Michigan Personal Injury Attorneys

For nearly fifty years, Michigan has had one of the most comprehensive motorcycle helmet requirements in the state. Everyone riding a bike was expected to wear a helmet, or face legal consequences if caught without one.

Now, that situation has changed. Governor Rick Snyder recently signed into law a bill that allows some Michigan bikers to ride without their helmets, as long as they meet the law’s new requirements. Motorcyclists who don’t meet the requirements for riding without a helmet may still face criminal penalties if they are caught without their helmets.

The new MI motorcycle law allows motorcyclists to ride without a helmet on Michigan roads only if they meet the following requirements:

• Rider must be 21 years of age or older;
• He or she must have $20,000 or more of insurance coverage for injuries; and
• The rider must have passed a motorcycle safety course or had a motorcycle endorsement for at least 2 years.

Passengers may also ride without helmets if they are 21 years of age or older and have an additional $20,000 of insurance coverage. The extra insurance can be purchased by either the passenger or the driver of the motorcycle.

Violating the new law is a misdemeanor, with a maximum possible sentence of $100 in fines, 90 days in jail, or both.

Motorcycle helmets can prevent or reduce the severity of many types of head and facial injuries, including traumatic brain injuries. However, no helmet can prevent every accident or injury, especially when another person’s negligence is at fault. At Lipton Law, our experienced motorcycle accident lawyers in Southfield strive to provide exceptional representation and advice to each of our clients. If you’ve been injured in an accident, call us today at (248) 557-1688 for a free and confidential case evaluation.

Two major Michigan hospitals have joined a nationwide study of closed-head traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in the hopes of finding better ways to diagnose and treat these often disabling or life-threatening conditions, according to a recent article at MLive.com.

Both St. Mary’s of Michigan in Saginaw and Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo have joined the study, which will examine whether doses of the hormone progesterone decrease swelling after traumatic brain injuries. If the hormone proves to be effective, it may greatly improve the chances of survival and recovery after a TBI-causing accident, according to researchers.

Progesterone is a hormone that naturally occurs in the human brain, where it is produced by the brain’s glial cells. Since progesterone plays a role in regulating the menstrual cycle, it’s usually present in larger amounts in women than in men, but bodies of both sexes produce the hormone.

Currently, no medications are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat the specific type of brain swelling that occurs after a TBI. If progesterone shows efficacy in treating this type of swelling, the FDA may approve its use in TBI treatments – a significant step forward for TBI patients, say researchers.

Traumatic brain injuries can occur in any type of accident, and even a mild TBI can cause long-term impairment. If you’ve suffered a head injury, call the dedicated personal injury lawyers in Southfield at Lipton Law today. Our number is (248) 557-1688 – call us for a free and confidential consultation.

Distracted driving accidents cause serious injuries and death. While any type of distraction can increase the risk of an accident, research indicates that cell phone use while driving – even when using a hands-free device and refraining from texting or using smart phone apps – presents a huge risk of a crash. The act of conversing or thinking about navigating a cell phone’s menus takes the brain’s attention off the road, making it far too easy to miss something that a driver could otherwise have avoided.

The easiest way to help prevent distracted driving accidents is to avoid using your cell phone or other devices while driving, as well as avoiding other distractions. However, there are also other steps you can take to help make the roads safer, according to advocacy organization Focus Driven.

For instance, Focus Driven recommends contacting your elected representatives to encourage them to support bills that cut down on distracted driving. You can also form a group of your own to push for safer roads. Owners of businesses can implement company-wide policies that prohibit using cell phones while also operating a car, and sticking to them by encouraging drivers to wait until they’re parked to answer or make work-related calls.

At Lipton Law, our experienced Michigan distracted driving accident attorneys are dedicated to helping those injured in car accidents and their families. Whether you need to file a no-fault insurance claim or fight your case in court, we’re here to stand behind you and your loved ones, building a strong case that helps you win the compensation you need. For a free and confidential case evaluation, call us today at (248) 557-1688.

Most patients assume that, when they need a medical device implanted, that device has undergone extensive testing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before it was allowed to be sold or placed inside patients. However, many devices aren’t scrutinized this closely, according to Consumer Reports.

