Detroit Personal Injury Lawyer - Personal Injury

Michigan Motorcycle Insurance Advice | PLPD

Daniel Buckfire — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:26:00 GMT

People often ask me about the types of insurance someone who is considering buying a motorcycle should buy. I also frequently review insurance policies for my friends, and my clients, and I advise them about their insurance coverage. I am always happy to review someone’s insurance policy and give them my recommendation.

The most important thing to know about motorcycle insurance is that it is different from the insurance for your car. Car insurance is called No Fault insurance, and it is governed by the Michigan No Fault Law. The No Fault Law sets rules and limits on insurance for “motor vehicles” but that law’s definition of the term “motor vehicle” does not include motorcycles. A lot of bikers do not realize this and think because they have No Fault insurance, they are fully covered if they get into an accident. Too often, they only find out about their lack of coverage after they have been injured in an accident.

To register your motorcycle, you will need to provide proof of insurance for at least $20,000/$40,000 public liability and $10,000 property damage coverage (PLPD). Having PLPD means your insurance company will defend you for any claims for personal injury or property damage caused by your negligence. Your insurance company will defend you against these claims and will pay any settlements or judgments against the policy.

These amounts are the minimum amounts required by law. Failing to have these minimums can mean significantly more than risking a ticket if you are pulled over by the police. Failing to have PLPD means your insurance company will not defend claims made against you for your negligence and will mean you cannot collect benefits if you are the victim of someone else’s negligence. That means you will be on your own to pay for costly medical bills and lost wages. These expenses have forced many uninsured bikers into personal bankruptcy.

Whenever people ask me about PLPD, I always encourage them to make sure to insure their motorcycles. I also always recommend that they purchase a policy that adequately protects their assets. For almost everyone, this means purchasing a policy for higher than the minimum amounts required by law. Most people should purchase $100,000/$300,000 coverage since the cost of purchasing the additional coverage is relatively inexpensive as compared to the cost of purchasing the required $20,000/$40,000 policy. With a policy like that, you can sure you will be fairly compensated for your injuries and not left facing significant medical expenses for your treatment.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Daniel Buckfire

Childhood Traumatic Brain Injury

Daniel Buckfire — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 10:54:44 GMT

Children with traumatic brain injuries face some of the most difficult challenges a parent or teacher is likely to encounter. Unfortunately, thousands of children suffer traumatic brain injuries each year. The most common causes of traumatic brain injuries among children include car accidents, sport- and play-related injuries, fights or assaults, and falls. If a child’s traumatic brain injury is caused intentionally or through the negligence of another person, the parent can normally file a lawsuit to get compensation for the damages the child has suffered.

In the educational context, childhood traumatic brain injury has been defined by regulations promulgated pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. This law aims at providing equal access to education for children with disabilities. The regulations, codified at 34 C.F.R. § 300.8(c)(12) define “traumatic brain injury” as follows:

Traumatic brain injury means an acquired injury to the brain caused by an external physical force, resulting in total or partial functional disability or psychosocial impairment, or both, that adversely affects a child's educational performance. Traumatic brain injury applies to open or closed head injuries resulting in impairments in one or more areas, such as cognition; language; memory; attention; reasoning; abstract thinking; judgment; problem-solving; sensory, perceptual, and motor abilities; psychosocial behavior; physical functions; information processing; and speech. Traumatic brain injury does not apply to brain injuries that are congenital or degenerative, or to brain injuries induced by birth trauma.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Daniel Buckfire

Michigan Car Accident Lawyers | Spinal Cord Injury

Daniel Buckfire — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 17:05:14 GMT

I recently read about a woman paralyzed from spinal cord injuries she received in a car accident. Although she has spent the last seven years since the accident unable to walk, she recently underwent experimental surgery in Portugal and has begun a new rehabilitation regiment featuring increased weight bearing exercises. After a lot of training and failures, the Detroit Free Press reports she has begun feeling sensation in her lower limbs for the first time since the accident. Although it is clear that these results are not typical, the story provides hope and an example for the thousands of people who suffer from spinal cord injuries each year.

The article also discusses some aspects of how the Michigan No Fault Act provides support for rehab efforts by covering the cost of all medical expenses, even those far removed from the initial treatment or hospital stay. From the article:

Another obstacle is health insurance. Most plans typically don't cover intense therapy programs. But a person injured in an auto accident, such as Nader, in a no-fault state like Michigan, can get coverage funded through a state system.

Even then, a person's coverage may be dropped if an insurer decides progress hasn't been made and documented.

