I would like to tell you about my client Lisa Chase, of Clinton Township in Macomb County, who was seriously injured in an automobile accident. Lisa is a wonderful, kind woman who now finds herself in a situation that’s sadly common in Michigan today. Lisa recently wrote letters to The Detroit News and attorney general, asking for help with her insurance. This was after The Detroit News ran a story about Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan seeking rate increases on individual policies by as much as 56 percent, to offset a projected $1 billion loss in the next three years. Needless to say, this has generated a lot of public outrage.

Top Mistakes Accident Victims Make: No. 5

People injured car accidents and collecting no-fault insurance benefits are frequently told by their insurance companies and claims adjusters that they must apply for Social Security Disability (SSD). But it’s a big mistake for an auto accident victim to consider a Social Security Disability application or SSD claim as separate from his or her personal injury automobile auto accident case. It’s imperative that you contact your Michigan auto accident attorney as soon as an insurance adjuster instructs you to apply, to discuss how applying could affect your case. For example, if you’re accepted too soon, it could literally wipe out your entire economic recovery in your third-party case.

My lawyer friend Ken Shigley recently blogged about truckers’ constant struggle to maintain a healthy lifestyle. He approached the subject humorously by quipping, “If you specialize in truck wreck litigation so you can do research at truck stops, you might be a redneck lawyer.” But as  Shigley pointed out, it’s very difficult for commercial truck drivers to keep a healthy diet and exercise regimen. This is a serious problem in Michigan (one of the fattest states in the nation), especially since obesity can cause sleep apnea, leading to tired truckers who are more likely to cause truck accidents.

Top Mistakes in Auto Accident Cases: No. 4

This is the fourth blog post in a series on avoiding mistakes in a Michigan auto accident lawsuit, to protect clients from insurance company defense lawyers aiming to destroy legitimate cases. But aside from advising car accident victims to take the proper steps during litigation, referring attorneys must also take caution with first-party and third-party cases alike. Understandably, many personal injury attorneys would rather settle cases themselves. But even with the best of intentions, they often wait too long to refer them. This creates several reoccurring problems can be detrimental to a car accident case:

Below is a press release that was distributed to the media and on PRWeb:

Steven M. Gursten of Michigan Auto Law authors 50-plus page Michigan Truck Accident Lawyer Resource Center on www.michiganautolaw.com to help truck accident victims and lawyers alike

Southfield, MI Feb. 12, 2009 – The truck accident lawyers of Michigan Auto Law have released more than 50 Web pages to protect truck accident victims, drivers and attorneys handling truck accident cases, on www.michiganautolaw.com.

The Michigan Truck Accident Lawyer Resource Center contains six sections including time-sensitive lawsuit information, details on unique truck accident issues, truck safety guidelines, advice on Michigan truck accident law and aid for truck drivers involved in accidents.

On February 5, Steve Gursten was interviewed by ABC News, for its nationally syndicated radio show, The Law Business Insider. Hosted by Steve Murphy, the show features America’s premier lawyers and business executives. Steve Gursten was chosen for the interview because he received the largest 2008 settlement and auto negligence verdict in Michigan, according to a year-end verdicts and settlements report by Michigan Lawyers Weekly.

This week, the legal profession lost a true hero. The Hon. Kaye Tertzag, retired Wayne County Circuit Court judge, passed away from cancer at the age of 70. I was honored to practice in front of Judge Tertzag until he retired, and I valued using the judge as a facilitator in recent years. Judge Tertzag had the unique ability to always listen and treat anyone who came before him with respect. He fought for the little guy to get a fair shake in the courtroom, and was continuing to help litigants get their cases settled when he came down with this awful disease.

Top Mistakes Accident Victims Make: No. 3

Our personal injury lawyers believe everyone is entitled to their own opinions and beliefs. But auto accident victims with pending personal injury lawsuits should also remember that some opinions, whether political, religious or social, can offend or turn off jurors who do not share the same views. We have tried countless injury cases over the years, and if there’s one universal truth about winning trials, it is this: juries tend to help people they like, and tend to punish people they do not like. Plaintiffs in personal injury lawsuits must keep this in mind.

Last week, Wayne State University’s Detroit Public Radio show The Back Story discussed Michigan’s ever rising car insurance rates, highlighting Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s new Consumer Insurance Advocate position filled by appointee Butch Hollowell. Hollowell is headed to Lansing to report on some startling auto insurance facts, such as 20 percent of Michigan drivers do not have car insurance. This is no surprise to Michigan no-fault insurance lawyers. Why? Because people simply cannot afford car insurance. Meanwhile, Michigan’s automobile insurance companies continue reaping record profits.