Michigan Boy Attacked By Four Rottweiler Dogs

Eight year old Ethan Nokes of Riverdale, Michigan was harmlessly playing in his relatives back yard with his brother, when four dogs he’s known for a long time, turned on him. These four Rottweiler dogs injured Ethan with a possible broken leg and 22 bite wounds which were so severe that Ethan was air-lifted to a hospital in Grand Rapids for injury treatment. Ethan’s mother, Doris Gifford, says that Ethan cried, “Just shoot me, it hurts I just want it to be over.” She also did not hesitate to describe the Michigan dog attack by saying, “They were out to kill him, no question.”

Dog Bite Lawyers

Perhaps the only reason that Ethan Nokes fortunately survived the dog attack is because of Kenneth Hansen. Hansen and his construction crew were working on a site nearby when Hansen heard a little boy screaming. "I could see the dogs and I could see a boy with all his clothes off and he was half red with blood and I knew he was in trouble…I got to him. The dog let go. I was hollering. Jordan, his little brother was at the top of the steps screaming at the dogs trying to get them to stop and I grabbed him around the stomach. I tried to keep my body between the dogs and him ... and they were yanking on him trying to get him away from me."
 
The Rottweiler dogs were captured and taken away by the Gratiot County Animal Control who may have the dogs euthanized. The owners of the dogs, who are also relatives of Ethan Nokes, may face charges from the Gratiot County Prosecutor’s office.
 
Dog bites and attacks are very dangerous and can result in serious medical bills, oftentimes requiring stitches and in extreme cases, plastic surgery. Lawsuits that arise out of the dog bites can also be very complicated. If you have been attacked or bitten by a dog, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our dog bite attorneys are highly experienced in handling Michigan dog bite cases. The Michigan Law Firm helps victims of dog attacks receive benefits for their pain and suffering. If our accident lawyers can’t reach a agreeable settlement, we will take your case to trial. Call us today at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation.

Sources:

CBS News

9&10 News​

Failure of Proposal 1: Michigan Roads Still in Disrepair

The result is in for the May 5th, 2015 Michigan vote on the controversial Proposal 1. The purpose of the vote was to make a decision on the proposal aimed to raise money to fix the dangerous Michigan roads and the potholes which commonly lead to Michigan car accidents. The Proposal, according to the House Fiscal Agency, included one constitutional amendment and 10 statutes. All in all, the proposal, if passed would have created $1.9 billion dollars once fully implemented in the 2017-2018 fiscal year. Specifically, this would equate to $116.1 million for public transportation, $200 million for the School Aid Fund, $111.1 million for cities, and $173 million for Michigan’s General Fund.
 
Prior to the election, a poll conducted by Lansing’s EPIC-MRA on January 29, 2015 discovered that 46% of the people they surveyed would vote “yes” on Proposal 1 and 41% would vote “no”. Though after hearing more details on the Proposal, 47% said “yes” and only 38% said “no”. This change may be attributed to the fact that Michiganders are big proponents of road improvement. Most policy makers and media outlets thought in the same vein that Michigan voters would vote “yes” on anything that would fix Michigan roads. Alas, the terrible Michigan roads will not see any change due to Proposal 1.
 
However, citizens and drivers in Michigan shouldn’t be disappointed yet. There are still several other plans that may go into effect in Proposal 1’s place. The Michigan legislature is back to the drawing board.

One such alternative plan was the previously proposed by Governor Snyder Plan. Governor Snyder’s plan was actually already a part of Proposal 1. In 2013, Snyder proposed raising fuel taxes and vehicle registration taxes in an effort to create an extra $1.2 billion for road funding. Specifically, the 19 cent regular fuel and 15 cent diesel fuel tax were to be raised to 33 cents a gallon and Michigan vehicle registration fees for cars and light trucks was to be raised by 60%. It seems that any plans to raise money, including Snyder’s plan, require some kind of tax raise. So, while Michigan voters didn't vote for all of the provisions of Proposal 1, perhaps they will be willing to support a yet to be determined alternative to fix the state of Michigan roadways. 

Pothole Accident Attorney

The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC will continue to monitor the situation regarding Michigan road repair funding as it affects Michigan drivers and their safety on the road.  Our auto accident attorneys are always available at 844.4MI.FIRM to speak to you regarding Michigan road funding and incidents regarding injury accidents. 

