Michigan Truck Accident Blog

We all know that Michigan motorists pay a ton of money for their auto
insurance. Our no-fault system in Michigan is the most generous in the
nation. It has worked well for several decades (since the early
1970s). However, it’s falling apart under its own weight.

The primary culprit with regard to sky rocketing auto insurance rates
are the increasing costs associated with the first party benefits.
These benefits, sometimes referred to as the no-fault benefits or
economic benefits, include unlimited medical coverage (and the related
fee for service reimbursement to medical providers) and reimbursement
for lost wages, attendant care and replacement services. The insurance
industry estimates that twenty years ago first party benefits
accounted for approximately 20% of the premium cost. Today, first
party benefits have doubled to 40% of the premium cost. As medical
costs increase, the cost of auto insurance will increase. Essentially,
Michigan auto insurance companies have become health insurance
companies. Despite the fact that most drivers are already paying for
their own health insurance.

Recently, an unlikely coalition of legislators and special interest
groups including the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Urban League, Small
Business Association and legislators Virgil Smith (a Democrat) and
Alan Sanborn (a Republican) introduced an effort to reduce auto
insurance rates. Their proposal involves a $50,000 cap on no-fault
benefits. This approach is often referred to as “PIP Choice”. The same
approach that was roundly rejected (by a 30 point margin) in the early
90’s in two state wide voter initiatives. For many reasons, the
specific approach is misguided.

However, an approach that might accomplish the same result - lower
auto insurance rates in Michigan - has support from many important
stakeholders in this debate. This approach seeks to adopt a fee
schedule for medical providers that is identical to the worker’s
compensation fee schedule - a system that already works. Importantly,
this reimbursement approach is more generous than private insurance
(including Blue Cross and all HMOs).

An approach involving fee schedules would accomplish everyone’s
objective - lower auto insurance rates - without cutting off (read -
shifting the responsibility to the state…read - forcing Michigan
taxpayers to pick up the tab) catastrophically injured auto accident
victims when they blow through the $50,000 cap.

Our highways accommodate millions of passenger vehicles, buses trucks, and tractor-trailers. These extremely large semi trucks carry essential products, parts, livestock, and equipment for business and consumers. Economically we need these big trucks, but sharing the road with them can be very dangerous. When driving near a tractor trailer be alert and take extra safety precautions.

Know the Risks:

Most states allow extremely large trucks and tractor-trailers to travel on major highways. The following are some of the current legal standards for semi trucks, tractor-trailers, and other large trucks:

• A loaded tractor-trailer can be up to 8 1/2 feet wide — 50% wider that a passenger car. (102 inches)
• The overall length of a truck hauling a trailer can be up to 65 feet on designated truck routes.
• The length of a tractor-trailer transporting logs can be up to 70 feet, or more than 4 times the length of an average automobile.
• There is no overall limit on the length of a semi truck, if it is pulling one trailer no longer than 50 feet or two trailers no longer than 28 ½ feet each.
• The normal maximum load for a truck with a single trailer can be as much as 80,000 pounds. A few states, including Michigan, allow trailers with multiple axles and tires to haul up to 120,000. Watch for these trucks which usually carry steel, gravel, heavy equipment, asphalt, and other extremely heavy goods.
• The maximum weight of a tractor truck with two loaded trailers can be as much as 160,000 pounds, about the same weight as 50 passenger cars.

The enormous size and weight of a tractor-trailer make it a potentially dangerous vehicle, even if a skilled and careful truck driver is at the wheel.

Safety Tips for Auto Drivers Sharing the Road with Large Trucks

If you are on the highway near a tractor trailer or semi truck, you can reduce the risk of a serious accident by driving with extra care. Here are safety guidelines to help you protect yourself and your family:

• Stay out of truck blind spots. Although every truck has side mirrors, the driver still has blind spots–areas directly behind and on both sides of the truck where the driver cannot see cars. Look at the truck, if you can’t see the driver’s side view mirrors, you are in the blind spot and the driver can’t see you. If your car is next to a large truck, either drive on past or back off. If you are passing, try to drive your car on the left side where the blind spot is smaller.

• Never follow a large truck too closely. Keep 20 to 25 car lengths between the front of your vehicle and the back of a large truck. This extra distance will allow you to see in front of the truck. In case there is congested traffic or an accident up ahead, you will see it in time to stop or safely steer your car away from the danger.

• Use extra caution when passing a large truck. After you pass a large truck, do not pull your car back into its traffic lane until you can see its headlights in your rear view mirror. Leaving this extra distance gives the truck driver the time to slow down or stop if something is happening on the highway ahead.

• Always remember that a loaded tractor-trailer or semi truck needs as much as 100 yards — the length of a football field — to come to a complete stop. No matter how crowded the highway, make sure to maintain this safe distance. If the truck driver ignores this margin of safety and follows your car too closely, do not take a chance. Move your car into another traffic lane.

