The Ann Arbor bicycle accident lawyers recently filed a lawsuit on behalf of a man who suffered serious and disabling injuries after being hit by a car. Injuries suffered in the crash include a traumatic brain injury, pain and suffering.

The lawsuit was filed in the Washtenaw County Circuit Court in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The bicycle accident lawsuit seeks damages of pain and suffering, disability, and loss of future earnings against the at-fault driver who hit our bicyclist client.

Our client was lawfully riding his bicycle on northbound East Huron River Drive in the bike lane, when he was struck by a driver who was distracted attempting to turn into a private drive.

Under Michigan law, failing to check to see if it is clear and safe to turn from a direct line on traffic is in violation of Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. §257.648. There are very strict time limitations in pursuing this type of claim. Therefore, if you are involved in a Michigan bicycle accident, we recommend that you contact our experienced Ann Arbor attorneys immediately.

To help prevent a car from hitting you while riding your bike on our Michigan roads, we recommend you know the following safety tips provided by the League of Michigan Bicyclists.  These tips include:

1. Ride to the right and never against traffic.
2. Ride your bike predictably, consistently and attentively.
3. When stopping your bike for a rest or emergency, move completely off the road.
4. When at an intersection make sure to make eye contact with drivers.
5. Signal your turns by using the appropriate signals (i.e. signal left turn by extending left arm straight out to left, signal right turns with an upturned left arm, signal stopping or slowing by extending your left arm straight down with your palm
   facing rearward)

We will represent you in your bicycle accident in Ann Arbor case under our NO FEE PROMISE. This means that you will not be charged any legal fees whatsoever unless we obtain a settlement or recovery for you. You have absolutely no obligation for legal fees unless we win your case. For more information about your rights after an Ann Arbor bicycle accident, call our top rated bike injury attorneys at (800) 606-1717.  We will discuss your case with you and start working on your claim immediately gathering all the evidence and witness statements to prove and win your case.

It is that time of year where we celebrate our nations’ independence with family and friends. During this time it is very common for fireworks to be lit, however, even though fireworks are often used as a means for celebration, they can also bring serious injuries, burns and even death.

In fact, according to a report done by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in 2011, there were 9,600 fireworks related injuries that were treated in the U.S. hospital emergency rooms.  This trend in fireworks-related injuries is nothing new. Since 1997, fireworks-related injuries has been in the range of 8,500 to 9,800.

To help eliminate injuries and educate individuals on safe and responsible use of consumer fireworks, the Ann Arbor fireworks injury accident lawyers at the law firm of Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. is sharing some safety tips for the Fourth of July season.  Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. is a Michigan personal injury law firm representing individuals suffering severe burn injuries and other serious injuries resulting from a fireworks accident.

1. Do not allow young children to play with fireworks or ignite them under any circumstances.
2. Set off fireworks outdoors in a clear area, away from houses, dry leaves, grass, or other flammable materials.
3. Keep a bucket of water nearby for emergencies and for pouring on fireworks that fail to ignite or explode.
4. Do not try to relight or handle malfunctioning fireworks.  Wait twenty minutes then soak them with water and throw them away.
5. Only use fireworks as intended – do not try to alter or combine them in any way.
6. Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.
7. Make sure all fireworks are legal in your area before buying them or using them.

In addition to these safety tips, the fireworks accident attorneys would also like to warn parents of the serious dangers of sparklers.  Young children can suffer severe burn injuries from sparklers.  In fact, according to the CPSC , sparklers do cause the most injury compared to any other type of firecracker and burn at temperatures at 2,000 degrees – hot enough to melt some metals.

Victims killed or suffering burn injuries in fireworks accident in Ann Arbor do have legal rights and may be able to file a fireworks accident lawsuit.  Depending on how the injury resulted, a person may be able to file a claim and collect compensation for their pain and suffering from the burn injury, scars and disfigurements caused by the burn, and the medical expenses related to the injuries.

At the law firm of Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. , their Ann Arbor attorneys handle cases for burn injury clients who have suffered injuries in an accident.  The firm also offers a No Win No Fee Promise, which guarantees there are no legal fees or costs until the client’s case is settled or won.

For more information about the award winning accident attorneys at Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. call toll-free at (800) 606-1717 or
visit the law firm website at http://www.buckfirelaw.com/

Ann Arbor car injury lawyers of Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. recently created an infographic, “Drunk Driving Crash Deaths Soar to Sobering Numbers” on 2011 United States death statistics. The infographic visually displays the contrasts in accidental deaths compared to drunk driving crash deaths. It was created to make people aware of the very high number of deaths that take place due to drunk driving, and to remind society that drunk driving is not an accident and can be easily prevented unlike other natural disasters that are beyond ones control.  Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. is a Southfield personal injury law firm that specializes in representing motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists injured in Ann Arbor drunk driving accidents and against the establishment that served the alcohol.  The firm represents victims injured throughout the entire State of Michigan.

