The Michigan Court of Appeals has again denied auto insurance coverage to an individual who was injured while a passenger in a vehicle owned and operated by a family member, because the owner-operator’s no-fault policy included a “step-down” clause. The Court’s ruling is yet another setback for innocent family members
When Two Words Collide: Car “Crash” Or Car “Accident”?
Words, and how they’re used, are important. The more we use words or phrases in certain ways, the more we become accustomed to that usage, making it seem “normal.” In cases of collisions involving motor vehicles, the phrase “car accident” or “traffic accident” has typically been used. For decades, we
Is Snapchat’s “Speed-Capturing” Filter Contributing To Auto Accidents?
On the night of September 10, 2015, 18-year-old Christal McGee was taking friends home in her father’s white Mercedes-Benz C230. While driving, she allegedly opened the Snapchat app on her smart phone so she could use its “speed-capturing” filter to post a photo of her driving at a high rate
Quick-Thinking Eyewitness Helps Injured Pedestrian Get $1M Settlement
In November 2011, a 19-year-old pedestrian’s life was changed forever when she was hit by a pickup truck while crossing 15 Mile Road in Clinton Township. The violent impact caused her to sustain life-threatening injuries, including traumatic brain injury and spine fractures, among others. To make matters worse, the pickup-truck
Pedestrian Deaths Are Surging At An Alarming Rate
Remember when your mother told you to be careful crossing the street? This advice rings true now more than ever, in light of a new federal report that says pedestrian deaths are increasing nationwide at a startling rate. According to the Governors Highway Safety Administration (GHSA), nearly 2,400 pedestrians were killed in the United States during
A New Frontier in the Wild West of ERISA Litigation
Supreme Court weighs in on ERISA plans in personal injury cases It is often said that United States Supreme Court (“SCOTUS”) is the Super Bowl of law. But with all the glamor surrounding SCOTUS, we often forget that the Court also decides technical, arcane legal questions. Sometimes those decisions have
First Responders & Michigan No-Fault Law
We’re all deeply moved when a first responder is injured or killed in the line of duty. When tragic events like this happen, we need to remember that first responders injured in auto accidents have the same rights as ordinary citizens. In other words, first responders are entitled to Michigan
When Bad Drivers Cause Semi-Truck Collisions
Semi-Truck Accident Cases and the “Negligent Entrustment” Doctrine The New York Times published a powerful op-ed piece about death caused by semi-truck accidents. The piece titled, “The Trucks are Killing Us,” described the increase in semi-truck collisions in recent years. According to the article, “The death toll in truck-involved crashes
Car Accident or Car Crash? #crashnotaccident movement gaining traction.
Continuous efforts to change the way we talk about auto collisions has led to #crashnotaccident Have you heard about the #crashnotaccident campaign? It involves a concerted effort to shift the terminology used to describe collisions involving motor vehicles, semi-trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians. For the longest time, these incidents have
Grand Rapids personal injury attorney participates in WGVU “Ask the Lawyer” Segment
Tom Sinas, one of our auto accident attorneys in Grand Rapids, answered questions about Michigan no-fault law and bicycle law Tom Sinas, one of our Grand Rapids car accident lawyers, appeared on WGVU’s “Ask the Lawyer” with Shelley Irwin on June 11, 2015 (see the video below). Tom joined local