A Roosevelt Park car accident has severely injured a Muskegon man.  Earl Bernard Martin, 24, was hit by a car that fled the scene on February 11, 2009.  Earl Martin was sitting outside a bar waiting for a ride when a car narrowly avoided hitting him.  The driver of this car pulled over to try to help him, but a second car ran over both of his legs, fracturing them, before the driver could assist.  The second driver then drove off without stopping.

I hope that Earl Martin is able to recover fully from this accident.  I simply cannot believe that someone would run over both this young man’s legs and not even check to see if he needed help.  Leaving the scene of an accident is a criminal offense, and I hope this driver is caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

When a pedestrian is hit by a car, the pedestrian can submit a claim for Michigan No Fault insurance.  For an accident like this, No Fault insurance will pay medical expenses including hospital bills and expenses for follow-up treatment.  It will also pay wage loss benefits and other benefits if they are warranted by the victim’s injuries.

If the pedestrian is severely injured, he may be able to file a lawsuit against the driver, if the driver is identified.  Even if the driver is not identified, it may still be possible to collect similar damages if the accident victim or someone he lives with has uninsured motorist coverage.

f 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.

I recently read an article about efforts to lower Michigan car insurance rates.  Melvin Hollowell, the state’s insurance advocate, recently called on the Governor and Legislature to reform the rules governing Michigan’s car insurance companies.  Michigan’s car insurance companies are charging some of the highest premiums in the nation and are making record profits at a time when high gas prices and economic anxiety have caused many people to drive less and to drive more slowly and cautiously when they do drive. 

Among the Insurance Advocate’s proposals is an idea to offer stripped-down insurance policies to low-income drivers who cannot afford traditional No Fault car insurance.  Although No Fault insurance is required by law, 20% of Michigan drivers (1 in 5) cannot afford a policy that meets the current statutory minimum level of coverage.  Although 20% may seem high, even this number masks geographic and demographic differences.  In some urban areas, as many as 55% of drivers do not have any insurance.

Until these proposals become law, the Michigan car accident attorneys at Buckfire & Buckfire recommend that you review your insurance policy to make sure you have uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.  Be sure to specifically request uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist coverage from your insurance agent.  Simply asking for “full coverage” is not enough.

Both uninsured motorist coverage and underinsured motorist coverage are relatively inexpensive when compared to the rest of your insurance coverage.  In addition, a large amount of coverage can be purchased for a small amount.  Despite this, having this coverage can be extremely important.  In one of the cases my firm handled, the injured driver would have been able to collect an additional $480,000 if he had only bought uninsured motorist coverage for less than $80 per year!

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.

Buying motorcycle insurance in Michigan is not as easy as it may seem.  As a lawyer who represents victims of motorcycle accidents, I have met and represented many motorcyclists who thought that they are fully covered only to find out after their injury that gaps in their insurance coverage cost them thousands of dollars.  Because of this, the Michigan motorcycle lawyers at Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. have written “The Michigan Motorcycle Insurance Report” to help you understand the different types of insurance and figure out how much insurance you should buy.  This Report is available for FREE by clicking the book title.

The 8-Page Report includes

• Why asking for “full coverage” will not get you the coverage you want or need
• Why you should buy more than the minimum PL/PD coverage
• Why you should buy Medical Payment coverage
• Why you must buy Uninsured Motorist coverage
• Why you must buy Underinsured Motorist coverage

Also included is a case study of how one of our clients bought incomplete coverage from his insurance company.  Having the wrong coverage cost him almost $500,000!

You can also download the FREE “Michigan Car Insurance Report” by clicking on the title.  Be sure to download both FREE Reports today.

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 Royal Oak hit and run accident has left a Detroit woman dead.  The Detroit woman was riding her bicycle in the northbound lane of Woodward Avenue just south of Twelve Mile Road when she was struck and dragged a short distance before the motorist drove off.  The bicyclist was taken to Beaumont Hospital, but unfortunately she was pronounced dead an hour later.  Royal Oak Police are still investigating the accident and are requesting anyone with information about a white car with damage to its front end and possibly its windshield to call 248-246-3515.

This is a real tragedy that should not have happened.  My sympathies are with the family of this woman.

My law firm represents accident victims and their families.  Often, people struggling after an accident do not understand the No Fault system or what benefits they are entitled to under the law.  In an accident like this one, if the woman either had or lived with someone who had No Fault insurance, her family can make a claim for survivor loss benefits, which will pay a portion of the funeral expenses and other expenses.  In addition, if the driver is ever identified, the family can bring a wrongful death action against him or her since she was at fault for the accident.  However, even if the driver is never found, if this woman either had or lived with someone who had uninsured motorist insurance coverage, her family can bring an uninsured motorist claim against her own 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.