To view the “Drunk Driving Crash Deaths Soar to Sobering Numbers” infographic visit http://bit.ly/drunkdrivingcrashdeaths

Driving under the influence is in fact a very serious issue and is still a rising problem in our society. In fact, in 2011 in the U.S. there were a total of 9,878 deaths as a result or drunk driving. Other statistics included on the infographic are deaths that resulted from an actual accident or natural disaster in 2011 in the U.S. They include:

• Lightning Deaths: 26
• West Nile Virus Deaths: 43
• Aircraft Deaths: 401
• Tornado Deaths: 553
• Handgun Murders: 6,220

Due to the high number of drunk driving deaths, some states have already passed legislation regarding safety measures to reduce
these types of crashes and eliminate drunk driving nationwide.  Preventative measures such as requiring ignition interlocks for all drunk driving offenders, conducting sobriety checkpoints, enacting penalties for DUI Child Endangerment, utilizing administrative license revocation, and more are some examples of legislation that has passed.

The Ann Arbor car injury lawyers at Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. are actively pursuing lawsuits in several cases for victims injured in a drunk driving crash. Motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists injured by Ann Arbor drunk and intoxicated drivers have legal rights against the negligent driver and often also against the bar, restaurant, or establishment that served the drunk drive the alcohol that cause the intoxication.

To learn more about how the number of accidental deaths in the U.S. compared to drunk driving crash deaths, visit http://bit.ly/drunkdrivingcrashdeaths   Share this infographic with others, including new drivers, as a motivation to keep our roads and highways safe from drunk driving drivers and to make people more aware of the serious consequences of getting behind the wheel after drinking.  Take a stand against drunk driving and embed the graphic on your own site, email friends and colleagues, and share on all social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Google+

The Ann Arbor drunk driving crash lawyers at Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. are reporting on a single rollover car accident that killed Jeffrey Jerome Robinson and injured one more. The accident happened on Thursday, May 9th around 2:30 a.m on I-94 near Stone School Road. According to police, Mr. Robinson lost control of the vehicle which caused it to roll over just west of Platt Road. Alcohol is suspected of contributing to to the crash as well as the lack of seat belt usage.

I am so sorry to hear about this tragic accident. My condolences go out to the families of the deceased victims, and I hope the injured victims have a fast recovery without any permanent damages.

According to Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, there were a total of 11,068 drunk driving accidents in the year 2008 in Michigan. Of those drunk driving crahses, 5,700 people were injured and 317 were wrongfully killed. Drunk driving crashes are highly preventable of all accidents that occur. In 2010, more than 1.4 million people were arrested for a DUI  or drug use.

Ann Arbor drunk driving crash lawyers in Michigan advise victims of their legal rights.  For this particular single rollover crash, the injured victim may be able submit a claim for Michigan No-Fault benefits.  No-Fault benefits will cover their medical expenses, lost wages, attendant care, replacement services, and other benefits related to injuries suffered in the car accident.  The injured victim can claim these benefits even if they did not have a Michigan automobile insurance policy (more…)

Our Ann Arbor medical malpractice lawyers filed a civil lawsuit against an Ann Arbor area general surgeon, hospitalist, and surgical center relating to a bowel obstruction suffered by a bariatric surgery patient.   The patient underwent laparoscopic roux n y weight loss surgery at the facility.   According to the operative report, the surgery was completed without complications.  After the surgery, the patient was admitted into the surgery facility for care until she was suitable for discharge home.

During the post-operative admission, she was followed by the treating surgeon, a hospitalist, and the facility nursing staff.   Throughout her admission, she demonstrated signs and  symptoms of a bowel obstruction.  However, this serious medical condition was not diagnosed or treated during the admission.   She was discharged home from the facility with the bowel obstruction.

After returning to her home in Berkley, Michigan, she continued to experience symptoms consistent with a bowel obstruction and her condition began to deteriorate.   Her husband then drove her to William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan where she was admitted to the emergency department.  She was evaluated by a general surgeon and then immediately taken into the operating room for emergency open surgery.   Due to late treatment of the bowel obstruction, she suffered significant illness and was in the intensive care unit for two months.  She required numerous additional surgeries and medical procedures.  After her discharge from the ICU, she was transferred to the hospital rehabilitation unit for several months and has not fully recovered from her injuries. (more…)

Our Ann Arbor car accident lawyers recently filed an uninsured motorist lawsuit on behalf of our client who was rear ended while driving on Heweitt Road and Michigan Ave. in Ypsilanti, Michigan. he uninsured motorist lawsuit seeks damages for the pain and suffering, disability, and other personal injury damages caused by the accident. The case was filed in the Washtenaw County Circuit Court in Ann Arbor, Michigan and seeks damages for the pain and suffering, disability, and other personal injury damages caused by the accident.

