3. Recitals

Plaintiff brings this action to recover noneconomic damages, excess economic damages, and property loss arising from a motor-vehicle collision that occurred on [DATE] in [CITY/TOWNSHIP], Michigan, pursuant to Mich. Comp. Laws § 500.3135 and related provisions of Michigan's No-Fault Act and common-law tort principles.

4. Effective Date & Jurisdiction

This pleading is effective as of the date of filing with the Clerk of the [__________________________] Circuit Court. Jurisdiction is proper under Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.605 because the amount in controversy exceeds $25,000.00, and venue is proper under Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.1629 (the tort-specific venue provision, which controls over the general venue rule of § 600.1621) because the Accident occurred in this county and at least one party resides, has a place of business, or conducts business in this county.

II. DEFINITIONS

For purposes of this Complaint, the capitalized terms below have the meanings set forth in this Section II.

1. “Accident” means the motor-vehicle collision that occurred on [DATE] at or near [LOCATION], Michigan.
2. “Comparative Fault” means the comparative-fault regime codified at Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.2959 and Mich. Comp. Laws § 500.3135(2)(b), under which noneconomic damages are reduced by Plaintiff's percentage of fault, and are barred entirely if Plaintiff's percentage of fault is greater than the aggregate fault of all other persons (i.e., more than 50 percent in a two-party comparison).
3. “Mini-Tort Cap” means the statutory limit on residual-liability property-damage recovery under Mich. Comp. Laws § 500.3135(3)(e), which is $1,000.00 for accidents occurring on or before July 1, 2020, and $3,000.00 for accidents occurring after July 1, 2020.
4. “No-Fault Benefits” or “PIP Benefits” means personal-injury-protection benefits payable without regard to fault under Mich. Comp. Laws §§ 500.3101–.3179.
5. “PIP Notice/Limitations Rule” means the separate, shorter limitations period applicable to No-Fault Benefits under Mich. Comp. Laws § 500.3145: (i) written notice of injury must be given to the No-Fault insurer, or an action commenced, within one year after the Accident (unless the insurer has already paid PIP benefits for the injury); and (ii) even if timely commenced, an action may not recover benefits for any portion of a loss incurred more than one year before the action was commenced (the "one-year-back rule"). This rule is independent of, and shorter than, the three-year period of limitations under Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5805(2) that governs Plaintiff's third-party tort claim for noneconomic and excess economic damages asserted in this Complaint.
6. “Serious Impairment” means an impairment that is (a) objectively manifested, meaning observable or perceivable from actual symptoms or conditions by someone other than Plaintiff; (b) of an important body function, meaning a body function of great value, significance, or consequence to Plaintiff; and (c) affects Plaintiff's general ability to lead his or her normal life, meaning it has influenced some of Plaintiff's capacity to live in his or her normal manner of living (with no fixed durational requirement), all as defined by Mich. Comp. Laws § 500.3135(5).

III. OPERATIVE PROVISIONS

A. Parties

1. Plaintiff. [PLAINTIFF NAME] (“Plaintiff”) is an individual residing at [ADDRESS], [COUNTY] County, Michigan.
2. Defendants.
   a. [DEFENDANT DRIVER NAME] (“Driver”) is an individual residing at [ADDRESS].
   b. [DEFENDANT OWNER NAME] (“Owner”) is the titled owner of the vehicle operated by Driver at the time of the Accident and resides or has its principal place of business at [ADDRESS].

B. Jurisdiction & Venue

3. This Court has subject-matter jurisdiction under Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.605.
4. Venue is proper in this county under Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.1629(1)(a), the tort-specific venue provision governing actions for personal injury, because the Accident occurred here and at least one Defendant resides, has a place of business, or conducts business here (with Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.1621 applying only as a residual venue rule under § 600.1629(1)(d) if no county satisfies the criteria of § 600.1629(1)(a)-(c)).

C. Factual Allegations

5. On [DATE] at approximately [TIME], Plaintiff was lawfully operating a [YEAR/MAKE/MODEL] motor vehicle eastbound on [ROADWAY].
6. At the same time and place, Driver negligently operated a [YEAR/MAKE/MODEL] vehicle owned by Owner, causing a collision with Plaintiff’s vehicle.

7. Defendant(s) breached one or more duties of care, including but not limited to:
   a. Failure to maintain an assured clear distance;
   b. Violation of statutory traffic control devices;
   c. Failure to operate the vehicle at a safe and reasonable speed given road and weather conditions; and
   d. Any additional statutory violations to be established through discovery.

8. As a direct and proximate result of Defendants’ negligence, Plaintiff sustained bodily injuries constituting a Serious Impairment, incurred medical expenses in excess of applicable No-Fault Benefit limits, lost wages, suffered pain and suffering, emotional distress, and other damages set forth below.

D. Causes of Action

COUNT I – NEGLIGENCE (Driver)

9. Plaintiff realleges Paragraphs 1–8.
10. Driver owed Plaintiff a duty of reasonable care in the operation of a motor vehicle.
11. Driver breached that duty as set forth above.
12. Driver’s breach was a direct and proximate cause of Plaintiff’s injuries and damages.

COUNT II – OWNER’S LIABILITY (Owner)

13. Plaintiff realleges Paragraphs 1–8.
14. Owner is vicariously liable for Driver’s negligence under the Owner’s Liability Statute, Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.401.

