A Bloomfield Township car accident has caused a man to die.  The accident occurred on January 24, 2009 on Telegraph near Square Lake Road when a 75-year old driver of a Jeep rear-ended a 27-year old Ann Arbor resident who was stopped at a traffic light.  The Jeep then crossed into other lanes on Telegraph before coming to a stop.  The driver of the Jeep was taken to Saint Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital in Pontiac, where he was pronounced dead.

I am very sorry this accident occurred.   I want to express my sympathies to this man’s family.  The article did not indicate whether the Ann Arbor resident was hurt, and I hope that he or she was not.

In an accident like this, the man’s family should submit a claim for No Fault insurance benefits.  A No Fault survivor loss claim will provide them with a payment for a portion of the funeral costs and possibly payments for loss of financial support and loss of household services, depending on if the deceased earned income or helped with any chores around the house.  If the Ann Arbor resident was injured, he or she should also submit a claim for No Fault benefits, which will pay for all medical expenses and other benefits.

If you would like more information about your rights after a Michigan car accident, you can order our FREE book, “The Ultimate Michigan Car Accident Handbook” by clicking on the book link.  We will send it out immediately along with other important information.

For more information about Michigan car accident cases, visit our law firm web site at www.BuckfireLaw.com.  If you would like to speak with one of our Michigan car accident attorneys about your case, feel free to call us anytime at (800) 606-1717 or simply submit this contact form and we will get back to you quickly.

A Calhoun County car accident has left two people injured.  The accident occurred on January 24, 2009 at the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Eden Street in Marshall Township.  Scott Sands, 26, was attempting to turn left onto Eden Street when his vehicle was struck by a vehicle driven by John Malinowski, 37.  Scott Sands’s vehicle was then pushed into a van driven by Dale Sinclair, 74.  Scott Sands was ejected from the vehicle and was taken to Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo with serious injuries.  Dale Sinclair was transported to Battle Creek Health Systems with minor injuries.  John Malinowski was not injured.

I am very sorry this accident occurred.  I hope that Scott Sands and Dale Sinclair are able to experience full and speedy recoveries.

After the emergency situation of a car accident has subsided, a person who has been injured in a car accident should begin the process of learning about and enforcing his legal rights.  Under Michigan’s No Fault Act, his No Fault car insurance will provide him with payments of all reasonable and necessary medical expenses, a portion of lost wages, household services, and attendant care as well as other benefits.  Both Scott Sands and Dale Sinclair should submit claims for No Fault insurance benefits to their insurance companies promptly.

In addition to a No Fault claim, Michigan law allows accident victims who have been very seriously hurt to file a lawsuit for additional damages.  Whether someone has been hurt severely enough to be allowed to file a lawsuit will vary on a case by case basis, but an experienced Michigan car accident lawyer will be able to evaluate the circumstances of the accident and the details of the victim’s injuries and make an initial determination.  Anyone who is seriously injured in a car accident should contact a lawyer as soon as they can.

If you would like more information about your rights after a Michigan car accident, you can order our FREE book, “The Ultimate Michigan Car Accident Handbook” by clicking on the book link.  We will send it out immediately along with other important information. 

For more information about Michigan car accident cases, visit our law firm web site at www.BuckfireLaw.com.  If you would like to speak with one of our Michigancar accident attorneys about your case, feel free to call us anytime at (800) 606-1717 or simply submit this contact form and we will get back to you quickly.

A Saginaw County truck accident has resulted in the tragic deaths of an 8-year old girl and a 68-year old man.  Lyvia Dickinson of Owosso was killed and her grandmother was injured in a pickup truck when it was involved in an accident on M-57, also known as Peet Road, near East and Sheridan Roads in Maple Grove Township.  The driver of the truck was also killed.  The two-vehicle accident occurred when one of the vehicles crossed the center line and hit the other head on.  The accident is still being investigated and, over than Lyvia Dickinson, the names of the people involved have not yet been released.

This is a very tragic accident, especially because Lyvia Dickinson is so young.  I want to extend my sympathies to her family and the driver’s family.  I also wish Lyvia’s grandmother is able to experience a full recovery.

In an accident like this, the families of the two deceased and the injured grandmother should submit a claim for Michigan No Fault benefits.  No Fault insurance benefits will pay for all medical expenses incurred, and a No Fault survivor loss claim will provide money for a funeral.  These benefits are available even though the cause of the accident is still under investigation, but the families should act quickly because there are deadlines to submit a claim imposed by Michigan law and insurance policies.  These deadlines are strictly enforced.

In addition, once it is determined who was at fault in the accident, anyone killed or seriously injured as a result of that person’s negligence may be able to sue that driver.  The Dickinson family or anyone else considering a lawsuit should obtain a copy of the police report and then bring it with them when they speak to a Michigan car accident lawyer.
If you would like more information about your rights after a Michigan car accident, you can order our FREE book, “The Ultimate Michigan Car Accident Handbook” by clicking on the book link.  We will send it out immediately along with other important information.