The impact of the collision was strong as the other driver rear ended our clients vehicle at a very high rate of speed and was given a ticket by the police for driving negligently and not keeping an assured clear distance between the two vehicles. In fact, under Michigan statute, MCL 257.627, all  forbids drivers from driving “at a speed greater than that which will permit a stop within the assured, clear distance ahead.” Therefore, victims who are injured in a Michigan rear ending accident often times have a great case against the negligent driver or driver at fault.

The at fault driver did not have a car insurance policy at the time of the accident. Fortunately, our client had purchased uninsured motorists coverage from his own insurance company, Allstate Insurance Company. This provides him with coverage in the event that he was injured in an auto accident by an uninsured driver. The lawsuit seeks payment of those benefits from the insurance company.

Our client suffered serious injuries in the rear end auto accident, including a thoracic spine fracture with spinal cord compression, a low back injury, and a neck injury. His treating neurosurgeon has recommended a surgery. However, he is proceeding with conservative treatment including spinal injections to try to avoid the need for surgery. No trial date has been set by the court.

Victims injured in rear end accidents do have legal rights and often times, under Michigan law, have a great case against the at fault driver.  To learn more about your legal rights after an Ann Arbor car accident, call our top rated personal injury accident law firm now at (800) 606-1717.  Our top rated Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. lawyers will represent you under our No Fee Promise, which means no legal fees or costs until we win or settle your

Our Ann Arbor auto accident attorneys at the law firm of Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. recently settled an Ypsilanti car accident lawsuit on behalf of a woman hit by an uninsured driver.  Due to the fact that the driver that hit her did not have auto insurance, our Ann Arbor attorneys filed the lawsuit against our client’s own insurance company, Frankenmuth Insurance.  This type of lawsuit is called an uninsured motorist claim and seeks compensation for injuries suffered in a Michigan car accident.

Our client suffered serious injuries in the Ypsilanti crash, including orthopedic injuries and a mild traumatic brain injury.  Luckily, our client had purchased uninsured motorist coverage on her own auto insurance policy, which will protect her in the event that she was injured in an accident due to the fault of another driver without insurance. Her policy covered $20,000 in uninsured motorist coverage and Frankenmuth Insurance agreed to pay the entire policy limits.  Her medical bills and other no-fault insurance expenses were paid separately from the insurance company.

This unfortunate case illustrates the high importance of purchasing uninsured motorists coverage on your own auto insurance policy.  The cost of the insurance is very cheap and it is advisable to purchase higher policy limit amounts.  For a nominal amount, our client could have increased her policy limits to $100,000 to protect herself against an uninsured driver and would have most likely received those limits in the car accident settlement.  It is always wise after being injured in a Michigan car accident, to have an uninsured motorist claim lawyer immediately investigator your car accident claims, including your insurance contract.  In addition, there are strict time limitations for filing this type of claim, so it is imperative you seek legal counsel immediately so that you do not lose your case.  (more…)

A new free motorcycle helmet App has been developed for bikers riding their motorcycles across the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia.   The Helmet Laws App, created by the Ann Arbor personal injury law firm of Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C., provides bikers with the helmet laws for every state, country, or province that they might encounter on their road trip. Now available for immediate download, the Motorcycle Helmet Laws App allows motorcyclists to access important helmet law information quickly and conveniently right from their smartphone. The App is available for the iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and Android.

 “The idea for the Motorcycle Helmet Laws App came from the tremendous interest we experienced with the creation of our State by State Motorcycle Helmet Laws Infographic, which visually displayed the helmet law requirements in every state in the United States,” says Partner and Attorney Lawrence Buckfire.  “As a free resource to bikers, we created the App to provide motorcyclists with the helmet law requirements for every geographic part of their trip.”

In addition to noting individual helmet laws, there are many other additional features and valuable resources for bikers available as part of the App, which include:

• 

  Motorcycle Helmet Laws App Developed by Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. Best Motorcycle Accident Attorneys

  Access helmet laws in multiple countries.

• GPS Bike Finder allows users to place a GPS pin for their bike’s location and set a time for when the user needs to return. This feature also allows you to quickly and easily email your current location to your friends.
• Submit images of cool helmets and see your images in the cool helmet gallery.
• Utilize the accident checklist – what to do after a motorcycle accident.
• Take and save photographs of motorcycle damage and accident scene.
• Receive discounts at some of your favorite bike shops around the country.
• Connect with fellow bikers and read recent informational blog entries with the social media feature.
• Access the Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. law firm website motorcycle resource center.
• Contact the best motorcycle accident lawyers to discuss your legal rights and options.