Selecting an experienced Michigan car accident attorney to handle your No Fault claims and your auto negligence claims can help you get full coverage for rehab programs so you can resume your normal life.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Daniel Buckfire

Michigan Truck Accident Lawyers | Causes of Truck Accidents

Daniel Buckfire — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:26:00 GMT

Many people blame motorists or even pedestrians for their own injuries when they are involved in a truck accident, but experienced Michigan truck accident attorneys know that it is almost always the trucking company which is to blame. Many trucking companies have mileage incentives or requirements for drivers which often lead to excessive time on the road without rest. Other trucking companies put tremendous pressure on truck drivers to meet certain delivery times which causes faster speeds so they will arrive on time. These practices often end up causing accidents with other cars, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles or pedestrians.

The most common causes of a Michigan truck accident are the following:

Fatigue, sleepy or tired drivers driving too many hours without rest;
Truck drivers drinking alcohol or drug use;
Running off the road;
Failure to yield the right of way;
Unsafe safety systems, reflectors, lights and other warning devices;
Overloaded Truck;
Oversized Truck;
Lack of training on the part of the truck driver;
Poorly maintained brakes on the Truck;
Reckless driving;
Driving in conditions of poor visibility due to smoke, fog, snow or rain;
Poorly maintained tires;
Speeding;
Wide turns;
Blind spots;
Fatigue, sleepy or tired drivers driving too many hours without rest;
Running off the road;
Failure to yield the right of way;
Unsafe safety systems, reflectors, lights and other warning devices

A full investigation into the reasons behind a particular accident is essential to winning a truck accident case.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Daniel Buckfire

Michigan Truck Accident Lawyers | Truck Accident Features

Daniel Buckfire — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:24:00 GMT

Michigan truck accidents share certain features. For starters, there is a much, much greater likelihood of death, personal injury, or property damage in a truck accident as compared to a simple car accident. In fact, there is over a 95% chance that one of those will happen when a truck hits a car.

Other Common Features of a Michigan Truck Accident include:

More turning, backing, and changing lanes;
More collisions with abutements and utility polls, jackknife, and cargo loss;
Fewer single-vehicle crashes and more multiple vehicle crashes;
More side-swipe accidents;
Fewer drivers cited for speeding, failing to yield, and reckless driving, but more drivers cited for improper backing, lane use, and turning errors;
More on-road crashes;
More daytime crashes;
More weekday crashes.

If someone is injured in a truck accident, that person is eligible for Michigan No Fault benefits. The best way to determine the scope of Michigan No Fault coverage is to consult with an experienced Michigan truck accident attorney.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Daniel Buckfire

Michigan Truck Accident Lawyer | Michigan Truck Accident Breakdown

Daniel Buckfire — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:24:47 GMT

Michigan truck accident lawyers know truck accidents are becoming more common. A breakdown of Michigan truck accidents confirms this. In fact, trucks are involved in more than 13,000 accidents per year. Trucks account for over 25% of all fatal accidents in Michigan. In 95% of truck accidents there was either property damage, personal injury, or death. With this virtually certain chance of death, injury, or damage, Michigan drivers should always use caution when approaching trucks and continue to educate themselves on the causes of truck accidents. By reading the other Michigan truck accident articles on this website, drivers can educate themselves about how to avoid truck accidents and what to do if they are involved in a truck accident.

When a driver, pedestrian, bicyclist, or motorcyclist is hit by a truck, Michigan No Fault benefits are available to the accident victim. No Fault benefits pay for medical expenses, lost wages, household replacement services, attendant care, and other benefits regardless of fault in the accident. In addition, when an accident victim’s injuries are severe, the victim may have a legal claim against the truck driver if the truck driver is at fault in causing the accident. The best way to determine what claims an injured person has is to consult with a lawyer.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Daniel Buckfire

Traumatic Brain Injury and Delinquency

Daniel Buckfire — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 09:57:00 GMT

Traumatic brain injuries are associated with delinquent behavior. According to a new study by the University of Michigan, nearly one out of five delinquent youths suffer from a traumatic brain injury. The study focused on young people ages 11 to 20 and found those with traumatic brain injuries had a significantly earlier onset of criminal and substance-using behavior, more lifetime substance abuse problems, and suicidal tendencies than youths without traumatic brain injuries.

The study defined traumatic brain injury as a head injury causing 20 minutes or more of unconsciousness. The study did not assess post-injury treatment or severity of the initial injury. However, it is well known that lack of treatment can only make the problems normally associated with a traumatic head injury worse.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Daniel Buckfire

Picking a Brain Injury Lawyer

Daniel Buckfire — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 11:59:00 GMT

Many people think that a brain injury could never happen to them or a loved one. But, did you know that brain injuries occur in nearly 75% of accidents that involve bodily injury? Brain injuries are an extremely common result of motor vehicle accidents, assaults, sports injuries, slip and fall accidents, and other accidents.

If you or a loved one is ever in a serious car accident or receives some kind of blow to the head, the first thing you should do is seek medical treatment immediately. Mild brain injuries are often difficult for lay people to detect, but left undiagnosed they can cause severe long-term problems such as headaches, memory loss, and even personality changes. Such injuries can result in job loss, family strife, and significantly increased medical expenses later in life.