Rather, many medical devices – including the transvaginal mesh implants currently being recalled nationwide – reach the market through what is known as the FDA’s “clearance” process. The clearance process can be used for any device that is substantially similar to a device that has already gone through the full, intensive FDA approval process. While not all devices can use the clearance process, those that can may make it to market simply because the manufacturer paid the necessary fees and submitted paperwork showing their device was “substantially similar” to one already on the market, not because the actual device has been examined closely.

However, “substantially similar” does not mean “identical.” Many of the transvaginal mesh implants currently causing serious problems for patients reached the market by the quicker clearance method, not by the more intensive study and approval process. Often, problems in these devices aren’t identified until actual patients suffer harm.

At Lipton Law, our dedicated Michigan transvaginal mesh implant injury attorneys care about helping injured patients seek justice in the way best suited to their individual lives. If you’ve been injured by a medical device or implant, call us today. Our number is (248) 557-1688, and your initial consultation is free and totally confidential.

Two years ago, two teenagers from the mid-Michigan town of Merrill lost their lives in a car accident and a third passenger in the vehicle suffered a severe traumatic brain injury when the car in which the three were riding left the road and struck a tree. Now, the surviving teen is poised to graduate from high school, but not before encouraging her classmates to drive safely and avoid the pain and struggle she has suffered.

The recovering teen spoke to an assembly of her classmates at Merrill High School recently, encouraging them to drive carefully and avoid having to make a split-second decision that could end in tragedy. She showed photos of the crash that left her injured and took the lives of her two friends. Since she still struggles with speaking after the crash, her words were also transcribed and shown on-screen. The teen was joined by another teenager and new friend, who lost his father in a similar serious accident in 1994, and who also shared how a car accident can change a young person’s life.

At Lipton Law, our knowledgeable car accident lawyers in Southfield are here to help you with every step after an accident, from filing a no-fault insurance claim to seeking compensation from any negligent third parties. We strive to know and understand each of our clients personally, so we can tailor solutions to meet their particular needs. For a free and confidential consultation, call us today at (248) 557-1688.

Southfield personal injury lawyer Jody Lipton, of the Michigan law firm Lipton Law, is proud to be the Legislative Liaison Co-Chair for the Brain Injury Association of Michigan (BIAMI) Spring Tribute Legacy Society Dinner and Auction being held on March 31st at The Diamond Center at The Suburban Collection Showplace. In addition, Lipton Law is a VIP Reception Sponsor for the fundraising event.

The BIAMI is part of the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) network, the country’s largest and oldest nationwide brain injury advocacy, education, and research organization which focuses on bringing hope, healing, and help to the millions of people living with brain injury, their families, and the dedicated professionals who serve them. The Legacy Society Tribute is an important fundraiser for BIAMI. Last year’s Legacy Society’s Spring Tribute Dinner raised over $170,000 in net income for BIAMI and hopefully this year’s will be just as successful, if not more so.

This year’s black-tie optional event will have a Special Guest Presentation by Captain Mark Kelly, husband of U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was the victim of an assassination attempt in January 2011. The honorees at the 2012 Dinner are Phillip W. Weaver, CEO of the Hope Network, who is receiving the Community Service & Leadership Award, and Joel R. Saper, MD, FACP, FAAN, founder and director of the Michigan Head Pain & Neurological Institute, who is receiving the Professional Service Award. The online auction accompanying the event will be open for bidding through April 11th.

A brain injury can create undue emotional, physical, and financial hardships for the victim and their family. At Lipton Law, our experienced Michigan personal injury attorneys are committed to obtaining just compensation for victims of negligence. If you have suffered injury as the result of another’s reckless or negligent actions, contact us today for a consultation at (248) 557-1688.

A clinic offering bionic technology that might help paraplegic individuals walk again recently opened in Yorkshire in the United Kingdom. Similar clinics in the United States might not be far behind, according to an article in the Yorkshire Post.

The “bionic suit” is one of several treatment options offered by the clinic. It consists of a robotic “suit”, or exoskeleton, that the patient wears over his or her paralyzed legs. The suit sends electrical impulses to the muscles in the legs, similar to those the brain would send them to signal them to walk if a spinal cord injury had not interrupted the connection between the brain and legs. Patients who use the suit often find that they can walk with little or no assistance while in it.

