Gunshot Fired During Road Rage On M-14

On Wednesday, August 5, 2015, Michigan State Police arrested a 38-year-old man from Whitemore Lake, Michigan, after he admitted to firing a gunshot out of his Chevrolet Cavalier shortly after getting in a car accident with another vehicle heading eastbound on M-14. According to Click On Detroit, police say the man became in engaged in road rage with a 25-year-old man driving a GMC Yukon. The incident started on southbound US-23 near Joy Road and ended on eastbound M-14 near Ford Road in Superior Township.

66% of traffic fatalities are caused by aggressive driving

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The driver of the GMC Yukon, from Brighton, Michigan, was the first person to call 911. The Whitemore Lake man called 911 shortly after and state troopers responded to the scene. While on the phone to the police, the man from Whitemore Lake told them that he fired a single shot of his gun out of the driver's side window. This road rage led to a car accident between the two drivers and no one was injured. The shooter was arrested and is being held at Washtenaw County Jail pending charges.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration defines road rage is defined as “an assault with a motor vehicle or other dangerous weapon by the operator or passenger(s) of another motor vehicle or an assault by an incident that occurred on a roadway.” According to Safe Motorist, 66% of traffic fatalities are caused by aggressive driving, and 37% of these aggressive driving incidents involve a firearm. During a seven year period, 218 murders and 12,610 injuries were attributed to road rage.

If you have been injured in a car or motorcycle accident as a result of road rage or aggressive driving, contact a lawyer at The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our accident attorneys are experienced in handling all types of car and motorcycle crashes. Call 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation today.

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Medical Company In Fort Wayne, Indiana Hacked

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Recently, a medical software company based out of Fort Wayne, Indiana, reported that the private information of 3.9 million injured patients nationwide was exposed when their network was hacked earlier in the year. According to Click On Detroit, the company said that the exposed information includes names, addresses, birth dates, social security numbers, and health records. It is highly likely that many auto accident victims lost personal information in this hack. They also said that the people affected by this hacking includes patients of Texas-based Concentra, which operates in 38 states with over 300 medical centers, Franciscan St. Francis Health in Indianapolis, and Rochester Medical Group in the Detroit area.

Earlier this year, in May, there was another incident where hackers swiped data from a health system. This was in South Bend, Indiana, and 220,000 patients and employees had their information compromised from a phishing attack. Similar to the recent hack in Fort Wayne, hackers stole confidentially information including names, ID numbers, dates of birth, drivers license information, and other medical related information. With this attack, affected patients were issued a year of credit monitoring services by the health system. It will be interesting to see how the Fort Wayne medical group compensates their patients.

With technology and computers specifically advancing. Phishing attacks are becoming more popular. According to Get Cyber Safe, over 150 million phishing emails are sent out each day. Most of these emails are sent to your spam folder so you do not have to worry about them. However, around 10% of these emails make it through to your inbox. On average, half of these emails are opened, and 80,000 people fall for a scam each day, revealing their personal information to hackers.

If you are involved in any type of personal injury accident, you have more than likely given your personal health care information to your treating medical providers. Phishing attacks are becoming more popular and you should be careful and smart about who holds your personal information. If you've been involved in any type of personal injury accident, contact an attorney at The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our lawyers specialize in all types of injury cases. Call us today for a free consultation at 844.4MI.FIRM

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Mazda Recalls 193,000 SUVs

On August 5, 2015, Mazda announced that they are recalling their biggest SUV in order to fix suspension parts that easily rust and come loose, sometimes causing a loss of steering control, a defect that could potentially increase the risk of auto accidents. According to Click On Detroit, the recall covers more around 193,000 CX-9 SUVs in the United States from the 2007 through 2014 models. Specifically, Mazda said in documents filed with the U.S. Safety regulators that front ball joints can rust from water leaks and separate from the suspension.

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The ball joints of the vehicle allow the wheels to pivot when the steering wheel is turned, and without this feature functioning properly the driver can lose control of the steering and potentially cause an auto accident. Mazda dealers will replace the ball joints on both sides of the vehicle. Owners of the older models in states where salt is used to clear roads will receive their repairs first. During June 2015, the NHTSA opened an investigation on this issue, and have recently come to the conclusion that a recall is necessary. No crashes or injuries have been reported so far from this issue.

This isn't Mazda's only recall of the year. Exactly one month before this recall, on Friday, June 5, 2015, according to CBS Detroit, Mazda announced that they were recalling nearly 540,000 cars and pickups in the US and Canada. The reason for this recall was because of defective airbags on the driver's side of the car. 503,000 cars had an issue with the driver's side airbags and 35,000 pickup trucks had a similar issue with the passenger side airbags.

