Snapchat's "Speed Filter" Allegedly Causing Accidents on the Road?

Distracted Driving Car Crash Lawyer

Snapchat, the increasingly popular picture phone app, is now at the center of attention for those looking for causes of distracted driving. Many are pointing to the app’s “speed filter” feature which allows drivers to track how fast they are going, tag it on a photo, and share it with their friends. Because pictures and videos disappear in 10 seconds or less, drivers allegedly become more distracted from the road and place more focus on the picture before it’s gone. According to the United States Department of Transportation, distracted driving activities such as sending or receiving pictures can take your eyes off of the road for about 4.6 seconds. At 55 mph, that is similar to driving the length of a football field blindfolded. 

Snapchat Speed Filter Car Crash Lawyer

In April, Georgia resident Wentworth Maynard sued Snapchat and a young driver for a car crash that left him with serious brain injuries. The lawsuit alleges that a young driver was driving at speeds over 100 mph because she was using the filter. While distracted, the driver crashed into the Mitsubishi that Maynard was driving. He suffered major brain trauma as a result. The accident took place in Clayton County, and the minimum driver’s insurance is $25,000, an amount which will likely not be enough to cover Maynard’s medical costs. 

Following the suit, Snapchat released the following statement: 

“No Snap is more important than someone’s safety. We actively discourage our community from using the speed filter while driving, including the ‘Do NOT Snap and Drive’ warning message in the app itself.” 

Drivers should remember that no text or picture is important enough to take their eyes off the road while driving. If it's an urgent matter, drivers should pull over to the side of the road. Taking this cautious step will not only help reduce the chances of you getting injured in a car accident, but it can also help save the lives of other drivers on the road. 

If you or someone you know has been in an accident caused by distracted driving, feel free to call The Michigan Law Firm PLLC. Our attorneys are experienced in handling these types of accidents, and will get you the help you need. Call us today, at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation. 

Hamtramck, Michigan Residents Take Road Repairs Into Their Own Hands

Residents of Hamtramck, Michigan are taking road damage control into their own hands as the summer approaches and potholes become a bigger problem for the community. 2014 data shows that Michigan is near the top of the list for worst roads in the U.S: Almost 40% of Michigan roads can be considered to be in “poor shape”. According to a national study by the Associated Press, funding for roads in Michigan fell 8% from 2008 to 2013, so there is not enough money to go around, for these local side streets. 

Pothole Car Accident Lawyer


After purchasing 17 bags of cold patch, about 900 pounds worth, for about $120, residents of Lumpkin Street were able to repair the littered potholes. Lumpkin Street is just one of the mild cases of road damage in Hamtramck, as Charest Street alone has 33 different potholes. 


“We thought we’d just do this quietly,” resident Jonathan Weier told the Detroit Free Press. “There’s holes in the ground, and there’s no one filling them, so let’s fill them.”


The efforts of this self-made repair crew have not gone without notice, as they have garnered an interview from NPR’s “All Things Considered” show and gaining financial support through a GoFundMe page that raised $4,475. They have even received the support of Hamtramck’s mayor Karen Majewski. 


“It just speaks to me about the level of commitment to and affection for Hamtramck that residents here have. There’s such a strong sense of community spirit and a feeling that we’re all in it together. People here are willing to step up and do what they can to make the city work,” Majewski told MLive. 

Road Damage Car Accident

Tips for Avoiding Potholes: 

Here are some tips from the Michigan Department of Transportation on how to avoid rough patches during your commute: 

  • Be Vigilant: Potholes aren’t always easy to see, especially at night. Make sure that the vehicle’s headlights are working properly before getting on the road. 
  • Vehicle Maintenance: Tires should be properly inflated. Also, it is good to have suspensions and steering components inspected. 
  • If you have no way of avoiding the pothole, it is best to slow down and then release the brakes before you hit it. You should also straighten your wheel to hit it squarely and roll through it. 
  • If you do hit a pothole, it’s important to inspect the vehicle for any damage that may have been done once you get out of the car. A properly maintained car can help avoid any further damage to the vehicle. 

If you or anyone you know has been involved in a car accident, including collisions caused by potholes or other types of road damage, please call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our attorneys are very experienced in handling car accident cases, and will get you the help that you need. Call us, at 844.4MI.FIRM, for a free consultation. 

