Troy Tolan was killed in a Grand Rapids car-bicycle accident when a vehicle struck him while riding his bike near 142nd Avenue. The car accident took place on Monday, June 27th  at about 8:00 p.m.

I am very sorry to hear about this accident. My condolences go out to the family of the deceased victim.

Our Grand Rapids car accident lawyers advise accident victims of their legal rights. For this type of Michigan bike-car accident, the family members of the deceased victim may be able to make a claim for Survivor Loss Benefits. This can include payment of funeral expenses, lost wages, and loss of other services.

Also, the family members of the deceased may have a claim for a Michigan wrongful death lawsuit against the driver if police determine was negligent.  At the very least, the family members should contact a lawyer to find out their legal rights.

Our Michigan child injury lawyers recently settled a lawsuit against a Ottawa County area daycare center. A child at the center suffered a serious injury to his finger due to a defective piece of equipment at the facility. It resulted in a severe laceration of his finger that required surgical pinning. The daycare center admitted that it was at fault for the injury but partially blamed the child’s parents for failing to follow up with recommended medical care. This issue went up to the Michigan Court of Appeals and we prevailed against that argument on both a legal and factual basis. The daycare center paid a settlement of $40,000 to the injured child.

Our Michigan child injury lawyers have created a book, “Little Kids, Big Accidents” written by child injury attorney Lawrence J. Buckfire. This book is a parent’s guide to child injury cases in Michigan. The book normally sells for $14.95 on Amazon, but if you request the book from us, we will send it to you for FREE!

Parents of injured children do have legal rights. Call us now at (800) 606-1717 to speak with an experienced Michigan child injury attorney if your child suffers injuries due to a daycare or school accident.

Our Michigan 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

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. 

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.

What if the driver and owner of the automobile and/or motorcycle that caused my injuries did not have liability insurance at the time of the motorcycle accident?

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.

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

 

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 Grand Rapids 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 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

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 special transportation benefit is for a van or specially equipped van or vehicle to take you to and from medical appointments, usually for someone in a wheelchair. In addition to this benefit, you may also receive reimbursement for gas mileage expenses to and from your medical appointments.

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.