Lansing Personal Injury Lawyer - Family

Michigan's Wrongful Death Act Provides Compensation, Closure for Families

David Mittleman — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:31:00 GMT

It is always difficult when a family member dies. When a loved one passes away, it is quite common to feel grief and loss. Those feelings can be even worse when someone is taken out of our lives due to the carelessness or negligence of another.

Nothing can ever truly replace a relative lost forever. However, Michigan law does allow family members to receive fair and reasonable compensation when an individual dies as a result of injuries caused by someone else. Michigan's Wrongful Death Act permits the following people to recover certain damages:

The decedent's spouse
The decedent's children (and their descendants)
The decedent's parents and grandparents
The decedent's brothers and/or sisters
People entitled to recover a portion of the decedent's estate under law
People entitled to recover a portion of the estate under a will

Instead of compensating the decedent, the Wrongful Death Act is designed to compensate the surviving relatives and the estate for damages they have suffered. Therefore, damages are typically limited to:

Reasonable medical, hospital, funeral, and burial expenses
Conscious pain and suffering suffered by the decedent
Loss of financial support
Loss of society and companionship

The law also permits a jury or judge to award any other damages considered "fair and equitable under the circumstances."

Michigan's Wrongful Death Act is very complicated and detailed. It includes numerous procedural requirements that must be strictly observed. Our firm regularly handles this type of claim, and we may be able to help you if you have lost a family member due to the negligence of someone else.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman

Toyota Instructs Dealers to Check Floor Mats After Horrific Car Accident

David Mittleman — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:30:49 GMT

Los Angeles—Toyota recently ordered all of its Toyota and Lexus dealers to inspect their cars for mismatched floor mats in response to a horrific car accident that occurred in San Diego County on August 28. California Highway Patrol Office, Mark Saylor, his wife, Cleofe, their 13-year-old daughter, Mahala, and Saylor’s brother-in-law, Christ Lastrella, were killed after a Toyota floor mat allegedly snagged the gas pedal in the family’s 2009 Lexus ES 350.

The family was traveling at 120 mph in the runaway car and eventually struck an SUV. Lastrella apparently called the police about a minute before the crash occurred to report that the Lexus had no brakes and that the accelerator was stuck. The driver of the SUV was treated for minor injuries, but sadly, the family was killed.

Investigators for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration discovered that the all-weather rubber mat on the driver’s side was longer than the factory mats that are usually placed in Toyota and Lexus vehicles. After the accident, Toyota officials contacted the dealership that supplied the vehicle to instruct the dealer to check the mats on all of his vehicles. The NHTSA has not confirmed whether or not the mat actually caused the accident by snagging the gas pedal, but they did admit that the all-weather mat did not belong to the Lexus. Tragically, the family was only renting the Lexus while their car was being serviced at the dealership.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman

Michael Jackson, King of Pop, Dies at Age 50

Devon Glass — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:16:22 GMT

Earlier this evening former pop music sensation Michael Jackson passed away at UCLA medical center. He was rushed to the hospital after he lapsed into a coma at his rented mansion near the medical facility. The exact cause of his death was uncertain according the all available news reports, including statements from the medical examiners office.

There has been a few reports that he died from sudden cardiac arrest or some other heart complication. It has been known for sometime that Michael Jackson was trying to mount a comeback for his career that has often been tarnished by lawsuits and family issues. He had planned to tour in Europe and America this coming year, but fans of the long time king of pop will unfortunately be unable to see him in concert. He will be missed by fans all over the world.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Devon Glass

Lansing House Fire Claims Family

Devon Glass — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:36:53 GMT

On June 23, 2009, a Lansing mother and her two children were found in their home by firefighters who responded to neighbor calls about visible flames coming from the house. Although the firfighters were able to contain the fire, all three family members passed away as a result of the fire. At this time, Lansing Police are reporting the incident as suspicious due to prior incidents that occurred in the weeks prior to the fire.

Firefighters had been to the house on June 2 to put out a car fire at the same house. When the fire department arrived, there were two cars on fire and a car port. There were also two home invasions in the month leading up to the deadly fire that police are still investigating. Additionally, there were complaints of vandalism reported to the police.

The family's neighbors had been concerned for a while about the family's safety based upon all of the problems they recently had. Based on the shared concerns of the neighbors, a makeshift neighborhood watch was created to keep an eye on the family to make sure they were safe but unfortunately it did not prevent the deadly blaze from happening.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Devon Glass