If you have been injured in a car crash involving a recall or defective car, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our accident attorneys are here to help you with questions about insurance problems, medical expenses, and pain and suffering benefits as allowed by Michigan law. Call us today, at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation.

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Continental's Automated Car

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Continental Automotive's highly automated vehicle can handle multiple aspects of driving including stop-and-go traffic, highway cruising and steering, and can even safely slow down and maneuver around objects. According to the Detroit News, the car is filled with technology to help the car drive on it's own including a long range radar, four short range radars, four small surround-view cameras, as well as a camera attached to the windshield that looks ahead for cars, objects, pedestrians, etc. The technology can help the vehicle detect blind spots, automatically brake, and restart in highway traffic jams, while actively attempting to avoid car accidents. Despite all of the technology, from the outside, the car looks exactly like a Chrysler 300.

“I know the car has everything under control,” said demonstration driver Ibro Muharemovic, Continental’s head of advanced engineering. Continental is demonstrating its vehicle during the Center for Automotive Research’s Management Briefing Seminars here. “It sees everything around me, it sees everything in front of me and it’s able to proactively, not reactive, but proactively avoid anything that’s happening.”

The inside of the automated car looks fairly normal, besides a bar that runs along the dashboard, which lights up different colors to show what mode the vehicle is in. In addition to this, there are multiple screens in the car, one with the GPS system and important information for the driver such as the current road's speed limit, and a third which shows the camera view of what is in front of the vehicle. With technology advancing and company's like Continental making progressive in the automated driving area, vehicles could possibly be seen with this new technology in the next several years.

If you have been injured in a car or motorcycle crash, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our accident lawyers specialize in all types of auto accident cases. Call 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation today.

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Teenager Killed In Distracted Driving Crash

On Monday, August 3, 2015, a teenager was killed in Gerorgetown Township, Michigan, in a multi-vehicle crash due to a driver being distracted by his GPS system and a sandwich he was eating at the time. According to CBS Detroit, the Ottawa County Sheriff's office says the victim of the auto accident was a 13-year-old boy named David Talsma from Hudsonville, Michigan.

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The victim was the passenger in a Totyota van driven by a 16-year-old when the motor vehicle was struck by a Chevrolet pickup truck on I-196 in Gerorgetown Township. The driver of the pickup truck was a 40-year-old man from Crown Point, Indiana. He told the police that he was eating a sandwich and looking at his GPS device at the time of the accident. He admitted to being distracted and said he didn't realize that traffic was slowing down for a construction zone. In addition to the Toyota van and the Chevy pickup truck, three more vehicles were involved in the car crash. Although five vehicles being involved in the accident, the 13-year-old was the only one killed. Several passengers suffered injuries. 

Distracted driving leads to motor vehicles accidents around the world each day, especially within the state of Michigan. Distracted driving consists of texting and driving as well as using your GPS device and eating while driving, both of which we saw in this car crash. Anything that causes the driver to take their eyes of of the road is considered distracted driving. According to the Official US Government Website For Distracted Driving, in 2013, 3,154 people were killed in motor vehicle accidents involving distracted drivers, and in addition to this, 424,000 people were injured.

If you have been injured in a car or motorcycle accident as a result of distracted driving, contact a lawyer at The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our accident attorneys are experienced in handling all types of car and motorcycle crashes. Call 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation today.

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GM Offers $1 Million To 124 Families For Ignition-Switch Deaths

In November 2014, General Motors recalled over 2 million Chevrolet Cobalts and other small cars for an issue regarding the ignition system in the motor vehicles. The ignition switches were faulty, and could unexpectedly lead to the engine of the car turning off, thereby causing auto accidents. This issue so far has lead to 124 deaths, 14 serious injuries, and 237 minor injuries. In 2014, GM spent over $3 billion on recalls, as well as additional money in order to compensate for the victims related to the faulty ignition switch.

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Recently, General Motors completed a review of 4,342 claims and declared 124 deaths eligible for at least $1 million. According to the Detroit Free Press, those eligible for compensation have 90 days to accept or reject the offer. As of now, not all offers that have been accepted have been payed. These claims were filed by families of people who either died or were injured by the ignition switch issue, which in addition to unexpectedly turning the engine off, could also cut electrical power to steering, air bags, and other functions of the car.

GM said last month that they have set aside $625 million in order to compensate families, and as of July 17, the company has paid out $280 million. Those families who filed claims in the 124 death cases will receive a minimum of $1 million settlements each. The settlement amount could be larger, depending on the age of the person killed, his or her profession, salary, and whether or not they were a parent.

