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The Coalition seeking changes to Michigan’s no-fault insurance law is growing

The scene of a fatal car crash outside Burns, Ore., earlier this month.
Oregon State Police via AP
The scene of a fatal car crash outside Burns, Ore., earlier this month.

Another group is joining a coalition to change Michigan's auto no-fault law.

Kaci Messiter is with Detroit Disability Power.

She says the current law allows insurance companies to cut pay for the care of car crash survivors. Caregiving agencies now earn less than what it costs to provide the care.

That's forcing agencies to close and leaving many survivors without care.

Messiter says her group supports two bills recently introduced in the state House to change the law. But she says the legislation is only a first step.

"There's bipartisan support to pass if the bills are put to a vote. However, the bills don't go nearly far enough to fix the mess that's been left behind by these auto no fault reforms."

A recent independent study found that more than 15-hundred crash survivors have lost care due to the no-fault law.

Tracy Samilton covers energy and transportation, including the auto industry and the business response to climate change for Michigan Public. She began her career at Michigan Radio as an intern, where she was promptly “bitten by the radio bug,” and never recovered.