Documentary About Detroit And Its Iconic Mustang

Ford Car Crash

Ask any American what their favorite American car is and chances are that many of them will say, without hesitation, that it’s the Ford Mustang. So many people across the world have purchased the Mustang since its inception in 1964 that it has become an iconic car built by Detroit automaker, Ford. So iconic in fact, that a documentary has been filmed about the Mustang and Ford.

Just in time for the Mustang’s 50th anniversary this year, David Gelb, shows the world the masterful craftsman ship that goes into creating the Ford Mustang. The documentary is titled “A Faster Horse” based on Henry Ford’s supposed famous quote, “If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.” David Gelb is probably best known for his 2011 award winning, critically acclaimed documentary “Jiro Dreams of Sushi.”

In his documentary, Gelb specifically focuses on the 2015 redesigned model of the Mustang and films for the viewer the entire path to creating a Mustang, from the assembling of the parts to its final display in local showrooms. It’s not all about cheer and cars however as Gelb also shows how the Mustang and Ford effect the city of Detroit, Michigan and its citizens. David Gelb explores the struggles of many of the citizens of Detroit who work at Ford’s assembly plant in Flat Rock, Michigan, and how they endured the long-lasting financial crisis.

The film was premiered to the world on April 18th, at the Tribeca Film Festival. For any fans of the Mustang, fans or Ford, citizens of Detroit, or even all Michiganders, this documentary is a must see. Perhaps watching this stunning work of cinematography will persuade you to buying a Mustang. Just remember when you take it for a spin that just because it’s known for being a fast car doesn't mean that you have to put the pedal to the metal in a Mustang. Driving at high speeds is dangerous and can cause accidents.

If you have been injured in a motor vehicle crash, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Allowing our accident attorneys  to help you identify and recover your medical and insurance benefits may be the best decision you make on your road to healing. Our experienced team can help you get your medical bills paid, deal with insurance issues, and get you compensation for pain and suffering as allowed under Michigan law. Call us today at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation.

3 Killed in Battle Creek Ambulance Crash

Drunk Driving Accident

On the night of February 23, 2015, an ambulance was travelling northbound on Garfield Avenue in Battle Creek, Michigan, when a car traveling westbound on Garfield Avenue collided with it. The driver, 61 year old Shirley Stokes and her passenger, 54 year old James Stokes were killed by the collision. According to Battle Creek Police, Ms. Stokes ran though a stop sign and a flashing red light at the intersection though which the ambulance was passing. Her failure to stop caused the ambulance, which was traveling at high speeds with its flashing lights and siren on, to "T-bone" the Stokes’ car on the driver’s side.
 
Worse still, the ambulance was transporting a victim of heart attack to the nearby Bronson Battle Creek Hospital. Upon the LifeCare ambulance’s impact with the Stokes’ car, Battle Creek firefighters arrived to extract the victims from the two vehicles and another ambulance arrived at the scene of the accident to finally take the patient to the hospital. Unfortunately, the heart attack patient, 74 year old David Simpson did not survive his heart attack and died at the hospital. Shirley Stokes and James Stokes may have also been taken to the hospital but had already been pronounced dead at the scene of the accident during this time.
 
Luckily, the crew of the ambulance survived the deadly crash with only minor injuries. Police say that alcohol may have played a part in the crash. This would explain why Shirley Stokes had run through a stop sign and a flashing red light and why she may not have stopped even though the ambulance had its lights and siren on.
 
Driving in the night time alone can be tricky and dangerous. However, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is illegal and perilous to not only the driver but everyone on the road.
 
If you have been involved in a car accident, involving a  drunk driver call 844.4MI.FIRM today. The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC is highly experienced in helping victims of motor vehicle accidents receive medical benefits they are entitled to under the law. Our knowledgeable and skilled team will help you seek compensation for your pain and suffering.  Call us today for a free consultation.
 
