Give your employer notice of the injury within 90 days. If benefits are denied, cut off, or never started, file an Application for Mediation or Hearing with Michigan's Workers' Disability Compensation Agency within 2 years of the injury.

The common wrong answer is: "You have a year, so don't worry yet." That is not the deadline that usually matters first in Michigan.

For a work injury in Flint - a hydroplaning crash in a company vehicle on I-69, getting hit in an apartment complex lot during storm cleanup, or a pedestrian strike while working outside - the first clock is the 90-day notice rule. Your employer needs notice that the injury happened and was work-related. Waiting because a supervisor said "let's see how you feel" is how people get burned.

Notice does not need fancy legal wording. But make it clear, in writing if possible: when, where, how it happened, and what body parts were hurt. Save the text, email, incident report, or screenshot.

If the employer or insurer says you are fine for light duty, refuses wage loss, or tells you workers' comp is your "only option," that does not automatically end things. In Michigan, you may still have:

• a workers' comp claim for wage loss and medical care
• a possible third-party claim if someone besides your employer caused the crash

Medical treatment has its own wrinkle. In Michigan, the employer generally controls the doctor for the first 28 days after the injury. After that, you can usually choose your own doctor, but you must notify the employer or insurer.

If you are already close to the deadline, do the two time-sensitive things now: report it to the employer immediately and, if benefits are being disputed, file with the WDCA. Whiteout squalls on I-96 and US-31 get the headlines, but the deadline problem is usually what wrecks a claim.