COUNT III – NEGLIGENT ENTRUSTMENT (Alternative)

15. Plaintiff realleges Paragraphs 1–8.
16. Owner negligently entrusted the vehicle to Driver, whom Owner knew or should have known was incompetent, unlicensed, or otherwise unfit to operate a motor vehicle safely.

IV. REPRESENTATIONS & WARRANTIES

17. Plaintiff represents that (i) all No-Fault Benefits reasonably available have been applied for or are being pursued, and that written notice of injury was timely provided to Plaintiff's No-Fault insurer (or the insurer has made payment of PIP benefits) consistent with the PIP Notice/Limitations Rule under Mich. Comp. Laws § 500.3145; (ii) this third-party tort Complaint, seeking noneconomic and excess economic damages from Defendants, is separate from and does not replace Plaintiff's first-party No-Fault PIP claim against Plaintiff's own insurer, and is timely under the three-year period of limitations of Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5805(2); (iii) Plaintiff satisfies the Serious Impairment threshold under Mich. Comp. Laws § 500.3135(1) and (5); and (iv) Plaintiff’s claimed economic damages exceed applicable personal injury protection limits.

V. COVENANTS & RESTRICTIONS

18. Plaintiff covenants to supplement discovery responses pursuant to MCR 2.302(E) and to mitigate damages consistent with applicable law.
19. Plaintiff agrees that any amounts recovered under the Mini-Tort Cap for property damage will not exceed the statutory maximum in effect on the date of the Accident.

VI. DEFAULT & REMEDIES (Damages & Prayer for Relief)

20. WHEREFORE, Plaintiff demands judgment against Defendants, severally in proportion to each Defendant's percentage of fault (jointly and severally only to the extent, if any, an exception under Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.6304(6) or § 600.6312 is later shown to apply), as follows:
    a. Noneconomic damages (pain, suffering, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life) in an amount to be determined by the trier of fact;
    b. Excess medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and attendant-care costs not compensable under No-Fault Benefits, in an amount exceeding $25,000.00;
    c. Past and future wage loss and loss of earning capacity;
    d. Property-damage reimbursement up to the Mini-Tort Cap;
    e. Pre- and post-judgment interest pursuant to Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.6013;
    f. Statutory, taxable, and actual costs, including expert-witness fees, pursuant to Mich. Court Rule 2.625; and
    g. Any other relief the Court deems just and equitable.

VII. RISK ALLOCATION

21. Comparative Fault. Plaintiff’s recovery of noneconomic damages will be reduced, if at all, only in proportion to any Comparative Fault allocated to Plaintiff by the trier of fact and barred entirely only if Plaintiff's percentage of fault is found to be greater than the aggregate fault of all other persons who contributed to the Accident, per Mich. Comp. Laws §§ 500.3135(2)(b) and 600.2959.
22. Several Liability. Pursuant to Mich. Comp. Laws §§ 600.2956 and 600.6304(4), each Defendant's liability for damages is several only, not joint, in direct proportion to that Defendant's percentage of fault as found by the trier of fact, except to the extent a statutory exception to several-only liability under Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.6304(6) or § 600.6312 is shown to apply.

VIII. DISPUTE RESOLUTION

23. Governing Law. This action is governed by the substantive law of the State of Michigan, including its No-Fault Act and comparative-negligence statutes.
24. Forum Selection. The Circuit Court for the County of [________________________________], Michigan, is the exclusive forum unless the case is removed or transferred pursuant to law.
25. Arbitration (Optional). By leave of court and upon written stipulation of all parties, any or all claims may be submitted to binding arbitration under MCR 3.602.
26. Jury Demand Procedure. Plaintiff will file a separate written jury demand and pay the jury fee within the time required by MCR 2.508(B)(1). This Complaint alone is not the jury demand.
27. Injunctive Relief. Plaintiff does not seek injunctive relief at this time but reserves the right to do so if warranted by future developments.

IX. GENERAL PROVISIONS

28. Amendment & Relation-Back. Plaintiff reserves the right to amend this Complaint pursuant to MCR 2.118.
29. Severability. If any paragraph is adjudged invalid, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force.
30. Integration. This Complaint contains all claims presently known to Plaintiff arising out of the Accident.
31. Electronic Signatures. This document may be signed electronically in compliance with MCR 1.109(E)(4)(f).

X. EXECUTION BLOCK

Respectfully submitted,

[LAW FIRM NAME]
[Street Address]
[City, State ZIP]
Tel: [(___) ___-____] | Fax: [(___) ___-____]
Email: [__________________________]

By: _________________________________
[ATTORNEY NAME] (P[_______])
Attorneys for Plaintiff
Date: [__/__/____]

Verification (MCR 1.109(D)(3)(b))

I declare under the penalties of perjury that this Complaint has been examined by me and that its contents are true to the best of my information, knowledge, and belief.

_________________________________
[PLAINTIFF NAME]

Date: [__/__/____]

Certificate of Service

I certify that on [DATE], I served the foregoing Complaint on all parties of record via the court’s electronic-filing system and/or by [U.S. Mail / personal service] to their counsel of record.

_________________________________
[ATTORNEY NAME] (P[_______])