Lansing Personal Injury Lawyer - Automobile Accidents

Major Road Partially Closed After Serious Accident

Nolan Erickson — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:02:09 GMT

A semi-truck collided with an unknown number of vehicles in Holland Township, Michigan on Tuesday morning, causing massive delays and the closure of westbound lanes on Chicago Drive. The accident occured at the intersection of Chicago and 104th Avenue.

The crash involved the semi-truck, a van, and possibly other vehicles. A traffic light and power lines were also damaged in the crash. At least one person was seriously injured.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Nolan Erickson

Medical Condition of Two Women Involved In Accident Upgraded To Stable

Devon Glass — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 20:44:36 GMT

In an update to a story we first reported Friday, two women who were involved in a rollover accident on I-96 had their medical conditions upgraded to stable. Alicia Maybin, 23, and Ebony Maybin, 22, were both ejected from the Ford Explorer Alicia was driving when the truck hit another vehicle on the highway near Webberville. The accident is still being investigated by police at this time so no further details are available.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Devon Glass

Friday Afternoon's Rollover Accident on I-96 Sends 5 To Sparrow Hospital

David Mittleman — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 09:24:53 GMT

Five people were injured, two with life threatening conditions, from a rollover accident Friday afternoon just hours before rushhour on westbound I-96 near Webberville. According to a report from the Lansing State Journal, two vehicles collided going westbound on I-96, and one of the vehicles - a Ford Explorer - to rollover. Three passengers from the Explorer were ejected from the vehicle, with two adults being transported to Sparrow Hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Michigan State Police are investigating the accident. But it is important to always remember that traveling on interstate highways requires complete attention to the road to avoid obstacles and prevent collisions. A 2001 study showed that Friday was the day one is most likely to get in an auto accident, so it is even more important to exercise caution on this day when we are all admittedly looking forward to the weekend and perhaps not attentive enough to the road.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman

Insurance Company Survey Puts Attorneys At Top of "Worst Drivers" List

David Mittleman — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 09:47:05 GMT

If you're a regular follower of my blogs, you know that I am a strong advocate for driving safety, particularly when it comes to avoiding distracted driving. I've written extensively on the dangers of driving while texting, and I've even highlighted stranger driving distractions--like the truck driver who caused an accident while watching porno on his laptop while driving a semi-truck. However, it seems as if the spotlight is on me now, at least that's according to an insurance.com study that analyzed the yearly accidents people claim and the profession they listed when applying for car insurance online.

From the results of the study, the researchers found that 44% of attorneys and judges--more than any other profession--reported having been in a prior car accident when comparison-shopping for auto insurance. Financial professionals followed in close second, leading the researchers to wonder why these types of professionals had more accidents than others. One reason that corroborates everything I've argued about the dangers of driving distracted is that attorneys, judges, and financial professionals are all prone to lifestyles that revolve around multi-tasking such as being on the phone frequently (even while driving) or moving fast on a tight schedule. However, it is also important to note that insurance.com's data was based on the numbers of customers requesting a quote from their website, which doesn't exactly constitute a scientific survey. Perhaps drivers soliciting information from insurance.com are those who already have a spotty driving record who are seeking other insurance carriers because they've been dropped by their current insurance companies for being bad drivers.

Furthermore, the study also discovered that the third likeliest type of professional to report a prior accident were government workers--workers that aren't as accustomed to high-pressure schedules. Similarly, dog groomers, barbers and stylists came in fourth, fifth, and sixth place, respectively. So as I've already argued, the study probably isn't the most revealing, but one interesting aspect is that homemakers ranked as the least dangerous drivers by profession. Why? Most people who drive with kids in the backseat tend to take their time and drive more cautiously.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman

Hill Jumping Extremely Dangerous New Hobby Popular With Teenagers

David Mittleman — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 10:00:00 GMT

Hill jumping is the name given to a dangerous hobby that involves driving a car at a high rate of speed over a hill in order to get the vehicle to “jump” into the air as it leaves the top of the hill. Perhaps the popularity of this activity can be blamed on rallying culture, or as Jane Akre at the National News Desk puts it: “a form of motor competition on public or private roads, has been going on as long as there have been cars. As far back as January 1907, the first Monte Carlo Rally was held”. The difference between rallying in exhibitions, however, is that those cars have better suspension, and upgraded tires and rims that help them to better withstand a rough landing.

Sadly, teenagers are picking up on hill jumping as a new and extremely dangerous activity. As another IB attorney, Dough Landau, shows in a recent blog, hill jumping is particularly popular in Virginia. He provided several videos that depict the serious danger of hill jumping. As you can see in the video below, the teenagers involved in this hill jumping incident ended up crashing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RtfcosJzbw&feature=player_embedded

Actually, a 14-year-old passenger in the backseat with her cell phone took this footage. The driver of the vehicle had his license for less than 60 days at the time of the accident. The 14-year-old was ejected from the backseat and through the sunroof when the car flipped over and landed in the mud. She and the other teenagers riding in the vehicle were badly injured including a brain injury and facial lacerations. Nevertheless, the muddy conditions probably saved their lives by providing a more “cushioned” blow.

Those same teenagers also struck and injured a mother and her son during that crash. Luckily, they weren’t killed either, however they also sustained injuries. According to Landau in a recent interview, the current mantra surrounding hill jumping is “go huge or go home”. He urges parents to have a conversation with their kids and let them know that this isn’t acceptable behavior.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman

MDOT Website an Important Resource for Michigan Drivers

Nolan Erickson — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:20:11 GMT

Anyone who has spent any time driving in Michigan in the winter understands the hazards that can be created by the weather. What few motorists realize, however, is that the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) provides a number of helpful tools aimed at keeping them safe.

