There was a tragic story on the news the other day about a man killed in a fatal Genesee County drunk driving semi-truck accident on November 23 in Flint. According to the police, a 57-year-old Flint man, driving a station wagon, was attempting to turn left onto West Pierson Road, from Dupont Street, when his vehicle was allegedly struck by a semi-truck. Police further stated the truck left the scene but the driver was arrested about a mile away. Police also stated witnesses said that semi-driver did not have his headlights on and was driving recklessly, prior to the crash. Police suspect alcohol played a factor in this accident and are still investigating.

I am very sorry to hear about this tragic accident and offer the family of the deceased man my most sincere condolences and best wishes for their loss.

Our Michigan car accident lawyers advise accident victims of their legal rights. For this type of auto accident in Michigan, the family members of the deceased man may be able to make a claim for Survivor Loss Benefits. This can include payment of funeral expenses, lost wages, and loss of other services.

In addition, the injury victim may be able to file a lawsuit against the persons determined to be at fault in the auto accident. The insurance company for the driver must still cover any injuries. In this lawsuit, the injured parties and the family of the deceased victim 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.

Also, the family members of the deceased man may have a claim for a Michigan wrongful death lawsuit against the driver that police determine was negligent and caused this accident. Another possible claim for the family of the deceased man would be a potential Michigan dram shop case against the seller or furnisher of the  alcohol before the accident. At the very least, the surviving family members should hire the best possible lawyer to look into these possibilities.

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.

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 read a tragic story today about a Fatal Petoskey Semi-Truck Accident over the weekend. According to Michigan State Police, four people have died from an accident on US-31 in Emmet County involving two semi-trucks, a pick-up truck with a utility trailer and a passenger car. 

State Police stated the passenger car allegedly crossed the center-line into the path of a semi-truck driven by a 47-year-old man. The semi-truck driver allegedly veered left to avoid the car and hit the pick-up truck, which was traveling behind the car.

The passenger car then spun out of control into the path of a second semi-truck driven by a man from White Cloud. The semi-truck hit the car and left the road coming to a rest in a wooded area. The three passengers in the pick-up truck died at the scene of the accident. The fourth pick-up truck passenger was taken to Munson Medical Center with serious, life-threatening injuries where he died over the weekend. Police are still investigating this horrific accident.

I am very sorry to hear about this tragic car accident and wish my most heart-felt condolences to the family of the deceased passengers for their loss.

Our Michigan truck accident lawyers advise accident victims of their legal rights.  For this type of auto accident in Michigan, any injured parties 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 parties can claim these benefits even if they did not have a Michigan automobile insurance policy.

Also, for this type of auto accident in Michigan, the family members of the deceased victims may be able to make a claim for Survivor Loss Benefits.  This can include payment of funeral expenses, lost wages, and loss of other services. 

In addition, the injury victims may be able to file a lawsuit against the persons determined to be at fault in the auto accident as well as the companies that own the semi-trucks.  The insurance company for the driver must still cover any injuries. In this lawsuit, any injured parties and the family of the deceased victims can claim damages and compensation for injuries suffered in the accident.  The insurance company for the negligent driver typically pays a settlement for this type of case. 

Also, the family members of the deceased victims may have a claim for a Michigan wrongful death lawsuit against the driver that police determine was negligent and caused these car accidents as well as the companies that own the semi-trucks. At the very least, the surviving family should hire the best possible lawyer to look into these possibilities. 

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.

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 read a tragic story in the paper today about a Fatal Lowell Township Hit & Run Accident on August 15th. According to the Kent County Sheriff’s Department, a former Midland resident truck driver was helping direct traffic at the scene of an accident when he was allegedly struck and seriously injured by a pick-up truck that left the scene of the accident.

He was rushed to Spectrum Butterworth Hospital where he died from his injuries. The Sheriff’s office also stated that the driver of the pick-up truck contacted them later that night. The Sheriff’s office suspects alcohol was involved.

I am very sorry to hear about this tragic accident and offer the family of the deceased victim my most heart-felt condolences. 

