Rear-End Collisions in Michigan: Is the Trailing Driver Always at Fault?
The driver in back is usually presumed at fault — but not always. Here is what determines liability.
The General Presumption
Drivers must keep a safe following distance, so the trailing driver in a rear-end crash is usually presumed negligent for failing to stop in time.
Exceptions to the Rule
The presumption can be rebutted — for example, if the lead driver stopped suddenly without cause, had no working brake lights, or reversed unexpectedly.
Injuries and Benefits
Michigan's No-Fault system requires your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage to pay medical bills and a portion of lost wages after a crash, regardless of who was at fault. Rear-end crashes commonly cause whiplash and back injuries. To sue an at-fault driver for pain and suffering in Michigan, your injury must meet the serious-impairment-of-body-function threshold.
How Injury Claim Team Can Help
Injury Claim Team is a free service — not a law firm — that connects injured people across Michigan with experienced, vetted personal injury attorneys. There is never a fee to use our service, and the attorneys we connect you with work on contingency, so you pay no attorney fee unless they recover compensation for you.
If you have questions about a Michigan rear-end collision claim, a specialist is available 24 hours a day to review your situation and connect you with the right Michigan attorney — usually within the hour. Call 973-566-5599 for your free, confidential case review.
This article is general information about Michigan law, not legal advice for your specific situation. For guidance on your case, talk to a qualified attorney. Injury Claim Team can connect you with one at no cost — call 973-566-5599.