The suit is not yet appropriate for every patient, say researchers. Its weight makes it difficult to maneuver, requiring patients to have good muscle tone in order to use it. However, it has given some patients, including both spinal cord injury sufferers and patients with certain types of neurological diseases, a new way to move and a new source of hope.

Spinal cord injuries are often difficult to treat and include some of the highest costs of all types of serious injuries, and also frequently result in serious and permanent impairments. If you’ve suffered a spinal cord injury, please don’t hesitate to call the experienced Michigan personal injury lawyers at Lipton Law. For a free and confidential consultation, call us today at (248) 557-1688.

Since Toyota faced high fines for concealing information related to safety issues in several of its vehicles in 2010, automakers have been more forward with information related to possible defects and in issuing auto product recalls. However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is considering increasing the maximum fines possible in such cases.

The increase in fines will have to pass through Congress and be signed by the President to go into effect. A bill introduced recently in the Senate would increase the maximum fine to $250 million. Currently, the maximum fine is $17 million per failure to report. Toyota received a total fine of $32 million in 2010 for two separate instances in which lawmakers say the company failed to report safety defects, with deadly consequences.

Supporters of the bill say that increasing the fines would better reflect the size of automakers’ budgets, creating a real deterrent to withholding necessary safety information. They note that, while $17 million does not represent a real hardship for most auto companies to pay, $250 million would. Opponents of the increase, however, say that $17 million is an adequate deterrent, and that raising the amount would put an unnecessary burden on automakers. Opponents also note that, with millions of vehicles on U.S. roads, automakers already face a hefty responsibility to make cars as safe as possible, one that they take seriously.

If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident caused by a defective vehicle part, the experienced Southfield product liability attorneys at Lipton Law can help. Call us today for a free and confidential consultation about your car accident injury. Our number is (248) 557-1688.

Michigan is one of several states that requires auto drivers to carry basic no-fault insurance, and also requires motorcyclists to carry insurance. No-fault auto insurance covers medical bills, property damage, and other costs for those who are injured in Michigan car accidents. Some basic types and amounts of insurance are required, although drivers may purchase additional coverage – both in the form of higher limits and different types of coverage – in addition to the required insurance if they prefer.

At a minimum, Michigan drivers must carry coverage for bodily injury, property damage, personal injury protection, and property protection insurance. Bodily injury covers the costs for others who are injured in the accident, while personal injury protection pays the bills of the insured person and any dependents. Property damage and property protection insurance coverage both cover damage to non-vehicle property. For instance, if your car crashes into a fence during an accident, this coverage will pay to replace the fence.

Michigan drivers must carry proof of no-fault auto insurance coverage with them at all times. Most drivers place their proof of insurance in their vehicle, so that it is always available when they drive. If you cannot show proof of insurance, your driver’s license may be suspended until you provide proof of insurance to the Secretary of State.

The experienced Michigan no-fault insurance attorneys at Lipton Law are dedicated to helping those injured in car accidents through every step of the process, from filing an insurance claim to holding any negligent parties accountable in court. For a free and confidential consultation, call our office today at (248) 557-1688.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) accepts both telephone and online reports of potential safety violations committed by truck drivers on U.S. highways. Motorists who see or suspect unsafe driving behavior from truck drivers can call the FMCSA toll-free or hop online when they get to their destination to send a safety concern. These reports can be filed anonymously, and they are kept confidential by the agency.

Although many types of truck-related safety complaints can be reported to the FMCSA, the agency typically hears reports about unsafe driving from motorists who share the road with truck drivers. However, motorists who know about or suspect other types of trucking regulation violations, such as hours of service (HOS) violations or safety problems with trucking equipment, can also send their concerns to the FMCSA. Concerns about safety in workplaces, such as on loading docks, should be reported to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

FMCSA can be reached online at https://nccdb.fmcsa.dot.gov/HomePage.asp or by phone toll-free at 1-888-DOT-SAFT (1-888-368-7238). OSHA can be reached at 1-800-321-OSHA.

Truck accident injuries can seriously and permanently change the course of a person’s and a family’s life. If you’ve been injured in a Michigan truck crash, the experienced Southfield truck accident injury attorneys at Lipton Law are ready to help. To discuss your case with us and learn more about your legal rights and options, call Lipton Law today at (248) 557-1688. Your initial telephone consultation is free and completely confidential.