Many times, the negligence of another person causes traumatic brain injury. When this is the case, the injured person or his or her family will usually have a claim against that person for their brain injury. Not all lawyers are equally qualified to handle your brain injury case, and you will want to make sure your brain injury lawyer knows the technicalities of the law. Failing to select the best lawyer could cost you benefits and reduce your chances of obtaining a favorable settlement.

When picking a brain injury lawyer, you will want to ask him or her the following questions to help you determine whether the lawyer has the knowledge and experience necessary to fight for you.

Have you handled brain injury cases before?
What percentage of your law practice is devoted to representing injured people?
Do you know about different types of brain injuries?
Do you know what long-term health problems face someone with a brain injury?
Do you regularly represent clients against insurance company lawyers?
What kinds of settlements and jury verdicts have you obtained in similar brain injury cases?
Do you have a website with more information about brain injuries and the brain injury cases your law firm has handled?
What relationships with doctors, nurses, and brain injury associations do you have?

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Daniel Buckfire

Traumatic Brain Injury Damages

Daniel Buckfire — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Experienced brain injury lawyers that the client’s traumatic brain injury case is not over once they prove the client has suffered a traumatic brain injury. Proving the extent of the damages the client has suffered is a vital element in any traumatic brain injury case.

The brain injury lawyers at Buckfire and Buckfire, P.C. have won substantial amounts for our clients from both jury verdicts and settlements. Traumatic brain injury cases present some of the most difficult and complicated damages, because the brain is itself a complex organ that is not fully understood. The full extent of damages might be slow in developing, and yet, there are often immediately noticeable changes in personality and mood.

Michigan brain injury lawyers understand that these changes in personality affect marriages, families, and friendships. Traumatic brain injury patients are often unable to return to work and suffer a significant impairment of earnings and earning potential.

Damages in traumatic brain injury cases are often substantial, because they seek to compensate the injured person for the tremendous cost for their care and rehabilitation as well as, quite often, a lifetime of decreased earnings. Accident victims who have suffered traumatic brain injuries generally can collect the following traumatic brain injury damages:

Medical expenses including all hospital and doctors’ bills
Pain and suffering, including future pain and suffering
Loss of enjoyment of life
Reasonable value for loss of time and earning capacity
Poor health or disability caused by the traumatic brain injury
Aggravation of a pre-existing injury caused by the traumatic brain injury

There are many excellent support groups for traumatic brain injury patients in their families throughout the United States that promote treatment, prevention, and education. Most states have strong local chapters of the national associations, including a Michigan chapter.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Daniel Buckfire

Traumatic Brain Injuries: Concussion Symptoms

Daniel Buckfire — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 09:34:00 GMT

Our Michigan brain injury lawyers frequently represent individuals who suffer brain injuries due to trauma. These injuries can come from car accidents, motorcycle accidents, slip and falls, work-related accidents, and other accidents.

Concussions are the most common and least understood type of traumatic brain injury. A concussion occurs when the soft tissue of the brain is thrust against the hard bone of the skull. The force of a blow or sudden movement affects the brain center controlling the blood vessels in the brain and creates a deficiency of blood supply to the brain.

In a concussion, electrical activity within the brain temporarily diminishes or even ceases as a result of a traumatic brain injury.

Concussion Symptoms include:

Loss of consciousness
Dazed or confused behavior
Rapid and/or weak pulse
Slow respiration
Dilated pupils
Cold and/or pale skin
Slow reflexes
General muscle weakness
Involuntary movement of eyeballs
Dizziness or headache
Slurred speech

If a medical doctor is testing, slow waves on an electroencephalogram (EEG) and increased cerebrospinal fluid pressure can also indicate the patient has suffered a concussion.

The Michigan brain injury lawyers at Buckfire & Buckfire understand that these types of injuries have a tremendous effect on an individual’s ability to lead his or her normal life. Changes in personality affect marriages, families, and friendships. Head injury patients are often unable to return to work and suffer a significant impairment of earnings and earning potential. Further, head injury patients often need expensive attendant care services due to their condition. If the injury arose from a car accident, motorcycle accident, truck accident, bicycle accident, or pedestrian accident, there is often a Michigan No-Fault Insurance claim for benefits.

The injuries resulting from traumatic brain injuries are often permanent, and cases involving brain injuries have substantial value for both jury verdicts and settlements. This is because of the tremendous costs and expenses related to caring for a brain injured child and the loss of a child’s earnings over his or her lifetime.

There are many excellent support groups for brain injury patients in their families throughout the United States that promote treatment, prevention, and education. Most states have strong local chapters of the national associations, including a Michigan chapter.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Daniel Buckfire