Michigan Laws 257.1106 – Death or injury by uninsured motorist; application for payment from fund; disputing liability; payment; subrogation; suspension; default in payments
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(1) Where the death of or personal injury or property damage to any person or property is occasioned in this state by an uninsured motor vehicle, any person who would have a cause of action against the owner or driver of the uninsured motor vehicle in respect to the death or personal injury, or property damage except a person entitled to make an application under section 7, may make application, in a form prescribed by the secretary, for payment out of the fund subject to the limitations provided in this act for all damages in respect to the death or personal injury and for damages in excess of $200.00 in respect to property damage.
(2) Upon receipt of application under this section, the secretary shall forward, by certified mail, notice of the application to the owner and driver of the uninsured motor vehicle against whom liability for damages is alleged, to their last addresses as recorded with the secretary. If any person to whom a notice is sent replies in writing within 20 days of the date upon which the notice was sent, disputing his liability, the provisions of subsection (5) shall be suspended as to such person, until such person executes a written consent to such payment or the secretary obtains a judgment for such payment against such person in a court of law.
Terms Used In Michigan Laws 257.1106
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- Fund: means the motor vehicle accident claims fund. See Michigan Laws 257.1102
- in writing: shall be construed to include printing, engraving, and lithographing; except that if the written signature of a person is required by law, the signature shall be the proper handwriting of the person or, if the person is unable to write, the person's proper mark, which may be, unless otherwise expressly prohibited by law, a clear and classifiable fingerprint of the person made with ink or another substance. See Michigan Laws 8.3q
- Person: includes natural persons, firms, copartnerships, associations, and corporations, except this state or an agency or political subdivision of this state. See Michigan Laws 257.1102
- Secretary: means the secretary of state acting as director of the fund. See Michigan Laws 257.1102
- Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
- state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, shall be construed to extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories belonging to the United States; and the words "United States" shall be construed to include the district and territories. See Michigan Laws 8.3o
- Uninsured motor vehicle: means a motor vehicle as to which there is not in force a liability policy that meets the requirements of section 3009 of the insurance code of 1956, 1956 PA 218, MCL 500. See Michigan Laws 257.1102
(3) In respect to the application, the secretary may make payment out of the fund, subject to section 23, of an amount that he deems proper if the applicant executes a written release of all claims arising out of the accident to be paid from the fund.
(4) Where an amount is paid out of the fund under this section, the secretary is subrogated to the rights of the person to whom the amount is paid and may maintain an action in his own name or in the name of the person against the person responsible for the use or operation of the uninsured motor vehicle.
(5) Where payment is made under this section, the operator’s or chauffeur’s license and owner’s registration or registrations of the persons to whom the notice was forwarded under this section shall be forthwith suspended by the secretary and shall not be reinstated until such person or persons have:
(a) Repaid in full to the fund the amount paid out; or
(b) Commenced installment repayments in accordance with an agreement made with the secretary, and filed proof of financial responsibility until the amount paid out in settlement of the claim by the motor vehicle accident claims fund has been repaid in full.
(6) Where a person who has commenced repayment of an amount paid out of the fund is in default in any payment for a period of 10 days, or fails to maintain proof of financial responsibility as required by this act, the secretary shall forthwith suspend the operator’s or chauffeur’s license and vehicle registration or registrations of the person.