Even if you just casually watch the television news or read the local paper, you cannot help but notice the increase in the number of reported Michigan truck accidents on our roads and highways.  Most often, the results are tragic for the passengers of the cars involved in the accident with the semi-tractor trailer truck.  There are many common causes of these truck accidents, which include defects in the truck equipment, improper training of truck drivers, and other corporate trucking policies.

The most common causes of these truck accidents include:

Overloaded trucks

Oversized trucks

Poor maintenance and defective equipment

Truck driver error

Poorly maintained tires

Reckless driving

Truck driver fatigue

Unsafe safety systems, like reflectors and warning devices

There are strict federal regulations and requirements that apply to truck drivers and trucking companies.  The laws require that detailed log sheets be maintained for truck maintenance, driver safety, and driving logs of individual truck drivers.  These logs and records are often used by my firm to establish the negligence and liability against the truck driver and the trucking company in a truck accident lawsuit. 

It it essential to contact an attorney immediately after a trucking accident to preserve evidence, take photographs, and interview witnesses to the accident.  The failure to act quickly often makes it difficult to prove and win a case later on because witnesses become difficult to locate, vehicles are repaired, and evidence is lost.  My firm starts our investigation immediately after being contacted by a truck accident victim and we take every possible measure to determine the cause of the accident and assess the fault of the truck driver and trucking company.

As a Michigan personal injury lawyer that specializes in brain injury cases, I often hear from parents who are concerned about a child that has suffered a concussion from a sports injury.  This, of course, is much different than the traditional trauamatic brain injury case pursued by most lawyers, because those cases arise typically from car accidents, motorcycle accidents, and other types of traumas.  However, there are a number of brain injuries that occur in both team sports and recreational sports.

A concussion is a brain injury that is caused by a bump or blow to the head.  These are injuries that are not visible and often referred to as “closed head injuries” because there is no open wound or physical penetration the head.  Many times, symptoms like headaches, dizziness, and nausea, may not be seen or noticed until days after the injury.  Parents who notice these problems should seek medical attention for their child, even if the injured child “checked out okay” immediately after the blow or bump to the head. 

The Center for Disease Control has produced “A Fact Sheet For Parents” that explains concussion injuries, the visible signs, the methods of prevention, and the actions to take when a concussion is suspected.  My firm has handled brain injury cases arising from recreational sports on several occasions and most involve the negligence of another athlete or of a league in failing to take measures to prevent the brain injury.  It is important to consult with an attorney who understands these issues in detail in order to achieve the best result for the child.  I can be contacted to discuss a case by calling me at 1-800-606-1717 or through my firm web site at www.buckfirelaw.com

You often hear about “slip and fall” cases in the news and on television and this phrase is often associated with the perception that these lawsuits lack merit.  This could not be farther from the truth.  A “slip and fall” or “trip and fall” lawsuit stems from an incident where a person suffers serious injuries as a result of a dangerous or defective condition at the property of a business, a private property like a home, or even on a public sidewalk.  The legal term to refer to these claims is a “premises liability case” and provides a legal remedy to a person injured by a dangerous condition on property.

There are numerous dangerous conditions that give rise to a premises liability case, including slippery store aisles, substances on floors, icy walkways and sidewalks, raised and broken sidewalks, broken staircases, and potholes in parking lots.  Under Michigan law, the owner of a property has a legal duty to keep the property in a reasonably safe condition and warn visitors of know hazards.  The failure to do these things is often considered negligence on the party of the property owner.

The damages and injuries suffered in these cases is often significant and tragic.   I have handled a case in which an elderly pedestrian tripped on a broken city sidewalk and died after striking his head on the cement.  Many of the cases handled by my firm have injuries including traumatic brain injuries, broken hips, fractured ankles, severe knee injuries, and broken bones in the arms and legs.  Many of these injuries require surgery and extensive follow-up treatment.  Under Michigan law, the injured person is entitled to compensation for the injuries, medical bills, and other expenses.

I am always happy to answer any questions on slip and fall cases and gladly accept calls to my office to discuss these cases.  I have also written a book, “The Ultimate Guide To Injury Cases in Michigan,” and will send out a free copy to anyone requesting it from my firm site or by calling my office.

A tragic accident took the lives of six Indian tourists who were tavelling to Niagra Falls for a vacation.  Four of the six killed were employees of Troy, Michigan based Syntel, Inc.   Two women, the spouses, of the programmers also died in the wreck when the mini-van they were driving in apparently crossed the center lane and struck an oncoming car.  One female passenger survived.

The families of the accident victims do have legal rights and are entitled to compensation under the Michigan Wrongful Death Laws and the Michigan No-Faults Laws for the loss of their loved ones.  My firm handles these cases on a regular basis and we are familiar with the complex laws that must be used to assist families.

With the long Winter finally gone and warm weather finally here,  Michigan bikers are taking their motorcycles on the roads in record numbers.  Unfortunately, many motorists often ignore the rights of bikers and cause serious and often catastrophic Michigan motorcycle accident cases.  The insurance laws for Michigan No-Fault insurance cases are confusing on this issue and not every injured biker is entitled to no-fault insurance benefits.  How does an injured Michigan biker qualify for these benefits?

First, there must be basic minimum liability insurance on the motorcycle to qualify for these benefits.  Without this minimum insurance coverage on the bike, there is no entitlement to benefits.  The other requirement is that the accident and injuries must “arise” from another motorvehicle, which would be either a car or truck.

In many instances, there would be actual contact or collision between a motor vehicle and the motorcycle.  This clearly satisfies the “arise” requirement to qualify for No-Fault benefits.  However, many insurance companies and attorneys do not know that there does not have to be actual contact with the motor vehicle to have the accident “arise” from the use of a motor vehicle.  There is no requirement that the motorcycle actually collide with or be struck by either a car or truck, but rather that there was some involvement with the motor vehicle that caused the accident.

For example, if the motorcycle was forced off of the roadway by a motor vehicle, the accident would arise from the use of a motor vehicle.  Or, if two motorcycle collided because a truck unlawfully entered into a lane of traffic and caused the bikers to collide, it would arise from the use of a motor vehicle.  This is a very important distinction and must be evaluated on a case by case basis.  

Bikers injured in a Michigan motorcycle accident should contact me immediately after the accident for a determination whether they are entitled to these tremendous Michigan No-Fault benefits.  There are strict time limits for filing these claims.  I can be reached at 1-800-606-1717 or by e-mail at larry@buckfirelaw.com  Injured bikers can also complete our contact form by clicking here and I will call you back to discuss your case.