Personal Injury Blog – Law Offices of Goodman Acker

We’ve all seen them—distracted drivers on the road in front of us, clearly with their eyes and minds on something other than driving. They slowly veer into other lanes or onto the shoulder of the road, they’re going dangerously slow or at racetrack speeds and they don’t seem to notice road workers or construction signs. They generally behave as if nobody else is on the road, until they’re involved in a distracted driver car accident, that is.

The list of driver distractions is almost endless. For anyone who’s been driving for more than a few years, nothing we see other drivers doing in the lane over is surprising anymore: putting on lipstick, fixing their hair, eating a burrito, studying a map, even changing clothes, shaving and reading the morning paper. It is even harder to fathom when we see other people in the car with them, since they are not only risking their own lives, they’re taking the chance of causing severe passenger injury as well.

Personal injury lawyers in the Detroit, Michigan, Goodman Acker, know that in addition to these low-tech, every day activities causing negligent drivers, the headlines are filled with reports of more high-tech causes. Texting while driving and using a cellphone while driving are the two top reasons we have distracted drivers on our roads. Technology is not just part of messaging while driving or talking on the phone while driving, however. These days operating a GPS unit while driving, using an iPod while driving or using an electronic book while driving are also being written up in car crash police reports.

The Chicago Tribune reports that the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration did a study in 2010 which revealed that there are many driver distractions that cause collisions, from applying make-up to playing with the radio to staring at accidents. In the study, driver distraction played a role in 11 percent of the fatal car accidents in the United States the previous year, which climbed to 30,797 in total.

So if you see a driver on the road near you who appears distracted in any way, give them a wide berth, and if you’re hit by a distracted driver, take action. You need to fight for your right to be safe when behind the wheel and the statistics on distracted driver auto collisions and distracted driver motorcycle accidents are rising by the day.

At Goodman Acker, we believe drivers should do one thing and one thing alone when they are behind the wheel, and that is drive safely, defensively and conscientiously.  If you or a loved one was involved in a distracted driver car crash, Detroit, Michigan personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Goodman Acker may be able to help you pursue compensation. Call us at 1-866-DON’T-LOSE or complete our online contact form to schedule a free consultation.

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Southfield, MI 48075

A federal agency responsible for investigating auto accidents recently recommended banning the use of cell phones while driving, including hands-free cell phone devices. The National Transportation Safety Board made this dramatic recommendation published on the front page of the New York Times based on safety concerns. “It’s about not being engaged at the task at hand,” NTSB chairman Deborah Herman said, referring to talking on a cell phone while driving, even while using a hands-free device. “Lives are being lost in the blink of an eye.”

Distracted driving injures and kills thousands of people every year nationwide and in Michigan. Such accidents happen fast, as Deborah Herman noted. She added, “You can’t take it back, you can’t have a do over, and you can’t rewind.” Rebuild your family’s future with a rock-solid Michigan texting auto accident attorney in your corner. Rely on the Law Offices of Goodman Acker. Serving clients throughout Michigan, an experienced Detroit distracted driving attorney at our firm can devote their time and attention to fighting for your rights. We understand the state’s complex cell phone laws. We use that knowledge to get accident victims the compensation they rightfully deserve. Put the power of a Michigan car accident lawyer behind you. Contact the Law Offices of Goodman Acker.

In Michigan, it’s illegal to text while driving. Nationwide, 35 states ban texting while driving. In addition, nine states prohibit the use of hand-held phones. No states completely restrict drivers from using cell phones while driving. That should change, Herman said. She compared using a cell phone while driving to drunk driving. “It’s going to be very unpopular with some people,” Herman said, referring to the idea of completely banning drivers from using cell phones. “We’re not here to win a popularity contest. We’re here to do the right thing.”

A total of 5,474 people died in 2009 in America in distracted driving accidents and thousands more were injured. If you or a loved one sustained a serious or fatal injury due to a distracted driver in Michigan, take action now. Contact a law firm who will fight for your rights. Contact the Law Offices of Goodman Acker. We’re on your side.

The emotional impact of a fatal auto accident in Michigan can be devastating on families. You want to simply focus on rebuilding your lives. But there’s often mountains of paperwork and officials to deal with after such a traumatic event. Worst of all, many insurance companies try to take advantage of such a difficult situation. They often offer victim’s family members far less than they rightfully deserve. Accepting such an offer can have a dramatic affect, especially since the financial impact of a fatal auto accident has skyrocketed in recent years.

