Michigan Personal Injury Statutes
This page provides a comprehensive index of statutes from the Michigan Compiled Laws (MCL) that are commonly referenced in personal injury cases. The statutes span multiple legal areas, including tort law, insurance, no-fault auto law, health care liability, governmental immunity, and civil procedure. Each statute is listed with its official citation, full text or excerpt, and a plain-language summary explaining its relevance to Michigan personal injury law. The guide is organized by MCL chapter and section number to assist attorneys, researchers, and students in navigating Michigan’s legal framework for personal injury litigation.
Table of Contents
Michigan Compiled Laws (MCL)
Statutes of Limitations
(Personal Injury & Tort Actions)
§ 600.2912b – Medical malpractice; Notice of Intent (182-day notice)
§ 600.5805 – Injuries to persons or property; period of limitations
§ 600.5813 – Catch-all limitation for personal actions not otherwise provided
§ 600.5838 – Claim based on malpractice; accrual and limitations
§ 600.5838a – Medical malpractice; periods of repose and definitions
§ 600.5839 – Statute of repose for improvements to real property
General Negligence & Liability Principles
- § 600.2911 – Libel and slander (exemplary damages limitation)
- § 600.2912 – General professional negligence provision (malpractice liability)
- § 600.2945 – Product liability definitions
- § 600.2946 – Product liability standards and defenses (including FDA compliance)
- § 600.2946a – Noneconomic damage cap for product liability cases
- § 600.2947 – Product liability defenses (misuse, alteration, comparative fault)
- § 600.2955 – Admissibility of scientific opinion (Daubert standards for experts)
- § 600.2957(3) – Preservation of common-law defenses (open & obvious doctrine)
- § 691.1407(2) – Governmental immunity from negligence liability (general rule)
Comparative Fault /
Contributory Negligence Statutes
Wrongful Death Statutes
No-Fault Insurance & PIP
(Auto Accident Statutes)
- § 257.401 – Owner liability for negligent use of motor vehicle
- § 257.401a – Definition of “owner” for motor vehicle liability
- § 257.625(3) & (4) – Alcohol-related injury liability (criminal DUI consequences)
- § 436.1801 – Michigan Dramshop Act (liability of alcohol providers)
- § 500.3101 – Mandatory no-fault auto insurance requirement
- § 500.3105 – Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage scope
- § 500.3107 – Allowable economic PIP benefits
- § 500.3107c – Opting-out of PIP coverage (post-2019 reform)
- § 500.3108 – Work loss and survivors’ loss benefits under PIP
- § 500.3113(b) – Exclusion from PIP for uninsured vehicle owners
- § 500.3114 – Priority rules for PIP coverage (general)
- § 500.3115 – Priority rules for pedestrians and bicyclists
- § 500.3135 – Tort liability threshold
- § 500.3145 – PIP statute of limitations (“one-year rule”)
- § 500.3157 – Medical fee schedules for PIP charges (post-2019 reform)
Medical Malpractice Statutes
- § 600.1483 – Cap on noneconomic damages in medical malpractice
- § 600.2169 – Expert witness qualifications in medical malpractice
- § 600.2912b – Notice of intent to sue in medical malpractice (182-day notice requirement)
- § 600.2912d – Affidavit of merit required for medical malpractice claims
- § 600.5805(8) – Statute of limitations for malpractice actions (2-year limit)
- § 600.5838 – Malpractice claim accrual and statute of limitations (“discovery rule”)
- § 600.5838a – Medical malpractice period of repose and definitions (6-year maximum limit)
- § 600.5851(7)–(8) – Minor plaintiff tolling rules specific to medical malpractice (age 10 or 15 limits)
- § 600.5856(c) – Tolling of limitations during Notice of Intent (NOI) period (182 days)
- § 600.6304(6)(a) – Joint liability exception specific to medical malpractice actions
Governmental Immunity Statutes
- § 600.6431 – Suits against State in Court of Claims (notice and filing deadlines)
- § 691.1402 – Highway exception to governmental immunity (maintenance of public highways)
- § 691.1403 – Definitions relevant to highway maintenance exception
- § 691.1404 – Notice requirements (120-day notice for highway defects)
- § 691.1405 – Motor vehicle exception (government liability for negligent operation)
- § 691.1406 – Public building exception (liability for unsafe conditions in public buildings)
- § 691.1407(1) – General governmental immunity (broad immunity for governmental functions)
- § 691.1407(2) – Governmental employee immunity (gross negligence standard)
- § 691.1407(5) – Absolute immunity for high-level governmental officials
- § 691.1413 – Proprietary function exception (for-profit governmental activities)
- § 691.1415 – Governmental hospital exception (no immunity for governmental hospitals)
- § 691.1416–1419 – Sewage disposal system event exception (liability for sewer backups and related injuries)
Joint and Several Liability Statutes
- § 600.2925a–2925d – Contribution among tortfeasors and effect of settlements (release of tortfeasors)
- § 600.2956 – Abolition of joint liability (several liability only)
- § 600.6304 – Judgment entry; implementation of several liability, medical malpractice exception, and reallocation rules
- § 600.6312 – Joint liability for intentional tortfeasors (criminal act exception)
Emotional Distress Statutes
- § 600.5805(2) & (5) – Statute of limitations applicable to emotional distress claims (3-year limitations period)
- § 600.5827 – Claim accrual for emotional distress (date wrongdoing occurred)
- § 600.2922 – Wrongful Death Act (emotional damages including loss of society and companionship)
- § 600.6304 – Comparative fault allocation applicable to emotional distress claims
- § 750.85 – Criminal statute regarding intentional infliction of mental anguish by torture (referenced in civil IIED cases)
Damage Caps Statutes
- § 418.131 – Workers’ Compensation exclusive remedy provision (effectively caps employer liability)
- § 500.3135 – No-Fault Act threshold injury requirement (effectively caps noneconomic damages at zero unless threshold is met)
- § 600.1483 – Medical malpractice noneconomic damages cap
- § 600.2946a – Product liability noneconomic damages cap
- § 600.2959 – Prohibition on double recovery of damages
- § 600.2960 – Setoff rules preventing duplicative damages recovery
- § 600.6098 – Michigan’s prohibition on punitive damages (exemplary only)
- § 600.6303 – Collateral source rule (reduction of economic damage awards by collateral source payments)