If you have been injured in a car crash involving a recall or defective car, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our accident attorneys are here to help you with questions about insurance problems, medical expenses, and pain and suffering benefits as allowed by Michigan law. Call us today, at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation.

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Sales Jump For GM, Fiat Chrysler, and Ford

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As expected, the U.S. automotive industry has enjoyed increasing sales overall in 2015, and the numbers were no different for July. According to the Detroit Free Press, new vehicle sales rose 6.4% in July for General Motors, 6% for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, and 5% for Ford. With the help of falling gas prices and an improving job market, sales keep on rising. Due to gas prices falling, sales of pickup trucks, SUVs, and crossovers are becoming more popular.

For Fiat Chrysler, in the United States, Jeep sales rose by 23%, Chrysler sales rose by 10%, and Ram rose by 1%. Despite these increases in sales, Dodge fell by 13%, and Fiat sales fell by 15%. At Ford, sales of the Ford Mustang increased by 29%, and the luxury brand of Lincoln rose by 21%, led by the sales of the MKC crossover. In addition to this, Ford's results were also helped an increase of 4.8% in sales of the F-Series pickup truck.

GM's growth from the month of July was led by Buick, which increased sales by 17.6%, led by a 64% gain in sales of the Encore compact crossover. Chevrolet sales rose by 7.8%, largely due to a 34% increase in sales of the Silverado pickup truck. In addition to this, GMC sales were up 1.4%, while Cadillac sales decreased by 7%.

These increases in sales are mostly due to large and mid size pickup trucks, as well as large and mid size crossovers. These cars seem to be increasingly popular at the moment, while the demand and sales of SUVs is falling. For example, at Ford, sales of the Lincoln Navigator increased by 24%, but sales of the Expedition on the other hand fell by 37.5%.

If you have been injured in a car or motorcycle accident, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our accident attorneys are here to help you with questions about insurance problems, medical expenses, and pain and suffering benefits as allowed by Michigan law. Call us today, at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation.

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Cell Phone Usage Is Impaired Driving

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Recently, a teenager in Winnipeg, Canada, was sentenced for an auto accident that she caused in 2010. In the crash, two people in another vehicle were killed, two were seriously injured, and one person had suffered minor injuries. At the time, the negligent driver was 17 years old, when she ran a red light on Bishop Grandin Boulevard. According to the Guardian, the judge said that the teen's ability to drive was impaired by alcohol, as well as her texting on her Blackberry. At the time of the accident, she was traveling 96 km/hr, while the speed limit was 80 km/hr, she was using cruise control on her vehicle, and there was no evidence of her attempting to brake or swerve out of the way to avoid the collision.

People that text and drive are considered impaired drivers. Drivers becoming distracted from using their cell phones is something that you see everyday on the road, including holding up traffic and not realizing the light is green, as well as switching lanes without using turn signals, both of which can cause car accidents.

According to Texting and Driving Safety, in 2011, at least 23% of auto collisions involved cell phones, which is 1.3 million crashes. On average, the minimum amount of time your attention is taken away from the road when texting and driving is five seconds. If you're traveling at 55mph, that five seconds of driving would be equivalent to driving the length of an entire football field without looking. Through research conducted by Texting and Driving Safety, they found that 34% of teenagers have texting while driving. In addition to this, 52% have admitted to talking on the phone while driving. Although teenagers are involved in many accidents regarding impaired driving, adults do it too. 48% of young drivers have seen their parents talking on the phone while driving. Waiting to return a phone call or text can save lives on the road. Next time you need to reach someone while driving, wait until you stop for break, or wait until you reach your destination.

If you are involved in a car crash involving impaired driving or texting and driving, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our accident attorneys are experienced in handling all types of car accident cases. Call 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation today.

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Predatory Auto Loans & Questionable Auto Insurance Quotes

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Recently the House Financial Services Committee voted on and passed HR 1737, a bill, that would allow for more lenders to prey on consumers and issue high-risk , high-interest auto loans on new and used vehicles.  In effect, it would cancel the 2013 Consumer Financial Protection Bureau federal guidelines which set forth certain obligations for auto loan lenders.

New York Times editorial board member, Teresa Trich, had this to say in a recent editorial piece:

Republican-dominated House committees routinely pass awful bills that please their corporate constituents but go nowhere. The committee vote on this bill, however, was 47 to 10, with 13 Democrats joining all of the Republican members in voting yes. Overall, the bill has 124 co-sponsors, including 55 Democrats. The level of support reflects the power of auto dealers, who are often among the most prominent businesspeople in any given congressional district and who do not want scrutiny of their lending practices.
The bill’s supporters say it would make needed changes to regulatory procedures. What it really would do is condone overcharging and discrimination in auto lending.