For more information about Michigan car accident cases, visit our law firm web site at www.BuckfireLaw.com.  If you would like to speak with one of our Michigan car accident attorneys about your case, feel free to call us anytime at (800) 606-1717 or simply submit this contact form and we will get back to you quickly.

The number of uninsured Michigan motorists is expected to increase into 2010, according to a new study.  The Insurance Research Council has found that the recession is likely to increase the number of uninsured motorists on the roads in all states for the remainder of 2009 and into 2010.  The study found a strong link between the number of uninsured motorists and the unemployment rate.  Michigan’s high unemployment rate has meant that the state has a very high rate of uninsured motorists.  Other states with high numbers of uninsured motorists include New Mexico, Mississippi, Alabama, Oklahoma, and Florida.

The link between the number of uninsured motorists and the unemployment rate is unfortunate but understandable.  As people lose their jobs and cut back on expenses, car insurance is an easy thing to let go.  Many people seem to be willing to take the risk that they will not need to file a claim because they believe they will not be in a serious car accident.  Of course, then they may be without coverage if they ever are hit by another car.

An increase in the number of motorists without insurance has profound effects even for drivers who have maintained their car insurance.  When a negligent driver seriously injures someone, the accident victim may be able to sue the driver.  Most drivers simply do not have enough money to compensate accident victims for the full cost of their negligence, so the accident victim would collect his or her damages from the driver’s insurance company.  When the driver does not have insurance, an accident victim usually will not be able to collect any damages, unless the victim has uninsured motorist coverage.

Uninsured motorists coverage is an important part of any car insurance package, but many people do not have this coverage.  Many people think they do because they ask their agent for “full coverage” but this may or may not be included.  The Michigan car accident lawyers at Buckfire & Buckfire would be happy to review your car insurance policy, or you can download car accident attorney Daniel Buckfire’s Michigan Car Insurance Report, which will explain the different types of car insurance to you.  This 8-page report is available for FREE for a limited time by simply clicking on the book title.

If you would like more information about your rights after a Michigan car accident, you can order our FREE book, “The Ultimate Michigan Car Accident Handbook by clicking on the book link.  We will send it out immediately along with other important information.

For more information about Michigancar accident cases, visit our law firm web site at www.BuckfireLaw.com.  If you would like to speak with one of our Michigan car accident attorneys about your case, feel free to call us anytime at (800) 606-1717 or simply submit this contact form and we will get back to you quickly.

A Mackinac County car accident has injured six people and resulted in the death of one man in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.  The accident occurred on M-2 west of Point Aux Chenes on January 18, 2009.  Caitlin Grub, 19, of White Lake appears to have caused the accident when she lost control of her vehicle and struck an oncoming vehicle driven by Louis Giesken, 64, of Chesening.  Louis Giesken’s car was then hit by a third vehicle driven by Kristy Burt, 29, of Marquette. 

One of Louis Giesken’s passengers, Joseph Ezmer, 54, of Saint Charles, was pronounced dead on the scene.  In addition to the drivers, also injured were James Schneider, 54, of St. Charles, and Joshua Burt, 34, and Parker Burt, 3, both of Marquette.

This is a very tragic accident, and I am very sorry it occurred.  I want to express my sympathies to the family of Joseph Ezmer for their loss and my hope that the people injured in this accident are able to make a full recovery.

All of the drivers and passengers injured in this accident should submit claims for No Fault insurance benefits.  No Fault insurance will pay for all medical expenses, a portion of lost wages, and possibly other benefits depending on the severity of the claimant’s injuries.

Joseph Ezmer’s family should file a No Fault survivor loss which will pay these benefits and a portion of the funeral costs.  They should also consider suing any driver who was negligent in causing this accident.  This lawsuit will be defended by that driver’s insurance company and allow them to collect additional benefits beyond what No Fault insurance will pay.  For example, No Fault insurance will pay lost wages for three years, but at age 54 Joseph Ezmer likely would have worked for more than three years if he had not been killed.  The extra lost earnings are one benefit the family may be able to win in a lawsuit.

Any other driver or passenger who is seriously injured should also consider filing a lawsuit.  Under Michigan law, only the very severely injured can file a lawsuit after a car accident, but an experienced Michigan car accident attorney can help the accident victims evaluate their injuries to determine if they can file a lawsuit.

If you would like more information about your rights after a Michigan car accident, you can order our FREE book, “The Ultimate Michigan Car Accident Handbook” by clicking on the book link.  We will send it out immediately along with other important information. 

For more information about Michigan car accident cases, visit our law firm web site at www.BuckfireLaw.com.  If you would like to speak with one of our Michigan car accident attorneys about your case, feel free to call us anytime at (800) 606-1717 or simply submit this contact form and we will get back to you quickly.