To download the free app, just go to iTunes or Google Play Store and search for “Motorcycle Helmet Laws.”  To watch a demo video of how the app works, as well as learn more about the Motorcycle Helmet Laws App and the Law Firm of Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C., visit http://bit.ly/MIMotorcycleAccidentLawyers

About Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C.

The personal injury attorneys at Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. are nationally recognized as top legal experts in motorcycle accident injury cases.  The award-winning law firm has a reputation for meticulous case preparation – an approach that results in major verdicts and settlements for their injured clients. The attorneys at Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. have earned the highest possible rating in the legal profession for their skill and integrity and are rated “Superb” as top rated Ann Arbor motorcycle accident lawyers by the most prestigious Internet lawyer rating service.  They are also members of ABATE and frequently speak to bikers and motorcycle clubs on important insurance issues affecting Ann Arbor bikers.  For more information, visit http://www.buckfirelaw.com/

The Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C.  car accident attorneys in Ann Arbor are reporting a three-vehicle crash on Geddes Road between LeForge and Prospect in Superior Township that left eleven people injured.  The three-vehicle Ann Arbor collision took place on Monday, February 4th, around 5:00 P.M and involved a minivan, an SUV, and a truck.  Due to the collision, one of the vehicles caught on fire and one person was trapped inside a vehicle. Four individuals who were very serously hurt were taken to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital for their injuries and are in critical condition.  Seven additional individuals, adults and children, were taken to both U-M Hospital and C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital for injuries suffered.  Witnesses report that the minivan held several children in the vehicle and the SUV was on its back as a result of accident.

I am very sorry to hear about this accident.  I hope all injured victims have a fast recovery without any permanent damages.

Many collisions involving multiple vehicles often happen on busy highways and expressways. Often times, these accidents do involve trucks and commericial vehicles. Multi-vehicle car accident can cause serious, if not fatal injuries that can affect an invidual for the rest of their life.  Some of most common caues of these types of accidents include:

• Speeding
• Rear-end collisions
• T-bone accidents
• Truck or commerical vehicle negligence

Our car accident lawyers in Ann Arbor advise victims of their legal rights.  For this particular three car crash on Geddes Road, all injured individuals may be able to submit a claim for Michigan No-Fault insurance benefits, even if considered at fault for the accident.  No-Fault benefits will cover their medical expenses, lost wages, attendant care benefits, replacement services, and other benefits related to injuries suffered in the Ann Arbor accident.  The injured victims can claim these benefits even if they did not have a Michigan automobile insurance policy.

In addition, the injured individuals may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver that police did determine negligent. In this lawsuit, the injured parties can claim damages and compensation for the injuries suffered in the crash.  The insurance company for the negligent driver typically pays a settlement for thi

The Ann Arbor accident injury lawyers of Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. recently created a comic illustration as a satire to visually depict the simple truth behind independent medical examination doctors paid for by the insurance companies.  The comic titled “Typical Opinion From Insurance Company Doctor” illustrates an independent medical examination doctor dictating that the deceased patient he is examining is able to return to work tomorrow.

Visit http://bit.ly/IMETruth to view the “Typical Opinion From Insurance Company Doctor” comic illustration.

Independent Medical Examination Insurance Doctor Comic

Independent medical examinations are very common in Ann Arbor accident injury lawsuits, no-fault insurance claims, and worker’s compensation claims.  These independent medical examinations are set up by the insurance company and performed by a doctor that the insurance company hires to evaluate the claimant.  Many of these doctors perform these evaluations in their own offices, while others see the patient at offices of a medical examination company.

“These highly paid doctors are “hired guns” for the insurance companies who main goal is to recommend the termination or reduction of important benefits. These doctors fully understand their insurance company driven mission and frequently give opinions that are simply baseless and intellectually dishonest. The sad part is that they do not understand, or perhaps do not care, about the impact that a termination of benefits will have on an injury victim and his or her family,” says Partner and Attorney Daniel Buckfire.

The accident injury accident law firm of Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. created this comic illustration not only to visually depict the truth behind insurance company doctors, but also so that others will fully understand what waits for them in the unfortunate event of an injury accident or an insurance claim.

Share this comic illustration with your family, friends, and colleagues by embedding the illustration on your own website, blogging about it, emailing or sharing this link on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or any other type of social media. Feel free to repin the comic illustration from the Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. Lawyer Humor Board on Pinterest at http://pinterest.com/buckfirelaw/ as well or pin on your own board.

About Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C.

Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. is a Ann Arbor accident injury law firm representing injury victims in all types of accident and injury cases, including auto accidents, motorcycle accidents, slip and fall accidents, work injury accidents, disability claims, and all other types of insurance claims and negligence cases.  We represent Michigan victims who have been scheduled an independent medical exam by the insurance company and have had no-fault benefits terminated  or reduced.

For more information about the award winning Ann Arbor accident injury law firm call (800) 606-1717 or visit www.BuckfireLaw.com