Southfield facts that matter in a pedestrian accident case
- Southfield had 31 pedestrian-involved crashes in 2024, according to the Michigan Traffic Crash Facts Oakland County profile. Source
Your household policy pays first
The first source of benefits is usually an auto policy owned by you, your spouse or a relative you live with (MCL 500.3114(1)). That gives you the same benefits as a driver: medical care, wage loss, attendant care and household help.
No household policy
For crashes after the 2019 reform, a person injured while not in a vehicle who has no household policy claims through the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan (MCL 500.3115). Plan medical benefits are limited to $250,000 for crashes after July 1, 2020.
Suing the driver
If your injuries meet the threshold, you can sue the driver for pain and suffering and for medical costs above the PIP limit that paid. A pedestrian’s own mistake reduces damages under comparative fault but does not end the claim unless the pedestrian was more than 50% at fault for noneconomic damages.
Southfield courts, police and hospitals
| Crash reports | Southfield Police Department |
|---|---|
| District court | 46th District Court (26000 Evergreen Rd., Southfield) (serves Cities of Southfield and Lathrup Village; Township of Southfield) |
| Circuit court | 6th Circuit Court (Oakland County), 1200 N. Telegraph Rd., Pontiac |
| Trauma centers | Ascension Providence Hospital, Southfield Campus (Henry Ford Providence Southfield) (Level II, in Southfield); Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital (Level I (adult), nearest Level I; in Royal Oak) |
| Major roads | M-10 (John C. Lodge Freeway / Northwestern Highway), I-696 (Walter P. Reuther Freeway), M-39 (Southfield Freeway), US 24 (Telegraph Road), M-102 (8 Mile Road), Greenfield Road |
| From our office | About 20 minutes by car (approximate) |
What to do now
- Get medical care and tell every provider a vehicle hit you.
- Get the crash report number from the police agency that responded.
- Ask nearby businesses and buses to save video right away.
- Write down witnesses and the driver’s plate and insurer.
- Apply for no-fault benefits in writing within one year.
One year. Give your no-fault insurer written notice within one year of the crash. Use the deadline calculator to see every date for your case.
Other Southfield crash cases we handle
- Southfield car accidents
- Southfield truck accident
- Southfield Uber and Lyft accident
- Southfield wrongful death
Sources: Michigan courts directory, Michigan Traffic Crash Facts (2024), the DIFS Level I and II trauma center list, the Michigan Compiled Laws and local agency websites, checked October 2026.
Questions people ask us
I don’t own a car. Who pays after I was hit walking in Southfield?
A policy owned by your spouse or a relative you live with pays first. If there is none, you apply to the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan, which pays medical care up to $250,000 for crashes after July 1, 2020.
Can I claim if I was crossing outside a crosswalk?
Yes. No-fault benefits are paid regardless of fault. For a lawsuit against the driver, your share of fault reduces damages, and you cannot recover noneconomic damages if you were more than 50% at fault.
Where would a Southfield case be filed?
Claims of $25,000 or less usually go to the 46th District Court. Larger claims and most injury lawsuits go to circuit court, the 6th Circuit Court for Oakland County. Venue can also depend on where a defendant lives or does business.