Drivers across the country also face ongoing issues with car insurance companies.  Many of these auto insurance companies continue to conduct "Price Optimization" strategies to increase profits as explained by NPR.  

Trich's New York times editorial explains how some auto insurance companies are doing whatever they can to increase profits at the expense of the driver with the insurance policy.

 Farmers, Geico, Liberty, Nationwide and Progressive — rates were almost always higher for unmarried drivers than for married ones. Among those five, however, only Geico was found to charge different prices depending on whether an unmarried driver had never been married, was separated or divorced.
In several cities, Geico and Progressive charged domestic partners more than married drivers.
In addition, the report found baffling increases in premiums for some women who were widowed. It also found evidence that price difference between married and unmarried drivers occurs at various age levels.
The report calls on state regulators to investigate insurers’ use of marital status in auto insurance pricing.
The not unreasonable hunch is that marital status is largely unconnected to risk and thus should not be much of a factor in the pricing of auto insurance.

At the end of the day consumers must make sure they are reading the fine print, seeking information from multiple sources for auto loans and obtaining multiple auto insurance quotes to make sure the consumer is protected.   If you have any questions about your insurance policy or are considering buying auto insurance and have questions, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC for a free consult. 


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Michigan State Troopers Ticket Distracted Drivers

On Tuesday, July 28, 2015, aggressive and distracted drivers were targets of a special enforcement detail conducted by the Michigan State Police in St. Clair Shores, on I-94. This initiative by the state troopers was taken due to multiple complaints from people who drive through that section of I-94 frequently. In total, 12 state troopers participated in order to prevent distracted driver car crashes in Michigan.

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According to the Detroit Free Press, Michigan state police made 217 traffic stops which including ticketing 115 people for speeding, 14 for distracted driving, and 38 for not wearing a seat belt. In addition to this, they also caught 10 people driving on a suspended license, arrested four people on fugitive warrants, and wrote 40 other citations for traffic offenses.

The day after the initiative, on Wednesday, July 29, Michigan State Police said in a news release that they will continue to conduct such traffic details around Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties in an effort to reduce auto accidents, injuries, and distracted driving altogether.

Distracted driving can lead motor vehicle crashes and potential serious injuries or even death. Distracted driving can consist of texting and driving, eating and driving, using the GPS, or anything else that causes the driver to lose focus and take their eyes off of the road. According to the CDC, each day in the U.S., 9 people are killed and 1,153 people are injured in accidents related to distracted driving. When you take your eyes off of the road, you you are putting your life at risk, as well as other drivers on the road.

If you have been injured in a car or motorcycle accident as a result of distracted driving, contact a lawyer at The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our accident attorneys are experienced in handling all types of auto accident and motorcycle accident cases. Call 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation today.

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GM Recalls Cadillac ATS

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On Wednesday, July 29, General Motors announced that they are issuing yet another recall, this time for the Cadillac ATS. According the Detroit News, the Detroit Automaker is recalling these vehicles for an issue with power sunroofs, after recalling 67,000 cars for the exact same issue earlier in the year. The previous recall regarding the same issue recalled 2013-15 Cadillac ATS cars worldwide, due to the power-operated roof panel systems automatically closing.  Although this auto defect is unlikely to cause automobile accidents, it is still being recalled by GM. 

In these vehicles, the roof can automatically close with less force than required when the “slide” or “tilt” switches are not fully recessed. The new recall includes the 2016 model of the vehicle and supersedes recall earlier in the year. GM said that 7,900 motor vehicles in Canada are being recalled. However, when asked about how many vehicles in total were being recalled, they immediately declined to say anything. GM dealerships are set to replace the roof console accessory switch. Vehicles that were part of the previous recall will also require re-inspection and repair.

Last year, in November, 2014, GM recalled m ore than 2 million Chevrolet Cobalts and other small motor vehicles for an issue with faulty ignition switches, which could unexpectedly turn off the engine of the car, which had led to 121 deaths, 14 serious injuries, and 237 minor injuries. Altogether, in 2014, GM spent $3 billion on recalls, as well as additional money in order to compensate for the victims and families related to the ignition switch issue.

If you have been injured in a car crash involving a recall or defective car, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our accident attorneys are here to help you with questions about insurance problems, medical expenses, and pain and suffering benefits as allowed by Michigan law. Call us today, at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation. 

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