More truck freight crosses between Detroit and Windsor than anywhere else on the US–Canada border. Parts trucks run I-94 and I-75 nonstop to feed the auto plants. If one of those rigs hit you, Michigan's rules have some wrinkles you should know about before you do anything.
The truck accident statute of limitations in Michigan appears to be 3 years from the date of the crash (MCL § 600.5805(2)). Wrongful death generally runs 3 years from the date of death. If a government vehicle or entity was involved, formal written notice is generally required first, on its own clock: 120 days (highway defect). The evidence clock is shorter than all of them.
How current these numbers are
A licensed attorney checked these Michigan figures against the cited statutes on 2026-09-20. Statutes still change (Florida cut its injury period in half in 2023; Louisiana doubled its own in 2024), so confirm with a Michigan lawyer before you rely on them.
What makes Michigan different
Michigan's no-fault system creates a second, much shorter clock that runs in parallel: a claim for personal injury protection benefits generally has to be brought within one year, even though the liability claim has three. Michigan also enforces governmental immunity aggressively, and a highway-defect claim against a road authority can require notice within 120 days. Tolling for a minor gives one year past their 18th birthday, not a fresh period.
What driving I-94 is really like
Michigan trucking is winter and potholes. Lake-effect snow off Lake Michigan buries I-94 and I-196 near Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, and whiteouts on US-131 cause pileups every season. Pothole damage is a running joke, but not when a loaded trailer blows a tire or loses a wheel. The Ambassador Bridge and the tunnel to Windsor create long truck lines and sudden stops. I-75 north toward the Mackinac Bridge carries tourists, timber and freight to the Upper Peninsula, where two-lane highways and deer are the main hazards. Michigan also allows some of the heaviest trucks in the country, with extra axles, and those rigs handle and stop differently.
The Detroit–Windsor crossings handle more truck-borne trade than any other US–Canada gateway, and the automotive supply chain runs just-in-time parts trucks continuously on I-94 and I-75. A high proportion of Michigan truck traffic is cross-border, which complicates service and discovery. Crashes pile up on I-94 (Detroit–Kalamazoo–Chicago), I-75 (Detroit–Flint–Mackinac), I-96 and I-696, The Ambassador Bridge and Detroit–Windsor crossings and US-131 and US-127.
Picture this on I-94
Say you're a car driver on I-94 near Dearborn when a parts truck coming from the Ambassador Bridge rear-ends you in slowing traffic. The truck is a Canadian carrier, the load belongs to an auto supplier in Ontario, and the driver lives in Windsor. That's a lot of paper to chase across a border. Getting the carrier's records preserved means knowing exactly who they are and reaching them fast.
The four Michigan deadlines that matter
| Deadline | Period | Runs from | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal injury lawsuit | 3 years | the date of the crash | MCL § 600.5805(2) |
| Wrongful death claim | 3 years | the date of death | MCL § 600.5805; § 600.2922 |
| Notice — state entity | 180 days (highway defect) | the date of the crash | MCL § 691.1404 |
| Notice — city, county or district | 120 days (highway defect) | the date of the crash | MCL § 691.1404 |
On the injury period: Michigan's no-fault system runs on a separate and much shorter clock: a claim for PIP benefits generally must be brought within one year under MCL § 500.3145. Missing that does not end the liability claim, but it can end the benefits.
If a government vehicle was involved in Michigan
Shortest government notice window found for Michigan: 120 days (highway defect) (MCL § 691.1404). It comes due long before the ordinary deadline, it's a precondition to suing, and missing it usually bars the claim entirely. Notice of a highway-defect claim within 120 days for some entities — confirm which provision governs the road authority involved. Michigan enforces governmental immunity aggressively under MCL § 691.1407. A claim against a county road commission or transit authority needs immediate attention.
Public fleets you could realistically be hit by here: MDOT maintenance trucks, county road commission equipment, DDOT and SMART buses, City of Detroit fleets, and school district buses. Not sure the vehicle was one of these? Work to the shorter deadline until someone confirms otherwise.
If the injured person was a minor
Tolled, then 1 year in Michigan under MCL § 600.5851. The clock generally doesn't start until the injured person turns 18. A minor generally gets one year after turning 18, not a fresh full period. That pause covers the court deadline, not the evidence: a carrier may destroy a driver's logs six months after the crash no matter the injured person's age, and in many states a government notice deadline isn't tolled for a child either.
When the Michigan clock starts
Limited. Michigan largely abolished the common-law discovery rule outside specific statutory categories.
Your Michigan dates, calculated
Enter your crash date. Michigan is preselected, and nothing you type is sent anywhere.
The evidence clock runs faster than 3 years
- Dashcam and telematics video: often 30 days or less (No federal retention requirement — vendor and carrier policy only).
- ECM / black box data: overwritten as the tractor runs; often lost on repair or resale.
- Driver logs: six months (49 CFR § 395.8(k)(1)).
- Maintenance records: one year while the vehicle is in the carrier's control (49 CFR § 396.3(c)).
- Annual inspection report: 14 months (49 CFR § 396.21(b)(1)).
Until a written preservation letter reaches the carrier, destroying records at the end of a retention period is routine and lawful. The FMCSA regulations and evidence guide explains each record.
Three things to do now in Michigan
- Michigan State Police or local police handle crashes. Request the UD-10 crash report, which lists carrier and insurance details.
- For Canadian carriers, note the company name, the USDOT number and any Canadian registration shown on the truck.
- MDOT traffic cameras cover much of metro Detroit. Ask about preserving footage from the crash location quickly.
Crashed near the Michigan line?
A crash a few miles over a border can fall under a different deadline. If you're not sure which state you were in, check both.
| State | Injury deadline | Wrongful death |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 2 years | 2 years |
| Indiana | 2 years | 2 years |
| Wisconsin | 3 years | 3 years |
| Illinois | 2 years | 2 years |
Compare any state with the filing deadline calculator, or see the full state index.
Next steps
- Get a preservation letter to the carrier. It's the most time-critical step.
- Confirm whether a government entity was involved. If so, your 3 years deadline may give way to 120 days (highway defect).
- Don't give a recorded statement to the trucking company's insurer.
- Get the Michigan crash report; it names the carrier, DOT number and insurer.
- Have a lawyer licensed in Michigan confirm these dates against the current statute.
Sources
- Hours of Service — records of duty status retention — 49 CFR § 395.8 (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration)
- Inspection, Repair, and Maintenance — record retention — 49 CFR Part 396 (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration)
- Accident register requirements — 49 CFR § 390.15 (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration)
- Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts — Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Federal regulations and crash statistics are updated periodically. Figures cited on this page reflect the referenced publications at the time of writing; check the source for the current edition.