Michigan Personal Injury, Car Accident & Medical Malpractice Lawyer Blog

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Michigan Dog Bite Book Available

My new book, "The Ultimate Michigan Dog Bite & Animal Attack Handbook" is now avaiilable and can be requested for free from our website.  The book has important information on Michigan dog bite injury cases and a section that discusses the things that can destroy your Michigan dog bite case.  Just go to the Library section of our website and fill out the order form.  We'll send it out the same day.

No-Fault Insurance Forms: Michigan Car Accidents

As most of you know, our law firm is considered to be one of the top Michigan Car Accident Law firms in the state.  We specialize in these claims and Michigan No-Fault Insurance Claims. 

As a service to the general public, we post a great deal of important information for Michigan car accident victims on our firm web site.  This includes several very important No-Fault Insurance forms that can be downloaded for free, completed, and then sent to the insurance company for payment.  I recently just added two forms that will assist injured persons in making claims for Household Services and these are the Household Service Statement and the Disability Certificate for Household Services.  Use these forms to submit your claims to your adjuster. 

If you are having trouble with the insurance company paying your Household Service expense, or any other benefit for that matter, just give me a call and we'll start working on your case immediately.  Ask for Larry Buckfire at (800) 606-1717.

Michigan Brain Injury Movie

A young Michigan woman who survived a serious brain injury is featured in a movie that will be shown to teens all over the country.  It debuted the other night in Grand Rapids.  The movie was made to alert the public, and especially teenagers, about the seriousness of brain injuries and how a careless moment behind the wheel can alter a life forever.

It is movies like this one that are needed to educate the public about traumatic brain injuries and the lifelong affects they can have on brain injury survivors.  Most people simply have no concept of how a brain injury can completely alter a person's life and the tremendous struggle that it takes to attempt to return to a pre-injury condition. 

Michigan Personal Injury Lawyer: Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Case

As a Michigan personal injury attorney, I often meet and speak with people with very good personal injury cases that have been ruined because of mistakes made by the injured person.  These are almost always innocent mistakes, but they can sometimes be fatal to a lawsuit. 

In my book, "The Ultimate Guide To Injury Cases In Michigan, I discuss personal injury cases in general and list The Biggest Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Case.  I have pasted that section of the book below.  You can request the book for free by completing the book order form.

THE BIGGEST MISTAKES THAT CAN YOUR CASE

Here are what I consider to be the BIGGEST MISTAKES that can ruin your personal injury claim. These sins are

based upon my experience and discussions with many judges and jurors.

1. Waiting Too Long To Contact the Best Lawyer For Your Case

While it is not necessary to call a lawyer immediately after you are injured, it is advisable to

contact a lawyer once you realize the seriousness of your injuries.  Many people are reluctant to

call a lawyer at this time and decide to put it off for several months.  The problem with waiting too

long is that it becomes much more difficult for your lawyer to find eyewitnesses, interview witnesses,

and to take photographs of damaged vehicles, broken sidewalks, and other hazardous conditions. 

As you might guess, many witnesses move around or are in your area just temporarily and this can

make it difficult to interview them if you delay in calling a lawyer.  Also, many damaged cars get

repaired, many scars heal, and many dangerous conditions are fixed before photographs can be

taken.  Because photographs are often the most compelling evidence, it is important that they be

taken as soon as possible after you are injured.

Also, many types of cases have legal requirements and time deadlines for taking action against a

negligent person or business.  This is especially true in filing insurance claims, suing drunk drivers

and liquor establishments, and governmental entities.  Often, the failure to meet a required

deadline will destroy your case, even if you were seriously injured.

2. Hiding Past Accidents From Your Lawyer

Once you begin a case, the other side will be interested in knowing how many past accidents you

have been in. The reality is that they probably already know the answer or have easy access to

that information. All insurance companies subscribe to insurance databases and often the only

reason they ask you this question is to test your credibility. If you have been in other accidents,

your lawyer can investigate this and make a determination as to whether this is a valid problem i

n your case or not. If you do not tell your lawyer, however, and you misrepresent your accident

history to the insurance company, then it is almost guaranteed that you will lose your case. 

3. Hiding Other Injuries

It goes without saying that you should be upfront and honest with your attorney about any injuries

that occurred before or after this accident. Again, if you saw a doctor or other healthcare provider,

then there is a record in existence that the insurance company will find. Your lawyer can deal with

this if he knows about it. If you lie about it, and the insurance company finds out, then your case is

over.

4. Failing to Get Prompt Medical Attention

Many people do not recognize the seriousness of their injuries immediately after an accident or

simply believe that resting in bed for a few days will make the pain go away.  While this may be

true, if a person claiming a serious injury waits too long to see a doctor or go to an

emergency department the insurance company will think they were not seriously hurt or that the

injury did not happen in the accident.

5. Missing Medical Appointments and Not Following Medical Advice

If you do not show up for your doctor’s visits or do not follow the recommendations of your doctors,

the insurance companies will assume that you were not seriously hurt and do not care enough

about getting better.  They will assume that you have a small case, even if you have serious

injuries.  Juries also do not like it when a person claims to have a serious injury but does not

go to scheduled medical appointments.

6. Misrepresenting Your Activity Level

Insurance companies routinely hire private investigators to conduct videotape surveillance. If you claim that you

cannot run, climb or stoop, and you get caught on videotape, your claim can be destroyed. It is very difficult to

overcome the eye of the camera.