We live in Michigan and have PLPD coverage on our van. My son was driving the van and hit a deer and did extensive damage to the van. Would we get any kind of benefit from our insurance company?

Michigan has one of the most comprehensive no-fault auto insurance systems in the United States. PLPD is the basic liability coverage required of a motorist in the state of Michigan.

There are three basic parts to a no-fault policy that must be purchased and carried on every vehicle. They are: Personal Injury Protection (PIP), Property Protection (PPI) and Residual Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability (BI/PD).

Personal injury protection (PIP) pays all necessary medical costs if you are hurt in an auto accident. Property protection (PPI) pays up to $1 million for damage your car does in Michigan to other people's property, such as buildings and fences. Residual bodily injury and property damage liability (BI/PD) pays your defense costs and any damages you are found liable for as the result of an auto accident, up to the limits of the policy.

Your basic no-fault policy does not pay to repair or replace your car if it is damaged. Therefore, if you want to have your vehicle covered if it is damaged or stolen you must purchase physical damage coverage of collision and comprehensive.

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Collision coverage pays to repair or replace your vehicle if it is damaged in an accident and Comprehensive coverage pays if your car is stolen, collides with an animal or is accidentally damaged by falling objects, fire, flood, or vandalism.

For an accident with a deer, this would be covered under comprehensive coverage and not the basic MI state required liability insurance policy. If you do not have comprehensive coverage on your van then unfortunately your PLPD insurance would not pay for repairs due to hitting a deer.