Why some fix people quickly, and others scam the system in Michigan

For my latest year-end reflections on automobile insurance company abuse in Michigan, and the abuses that have sprung up on both sides as a result, I’d like to talk about chiropractors.

Let me start by saying that I personally go see a chiropractor.  About once or twice a year, my back or neck goes “out.”  As a lawyer specializing in serious personal injury cases, I probably know or have deposed almost every top medical specialist in the state. But I see chiropractors because  peer-reviewed medical studies have repeatedly shown that for acute injuries and trauma, chiropractic care is more effective than traditional medical doctors and pills.

Don’t Let Defense Attorneys Blame the Victim

I settled a tough motorcycle accident case last month on the eve of trial.  My client had very serious injuries, and the insurance company was offering zero.  Preparing for trial, I had focus-grouped the case a number of times to mock juries. Even as an attorney who specializes in motorcycle accidents, the results surprised me.

Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Has Released Online Resource Center to Answer Questions Following a Motorcycle Crash

The motorcycle accident lawyers of Michigan Auto Law deeply care about motorcycle safety, especially since in the past decade, an average of 76,000 people across the country suffered serious personal injury from motorcycle crashes. And about 3,900 motorcyclists have died from accidents during that time, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

To make matters worse, the motorcycle accident law in Michigan has many exceptions, and is very different than those for car accidents and truck accidents. That’s why it’s important for motorcycle accident victims, their families and their lawyers to understand motorcycle insurance laws, critical deadlines and exactly what happens when someone has been injured or killed in a crash.

Insurance Lawyer Helps You Choose the Best

As a Michigan no-fault insurance lawyer , I know first-hand how badly many people are treated by their insurance companies. My clients have routinely had claims disputed or have been ignored for no given reason; forcing them to hire a lawyer for valid claims that should have been paid right away. Insurance companies in Michigan also put people “under investigation,” which has become the excuse for stopping payment of all medical bills and wage loss. People are even being lied to by their insurance claims adjusters – and adjusters can now legally get away with it.

In my previous blog, “Crotch Rocket” Motorcycle Death Rates Continue to Rise in Michigan, I discussed the extreme danger of young, inexperienced crotch rocket drivers who daringly dart down Michigan roads at speeds exceeding 150 miles per hour. For supersport drivers who cause accidents, the legal outcomes regarding a third-party tort case for injuries and pain and suffering are generally unfavorable — especially compared to those of car or truck drivers.

However, the no-fault attendant care lawyers of Michigan Auto Law have been able to successfully help many motorcyclists — even those who cause motorcycle accidents — receive important no-fault attendant care benefits.

As lawyers who specialize in serious motorcycle accident cases in Michigan, we’re certainly asked our share of questions about motorcycle safety. One question we’re frequently asked is how we feel about the increasing popularity of “crotch rockets,” also known, perhaps more politely, as supersports.

The truth is, as Michigan personal injury lawyers who often have to deal with the devastating consequences after a serious injury or death has taken place on supersports, we don’t like them very much at all.

For starters, these smaller motorcycles are called crotch rockets for a reason.

They go fast. Make that very fast.

I’m Bob Raitt, a partner of Michigan Auto Law. Recently, I moderated a seminar on traumatic brain injury for the Michigan Association for Justice. Steve Gursten and I agreed to sponsor this seminar for Michigan personal injury lawyers, as our law firm handles so many car accident cases that have caused traumatic brain injuries and devastated lives. The lawyers at our firm are experts on the subject, because we deeply care about helping people with brain injuries.

As a member of the American Association for Justice Traumatic Brain Injury Group, it bothers me that so many lawyers turn away traumatic brain injury cases, believing that representing the victims is too difficult.

Off road vehicle (ORV) drivers or passengers who suffer personal injury in Michigan highway accidents will now have little legal recourse for their pain and suffering.

On July 17, 2008, Michigan House Bill 5559 was signed into law, Public Act 241 of 2008. It amended section 3101 of the Michigan no fault act to exclude unregistered and uninsured ORVs from the definition of motor vehicle. The definition of motorcycle has also been amended to exclude ORVs.

The vast majority of ORVs in Michigan are unregistered and uninsured.

After a comprehensive investigation of thousands of legal documents, the American Association for Justice recently compiled a list of the worst insurance companies in America. Each of these companies writes auto insurance policies in Michigan. For Michigan automobile accident lawyers, the list is no surprise.

Deny, Delay, Defend

Topping the list as the worst insurance company in America is Allstate. Car accident victims in Michigan have been experiencing Allstate’s “good hands” for years as the insurer has denied and delayed payments, and then defended legitimate cases after forcing a lawsuit to be filed. Following close behind Allstate was Unum, AIG, State Farm, Conseco health insurance, WellPoint, Farmers, UnitedHealth, Torchmark and Liberty Mutual.

Reprint of Steven M. Gursten’s Letter to Michigan Lawyers Weekly

Rarely does the Michigan Lawyers Weekly completely miss the point of an important case, but I feel compelled to respectfully suggest that your recent story on Benefiel v. Auto Owners Insurance Company¹ did exactly this.  

Benefiel is the most important automobile negligence case to be decided since the Michigan Supreme Court decided Kreiner v. Fischer.²   Benefiel is a published decision, and it may hopefully help lawyers and judges better understand Michigan’s chaotic threshold law.