 
Source:

Battle Creek Enquirer

Takata's Dangerous Air Bag Recall

Car Accident Attorneys

If you own a car from model years 2002-2008 made by BMW, Chrysler, Ford, Honda, Mazda, Nissan, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Acura, Dodge, General Motors, Infiniti, Lexus, or Subaru, you may be driving with a defective airbag. Almost 17 million cars that used Japanese company Takata’s driver’s side and passenger’s side frontal air bags, have been recalled. As Takata supplies one-fifth of all motor vehicle air bags in the world, there may be millions of more cars on the roads that need to be recalled.  
 
The problem with the air bags is that over time and due to high humidity, the chemical canister, which erupts and propels thereby inflating the air bag, has been deteriorating and exploding causing the air bag to inflate and shards of the canister to be dispersed into the car. To date, 6 people have been killed and over 100 drivers have been injured because of the faulty airbags in their vehicles.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) has been investigating Takata after learning that Takata had known about the defects since 2004 and found that the company had conducted secret tests during non-work hours at their American headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Allegedly, Takata ordered employees to delete data which identified these defects and kept all testing a secret instead of reporting the dangers to federal safety regulators. Thus, starting February 20th, 2015, the NHTSA has been fining Takata $14,000 a day for not cooperating with their investigation.
 
Some car owners have already received recall notices form the manufacturer informing them what to do if their car fits the criteria of the recall. For those car consumers who worry that their car’s make and model may match the above description, finding out if there is a recall notice on their car is easy. The NHTSA website allows car owners to look their car by it’s VIN number to see if there is a recall issued.  If your car has a recall notice issued, then the manufacturer will replace the airbags for you.  
 
If you live in a high humidity climate, it is very important that you look up your car for defective air bags. If your air bags have been recalled but haven’t been replaced yet, you can take preventative measures such as limiting your driving, using public transportation, carpooling in a non-recalled car, or renting a car, to avoid being injured by Takata’s defective air bags. Even if the air bag doesn’t spontaneously erupt on it’s own, it can injure you if it inflates as a result of a car accident.
 
If you have been injured in a car accident, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. We aim to help victims of motor vehicle accidents deal with the difficulties of medical bills, insurance companies, and police investigations. The Michigan Law Firm’s experienced team makes sure you receive the benefits you are entitled to and helps you recover with dignity. Call us today at 844.4MI.FIRM or click here for a free consult.

Sources:

Safer Car

NY Times

Everything You Need To Know To Vote on Proposal 1

Voters in Michigan will be lining up to make a decision to pass the Michigan Sales Tax Increase for Transportation Amendment, also known as, Proposal 1, on Tuesday, May 5, 2015. This article aims to provide Michigan voters with all of the necessary information needed to make an informed choice regarding Michigan roads on the ballot.
 
First, Michigan voters need to be made aware of the changes that could occur if this proposal is passed. Proposal 1 intends to create one constitutional amendment, to raise Michigan sales tax, and ten statutes in the Michigan legislature. The idea behind these changes is to raise enough money to fix the poor state of Michigan roads by raising taxes and creating more Michigan laws.
 
The official language of Proposal One, approved by the Board of State Canvassers is as follows:

Auto Accident Lawyers

PROPOSAL 15-1
A proposal to amend the State Constitution to increase the sales/use tax from 6% to 7% to replace and supplement reduced revenue to the School Aid Fund and local units of government caused by the elimination of the sales/use tax on gasoline and diesel fuel for vehicles operating on public roads, and to give effect to laws that provide additional money for roads and other transportation purposes by increasing the gas tax and vehicle registration fees.

The proposed constitutional amendment would:

  • Eliminate sales / use taxes on gasoline / diesel fuel for vehicles on public roads.

  • Increase portion of use tax dedicated to School Aid Fund (SAF).

  • Expand use of SAF to community colleges and career / technical education, and

  • prohibit use for 4-year colleges / universities.

  • Give effect to laws, including those that:

    • Increase sales / use tax to 7%, as authorized by constitutional amendment.

    • Increase gasoline / diesel fuel tax and adjust annually for inflation,
      Increase vehicle registration fees, and dedicate revenue for roads and other transportation purposes

    • Expand competitive bidding and warranties for road projects

    • Increase earned income tax credit.

