TBI Lawyer gives brain injury prevention tips, so Michigan drivers can protect themselves from the “silent epidemic”

There are 1.4 million people across the country who sustain a traumatic brain injury every year.

About 50,000 people die from brain injury.

Another 235,000 are hospitalized annually.

And 1.1 million people are treated and released from hospital emergency rooms.

These statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are startling, and show how pervasive this “silent epidemic” can be.  But what the CDC  cannot count is the number of people with TBI who are not seen in an emergency room, or who receive no care.

Car Accident Lawyer Responds to Remark by Insurance Institute of Michigan on Obscene, Unregulated Auto Insurance Profits

An engaged reader recently inquired about a blog I wrote last year on the regulation of Michigan auto insurance rates. Donna wanted me to elaborate on a comment I made, as she was seeking an expanded perspective from a car accident lawyer.

In discussing another round of auto insurance reform bills highlighting the dire need to clean up our no-fault system and support countless injured people who are  abused by the insurance companies that are supposed to protect them, I said:

Truck Accident Lawyer Says Drivers Who Text Are 20 Times More Likely to Crash

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, drivers take their eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds out of every six seconds while texting. FMCSA research shows drivers who text are more than 20 times more likely to get in an accident than non-distracted drivers.

Our truck accident lawyers are happy to announce that drivers of commercial trucks and buses will be prohibited from texting under federal guidelines that U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood issued Tuesday.

Michigan Auto Law attorneys warn Ingham Country drivers to beware when driving on high-crash streets

As another bone-chilling winter brings more treacherous driving conditions, our Lansing auto accident lawyers want to make mid-Michigan drivers aware of crash statistics in Ingham County. The Michigan State Police recently published 2008 data for the state’s top 100 high-crash roads - and two stretches of Ingham County made the list. These problem roads are based on the number of car accidents reported to police in Ingham County:

1.    East Grand River Ave. Between North Clippert Street and Saginaw/Grand River cutoff
Not even a quarter-mile in length, this stretch of Grand River was home to 45 auto accidents in 2008, making it No. 13 on the list of Michigan’s top 100 high crash roads.  With the US-127 exit ramps and the Saginaw Street intersection, this area is a busy corridor between Lansing and East Lansing’s Michigan State University campus.

Michigan Car Accident Attorneys Give Safety Tips That Can Save Your Life

As attorneys specializing in auto accidents for more than 50 years, we have seen countless accidents occur at the hands of negligent drivers.  While all of these cases are tragic, some of the most heartbreaking are car accidents caused by drunk drivers. These crashes are completely preventable, and it’s never an “accident” when someone gets behind the wheel while impaired.

According to MADD, in 2007 12,998 people were killed by drunk drivers who had BAC of .08 or greater. And during the holidays, the percentage of drunk-driving incidents jumps. Drinking and driving should never be an option.  Remember, one careless moment behind the wheel can change lives forever.

Personal Injury Attorney Highlights West Michigan Streets with the Most Auto Accidents

With the start of another winter, our Grand Rapids auto accident attorneys want to make west Michigan drivers aware of recent crash statistics from Kent County. West Michigan is always one of the first places in the state to get heavy snow, especially with the dramatic lake effect.

The Michigan State Police have published 2008 data for the state’s top 100 high-crash roads - and No. 5 on the list was Alpine Ave. between 4 Mile Road and Henze Drive.  We’ve consolidated the list to identify the top 10 roads in west Michigan that were the scene of the most car accidents and truck accidents, based on the number of crashes reported to Kent County police.

Auto accident attorney gives tips to keep you safe during Michigan’s “biggest bar night of the year”

Some say the night before Thanksgiving is the “biggest bar night of the year” in Michigan. Take a look at most drinking establishments and you’ll see them packed to the brim with people starting their holiday early — often with lots of cheap drinks. While this may sound well and good, our car accident attorneys have seen dire consequences that can arise first-hand: Catastrophic accidents at the hands of drunk drivers.

As a car accident attorney, I always tell my clients that playing around on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter or other similar social networking sites can have dire consequences for an auto accident case.

For example, insurance adjusters and defense attorneys will investigate your accounts, Web pages and blogs — even when set as ‘Private’ — and look for things that can help them avoid taking full responsibility for the harms they have caused. The purpose of this Internet research is to attempt to show that you are not as injured as you claim.

I was recently interviewed by Chicago Fox 2 News reporter Larry Yellen.  Larry was looking for an attorney who is a national expert on serious truck accidents caused by truckers who are drunk or high. Below is the investigative television story and article. A sincere thank you to Larry, for shedding more light on this national crisis.

View Video

Drug Abuse Among Truck Drivers

Monday, 09 Nov 2009
By Larry Yellen, FOX Chicago News

Chicago - Truck drivers might be using drugs to stay alert, or to relieve stress during long, lonely trips. And because of drug abuse, there are more strict drug-testing programs throughout the industry.

If you read the series of blogs I’ve written about America’s bad trucking companies lately, you know how strongly I feel about the importance of truck accident lawyers having the ability to discover the crash history and illegal drug and alcohol abuse of truckers. About 15 people are killed every day as a result of truck accidents, creating a public safety crisis in Michigan and across the nation. But an amazing new development has occurred that might really start making a difference in protecting the public and keeping unfit truckers off our roads.