Nissan To Recall Over 3.5 Million Vehicles Due To Faulty Airbags

Nissan Recall Lawyer

The Nissan Motor Company put out a statement on Friday, April 29, 2016 that it will be recalling 3.53 million vehicles, most of which are in the United States, due to a passenger airbag issue. Reuters reported that the issue is that the passenger airbag may not work properly due to a malfunction of the vehicle's sensors. This is the Japanese automaker's fourth recall since 2013 concerning air bag issues affecting the front passenger side. The sensor may malfunction, making the automobile believe the passenger is a child or the seat is empty, leading to the airbag not deploying.

Nissan has reported three injuries so far due to this issue but luckily, no deaths as of yet. The recall includes some 2013-2017 models of the Nissan Altima, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, Pathfinder, Sentra, Rogue, NV200, NV Taxi, Infiniti JX35/QX60, and Q50. The 2015-2016 Chevrolet City Express was also included, because Nissan manufactured this vehicle for General Motors. About 3.2 million of these recalls are within the United States. Some 600,000 Nissan Sentra cars are also on recall for a safety belt defect, adding to the list of vehicles currently on recall. Nissan will be contacting those affected by recalls within the next few months and the issue will be fixed at no charge to the owner.

Nissan Recall Attorney

It is very important to stay on top of recalls because they can sometimes fix fatal defects in the automobile. Issues such as this one, regarding seat belts or airbags, can be the difference between life and death, when the car is involved in an automobile accident. If a car is believed to be under recall, always fix it as soon as possible. If a car is recalled, owners should receive a pamphlet in the mail or can check online at SafeCar.gov. Simply enter the VIN number of the car in question and all potential recalls will be listed.

The news of this recall comes in the wake of a number of other large recalls. This recall alone affects over 3.5 million vehicles, which equates to almost 1 car recalled per every 100 persons in the United States. Automakers do their best to ensure car safety, but sometimes are at fault and will attempt to fix these issues. It is important for drivers to ensure they are up to date on all safety checks and recall information to ensure their own safety, and the safety of drivers around them.

If you or someone you know has been involved in an auto accident due to a defect with your car, call The Michigan Law Firm PLLC. Our attorneys are highly experienced in handling all types of motor vehicle accidents including those caused by recalled vehicles. Call us today, at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation.

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Dog Bites: Everything You Need To Know

A huge fear for many parents when allowing their children to play in public areas, especially in cities, are dogs. Cities like Detroit, Michigan have an abundance of both tame and feral dogs, many of which roam the city streets as they please. Children may not always know when a dog is safe or unsafe to approach, which could lead to being bitten and taken to the hospital or even dying, depending on the severity of the bite. As a parent, it is very important to understand which kinds of dogs are most likely to bite, and how to treat a bite if it does occur.

According to DogsBite.org, an organization which has been collecting data since 1982 through the end of 2014, only 9.2% of the dog population are breeds such as pit bulls, rottweilers, presa canarios, cane corsos, mastiffs, dogo argentinos, fila brasieros, sharpeis, boxers. Although this represents a very small percentage of all dogs, these breeds and their mixes account for 86% of attacks that induce bodily harm, 81% of all attacks on children, and 86% of all attacks that result in maiming or long-term damage. Also, dogs that are biters are 6.2 times more likely to be male than female and are just under 3 times as likely to be biters if they are chained up rather than free roaming. Not only is it important to keep these statistics in mind when allowing children to play in the neighborhood, but they is important to keep in mind when in public areas like parks and on sidewalks. 

Over 4.5 million Americans suffer from dog bites every year, with a significant proportion of those being children between the ages of 5 and 9. When a dog bite occurs, there are some very simple steps to take, to try and prevent further injury or infection.

What To Do After Being Bitten By A Dog

  1. SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION!
  2. If help is taking too long to arrive, get a clean towel and place it on the injury and keep it elevated.
  3. It is important to wash the wound with soap and water and apply antibiotic ointment every day that the wound is still open.
  4. Wrap the injury with a sterile bandage to keep debris out.
  5. If the owner of the dog is known, find out whether the animal is up to date with shots, most importantly the rabies vaccine. 

Although dogs are man’s best friend, they can still be dangerous animals. It is important to know how to interact with these animals and what to do if something goes wrong. If you or someone you know has been bitten by an animal, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our attorneys are highly experienced in handling all types of dog bite cases. Call us today, at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation.

$21 Million Project Connects 20 Miles Of Detroit, Michigan Pathways

Detroit, Michigan has shown a lot of growth this Spring, with many projects coming to a close and and many starting anew. A project that is finishing up right now is one that is connecting 20 miles of walking, running, and bicycling paths through the city of Detroit. According to CBS Detroit, these paths cost about $21 million and were started in 2012. This project began due to funding from the city and the state, and from donations from groups like the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, The McGregor Fund, and the Kresge Foundation. A staple of this project is the Dequindre Cut Greenway, a path that is just over a mile long.

