Our Ann Arbor bus accident lawyer recently settled a pedestrian accident case in the Washtenaw Circuit Court.  Our client, a University of Michigan employee, was crossing the street in downtown Ann Arbor.  While in the crosswalk, an Ann Arbor Transportation Authority Bus turned into the crosswalk and struck him, knocking him down and causing numerous injuries.  A lawsuit was filed and later settled at a mediation proceeding just prior to the scheduled jury trial.  Several videos taken by the bus cameras provided necessary evidence to prove liability against the bus driver.

In the year 2009 there were a total of 419 bus accidents in Washtenaw County. Ann Arbor bus accidents accounted for 149 (35.6%) of those accidents. These bus accidents resulted in 3 fatalities (none in Ann Arbor), and another 82 people who suffered injuries, 26 of which were in Ann Arbor. There were no pedestrians involved in any of the crashes in Ann Arbor bus accidents, nor the rest of Washtenaw County.

Our own book, written by Michigan auto accident lawyer Daniel L. Buckfire, “The Ultimate Michigan Car Accident Handbook,” has been called the best book ever written for persons injured in Michigan car accidents. It answers all of your questions about your legal rights against negligent drivers as well as your available benefits under the Michigan No-Fault Law. We’ll send it to you for FREE!

Our Ann Arbor motorcycle accident lawyers represent bikers and passengers injured in Michigan motorcycle accidents. The following are some commonly asked questions of our motorcycle accident attorneys. 

If I was driving a motorcycle or was a passenger on a motorcycle that was struck by an automobile in Michigan, can I sue the driver and the owner of the automobile that cause the accident for my injuries?

Yes, if the following two criteria are fulfilled. First, is the driver of the automobile at-fault? Second, did you sustain a serious injury or disfigurement (like a scar) from the crash? If both are true then the automobile driver can be sued

 What if the other driver was driving another motorcycle rather than an automobile in Michigan?

Yes, and unlike above you do not need to prove you suffered a serious injury or disfigurement, only that the other driver is at-fault. At this point you can then sue the other driver for all your injuries and damages. A claim is made against the driver and owner of the motorcycle that caused the accident, and your damages are covered by their insurance company.

You may still recover compensation for your personal injuries. This depends on whether you were occupying a motorcycle which had uninsured motorists coverage or you were covered by your own insurance policy or a family member’s insurance policy which had uninsured motorist coverage at the time of the accident. This is called an Uninsured Motorists Claim.

It is recommended to contact an attorney immediately to find out time limitations, policy requirements which must be met under this claim, and to ensure your rights are protected.

How much time do I have to sue the driver and owner of the automobile or motorcycle that caused the Michigan motorcycle accident?

Usually you have three year from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit with the court. However, it is recommended that you contact an attorney immediately to discuss any time limitations in suing the driver of the at-fault driver and owner of the automobile or motorcycle that caused the accident, and to insure your rights are protected.

Our Ann Arbor medical malpractice lawyers represent victims of malpractice and medical negligence. They look to protect the rights of all those who have suffered from medical mistakes and hospital errors. These types of cases require significant expertise and experience by the attorney in order to obtain a fair settlement.

While many medical malpractice victims do receive fair compensation, many medical malpractice victims receive nothing. This is surprising considering it is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States. There are several reasons why most victims and their families never receive a dime for their injuries caused by medical mistakes.

First, many patients don’t even know they are victims of medical malpractice. Statistics show 2.9-3.7 percent of all patients admitted to a hospital suffer some sort of preventable injury as a result of malpractice. Moreover, up to 98,000 patients are killed each year as a result of preventable medical error. It is also surprising to hear after all of this that only 10,000 of these types of cases are filed each year.

Another main reason why victims of Michigan malpractice receive no compensation is because these cases can be difficult to prove. Insurance companies have several standard defenses already in place for these cases such as the ones listed bellow.