From late fall through early spring, MDOT offers relatively up-to-date reports of regional traffic and road conditions. Before your trip, you can log onto MDOT's website or call its toll free travel hotline (1-800-381-8477) to see whether your intended route is clear, wet, icy, slushy, or even closed due to the weather. In addition, MDOT's website is full of informative press releases and safety guides.

As the website reminds us, good information is no substitute for good judgment. The safety of you, your passengers, and the motorists around you depends on careful driving practices. High speed and bad weather increase your chances of being involved in a car crash.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Nolan Erickson

Ann Arbor Doctor is a Hero For Car Accident Victim

David Mittleman — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:00:00 GMT

Someone must have been looking out for David Grainger after he was involved in a high-speed car crash on I-94 on February 13. While Grainger said he couldn’t recall much of what happened after his car stopped moving, he did remember the kindness of Doctor Ed Wilkins, a reconstructive surgeon at the University of Michigan Hospital.

The car accident occurred as Grainger was traveling eastbound on I-94 with three friends in his car who planned to view the development possibilities in Detroit. According to police, Grainger’s car rear-ended a minivan after another driver cut off a vehicle ahead in the line of cars. Grainger had no time to respond when the minivan driver quickly hit her brakes to avoid rear-ending the car in front of her.

While waiting for first response to arrive, Grainger appeared headed toward hypothermia. Luckily, Doctor Wilkins stopped to help, and although medical authorities warn never to move traffic accident victims prior to first responders’ arrival, Dr. Wilkins knew what to do. By leg-rolling Grainger onto a blanket, while keeping his head, neck and back in a single axis to prevent further damage to a potential spinal injury, Dr. Wilkins helped to make Grainger more comfortable as he waited for EMS to arrive. Since the accident, Grainger was released from the hospital after recovering for a week. I know Ed Wilkins personally and he is a terrific person and a great doctor, as this inspirational story clearly shows.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman

Man Charged in Death of Tabitha Stanton

Devon Glass — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:00:29 GMT

I previously reported on the fatal accident that killed Tabitha Stanton back in September. Robert William Cook was charged with negligent homicide on February 23, 2010, in the Eaton County District Court. According to witness statements, Mr. Cook was attempting to change lanes when his truck clipped the front corner of the vehicle carrying Stanton, causing the car to hit the median and roll over several times. It was alleged Mr. Cook's truck was exceeding the posted speed limit just before the crash happened. The car Tabitha was riding in was being driven by Mr. Cook's mother, Catherine Cook.

This unfortunate incident is made more tragic given that everyone involved in the crash knew each other. Based upon the reporting at the time of the crash, everyone in Tabitha's car and Mr. Cook were all heading back from a volleyball tournament. Mr. Cook's family members, who were all friends with Tabitha, told reporters they didn't believe Tabitha would want charges pressed against him.

It's difficult to say what Tabitha would want, given that she is no longer able to speak for herself on this matter. If the facts are as the prosecutors allege, then they have the ability pursue criminal charges and it would be up to a jury to determine whether Mr. Cook should be punished for his alleged actions. Ultimately, it is for a jury to decide whether Mr. Cook is responsible for what happened, even if that means punishing someone who was a friend to the person he hurt. Just because Mr. Cook was charged with the crime does not mean he will be convicted, that's why we have trials and attorneys who can represent people charged with crimes.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Devon Glass

Grand Rapids Teenager Tragically Dies In Car Accident While Texting and Driving

David Mittleman — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 12:48:00 GMT

Georgetown Township, MI—tragically, a Grand-Rapids teenager died after striking a pickup truck on January 12. After conducting interviews with witnesses and conducting an investigation, police now suspect that 18-year-old Eric Helm was texting with his girlfriend before losing control of his vehicle, which swerved into the on-coming traffic lane and hit a pickup truck. The 46-year-old driver of the pickup suffered minor injuries.

Currently, a proposal to ban texting while driving is in the state legislature. According to the National Council of State Legislatures, over half of all states have already banned texting while driving. Furthermore, other state initiatives have attempted to demonstrate to teenagers the dangers of texting while driving. For example, in October of last year, the Michigan State Police offered local college students the opportunity to test their abilities to text and drive on a demonstration precision track. The police supervisor, Sergeant James Flegel, instructed the students to text while attempting to maneuver around orange cones, which were representative of the cars and pedestrians they would normally encounter while driving. Many students admitted to knocking over nearly every cone on the precision course while texting and driving. Additionally, the federal government deemed the week of October 18-24 of last year “National Teen Driver Safety Week” in an effort to raise awareness of the dangers of texting while driving.

National Teen Safe Driver Week was inspired by a recent Virginia Tech Transportation Institute study. In the study, the researchers used cameras to monitor the drivers of semitrailer trucks and their texting habits. Overall, the results showed that the risk of crash is 23 times greater when texting while driving.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman

Fatal Crash on Icy Road Caused When Driver Couldn't Stop In Time for Stop Sign

Diego Avila — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 12:39:35 GMT

When 19-year-old Johnathon Russel ran a stop sign the morning of February 2, 2010, he caused an accident that wound up taking his life. The crash took place at approximately 8:00 a.m. near the intersection of Dailey Rd and Peavine St., just south of Dowagiac.

Mr. Russel, from St. Joe, collided into a vehicle driven by 58-year-old Brian Wood, according to the Cass County Sheriff's Office. Wood was taken to Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital for treatment of his injuries.

Alcohol does not appear to be a factor in this crash, but icy roads may have played a part in it. Especially in early morning hours, before trucks have been able to fully salt all roads and highways, it's best to slow down and give yourself more time to come to a complete stop.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Diego Avila