Should this proposal be adopted?
YES [ ]
NO [ ]


In other words, Proposal 1 would increase Michigan state sales tax, increase fuel tax and allow for fuel tax to be increased every year for inflation, and increase motor vehicle registration fees. These fees would not only be used to expand the transportation fund but would also be used to bolster the School Aid Fund.
 
The increases in taxes by Proposal 1 are estimated to cost an additional $477 to $545 per Michigan household. According to the Michigan House Fiscal Agency, once Proposal 1 is fully implemented in the fiscal year 2017-2018, Michigan’s state revenue will be increased to $1.9 billion dollars. This significant increase would be divided to create $116.1 million for public transportation, $200 million for the School Aid Fund, $111.1 million for cities, and $173 million for Michigan’s General Fund.
 
A poll conducted by Lansing’s EPIC-MRA on January 29, 2015 discovered that 46% of the people they surveyed would vote “yes” on Proposal 1 and 41% would vote “no”. Though after hearing more details on the Proposal, 47% said “yes” and only 38% said “no”. This change may be attributed to the fact that Michiganders are big proponents of road improvement. The current state of Michigan roads is miserable. Numerous potholes, crumbling asphalt, and broken bridges cause thousands of auto accidents in Michigan every year. Many of these motor vehicle crashes result in serious, life-changing injuries or even death. Some of these car accidents may be prevented by simply repairing Michigan's dangerous roads.
 
If you have been injured in an car or motorcycle accident, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our experienced auto accident attorneys are ready to help victims of car crashes deal with insurance companies, pay for medical bills, and easing your road to recovery. Call us today at 844.4MI.FIRM or click here for a free consultation.  

Modern App for Car Repairs

Car Repair Attorneys

If you have a smart phone or tablet, you may be several easy steps from getting a great deal on an auto repair. Available now for iOS and Android users, Openbay allows users to avoid having to call multiple auto repair shops and shop around for deals.

To get their cars fixed after auto accidents, users of Openbay just have to go through three easy steps. First, users can choose between finding services or diagnosing their cars problem.
 
The app connects with the vehicle’s computer diagnostic system and determines what is wrong with the car by reading alerts. If you already know what is wrong, you can skip this and choose to find services, such as oil changes, checking the engine, low battery, brake repair, or even tail light replacement.  Once you've chosen a service, step two is to view the offers.
 
Because the app knows where you live, it sends your service request out to auto body shops who have registered with the app, in your area. The body shops view the problem and send back a quote based extent of the damage, parts, labor, and taxes. Openbay then lists all of the quotes and allows the app’s user to compare these offers based on price, distance, and ratings of the repair shops.
 
Step three is then to pick an offer, schedule the appointment, and to pay securely though the app. The payment is only made after the service has been completed. And in some cases, this maintenance service may be counted towards a reward system. 
 
The great thing about this app is that now people will always know if something is wrong with their car, without having to dig up the old car manual to try to decipher the vehicle warning indicators. And with 354 auto repair and maintenance shops participating in the City of Detroit alone, Michigan drivers have a great shot at getting a good deal on their auto repairs after Michigan motor vehicle accidents.  Openbay is a great resource for Michigan drivers who are looking for car repair shops after an accident.

The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC helps victims of auto and motorcycle crashes medical bills are being paid, lost wages are recovered, and pain and suffering benefits are paid according to Michigan law. Our experienced team takes the stress out of your road to recovery.  Call us today at 844.4MI.FIRM or click here for a free consultation.
 

Driverless Car’s Cross Country Road Trip

Car Accident Attorneys

Automotive supplier, Delphi is making waves today by breaking boundaries in the world of car technology. Delphi, using technology such as short-range radar, vision based cameras, LIDaRs, a localization system, intelligence software algorithms, and many advanced drive assistance systems, turned an Audi SQ5 SUV an autonomous car. In other words, they turned it into a self-driving car. While this feat has been accomplished before, this specific instance is significantly more radical because the car completed a cross-country road trip from San Francisco to New York City.

It’s remarkable that in 2015, we not only have self-driving cars but we have a car that can drive 3,400 miles while navigating, various weather conditions, bridges, tunnels, construction, roundabouts, and horrible drivers in 15 states. The only minor setback is that the car was only fully automated for 99% of the drive as a human driver took over when the car needed to switch from highway driving to city driving.
 