• The risk of the patients particular injury was an acceptable one.
• The injury was an unpreventable result of the initial condition/injury.
• Some other party was responsible for causing the injury. 
• The injury was due to the patient’s noncompliance with medical advice.
• The injury was caused by a previous illness or disease.  

Insurance companies have been able to bias the public over the last several decades against medical malpractice claims. The insurance industry has done “research” which suggests there is a widespread problem with medical malpractice lawsuits. These studies falsely “prove” that excessive verdicts are causing malpractice insurers to raise their premiums, forcing physicians out of the medical profession. Therefore, jurors who hear and believe this argument, are reluctant to award jury verdicts to the victims and their families.

In Michigan the statue of limitation is two years for a medical malpractice case.  This means a lawsuit must be filed within two years of the date of the negligent treatment or the case will be barred forever.  There are very few exceptions to this deadline. Therefore, to make sure you legal rights are protected it is crucial to contact a lawyer with you medical malpractice claim.

If you would like more information about your legal rights as a result of medical malpractice, you can order our FREE book, “The Ultimate Michigan Medical Malpractice Handbook,” by Michigan medical malpractice attorney Lawrence J. Buckfire. The book is an insider’s report on medical malpractice claims and includes why most malpractice victims never receive compensation for their injuries.

Our malpractice attorneys are very qualified for Michigan medical malpractice cases and handle them on a regular basis. Contact us now at 1-800-606-1717 for more information. One of our Michigan medical malpractice lawyers will start working on your case immediately.

Our Ann Arbor car accident attorneys deal with car accidents everyday. The lawyers of Buckfire & Buckfire P.C. find it important you know all the Michigan no-fault insurance benefits you may be entitled to when you sustain an injury in a car crash.

Michigan wage and Income loss benefit may be received when injured in a car accident. You are entitled to receive 85% of your gross pay, including overtime, or loss of income for the first three years from the date of the accident, if you are disabled as a result of the accident. This applies to self-employment and many times to those who were not employed at the time of the accident.

To file this type of claim you submit it to the insurance adjusted assigned to your claim. You should submit your claim for wage loss benefits every thirty days, but claims for wage loss claims must be submitted within one year of the date of your disability.

Michigan medical bills, prescription costs, and other expenses benefit can be collected if all medical bills that are reasonable and necessary and related to your car accident are covered by the no-fault insurance company. There is no limit on the amount of money the no-fault insurance company must pay for. The only requirement is that the medical bills are reasonable and necessary for your care, recovery, and rehabilitation.

In-home nursing care/attendant care benefits are also included in these medical benefits for those who need attendance to their personal needs while recovering from injury. Also, case management services are included as well under these benefits. These services include coordinating with multiple doctors, scheduling doctor’s appointments, finding the best medical specialists, and more.

It is highly recommended that you consult with an attorney immediately following the crash to review your car insurance policy, as for some policies have limitations such as what doctors you are allowed to see. If one were to deviate from their policy then their medical bills will not be covered.

Michigan home modifications and accommodations benefits are received when the injured cannot comfortably live in their home due to physical limitations. Therefore, the insurance company is responsible for remodeling for items such as wider doorways and handicapped ramps.

Michigan survivor’s loss benefit is for those who lost the person they are financially dependent on in a car accident. Those who qualify can receive money from the no-fault insurance company for the loss of their financial support and loss of household services as well as payment for a portion of the funeral bill.   

WARNING! It is important to know that not everyone meets the requirements for all these benefits. Therefore, it is highly recommended to contact and consult with a lawyer immediately to find out if you are eligible for any of these benefits. 

Individuals injured in a Michigan auto accident should contact our Michigan car accident lawyers to find out the Michigan no-fault benefits you are entitled to. Call us at 800-606-1717. Our office will start working on your case immediately.