The new pathways and connector pathways now connect areas like Wayne State, Eastern Market, and Hamtramck. The main push for these pathways is to make Detroit a biker friendly city, which many believe in turn will make Detroit a family friendly city. Many city groups on both sides of the Detroit River hope that with the construction of the Gordy Howe International Bridge, which is scheduled to open in 2020, will allow bike paths to extend from Windsor, Canada to Detroit, which would be a unique, international connection.

Detroit Bicycle Accident Lawyer

A bike friendly city is very important for automobile drivers as well. Allowing bikers to get around without riding on roadways makes bicycling far safer and allows for drivers to focus on other traffic impediments. Bicycle crashes are often fatal, so this is a big win for cycling enthusiasts. This move will also hopefully inspire a new breed of Detroiters to start riding their bicycles to run errands, go to work, and for leisure, thereby keeping cars off the road. Fewer cars on the road makes driving safer for those on the road, and keeps down on traffic. The city of Detroit keeps investing in projects such as this and is seeing both short term and long term benefits, so many hope these projects will continue within the city limits.

If you or someone you know has been involved in an auto or bicycle accident, call The Michigan Law Firm PLLC. Our attorneys are highly experienced in helping bicyclists who have been hit by cars, identify and receive any benefits they may be entitled to, under Michigan law. Call us today, at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation.

Lots of Highway Construction Coming to Metro-Detroit

It is officially that time of year once again: road work season. The Detroit Free Press reported that the state of Michigan plans to spend around $422 million on road repairs in the Metro Detroit area. The lengthiest of these projects is the 14-year reconstruction of I-75 and I-275. This work, although stressful for drivers, will make for nicer roadways in the long run. Other, less significant, projects include  the reconstruction of the retaining wall between Meyers and McNichols on the Lodge Freeway in Detroit, replacements to the Trumbull bridge over I-94 in Detroit, reconstruction of Van Dyke in Warren and Sterling Heights, and the resurfacing and reconstruction of Lapeer Road in Auburn Hills and Orion Township. All of these projects cost tens of millions of dollars each, with finish dates ranging from this coming summer until the end of this year.

Detroit Construction Accident Lawyer

With so many projects going on this summer, it is very important for drivers to be on the lookout for construction workers, not only for their safety, but for the drivers' safety as well. Road work conditions are often far less safer than regular driving conditions, as there may be steep drop offs or two way traffic in areas that do not normally have it. Almost all traffic fines are doubled in work zones, so choosing not to slow down could really cost drivers. It is very unwise and unsafe to speed in construction zones. It is very easy to injure or kill a construction worker due to lack of attention or drunk driving as well.

Drivers need to pay extra attention to the road and their surroundings when driving in construction zones. This attention can be the difference between a safe trip through the zone, and a huge fine, or worse, the death of a construction worker.

If you or someone you know has been involved in an auto accident, call The Michigan Law Firm PLLC. Our attorneys are highly experienced in handling all types of motor vehicle accidents, including those occurring in construction zones. Call us today, at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation.

Detroit's Potential MLS Franchise Creates A Potential Traffic Nightmare

All the buzz in Detroit, Michigan lately has been about sports. The Tigers have started their season, the Red Wings and Pistons made the playoffs, the Lions have their new class of players, and rumors of a Detroit MLS franchise spark controversy. On Wednesday, April 27, 2016, it was announced by a number of news outlets that Detroit billionaire and owner of Quicken Loans, Dan Gilbert, is entering a joint venture with current Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores, to invest in a stadium at the current site of the Wayne County jail on Gratiot Avenue in downtown Detroit, for the use of soccer, rugby, or lacrosse. Although these are still just rumors, it has many Detroiters wondering what may become of this investment.

Detroit MLS Soccer Team

The MLS typically has its season starting in March and ending in October. This overlaps with the MLB, which typically runs from April through October, the NFL, which typically runs from September through February, and the NHL, which typically runs from October through April. This means that during any one month, there are at least two Detroit sports teams currently contending in their leagues, which potentially means home games in Detroit. (Although the Detroit Pistons currently play in Auburn Hills, there has been rumor of their move back to Detroit in the not too distant future.) This would mean that there could be 5 major league sports teams playing within a 10-15 minute walk of one another, and considering the Pistons also play from October through April, this could really lead to some traffic woes for sports fans and Detroiters living and commuting in the area.

