Case Name: BRASHER v. AUTO CLUB INSURANCE ASSOCIATION
Court: Michigan Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1986-03-28
Citations: 152 Mich. App. 544
Docket Number: Docket No. 85688
Parties: BRASHER v AUTO CLUB INSURANCE ASSOCIATION
Judges: Before: MacKenzie, P.J., and Cynar and G. T. Martin, JJ.
Reporter: Michigan appeals reports; cases decided in the Michigan Court of Appeals.
Volume: 152
Pages: 544–547

Head Matter:
BRASHER v AUTO CLUB INSURANCE ASSOCIATION
Docket No. 85688.
Submitted February 12, 1986, at Detroit.
Decided March 28, 1986.
Deborah L. Brasher was walking along a sidewalk when a collision between automobiles occurred in an intersection near her. One automobile, insured by Auto Club Insurance Association, veered from the impact and struck Brasher. The other automobile, insured by State Farm Fire and Casualty Company, veered from the impact and struck a third automobile, insured by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, which had been stopped for the traffic signal at the intersection. Brasher filed suit against the three insurance companies in Wayne Circuit Court seeking no-fault benefits. Auto Club and State Farm paid $48,797.40 in medical expenses and settled the rest of Brasher’s claim for $33,000. Auto Club and State Farm then filed cross claims seeking indemnification and contribution from Liberty Mutual, arguing that the vehicle insured by Liberty Mutual was also involved in the accident for purposes of the no-fault automobile insurance act. The court, James Montante, J., granted summary judgment in favor of Auto Club and State Farm. Liberty Mutual appealed. Held:
In order for a vehicle to be involved in an accident within the meaning of the section of the no-fault act at issue, there must be some activity, with respect to the vehicle, which somehow contributes to the happening of the accident. The automobile insured by Liberty Mutual was not involved in the activity contributing to the happening of the accident. The trial court’s conclusion of law that the vehicle insured by Liberty Mutual was involved in the accident was erroneous.
Reversed and remanded.
References
Am Jur 2d, Automobile Insurance §§ 340 et seq.
Am Jur 2d, Insurance § 2034.
Apportionment of payments of no-fault (personal injury protection) benefits between insurers providing coverage to same insured under policies covering different vehicles. 34 ALR4th 374.
Validity and construction of "no-fault” automobile insurance plans. 42 ALR3d 229.
Insurance — Automobiles — No-Fault Insurance — "Involved in Accident”.
There must be some activity in regard to a motor vehicle which somehow contributes to the happening of an accident in order for that motor vehicle to be determined to be a motor vehicle "involved in the accident” for purposes of the no-fault insurance provision regarding claims for benefits by a person suffering accidental bodily injury while not an occupant of a motor vehicle (MCL 500.3115[1]; MSA 24.13115[1]).
Eggenberger, Eggenberger, McKinney & Weber, P.C. (by William D. Eggenberger), for State Farm Fire and Casualty Company.
Garan, Lucow, Miller, Seward, Cooper & Becker, P.C. (by James L. Borin), for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company.
Before: MacKenzie, P.J., and Cynar and G. T. Martin, JJ.
Retired circuit judge, sitting on the Court of Appeals by assignment.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
Auto Club Insurance Association and State Farm Fire and Casualty Insurance Company filed cross claims against appellant Liberty Mutual Insurance Company for contribution of no-fault benefits they paid to plaintiff as the result of injuries sustained in an automobile-pedestrian accident. The trial court granted summary judgment and entered a judgment in favor of Auto Club and State Farm. Liberty appeals as of right. We reverse.
The accident in question occurred at the intersection of Woodward and Alexandrine in Detroit. Albert Philpotts, who was insured by Auto Club, was driving south on Woodward and entered the intersection at Alexandrine. A vehicle driven by Maureen Daly and insured by State Farm struck Philpotts's vehicle as Daly entered the intersection while driving westbound on Alexandrine. After the collision, Philpotts's vehicle veered in a westerly direction and struck plaintiff, who was walking on a sidewalk. Daly's vehicle veered south and struck a vehicle driven by Eugene Ellis, which was facing northbound on Woodward and was stopped for the traffic signal at Alexandrine. Ellis's vehicle was insured by Liberty.
Auto Club and State Farm filed cross claims against Liberty for contribution of no-fault benefits pursuant to MCL 500.3115(1); MSA 24.13115(1), which addresses claims by persons accidentally injured while not occupying a vehicle against insurers of owners and operators of "motor vehicles involved in the accident." The trial court ruled that Ellis's vehicle was "involved in the accident" for purposes of § 3115 and accordingly ordered Liberty to pay a pro rata share of the no-fault benefits paid to plaintiff. On appeal, Liberty contends that this ruling was erroneous. We agree.
This Court has on two occasions held on facts akin to the circumstances of this case that in order for a vehicle to be "involved in the accident" within the meaning of MCL 500.3115(1); MSA 24.13115(1), there must be some activity, with respect to the vehicle, which somehow contributes to the happening of the accident. See Stonewall Ins Group v Farmers Ins Group, 128 Mich App 307; 340 NW2d 71 (1983), and Bachman v Progressive Casualty Ins Co, 135 Mich App 641; 354 NW2d 292 (1984).
In the instant case, Ellis's vehicle clearly was not involved in the activity contributing to the happening of the accident. Ellis was merely stopped at the red light when one of the vehicles involved in the original collision veered and struck his vehicle. Thus, under the holdings of Stonewall and Bachman, the trial court's conclusion of law that Ellis was involved in the accident within the meaning of § 3115 is erroneous. The order and judgment are set aside and the case is remanded for entry of an Order of summary judgment in favor of Liberty.
Reversed and remanded.