• Always use your turn signals when changing lanes. Drivers around you need to know what you are doing to maintain safe driving distances.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), fatal Michigan motor vehicle accidents dropped by 4% last year.

This good news appears in NHTSA’s recent preview of the 2006 Traffic Safety Annual Assessment, a comprehensive analysis of highway accidents in the United States.

The total number of auto accident victims has decreased nationally. Between 2005 and 2006, car accident deaths dropped 3.8%, light truck accident deaths dropped 2.4%, but large truck accident deaths rose by 0.1%.

Meanwhile, car accident injuries declined 6.2%, light truck accident injuries declined 1.7%, and large truck accident injuries declined 15%.

Unfortunately, the death rate from drunk driving accidents was essentially unchanged.

The NHTSA preview report included grim news for motorcyclists. The number of people killed in motorcycle accidents rose by 5.1%, while the number of people injured in motorcycle accidents rose by 1.1%. Deaths resulting from motorcycle accidents now account for 11% of all fatal highway accidents.

Later this year, NHTSA will issue its full report on 2006 highway accidents, including more detailed statistics about Michigan motor vehicle accidents.

The new Michael Moore movie “Sicko” really hits home, because many of our injured clients also struggle to get access to essential health insurance coverage. In fact, the problems that Michael Moore identified in “Sicko” are just the tip of the iceberg.

At our Michigan personal injury law firm, truck accident victims often come to us after getting the run-around from insurance companies. For example, we have clients who needed expensive medical tests, surgery, and treatment after suffering serious injuries in Michigan truck accidents.

While struggling to recover, some of our truck accident clients ended up hassling with insurance adjustors. The individual’s group health insurance company insisted that medical bills from the Michigan truck accident should be paid by Michigan no-fault auto insurance, while a no-fault auto insurance adjustor claimed that the group health insurance carrier had to pay.

That is where our Michigan truck accident law firm steps in. One of our experienced Michigan truck accident attorneys determines which insurance carrier is legally required to pay, demands payment of our client’s medical bills, and if necessary, files a lawsuit to force the insurance company to meet its responsibility.

Like the people whom Michael Moore featured in “Sicko,” some of our Michigan truck accident clients desperately need essential medical care. We understand, and we are ready to fight for these injured victims’ legal rights.

When you are a young adult, you hope that the whole world is open to you, that everything is possible.

School, work, travel, a family, you name it — nothing can hold you back.

This is just what our client Matt thought — until he was badly hurt in a Michigan auto accident almost two years ago.

Then his life changed in profound ways.

You see, Matt suffered a closed head injury, as well as injuries to his back and legs, as a result of the Michigan auto accident.

Since then, Matt has not been able to find any work that he is able to do.

Before the Michigan car accident, Matt had jobs involving physical labor. Now he cannot do any physical work at all. He also cannot handle a desk job, because the head injury he suffered in the Michigan auto accident left him with significant concentration and memory problems.

It is no wonder that Matt is depressed. He is afraid that he will never be able to support himself or to have a family. Sometimes, he feels that he has nothing to look forward to.

We want to change that — to give this young man a chance for a good life.

Our Michigan car accident lawyers are working hard to help Matt collect damages from the careless driver who caused the Michigan auto accident.

Matt has the legal right to hold that careless driver accountable and our Michigan car accident lawyers are determined to help him do just that.

Thank goodness the baby wasn’t hurt.

Tanya, our Michigan car accident client, was pregnant when she was hit by a careless driver. As a result of the auto accident, she suffered several broken bones and a serious closed head injury.

Fortunately, the Michigan car accident did not end Tanya’s pregnancy. A few months later, she delivered a healthy new daughter.

However, that Michigan automobile accident did deprive Tanya of many joys of motherhood. For several months after the auto accident, she was in a wheelchair. Now she gets around on a walker and still needs help taking care of herself, as well as baby.

Tanya was hoping to go back to school to train for a nursing career, but the Michigan auto accident put these plans on hold. The car accident left her with not only severe physical limitations due to the broken bones, but also with ongoing memory problems and headaches due to the closed head injury.

Thus, it could be a long time before she can pursue her goal of returning to work to help support her family.

Recognizing this hard reality, our Michigan auto accident attorneys are working hard to get most damages possible from the reckless driver who caused the Michigan car accident.

Tanya has been through so much — she deserves full compensation, to help provide financial security for herself and her little daughter.

Imagine going through life with the marks of someone’s careless driving on your face for everyone to see.

This is what happened to Michelle. When she was only 6 years old, she was the victim of a horrible Michigan car accident, caused by a careless driver who lost control of his automobile and smashed into another car. Michelle was an innocent passenger in one of the vehicles.

In the Michigan auto accident, she suffered serious injuries to her face, including deep cuts in her eyelids, nose and scalp, as well as fractures to delicate facial bones. Doctors did surgery to close the wounds and put the bones back into alignment, but they could not erase the damage.

