This is one of the most misunderstood parts of Michigan law, and it trips up good people all the time. Michigan is a no-fault state, which means your own auto insurance pays your medical bills and lost wages through PIP benefits regardless of who caused the crash. That part happens automatically, or at least it's supposed to.
But no-fault doesn't mean you can't sue the at-fault driver. It means you can only step outside the no-fault system and pursue a lawsuit for pain and suffering if your injuries meet Michigan's "serious impairment of body function" threshold, things like a broken bone, permanent scarring, or an injury that affects your ability to live your life. This is exactly where insurance companies dig in and fight hardest, because a lot of money can be on the line. We've spent four decades learning how to prove that threshold is met, and we don't back down when a billion-dollar insurer says otherwise.