Michigan Legal Updates: New Laws in 2025 and How They Affect You
Legally Reviewed and Edited by: Terry Cochran
Michigan’s legal landscape is shifting in 2025 with new laws, Supreme Court rulings, and proposed legislation that could impact individuals and businesses across the state. From stricter car seat laws to medical malpractice reforms, these legal changes in 2025 could affect personal injury claims by influencing liability, available compensation, and the evidence used in lawsuits.
If you want to stay informed and protect your rights, it’s important to understand these changes—and when to seek legal guidance from an experienced attorney near you at Cochran, Kroll, & Associates, P.C.
Explore our breakdown of Michigan’s new laws in 2025 and what they mean for you.
Michigan New Laws in 2025
Michigan enacts legal changes each new year, impacting residents, businesses, and accident victims. Here’s what’s happening in 2025 and how it might affect your rights if you’re involved in a personal injury claim:
Michigan’s 2025 Revised Car Seat Laws
Michigan has introduced stricter car seat laws to improve child safety, replacing more flexible guidelines with specific age-based requirements. Previously, children under 4 had to be in a car seat, and those under 8 (or under 4’9”) needed a booster. Now, the law requires:
- Under 2. Must stay in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the manufacturer’s height or weight limits (previously, parents could switch sooner).
- Ages 2-4. Must use a forward-facing car seat with a harness until outgrown.
- Ages 4-8. Must use a booster seat until reaching 4’9″ in height.
- Under 13. Should ride in the back seat when possible.
How It Affects Injury Claims:
These changes could impact liability in car accidents involving children. If your child isn’t in the right seat for their age, insurance companies may argue negligence, which could reduce compensation. But if they were properly restrained and still injured, the clearer rules help strengthen claims against at-fault drivers by eliminating disputes over safety compliance.
If your child is hurt in a crash, speak with a skilled Michigan attorney to determine how these new laws affect your case.
Automated Speed Enforcement in Work Zones
Starting April 1, 2025, the Michigan Department of Transportation will implement automated speed enforcement systems in work zones across the state. These systems must:
- Include a digital speed display
- Have warning signs placed 1 mile before the work zone
- Only be operational when workers are present
Drivers caught exceeding the speed limit by more than 10 mph will face graduated penalties, from a written warning to civil infractions and fines up to $300.
How It Affects Injury Claims:
If you’re injured in a work zone crash, an automated speeding citation could make it easier to prove the other driver was at fault. A recorded violation shows they were already breaking the law, which can help support your claim.
Work with a seasoned auto accident attorney who can help you obtain the citation and footage and use it to hold the at-fault driver accountable.
Minimum Wage Changes
Due to a Michigan Supreme Court ruling, Michigan’s minimum wage will increase twice in 2025. The first raise will take effect on January 1, 2025, followed by a larger increase on February 21, 2025, under the reinstated Improved Workforce Opportunity Wage Act of 2018.
- January 1, 2025
- Minimum wage increases from $10.33 to $10.56 per hour
- Tipped wage increases from $3.93 to $4.01 per hour
- 85% rate for minors under 18 increases from $8.78 to $8.98 per hour
- February 21, 2025
- Minimum wage increases again to $12.48 per hour
- Tipped wage increases to $5.99 per hour
- 85% rate for minors rises to $10.61 per hour
These increases will continue annually until 2028 when the minimum wage reaches $14.97 per hour, and the tipped wage will be phased out entirely by 2030.
How It Affects Injury Claims:
If an accident prevents you from working, lost wage claims reflect what you would have earned under the new wage laws. With higher minimum wages, injured workers—especially those in hourly or tipped roles—may be eligible for larger compensation for lost income.
A knowledgeable personal injury attorney can calculate the full amount owed based on these updated rates.
School Bus Cameras and Traffic Violations
Starting January 1, 2025, Michigan school buses are to be equipped with cameras to catch drivers who illegally pass when stop arms are extended. Under HB 4928, 4929, and 4930, signed in December 2024:
- Stop-arm cameras will record video or photos of violations.
- Fines will range from $100 to $500 for drivers who fail to stop.
- Fine proceeds will fund school transportation safety improvements.
How It Affects Injury Claims:
If a student is hit by a driver who ignored a school bus stop sign, the recorded footage could serve as key evidence in an injury claim. With clear video proof, it may be easier to hold the driver accountable and resolve claims faster by removing disputes over fault.
