There was a story in the paper today about a woman killed in a fatal Newaygo drunk driving accident on January 2nd in Newaygo County. According to the Newaygo Police, a 23-year-old woman’s vehicle was allegedly struck by a vehicle, driven by a 39-year-old man, at the intersection of M-82 and Pine Lake Drive. The woman was taken to Gerber Hospital in Fremont where she dies of her serious injuries. A passenger in the man’s car was also injured and taken to the hospital. Police are still investigating this accident and suspect alcohol may have been a factor in the accident.

I was reading the paper today and came across a story involving two hit & run accidents in Lowell on Friday, September 1st. According to the Michigan State Police, two vehicles, about 6 miles apart, were allegedly rear-ended in matter of minutes by the same driver, Joshua Carpenter.

Police state that Carpenter was driving on I-96 when his vehicle allegedly rear-ended a vehicle driven by Bruce Cole, forcing it into a guardrail. Cole and three passengers were injured and taken to Butterworth Hospital.

Carpenter continued on, stated the police, where his vehicle allegedly rear-ended a vehicle driven by Robert Levay causing Levay’s vehicle to spin across two lanes of traffic and into a ditch. Levay was unharmed but his wife was hospitalized with several broken ribs.

Carpenter was ejected from his vehicle after the second crash and is in stable condition at Spectrum Health.  Police believe alcohol was a factor in the crash and continue to investigate this accident.

I  am very sorry to hear about this tragic auto accident and wish the injured parties the fullest and speediest recovery possible. 

Our Michigan car accident lawyers advise accident victims their legal rights. For this type of auto accident in Michigan, the injured parties can submit a claim for Michigan No-Fault insurance benefits.  No-Fault benefits will cover their medical expenses, lost wages, attendant care, replacement services, and other benefits related to injuries suffered in the accident.  The injured passengers can claim these benefits even if they did not have a Michigan automobile insurance policy.

An 80-year-old Walker man was killed in a Fatal Kent County Drunk Driving Accident in Walker on Friday Night. According to Walker Police, the Walker man was killed when his vehicle was allegedly struck by a car that crossed over the center line on Wilson Avenue, between Butterworth and Burton.

The 80-year-old man was rushed to Spectrum Butterworth with serious injuries where he later died. According to police, alcohol is suspected in the accident and the driver that crossed the center line was allegedly arrested on those grounds. The crash remain under investigation at this time.

I  am very sorry to hear about this tragic car accident and wish my most heart-felt condolences to the family of the deceased Walker man for their loss.

Our Michigan car accident lawyers advise accident victims of their legal rights.  For this type of accident, the family members of the Walker man 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.  This is true even if the decedent was intoxicated and at fault for the accident. 

In addition, the injury victims may be able to file a lawsuit against the persons determined to be at fault in the auto accident.  The insurance company for the driver must still cover any injuries. In this lawsuit, the family of the deceased Walker man can claim damages and compensation for the injuries suffered in the accident.  The insurance company for the negligent driver typically pays a settlement for this type of case. 

Also, the family members of the deceased Walker man may have a claim for a Michigan wrongful death lawsuit against the driver that police determine was negligent and caused these car accidents. Another possible claim would be a potential Michigan dram shop case against the seller or furnisher of the  alcohol before the accident. At the very least, the surviving family should hire the best possible lawyer to look into these possibilities. 

An experienced Michigan car accident lawyer can assist the victim with this type of claim.  Accident victims should not speak with the insurance adjuster for the negligent driver before consulting with an attorney.

If you would like more information about your rights after a Michigan car accident, you can order our FREE book, “The Ultimate Michigan Car Accident Handbook” by clicking on the book link.  We will send it out immediately along with other important information.

For more information about Michigan car accident cases, visit our law firm web site at www.BuckfireLaw.com.  If you would like to speak with one of our Michigan car accident attorneys about your case, feel free to call us anytime at (800) 606-1717 or simply submit this contact form and we will get back to you quickly.

Rights After A Drunk Driving Accident

Our Michigan drunk driver accident lawyers represent injury victims against drunk drivers and the establishment that served the alcohol.  The injuries suffered in these accidents are often catastrophic and many victims are further traumatized because they were injured by a drunk driver.  Victims of drunk driving accidents in Michigan have a number of legal rights.

In addition to pursuing a personal injury claim against the drunk driver, claims can also be made against the owner of the vehicle driven by the drunk driver.  Additionally, there can be claims against the bar, restaurant, or establishment that served the drunk driver the alcohol that caused the intoxication. This is called a Dram Shop case. The establishment that served the alcohol can be sued for furnishing an intoxicated person alcohol before they got behind the wheel of an automobile.

Act Quickly in a Dram Shop Case

The Michigan Dram shop law requires that an investigation into the accident begin as soon as possible. It also requires that the bar or restaurant in question be notified within a very narrow period. Our law firm hires private investigators to interview witnesses and other bar patrons to prove that the establishment served alcohol to an intoxicated motorist shortly before the accident.

A delay in beginning this investigation may result in difficulty tracking down these witnesses later, or may mean that the time limit for naming the bar expires. Therefore, a drunk driving accident victim should call an attorney immediately to begin working on the case. This also applies to families seeking compensation for the wrongful death of a loved one in a fatal drunk driving accident.

Contact  A Grand Rapids Dram Shop Lawyer

It is essential to contact a lawyer experienced in Michigan drunk driving accident lawsuits.  There a number of legal issues in these cases that require significant expertise, and an inexperienced lawyer may miss them.  When you call our law firm, our attorneys and investigators will start working on your case immediately and begin gathering the witness statements and evidence to prove and win your case.

If you would like more information about your rights after a Grand Rapids injury or accident, you can order our FREE book, “The Ultimate Guide To Injury Cases in Michigan” by clicking on the book link. We will send it out immediately along with other important information.

For more information about Grand Rapids injury or accident cases, visit our law firm web site at www.BuckfireLaw.com. If you would like to speak with one of our Grand Rapids injury or accident attorneys about your case, feel free to call us anytime at (800) 606-1717 or simply submit this contact form and we will get back to you quickly.