The unification of all of these teams in downtown Detroit would really put stress on major roadways like Woodward, Jefferson, Gratiot, and Michigan Avenues. This would also put a lot of traffic on the major highways near downtown, such as I-75, I-375, I-94, I-96, The Lodge, and all of their tributaries, before and after games. With most people coming to sporting events in Detroit not living downtown, this really puts a lot of pressure on these roadways, and on other services like restaurants, public transportation, and hotels as well. The completion of the M-1 Rail, or QLine, will drastically help the traffic issue, but will still only take a small chunk out of the thousands of Detroit sports fans attempting to get into the city on game day. 

Increased game day traffic is an issue because accidents often happen when people are frustrated by built up traffic. Stop and go traffic leads to drivers not paying attention and bumping into one another and road rage car crashes. Traffic in downtown areas can also lead to pedestrian and bicycle accidents. City streets are not typically jammed packed in Detroit, and many drivers are not used to driving in a city like Detroit, with its many one way streets and multiple stop signs, and Michigan lefts. This can lead to confusion and accidents between cars, pedestrians and cars, bicyclists and cars, and even pedestrians and bicycles.

Although, by ramping up police enforcement on game days and increasing public transportation from areas in which sports fans are coming from, the city may be able to curb this traffic issue that is now looming with the potential for two new teams moving into downtown Detroit (MLS and the return of the Pistons). However, this is not a guarantee, and even if it were, accident are still bound to happen.

If you or someone you know has been involved in an motor vehicle accident, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our attorneys are highly experienced in handling all types of motor vehicle accidents, including those involving pedestrian and bicycle crashes. Call us today, at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation.

Macomb County Car Crash Heard For Blocks, Leaves One Dead

A car was ripped in half this past week in a life-taking crash in Macomb County, Michigan. Fox 2 Detroit reported that many witnesses stated that the crash sounded like an explosion. One witness in particular, stated that the two car crash sounded like a ten car crash, and that even a day later she could not get the noise out of her head. The noise may have come from one of the vehicles in the collision which was split into three pieces.

Speeding Lawyer

The speed limit in the area is 50 miles per hour but eye witnesses stated that the car was going at least double that, lost control, and crashed. Another car crashed into that car afterwards. The driver of the second car attempted to help the driver of the first car but there was nothing anyone could do. The first driver was pronounced dead at the scene. It was certain that the speed of the accident was a factor, but some believe drugs and alcohol may have played a factor. For the residents of the neighborhood in which the crash took place, the spot of the accident will never feel the same.

This accident should be a haunting reminder for drivers to always follow posted speed limits. It is very easy for drivers to speed, but it is one of the most unsafe things a driver can do. Crashes caused by high speeds often leave drivers, passengers, and bystanders paralyzed or even dead. Following posted driving speed limits is a very easy way save lives. 

If you or someone you know has been involved in an auto accident, call The Michigan Law Firm PLLC. Our attorneys are highly experienced in handling all types of motor vehicle accidents. Call us today, at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation.

Semi-Truck Hits Stopped Car on Michigan's I-94

One person ended up dead this week, on I-94, after a deadly crash involving a semi truck and a stopped vehicle. The Detroit Free Press reported that a semi-truck drove over the top of a stopped car near the I-94 and I-69 interchange, because the car was stopped in the middle of the highway and the truck could not stop in time. Although the semi truck driver was not hurt, the driver of the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident occurred around 2:14 A.M. in the eastbound lanes of I-94. The names of the drivers have not yet been released, but alcohol is suspected to have been a factor in the crash given the time of the accident. The accident closed both sides of the highway and traffic was diverted to the closest exits until around 7 A.M. Police and Firefighters worked vigorously to clear the scene, but it still took many hours.

Drunk Driving Accident Lawer

As The Michigan Law Firm blog has covered before, drunk driving is a serious issue plaguing almost every corner of this country. Drunk driving leaves thousands dead every year and is the cause of much property damage. The main issue many people have with drunk driving is that there are so many alternatives to avoid driving after drinking. Public transportation is being ramped up all around the state of Michigan, especially in cities in the Metro Detroit area. Also, ride sharing services like Uber and Lyft are becoming more and more popular and are appearing in almost every major city. And of course, designating a sober driver is always the best option to drunk driving. Choosing to not drink and drive can literally be the difference between life and death, or at least a huge fine and a safe ride home. The choice is easy, drive sober or get pulled over.

If you or someone you know has been involved in an auto accident, call The Michigan Law Firm PLLC. Our attorneys are highly experienced in handling all types of motor vehicle accidents. Our firm also specializes in helping victims of drunk driving identity and get any benefits they maybe entitled to, under Michigan law. We can help you deal with your legal issues while you focus on recovering your health. Call us today, at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation.

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