What the insurance company does not want you to know about this is that in Michigan, you may have two claims at the same time: workers' compensation against your employer's insurer, and a third-party injury claim against the person or company that caused the crash.

What should have happened right away: if you were riding a work shuttle, driving between job sites, or working on the shoulder of I-496, US-127, or I-96 in Lansing when the crash happened, you should have reported the injury to your employer immediately and gotten medical care the same day if possible. Workers' comp is usually your exclusive remedy against your employer, which means you normally cannot sue your employer for pain and suffering. But that rule does not protect a negligent shuttle company, outside driver, subcontractor, parts maker, or road contractor.

What to do now: file the workers' comp claim now if it has not been opened. That can cover wage loss and medical treatment while you miss shifts. Also identify every possible third party: the shuttle operator, another driver, a construction company, or a vehicle manufacturer. If it was a motor vehicle crash, Michigan No-Fault rules may also apply, and those claims have shorter notice deadlines than the general lawsuit deadline. Do not let year-end insurer pressure push you into a quick release.

Get and preserve:

• the crash report
• employer incident report
• shuttle or vehicle information
• witness names
• photos
• ER and follow-up records

What comes next: workers' comp may start paying limited benefits, but a third-party case can seek pain and suffering and excess wage loss that comp does not fully cover. In Michigan, the general deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit is 3 years from the crash, but waiting can wreck the case long before that. Video gets erased, witnesses disappear, and insurers harden their position after policy renewals and end-of-year claim reviews.