Our Michigan dog bite lawyers handle dog bite injuries and attacks everday. United States dog bite statistics show there are 68 million dogs kept as pets. Out of these 68 million dogs there are 1 million dog bites reported every year. It is also estimated that an equal or greater number of bites go unreported every year. Some level of medical attention is required for 800,000 of those who suffer a dog bite.

Statistics do prove that certain breeds of dogs are more dangerous than others; however that doesn’t necessarily mean that every dog of that breed is dangerous. Part of a dog’s behavior is their breed but the other half has to do with the dog owner. The most dangerous dog breeds are listed below.

• Malamute
• Pit bull
• Rottweiler’s
• German Shepherd
• Husky

Between 1982-2007 pit bulls, Rottweiler’s, and wolf-hybrids made up 77% of dog bite cases resulting in bodily harm. Also, it may come as a shock to many, but a chained dog is 2.8 times more likely to bite someone than an unchained dog.

The most common dog bite injuries include:

• Rabies
• Bone fractures
• Disfigurement resulting from scars
• Infection
• Nerve damage
• Pain and Suffering

Over 60% of dog bites occur in the home of the owner. 77% of dog bite victims are friends of the dog’s owner, or a member of the owners’ family. Therefore, these victims were familiar with the dog prior to the dog bite attack. Surpassing playground injury, dog bites rank second in causes for childhood injury.

According to Insurance Information Institute, “dog bites accounted for about 25% of all claims on homeowner’s insurance, costing more than $321 million in 2003.” The limits for insurance coverage are different in every case, but most homeowner’s usually have a minimum of $100,000.00 in liability coverage. This means that the insurance company will pay the dog bite victim up to that amount if the injuries are severe enough.

Free Book By Ann Arbor Dog Bite Lawyer

If you would like more information about your legal rights after a dog bite injury or attack, you can order our FREE book, “The Ultimate Michigan Dog Bite and Animal Attack Handbook” by Michigan dog bite attorney Lawrence J. Buckfire.

Contact Your Ann Arbor Dog Bite Lawyer

Our experienced Michigan dog bite lawyers will hire specialized investigators to document the incident, supplementing any evidence you have been able to collect.  For more information on your legal rights after an accident, call us now at (800) 606-1717 to speak with one of our Michigan Dog Bite Lawyers about your case.

A bicyclist was involved in a Monroe County Hit and Run Bicycle Accident in Lasalle Township in Monroe County on Thursday, June 16th. According to police, the bicyclist was riding on S. TelegraphRoad (M-24) near Otter Creek Road when he was allegedly hit twice by different cars. The car that struck him first left the scene of the accident. The second car was able to partially miss him. The bicyclist suffered minor injuries to the arm. Police continue to investigate the accident.

I am sorry to hear about this accident but I am grateful that no serious harm befell the bicyclist.

Fortunately, it does not appear that he was injured. If he was injured, however, Michigan car accident victims have a number of legal rights. He would be able to submit a claim for Michigan No-Fault insurance benefits.  No-Fault benefits would cover his medical expenses, lost wages, attendant care, replacement services, and other benefits related to injuries suffered in the accident. 

In addition, the injury victims could be able to file a lawsuit against the persons determined to be at fault in the auto accident.  The insurance company for the drivers must still cover any injuries. In this lawsuit, he could claim damages and compensation for the injuries suffered in the accident.  The insurance company for the negligent driver typically pays a settlement for this type of case. 

An experienced Michigan car accident lawyer can assist victims with this type of claim.  Accident victims should not speak with the insurance adjuster for the negligent driver before consulting with an attorney.

If you would like more information about your rights after a Michigan car accident, you can order our FREE book, “The Ultimate Michigan Car Accident Handbook” by clicking on the book link.  We will send it out immediately along with other important information.

For more information about Michigan car accident cases, visit our law firm web site at www.BuckfireLaw.com.  If you would like to speak with one of our Michigan car accident attorneys about your case, feel free to call us anytime at (800) 606-1717 or simply submit this contact form and we will get back to you quickly.

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