If your child is injured in a school bus-related accident, an attorney can help use this footage to support your case.
Cardiac Emergency Response in Schools
Two bills signed into law in April 2024 will change how Michigan schools respond to cardiac emergencies, effective April 1, 2025. The Michigan Department of Education now requires:
- All schools to implement comprehensive cardiac emergency response plans.
- School athletic coaches are to be trained in CPR and the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
- Regular drills and equipment checks to ensure preparedness.
Michigan joins Florida, Georgia, Kansas, and other states with legislation addressing cardiac events in schools.
How It Affects Injury Claims:
If a school fails to follow these new emergency response rules, it could face liability for delays or mistakes in treating a cardiac event. Families may have a stronger case for negligence if a lack of training, missing equipment, or poor emergency planning worsens a student’s condition.
If your child experiences a cardiac emergency at school and proper procedures weren’t followed, an attorney familiar with cases involving government immunity can help determine if legal action is an option.
New Auto Accident Medical Reimbursement Rates
On July 1, 2024, Michigan increased reimbursement rates for medical providers treating auto accident victims. Under the updated rules, the maximum treatment payment is now set at 240% of the amount payable under Medicare, a jump from previous rates.
This change could impact access to medical care for auto accident victims. In the past, lower reimbursement rates led many doctors and rehabilitation centers to limit or refuse treatment for no-fault insurance patients, making it harder for injury victims to get care.
With higher payments, more providers may be willing to accept auto accident patients, improving access to necessary treatments.
How It Affects Injury Claims:
For personal injury claims, medical costs often make up a large part of compensation, and these higher rates could increase the value of medical-related damages. If you’re facing an auto accident claim, an attorney can help ensure your medical expenses are fully accounted for in your case.
Recent Supreme Court Ruling
Recent decisions from the Michigan Supreme Court are shaping how medical malpractice cases are handled, particularly when it comes to expert testimony. In Danhoff v Fahim (decided July 8, 2024), the Michigan Supreme Court addressed the role of supporting literature in medical malpractice cases.
The Court ruled that scientific literature can support expert testimony but is not always required. This decision emphasizes that the absence of published studies does not automatically make expert opinions inadmissible.
How It Affects Injury Claims:
This ruling makes it easier for injured patients to present expert testimony in malpractice cases. If a doctor’s negligence caused harm, expert witnesses can now rely on their experience and professional judgment, even if no published studies exist to support their opinion.
For medical malpractice claims, this could mean fewer roadblocks when proving a doctor failed to meet the standard of care. If you’re pursuing a malpractice case, a qualified attorney can help build a well-supported argument using expert testimony under these updated rules.
Possible Changes in 2025: What To Watch For
In addition to the laws already set to take effect, several proposed changes are still in progress. These pending bills and court decisions could bring major legal shifts, especially for those pursuing injury claims. Here are a few to watch in the coming months:
Expansion of Wrongful Death Compensation
Michigan’s Wrongful Death Act currently allows families to recover damages for medical bills, lost financial support, and funeral costs after losing a loved one due to negligence. House Bill 6086, introduced in November 2024, proposes expanding these damages to include:
- Lost future earnings. Compensation for income the deceased would have earned over their lifetime.
- Loss of household services. Recognizing the value of unpaid work like childcare, home maintenance, and caregiving.
If passed, this bill would give families a broader range of financial recovery options, helping them cover long-term losses beyond immediate expenses. However, insurance companies may push back, arguing that higher payouts will increase costs.
If you’re pursuing a wrongful death claim, an attorney can help you understand what compensation may be available under current law—and how proposed changes could affect your case.
Facing a Personal Injury Claim? Work With Our Skilled Attorneys
Staying on top of legal updates in Michigan for 2025 can be overwhelming, especially if you’re dealing with recovery from a personal injury, like a car accident or medical negligence. At Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C., we are committed to staying current on all legal developments that could impact your rights and compensation.
Our team, led by Eileen Kroll, a registered nurse and experienced attorney, combines medical and legal expertise to fight for your rights. Are you searching for a skilled law firm near you? Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation to discuss your case.
Our contingency fee basis means we only get paid if we win your case, so there is no financial risk to you to get started. Call our law firm today at 1-866-MICH-LAW and schedule your no-obligation, free case evaluation.
Disclaimer : The information provided is general and not for legal advice. The blogs are not intended to provide legal counsel and no attorney-client relationship is created nor intended.
