Rochester Law Blog

May is motorcycle safety awareness month in Michigan

On behalf of Heather Atnip of Atnip & Associates, PLLC posted in Personal Injury on Monday, May 21, 2018.

In just 18 counties in mid-Michigan, there are over 85,000 licensed drivers with an endorsement for motorcycles. It's easy to see why the state's Senate declared May to be motorcycle safety awareness month. Data from the state's Office of Highway and Safety Planning shows that 2,464 motorcycle crashes happened between 2012 and 2016.

Of those 2,464 accidents, 103 people were killed and almost 74 percent of the accidents resulted in injuries. The deadliest counties during that five-year period were St. Clair and Genesee. Each had 19 fatal motorcycle crashes. Saginaw County and Bay County had the next highest total of fatalities -- 14 and 10, respectively.

Rising pedestrian deaths could be due to SUV popularity

On behalf of Heather Atnip of Atnip & Associates, PLLC posted in Catastrophic Injury And Wrongful Death on Saturday, May 19, 2018.

Since 2009, pedestrian deaths have risen 46 percent. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), these fatalities now account for 16 percent of all motor vehicle accident fatalities.

In 2016, which is the last year data is available for, nearly 6,000 pedestrians have been killed on or along our nation's roadways. To put that number in perspective, that is nearly twice the number of victims who died in the 9/11 attacks

Always see a doctor after a car accident

On behalf of Heather Atnip of Atnip & Associates, PLLC on Thursday, May 17, 2018.

Experiencing a car accident is often far more damaging to victims than they may immediately realize. Even a relatively small accident is potentially harmful, sometimes leaving victims significantly injured.

Numerous injuries you might sustain in a car accident are not visible and may not cause pain for a few hours or even days afterward, so it is always important to seek out professional medical care as soon as you can. In some cases, you may avoid unnecessary pain and suffering, or even prevent a fatal condition.

Handling insurance disputes following a car accident

On behalf of Heather Atnip of Atnip & Associates, PLLC posted in No Fault Insurance on Friday, May 11, 2018.

Being involved in a car accident in Rochester, Michigan, is never easy. There's so much that you need to take care of afterward involving insurance claims. If you are injured, that gives you even more to take care of due to rehab, recovery and medical claims. Here are some tips for handling insurance disputes following a car accident in Michigan.

One of the best ways to handle an insurance dispute following a car accident in Michigan is to acquire your own appraisal of the damage. Insurance companies conduct their own appraisals, or pay to have them done, and they will be lower than most private appraisals. You are allowed to get your own appraisal done of the damage. Make sure you acquire it from a repair shop that you trust.

Head injuries can cause personality changes

On behalf of Heather Atnip of Atnip & Associates, PLLC posted in Catastrophic Injury And Wrongful Death on Friday, May 4, 2018.

Amy Schumer's character in the movie I Feel Pretty experienced an uncharacteristic surge of confidence after injuring her head exercising. While this is the stuff of great comedy, similar consequences -- while rare -- have been known to occur.

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are serious complications of some auto accidents. TBI patients may recover to some extent, or completely, over time. But for some unlucky victims, the personality changes that come with TBIs are disconcerting at best.

Springtime motorcycle safety in Michigan

On behalf of Heather Atnip of Atnip & Associates, PLLC posted in Personal Injury on Friday, April 27, 2018.

Spring is slowly but surely making its appearance in Michigan. That means you will start to see more and more motorcycles on the roads of Rochester as the weather gets nicer and the temperatures increase. That's why all motorists, including motorcycle riders, should know and understand motorcycle safety in the state to avoid motorcycle accidents at all costs.

All motorists need to be on the look out for motorcycles this spring. Always look twice at every intersection before pulling out into traffic. Motorcycles can appear almost out of nowhere, which can lead to accidents if you pull out into an intersection without looking twice.

7 intersection safety tips

On behalf of Heather Atnip of Atnip & Associates, PLLC posted in Personal Injury on Saturday, April 21, 2018.

Intersections are very dangerous, leading to 20 percent of all deadly car crashes and a reported 50 percent of total wrecks every year.

They happen for numerous reasons. A driver runs a red light and hits a car going through. A driver turns left when a pedestrian is in the crosswalk. Traffic stops at a red light and a driver does not slow down quickly enough, slamming into the back of the stopped cars.

Why your gym might be liable for your injury

On behalf of Heather Atnip of Atnip & Associates, PLLC posted in blog on Thursday, April 19, 2018.

Working out in a gym always comes with risks, especially when you are pushing your body to the max. But when an injury occurs that you believe was beyond your control, you might wonder if it's possible to blame the gym for the painful consequences that occurred.

When you experience an injury in a Michigan gym, you may have needed to take unpaid medical leave as a result, and incurred rehabilitation costs. If it can be proven that the gym itself is liable for the accident that occurred, it is quite likely that you will be able to recoup these damages, as well as gain compensation for the pain and suffering that you had to endure.

Woman's brain injury lawsuit settles out of court

On behalf of Heather Atnip of Atnip & Associates, PLLC posted in Catastrophic Injury And Wrongful Death on Friday, April 13, 2018.

A medical malpractice lawsuit gives patients a chance to hold physicians and other medical staff accountable when someone's medical care leaves them worse off than when he or she came to seek care. For one woman, a lack of lab tests and a medication change ended up leaving her in a vegetative state, with her face and head deformed from surgery required to reduce pressure in her brain.

The lawsuit was filed in 2016 after the woman suffered an injury to her brain due to a blood clot. She had surgery prior to the injury to address a hemorrhage that was near her brain. After the surgery, the woman went to Lynwood Manor in order to convalesce. She complained of having stroke-like symptoms and headaches while there. A medication that causes excessive coagulation of the blood was ordered while a medication she had been taking -- a blood thinner -- was stopped.

Michigan to see insurance premium hike in July

On behalf of Heather Atnip of Atnip & Associates, PLLC posted in No Fault Insurance on Friday, April 6, 2018.

The Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA) announced that beginning in July 2019, the cost of personal injury protection (PIP) will increase by $22 per insured vehicle. That's an increase of 13 percent per vehicle and will bring the total cost of PIP to $192 per vehicle.

The MCCA is an entity created by the state that reimburses auto insurance companies for claims that exceed $555,000 for personal injury benefits. Michigan is the only state that requires drivers to have unlimited lifetime coverage for costs for medical care needed because of a car wreck. The injuries that usually require the most are spinal cord injuries, back and neck injuries and injuries to the brain.

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