The trip helped gather attention for Delphi’s project and also provided data on how to improve the system. For example, Delphi engineers learned that in times of peak sunlight or rainy conditions, some cameras were slightly blinded. Engineers also noticed that the car reacted differently around tractor trailers than other cars.
 
As for the aesthetics of the car, the equipment that makes the car autonomous is hidden well enough that it’s not noticeable unless you look for it or know where to look. Delphi utilized the Audi SQ5 SUV for the trip because they thought it was a "cool" car. To make Audis even cooler, in two years, Audi announced that Delphi will install a new computer system in every Audi, which uses data from the car’s cameras and sensors to help run the vehicle.  In addition, Delphi is developing another computer system that uses radar and cameras to help cars break automatically among other safety measures. This particular system is slated to be placed in Volvos.
 
With Delphi’s conclusion of this momentous road trip, we can only assume that self-driving cars may be available to the public in the near future. The switch from a nation of manual cars to autonomous cars would have a big impact on the safety of driving. If everyone is free to nap, watch tv, or read while they are commuting, all human error, which is the main cause of motor vehicle accidents, would be eliminated.

Delphi is an international automotive supplier, with its Michigan office located in Troy, Michigan.  It will be interesting to see the interplay with this technology and the major Detroit automakers.

However, until all of America or the world is being driven by autonomous cars, we still have to worry about auto accidents. Car accidents are one of the top five causes of death in the US and one of the leading causes of injuries.

If you have been injured in a Michigan car accident, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. The Michigan Law Firm helps victims of Michigan car and motorcycle accidents receive medical benefits, wage loss payments, and pain and suffering compensation as permitted by Michigan law. If you have questions about your injuries,  insurance problems, or your legal rights, call us today at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation with our experienced team.
 
 Sources:

Mirror

Wired

Detroit Commuter Challenge

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder has declared the month of May to be Commuter Challenge Month. What is this? Well, as an effort to make the City of Detroit more green and eco-friendly, Governor Rick Snyder has challenged citizens of Detroit to share transportation with other people. Taking the bus, car-pooling, biking, walking, and telecommuting are encouraged in order to reduce Detroit’s carbon footprint.  This effort may also clear up traffic on the roads for single rider cars. 
 
People can sign up on the Commuter Challenge website. Signing up before May 1, 2015 will allow participants to be placed in a drawing for a $50 Amazon gift card. Participants will also be placed into other drawings for prizes such as a Kindle Fire, Visa gift cards, Olive Garden gift cards, a Marriott Hotel stay, and iTunes gift cards, every time they log in a group a green commute.

bus accident attorneys

The website even provides people with detailed ideas of new forms of transportation. For example, if participants are interested in using the bus, the Commuter Challenge website gives information on the SMART bus system, the Detroit Department of Transportation, and the Detroit People mover, and even add links to their respective websites. Another useful suggestion by the website is pooling. The Commuter Challenge team provides information and websites for two city-wide, organized, pooling groups, MichiVan and SEMGOG’s MiRideshare.  Both of these companies help commuters find others  who are going to the same location and pair them up.
 
The benefit of commuting not only reduces Detroit’s carbon footprint, but it also clears the roads of heavy traffic which in turn creates safer driving conditions. No longer will commuters get stuck in traffic, have to breathe exhaust from cars, or have to worry about getting to work on time. Instead, they can travel in a cheerful mood, get to work on time, and possibly even make new friends with the people  they meet on the bus or in their carpool. And commuters who decide to bike or walk,  can gain a new appreciation for their environment and surroundings.
 
With fewer vehicles on the roads, there will likely be fewer motor vehicle accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 45,690 car crashes on Michigan roads in 2014. If Detroit’s Commuter Challenge can help reduce even a small fraction of these car and motorcycle accidents, we will have made a positive change.  Less people will be injured and lives may be saved in the process.
 
However, even if all commuters switched to carpools, some car accidents are just inevitable. If you or someone in your family has been injured in a car accident, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our experienced accident lawyers can help get your medical bills paid and can make sure you are fully compensated for all benefits you are entitled to under Michigan law, which in many cases includes pain and suffering compensation. Whether driving alone or in someone else’s car, you have a right to paid medical treatment. Call us today at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation.