The mistake that costs people the most money is turning over immigration documents that are not required and letting the claim drift while bills pile up.

Situation 1: It's a Michigan car crash claim. For a Sterling Heights wreck, the insurer handling Michigan no-fault/PIP usually needs identity, the crash facts, treatment records, wage loss information, and proof of the policy that applies. They do not need your entire immigration file to decide whether you were hurt.

Your status does not cancel your right to make a bodily injury claim or a no-fault claim. What matters first is whether there is applicable coverage and whether you meet deadlines, especially the written no-fault application within 1 year of the crash. A lawsuit for pain and suffering is generally subject to a 3-year deadline.

If they are asking for a passport, visa, green card, or work authorization, the angle is often one of these:

• to intimidate you into dropping the claim
• to look for inconsistencies in names or addresses
• to argue about wage loss if you are claiming missed income

Situation 2: They are asking because you claimed lost wages. That is where immigration paperwork can become a real issue. The insurer may say they need proof you were working and what you earned. Even then, they still do not get unlimited access to everything. Pay stubs, tax records, employer verification, or bank deposits are usually more relevant than broad immigration records.

Situation 3: An employer or adjuster is hinting at deportation. That is a pressure tactic, not a magic defense. In Michigan, retaliation and intimidation around an injury claim can be reported. For insurance misconduct, complaints go to the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services. If this started with a work injury, the Workers' Disability Compensation Agency is the state agency involved.

If the crash was on a summer trip route - say I-75, M-59, or after a heat-related tire blowout - none of that changes because of immigration status. What matters is coverage, proof of injury, and hitting the 1-year no-fault deadline.