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.

Our Michigan truck accident lawyers often represent victims of truck accidents that involve semi-trucks.  Due to the size and weight of these trucks, it is necessary that the truck drivers are highly trained and fit to operate the vehicle on the roadway.  The injuries from this accidents are often very serious and even catastrophic.

Semi-trucks have large blind spots at the front, back and sides of the truck. When a car is in the blind spot, the driver cannot see it.  If the truck tries to make a right or left turn, it would likely cause serious damage to  any automobiles in its path.

There are many other dangers of Semi-Trucks.  These include:

Squeeze Play - Semi Trucks need to swing wide to the left in order to negotiate a right turn. When truck drivers make wide right turns; they are often unable to see smaller vehicles directly behind or beside them. When a car cuts between the truck and a curb, the car can be caught in a squeeze, and a serious accident can occur.

Stopping Distance - Big rig trucks need a greater stopping distance than other cars and other vehicles. If there is not enough stopping distance between an automobile and a large truck, the car risks being involved in a rear-end collision.

“Off-track” - Occurs when a truck turns at high speed and swings into an adjacent lane unexpectedly. Unlike passenger vehicles, transport trucks require up to 40 percent more space to stop. Following too closely results in inadequate stopping distance between large trucks which then rear-end vehicles in front. It is not difficult to imagine the devastating results that occur when a car, van or SUV is hit from behind with over 10,000 lbs. of moving metal.

The most common causes of Semi Truck accidents are:

Driver Fatigue-sleepy or tired driver; driving too long and too many hours without rest.

Inadequate driver training

Overloaded trucks and improperly loaded trucks

Poorly maintained truck brakes

Speeding

Running off the road

Failure to yield the right of way

Aggressive driving behavior

Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol

Reckless driving

Defective safety systems, reflectors, lights and other warning devices

Victims of Michigan semi-truck accidents do have legal rights to recover for their injuries, medical expenses, and lost wages.  For more information on these rights, request our Michigan car accident book which has been called “the best book ever written for Michigan consumers involved in car accidents.”

You can also call us at (800) 606-1717 to speak with one of our experienced Michigan truck accident lawyers.  We do not charge any legal fees unless we obtain a recovery or settlement for you.

Black Box Providing Evidence in Truck Accidents

Many late model automobiles and trucks are installed with a computer called an Event Data Recorder (EDR), also often referred to as a “Black Box.”   When triggered by an impact, accident or similar event, the EDR records certain information about the accident. The information recorded can include various events in the few seconds preceding a crash, including speed, airbag deployment, braking, RPMs, and even whether the driver’s seatbelt was fastened. Thus, the information from these devices can be collected after a crash and analyzed by an expert to help determine what the vehicles and drivers were doing before, during, and after the accident. 

In a lawsuit involving claims for injuries sustained in an automobile accident, the data obtained from the EDR can be helpful in establishing whether or not the negligent party was speeding, attempted to avoid the collision, attempted to brake, etc.  (See e.g. Harris v. Weaver,  unpublished opinion per curiam of the Court of Appeals, decided August 17, 2006 [Docket No.  No. 265617, No. 265618] [http://courtofappeals.mijud.net/documents/OPINIONS/FINAL/COA/20060817_C265617_38_265617.OPN.PDF]  In civil lawsuits, EDR data has been admissible and deemed reliable under universally accepted evidentiary standards.  (See Bachman v. General Motors Corporation, 332 Ill. App. 3rd 760 (4th Dist 2003).

            In order to use the information from the EDR as evidence in a personal injury lawsuit, a qualified expert first must download the information from the EDR.  It will also be necessary to assess factors that could affect the reliability of the data (e.g tire size). This type of evidence can be very helpful to establish that a particular Defendant acted negligently.  Thus it can serve as a powerful tool in maximizing damages in a settlement where injuries are established but liability is strongly contested.  Our law firm has been successful in using EDR data to obtain significant settlements in several automobile accident lawsuits in Michigan.