Woman dies in Kalamazoo PNC Bank crash
A 35-year-old woman died after her car crashed into a bank early Sunday, and a passenger was hospitalized.
The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety said officers responded about 2:21 a.m. Nov. 1 to the 1700 block of South Westnedge Avenue near Howard Street. The car hit a PNC Bank.
The woman was taken to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The passenger was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
No other vehicles were involved, and police said excessive speed appears to have been a factor.
Anyone with information is asked to call the department's Criminal Investigation Division at 269-337-8139 or provide an anonymous tip to Kalamazoo Silent Observer at 269-343-2100.
Michigan passenger claims after a single-vehicle crash
An injured passenger can pursue a claim against the driver of the car they were riding in if that driver's negligence caused the injuries. A second vehicle doesn't have to be involved. Michigan Legal Center explains the distinction between a passenger's no-fault benefits and a claim against their own driver in its discussion of passenger injury claims after a Michigan car accident.
A claim for pain and suffering requires a qualifying injury under MCL 500.3135, which sets the threshold at death, permanent serious disfigurement or serious impairment of body function. An injury doesn't have to be life-threatening to qualify.
If an at-fault driver dies, that doesn't automatically end an injured passenger's claim. Michigan's survival law, MCL 600.2921, preserves claims after death, so a claim may still be pursued against the driver's estate.
No-fault personal injury protection benefits are separate from a claim against the driver. They may cover necessary medical care, lost income and certain household services regardless of fault, subject to eligibility, policy limits and statutory restrictions.
Get help from Michigan Legal Center
Michigan Legal Center: the Law Offices of Christopher J. Trainor & Associates handles car accident, passenger injury and no-fault claims.
If you were injured as a passenger in a Michigan crash, Contact Michigan Legal Center to discuss your potential claims and insurance questions.
There is no attorney fee unless money is recovered for you. Case costs and fee terms are governed by the written fee agreement.