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​

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.
 

 

Lowering Michigan Auto Insurance Rates

According to a study by Insure.com, Michiganders pay on average, a rate of $2,520 for their car insurance, because of the Michigan no-fault system. This premium covers the cost of personal injury protection (PIP) benefits for the policy holder. In other words, the driver's insurance company covers the cost of all medical bills in the case that the policyholder and in certain circumstances, the passengers in the car are injured in a motor vehicle accident regardless of fault.

Michigan Car Insurance

People often ask is there a way to obtain cheaper auto insurance or is there a way to lower car insurance premiums.  The answer may lie in recent technological developments in the auto industry - self driving cars. 

If humans were not actively controlling motor vehicles, thus removing the number one cause of car crashes, human error, many say the amount of annual car crashes  will be significantly reduced.

In a recent study involving 1,500 new car owners, The Boston Consulting Group found that 44% of people surveyed would buy a fully autonomous car. The top three reason that they stated for buying a self-driving care were increased safety, lower car insurance premiums, and the allowance of productivity and multitasking while the car drives them around. 

If cars are made to drive themselves, and drive themselves so safely as to allow the passengers to watch TV or sleep while the car is in motion, perhaps it is likely that because of the new safety features, car crashes will be less frequent. 

Until self-driving cars are further developed, tested, and integrated into the Michigan laws,  , people will be required to drive their own cars and brave the dangerous Michigan roads and risk car accidents.

If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our experienced auto accident team helps victims of car accidents receive the medical benefits they are entitled to and makes sure that car insurance claims are paid. . Auto accident attorneys are standing by to speak with you regarding your Michigan auto accident questions. Call us at 844.4MI.FIRM.

Michigan Spinal Cord Injuries

One of the most debilitating and life devastating injuries are spinal cord injuries. Any blow to the neck or spine can cause  damage to the vertebrae, which depending on the placement of the injury, can result in anything from difficulty breathing to paralysis.

Motor vehicle accidents are one of the most common causes of spinal cord injuries. Victims of car accidents often receive damage to the neck and back or have their upper bodies trapped and pressed. This may cause injury to the vertebrae, injury to ligaments or discs of the spinal column, tears in the spinal cord, or even a severed spinal cord. Victims of these injuries may have physical symptoms such as the loss of movement, sensations such as heat, cold, and touch, and bladder control. Others may even face psychological changes in sexual health or fall into depression.  It is important for an accident attorney to obtain all of these details to ensure those who have been injured will receive the appropriate compensation.

The most severe spinal cord injury symptom is paralysis.  Quadriplegia (or tetraplegia) is the paralysis or arms, hands, trunk, legs, and pelvic organs while paraplegia is the paralysis of parts of all of the trunk, legs and pelvic organs.  To determine if a spinal cord injury is present, doctors must run diagnostic tests such as CT scans, x-rays, and MRIs. Thus when there is any chance of spinal cord injury, victims generally must not be moved until emergency medical persons arrive at the scene of the injury. In case of car accidents, 911 should be dialed immediately and victims must not be moved until help arrives. If possible, the head and neck of the injured person should be gently braced, to keep it in place. 

To help prevent spinal cord injuries, drivers and passengers of vehicles must remember to wear a seatbelt at all times. Despite this precaution however, it is still possible for car crash victims to receive spinal cord injuries.

If you have been in a car accident, whether you have been diagnosed with a spinal cord injury or not, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC.  

The Michigan Law Firm has auto accident attorneys ready to help victims of car accidents find out which benefits they may be entitled to under Michigan law and obtain those benefits. Living with severe injuries, such as spinal cord injuries, can make life very difficult. Our experienced  team eases the stress of dealing with medical bills, insurance companies, and police investigations. This allows our clients to recover with dignity.

Call us today at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation.
 

Source:

Mayo Clinic

 

Cheaper Auto Insurance For Michigan Drivers

In the State of Michigan, all auto insurance companies are required to pay an assessment of $186 every year, for each policyholder, in payment for Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits.  This cost is typically passed on to the consumer, Michigan drivers. 

As stated directly by the MCCA:

Michigan's unique auto insurance no-fault law provides unlimited lifetime coverage for medical expenses which result from auto accidents. The MCCA reimburses auto no-fault insurance companies for each Personal Injury Protection (PIP) medical claim paid in excess of a set amount. Currently that amount is $530,000. That means that the insurance company pays the entire claim, but is reimbursed by the MCCA for medical costs over $530,000.

On March 25, 2015, the MCCA announced that the assessment would be dropping to $150, in turn, likely making car insurance cheaper for Michigan residents.  This change takes effect July 1st, 2015 and will last for one year. 

In 2014, the MCCA “paid out $1 billion, mostly for brain and spinal cord injuries, multiple fractures, and back and neck injuries.” In 2015, the MCCA hopes to use $4.50 of assessed $150 to balance a deficit of $292 million for existing claims. “$145.10 will cover anticipated new claims.”

PIP benefits include the cost of medical treatment, wage loss, attendant care, and replacement services.

The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC helps people injured in car crashes to open insurance claims and to identify and receive these PIP benefits. Call our experienced team at 844.4MI.FIRM or click here for a free consultation.  

 

Sources:

Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association

Detroit Free Press

Michigan Radio

Michigan’s Decaying Roads

In 2014, the Michigan Transportation Asset Management Council released data which concluded that only 17% of roads in Michigan are in good condition. This means that a whopping 83% of roads in Michigan are considered to be in either fair or poor conditions.

The reason for such bad roads is, “a recent spate of historically harsh winters; a load weight limit for heavy trucks that is twice as high as any other state in the nation; the fact that we spend less per mile on road repairs than our neighboring states; the state doesn't always do an adequate job of following up on road construction warranty work, according to a recent state auditor general report, among other factors.”

On May 5th, 2015, Michigan voters will vote on Proposal 1, which intends to raise Michigan sales tax in order to create at least $1.2 billion a year, to add to Michigan’s road and bridge repair budget. Though Governor Rick Snyder is a huge proponent of the proposal, many opponents are worried that this may not be enough money to undo the damage, that it will cause deficits in various state funding, and that it may increase gas prices.

Whether Proposal 1 is passed or not, Michigan drivers still need to worry about the current conditions of roads and bridges. Despite melting ice and warmer temperatures, there are still pot holes, bumps, poorly laid asphalt, and dangerous debris, which can all cause car crashes.

The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC helps those who have been injured in auto accidents.  If you were injured in an accident caused by dangerous Michigan road conditions, call us at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation with our experienced local team.  Our injury accident attorneys are ready to help.

Sources:

Detroit Free Press

Southeast Michigan Counsel of Governments