2013 Traffic Safety Culture Index: The Results are In Every year, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety releases its annual Traffic Safety Culture Index. The index is a compilation of a series of surveys measuring the opinions of drivers in the United States regarding issues relating to driving safety. Some
Potential Liability for Tech Company Uber after Car Accident Kills Girl
This past New Year’s Eve, a young pedestrian in San Francisco, crossing the road with her mother and brother, was struck and killed by a cab driver on his way to pick up customers. It is alleged that the pedestrians were crossing the street legally when the impact occurred. This
Are Parallel Parking Spaces Designed for Vehicular Travel?
Last month, the Michigan Supreme Court heard oral argument in Yono v Department of Transportation concerning this very issue. Plaintiff had suffered injury while walking back to her car, which was parallel parked along M-22 in Suttons Bay, Michigan. Plaintiff filed suit against the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), alleging
The Highway Exception, Road Defects, and Governmental Immunity
It might be easy to assume that the government would be held liable if you encounter a dangerous road defect while driving (for example), and are injured as a result. However, in Michigan, the nature of the defect determines whether or not governmental immunity applies. Generally speaking, the government is
NHTSA Proposes Upgrade to Car Seat Standards
We have previously blogged about Michigan car seat laws and proposed changes to it. We now have another update, but this time on the federal level. Yesterday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that it was proposing upgrades to the federal child car seat standards. Specifically, the administration
Pre-existing Injuries and No-Fault Coverage
As we all know, car accidents can be life-altering. These collisions can cause new injuries or even make old injuries much worse. Michigan residents are fortunate because our auto no-fault insurance system is designed to cover situations where one might face such instances. In other words, medical treatment for both
Michigan No-Fault PIP Coverage and the Concept of Domicile, Take Two
We’ve previously discussed the general significance of determining an individual’s domicile, or where they reside, for the purpose of establishing Michigan no-fault PIP coverage availability under Michigan’s auto no-fault scheme. However, this analysis also intersects with the family law realm. What happens if a minor whose parents are divorced is
In Michigan, Vehicle Ownership Determines Your Right to Sue
Do you own a vehicle? Most people would find that to be a pretty straightforward question. However, for the purposes of Michigan’s auto no-fault law, the answer may not always be so simple. Further, the answer may control whether or not you may sue the other driver for pain and
Entitlement to No-Fault PIP Benefits Might be Trickier than You Think
If you are injured in a car accident in Michigan, in order to receive coverage under our Michigan No-Fault Insurance Act, the injury must “aris[e] out of the ownership, operation, maintenance or use of a motor vehicle as a motor vehicle . . . .” Stated another way, to receive no-fault
A Cautionary Tale about Auto No-Fault Benefits
Michigan car accident victims and their medical providers should be aware of Guardian Angel Healthcare v Progressive Insurance, a recent Michigan Court of Appeals decision concerning auto no-fault benefits. In Guardian, the auto accident victim settled his claim for no-fault benefits with his no-fault insurer, Progressive Insurance. Progressive and the