I read a tragic news report of an accident involving a teenager.  Paige Watson, a 16-year-old Hartland Township teen, suffered severe injuries in a Livingston County Car Accident on May 20th when her car allegedly collided with pick-up truck. According to the Livington County Sheriff, she was airlifted to Mott’s Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor with severe and serious injuries. A passenger in the pick up was transported to Genesys Hospital in Flint for treatment of her serious injuries.

While details of Ms. Watson’s injuries have not been disclosed, I am very sorry to hear about her serious injuries and wish he the fullest and speediest recovery possible.

Michigan car accident victims have a number of legal rights.  For this type of accident, the injured driver and passenger can  submit a claim for Michigan No-Fault insurance benefits.  No-Fault benefits will cover their medical expenses, lost wages, attendant care, replacement services, and other benefits related to injuries suffered in the accident.  The injured passengers and drivers can claim these benefits even if they did not have an automobile insurance policy.

In addition, the injury victims may be able to file a lawsuit against the persons driving the car.  The insurance company for the drivers must still cover any injuries. In this lawsuit, they can claim damages and compensation for the injuries suffered in the accident.  The insurance company for the negligent driver typically pays a settlement for this type of case. 

An experienced Michigan car accident lawyer can assist the victim with this type of claim.  Accident victims should not speak with the insurance adjuster for the negligent driver before consulting with an attorney.

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.

A Livingston County truck accident closed U.S. 23 for over an hour and sent one man to the hospital.  The accident occurred on January 26, 2009 on southbound U.S. 23 when a Howell man was rear-ended by a semi truck in Green Oak Township.  The semi then went to the right shoulder of the road and jackknifed before striking the guardrail and finally coming to a stop in a northbound lane.  The semi hit 6 vehicles and sent one Howell man to the hospital.  There was no report on his condition.

I am very sorry this accident occurred.  I hope that the injured man is able to make a full and speedy recovery.

When someone has been injured in a truck accident, there are usually at least two possible claims that arise out of the accident.  First anyone injured should file a claim for Michigan No Fault car insurance benefits.  No Fault insurance will pay for all reasonable medical expenses, a portion of the lost wages, and provide a payment for any chores around the house that the victim normally did prior to the accident.  Other benefits are also available for more seriously injured people.

Second, when a person suffers severe injuries because of another driver’s negligence, that person may be able to file a lawsuit against the other driver.  This lawsuit will allow the accident victim to collect additional damages from the other driver, or in a case like this one, the truck driver’s employer.  Accident victims can sue only when the injuries are very severe, so anyone injured in an accident should discuss their injuries and the circumstances of the accident with a lawyer as soon as they can.

For more information about Michigan truck accident cases, visit our law firm web site at www.BuckfireLaw.com. If you would like to speak with one of our Michigan truck 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 Livingston County car accident on I-96 near Fowlerville Road has resulted in multiple injuries.  The accident occurred on November 9, 2008 as a car driven by a 66-year old driver from Grand Rapids struck a car driven by a 17-year old from Waterford.  After this contact, the Grand Rapids driver apparently lost control of the vehicle, went into the median, and rolled over.  The occupants of this vehicle were taken to Sparrow Hospital in Lansing for treatment on undisclosed injuries.

This sounds like it was a very serious accident.  I am very sorry it happened and I hope everyone is recovering from their injuries.

My law firm represents people injured in car accidents.  Many of the people I represent know they should submit a claim like this to their Michigan No Fault insurance company but often, they do not know all the different benefits they qualify for.  No Fault insurance pays a variety of benefits including medical expenses, lost wages, and attendant care, but there are other benefits as well, such as household replacement services, medical transportation benefits, and others.  The car accident lawyers at my law firm would be happy to review your No Fault claim before you submit it to your insurance company to ensure you are claiming every benefit you are entitled to.

In addition to No Fault benefits, people who have been killed or seriously injured in car accidents may be able to sue a negligent driver.  In an accident like this, many people do not know whether the passengers can sue the driver.  In Michigan, passengers can sue their own drivers for negligence, even if they are friends or family members.  People are sometimes hesitant to sue someone they know but I always explain to them that the lawsuit is really against the drivers’ insurance company.

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 Cohoctah Township car accident has left a Howell teen with injuries.  Karl Shelton was driving a pickup truck on Antcliff Road near Steinacker Road on October 24, 2008 when his truck left the roadway and crashed into a tree.  According to the Livingston County Sheriff’s Department, the truck was loaded with scrap iron, which was thrown through the back window and front windshield.  Fortunately, none of the iron hit Karl Shelton.  Karl Shelton suffered a broken leg and a concussion, but he is listed as in good condition at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing.

This is a very sad accident, especially since Karl Shelton is only 17.  The best thing that can be said is that he is very lucky that none of the iron hit him.  I hope he will recover completely.

Even Karl Shelton was the only driver involved in the accident, he is still eligible for Michigan No Fault benefits.  No Fault benefits are available even if the injured driver was responsible for the accident.  By submitting a claim to his No Fault insurance provider, Karl Shelton would receive payment of all his medical bills, a portion of wages lost if he has to miss work, and possibly other benefits as well.

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.

Deer accidents account for over 20% of Livingston County car accidents, according to a new report.  The Southeast Michigan Council of Governments reports that, overall, deer accidents were down slightly as compared to last year.  But this overall trend masks a high absolute number of deer-related car accidents, especially in areas with large deer populations.

1157 out of 5401 crashes in Livingston County involved deer.  The area within Livingston County with the highest number of deer crashes is Brighton Township.  October and November area consistently the months with the highest number of deer-related car accidents so all drivers should keep an especially careful lookout during this time of year.

If someone is injured in a deer-related car accident, Michigan No Fault benefits will provide the same coverage they would in any other car accident.  The Michigan car accident attorneys at Buckfire & Buckfire encourage all drivers to review their insurance policies and to speak with a lawyer if they are involved in a car accident.

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.