Now, Michelle’s face is covered with scars. When she grows up, she could have more plastic surgery. However, her doctors say that nothing will completely remove the scars caused by this Michigan auto accident.

Not surprisingly, this child has lot of trouble adjusting to the scars on her face, and it could get worse as she enters adolescence. Although most teenage girls become self-conscious about their appearance, the lasting scars of the Michigan car accident are an extraordinary burden for Michelle.

No child should have to experience the trauma of a serious Michigan auto accident. But in this case, Michelle has to remember that terrible car crash every time she looks in the mirror.

At the Law Offices of Sam Bernstein, our experienced Michigan car accident attorneys worked very hard to protect Michelle’s legal rights to compensation for her severe and lasting physical and emotional injuries. She is a special little girl who deserves all the help she can get, for better times ahead.

At age 84, Mrs. James was remarkably independent. She took care of herself, helped around the house, and walked for exercise almost every day. Mrs. James really enjoyed spending time with family and friends, and had been active in the same church for as long as she could remember.

In short, she was living her twilight years in peace and relative comfort. But this all changed the day of a Michigan auto accident, caused by a careless driver who ran a red light and struck Mrs. James’ car.

Elderly people can be very fragile, and Mrs. James was no exception.

The Michigan car accident fractured her hip bone and resulted in hip replacement surgery. Sadly, the injury and subsequent surgery were very hard on Mrs. James, and left her an altogether different person than she was before the Michigan auto accident.

Now, she can now do almost nothing by herself. Mrs. James needs help just getting out of bed, taking a shower, getting dressed, and eating. She is wheelchair bound and leaves home only to go to medical appointments. Since the day of the Michigan car accident, Mrs. James has been unable to attend church or go out to visit family and friends.

We are honored by the confidence that Mrs. James and her family showed in us, when they asked us to pursue her Michigan auto accident claims. She is a fine lady who deserves all the help that she can get. You can be sure that our experienced Michigan auto accident attorneys are working very hard to protect this innocent car accident victim’s legal rights.

When tragedy strikes, our Michigan auto accident lawyers are here to help.

Dave, a teenage client, was in a Michigan car accident caused by a reckless driver. Dave suffered awful injuries in the accident. But if that wasn’t bad enough, the car crash killed a friend who was riding in Dave’s car.

No teenager — or anyone else — should have to go through what happened to our client. As a result of that Michigan car accident, Dave has to cope with serious physical injuries and scars, along with the death of a close friend.

Frankly, our client is still struggling with the loss. The young man suffers from post traumatic stress disorder and depression, from that Michigan auto accident. A year and a half has passed, but he certainly is still not back to his old self.

Nothing can erase Dave’s physical scars from the car accident — and nothing can bring back his friend.

But we are glad that we had the opportunity to protect Dave’s legal rights and pursue a Michigan car accident claim on his behalf. Our experienced Michigan auto accident attorneys succeeded in getting a substantial amount of damages for Dave, to help compensate him for the physical and the emotional injuries caused by the car accident.

The compensation from the legal claim will make it possible for Dave to put some money away, perhaps to pay for college or buy his own home. At the Law Offices of Sam Bernstein, we are all hoping for this young man’s full recovery and a brighter future.

At the Law Offices of Sam Bernstein, we work hard for every one of our Michigan personal injury clients, because we understand that a bad car or truck accident victim’s life.

For example, we recently helped a young woman who spent several years training for highly-skilled work that requires rock-steady hands. She called us after an auto accident that changed her future.

The terrible motor vehicle accident happened on her vacation. She was riding along when another driver blew a stop sign, plowed into our client’s car, and rolled it into the next lane. The emergency medical crew needed the “jaws of life” just to get her out of her crushed vehicle.

It’s a miracle our client survived the car accident - but her life will never be the same. The motor vehicle accident permanently damaged her shoulder and arm. Despite all kinds of medical tests, treatments, several surgeries, therapy, and rehabilitation, the doctors could not restore full use of the hand she needed for the precision tasks of her chosen profession.

It was so unfair.

This nice lady deserved justice - and we were going to make sure she got it. At first, the reckless automobile driver and his insurance companies tried giving us the run around. They should have known better.

Our highly-experienced car and truck accident attorneys got right to work, collected the relevant evidence, and analyzed all the motor vehicle accident reports and medical records, to prepare the strongest possible case for our client.

Then came the accident settlement negotiations. The defense lawyers tried undervaluing our client’s motor vehicle accident case. No way were we going to let them get away with that.

Finally, the defense lawyers realized that we would not give up. They agreed to settle for a very substantial amount — enough to cover our client’s medical costs, pain and suffering, as well as the future wages that our client did not have the chance to earn because she lost the effective use of her hands.

Although we could not give our badly injured client back her old life, we did get her enough compensation to support herself, get whatever medical and other help she needs, and perhaps train for a new profession.

In other words, our personal injury client has the financial security she needs. It feels good to know that we made a difference in our client’s future.