What would you do if a reckless Michigan motorist killed a loved one in your family? You need an experienced Michigan fatal accident attorney on your side. You need the Law Offices of Goodman Acker. Serving clients throughout Michigan, a Detroit, MI fatal auto accident lawyer at our law firm may be able to help your family deal with your deadly auto accident. We have years of experience navigating through all the red tape involved with such an accident. We know how to thoroughly conduct an investigation. We leave no stone unturned. Contact a Michigan fatal auto accident attorney who puts people first. Contact the Law Offices of Goodman Acker.

The number of people who died in auto accidents in Michigan has declined in recent years, from 1,129 in 2005 to 871 in 2009. But while the number of fatalities has decreased, the financial impact of a fatal motor vehicle accident has soared higher across the country. In 2009, the cost of a single motor vehicle fatality exceeded $6 million nationwide, according to federal accident data analyzed by AAA. That figure is 85 percent – or $2.76 million – higher compared to 2005, when the estimated cost of a single motor vehicle fatality was $3.24 million.

Auto accidents happen fast. In an instant, a reckless driver can take away a beloved family member. It’s hard to know what’s the right thing to do. Don’t give up hope. Take action. Contact a lawyer who will fight for your family’s rights. Contact the Law Offices of Goodman Acker. With a strong legal advocate on your side, you can tell the insurance companies you mean business!

The Law Offices of Goodman Acker – fighting for justice for you.

Dan Calabrese / The Michigan View.com
Published: Nov 3, 2011

Michigan’s no-fault auto insurance system is very unpopular. With the insurance industry, that is.

Whereas they can sell policies of defined, limited benefit amounts in other states, they are required by law in Michigan to sell everyone policies that cover unlimited lifetime medical benefits in the event they suffer catastrophic injuries in an auto accident.

The system – or at least one aspect of it – is unpopular with another group of people, and that is a certain subset of accident victims. They don’t like it because, when insurance companies try to deny claims for various and sundry reasons, the accident victims’ only recourse by law is to go to court. The insurers and their clients spend way too much time in Michigan courts fighting over benefits, because an insurance policy is a private contract, and the only way to enforce the terms of a contract is civil action.

So if you’ve got a massive head injury and can’t work – but the insurance company’s doctor says you’re just fine and don’t need any more treatment – you need to hire your own attorney and take on the insurance company lawyers.

There is a lot wrong with Michigan’s no-fault insurance law. But it’s hard to see how the reform proposal being championed by State Rep. Peter Lund (R-Shelby Township) solves any of them. Lund appears to accept the argument of the Insurance Institute of Michigan that lifetime benefits have caused costs to spin out of control. So Lund proposes to do away with unlimited lifetime benefits, and instead to give consumers a choice of three levels of coverage – $500,000, $1 million or $5 million.

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Pedestrian accidents happen fast in Michigan. In 2010, a total of 129 pedestrians died in auto accidents and 2,113 pedestrians were injured, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation. The vast majority of accidents happen while pedestrians are crossing at an intersection. Sometimes, distracted drivers hit pedestrians. Other times, it’s the pedestrians who are distracted. A startling new study highlights the link between pedestrian accidents and texting.

Have you been injured in a pedestrian accident in Michigan? Injured by a distracted driver in Detroit? You need an experienced Michigan personal injury attorney driven to succeed. You need the Law Offices of Goodman Acker. A determined Detroit personal injury lawyer at our law firm is ready to meet with you to carefully review the details of your case. Allow us to help you determine the best course of action. Pedestrian injury accidents can be complicated. Knowing what to do can be confusing. Put your trust in a Detroit MI personal injury lawyer who puts people first. Contact the Law Offices of Goodman Acker.

Here’s a sobering statistic. If you’re texting while crossing the street, you’re four times more likely to be hit by a car than someone who’s not texting. Specifically, you have a 25 percent chance of being hit by a vehicle while crossing the street if you’re texting. If you are not texting, you have a 6 percent chance of being struck by a car, according to scientific study conducted by the Youth Safety Laboratory at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Injuries sustained in a pedestrian injury accident can take weeks or months or even years to recover from. You might need to stay in a hospital for an extended period of time. You might require extensive physical therapy. Insurance companies should cover such expenses. Sometimes, they don’t. Often, they do everything they can to avoid paying you what they rightfully owe you.

Don’t let insurance companies push you around. Fight back! Contact a tough Detroit law firm who will give you the upper hand. Contact the Law Offices of Goodman Acker. We’re on your side.

Michigan drivers over 65 years old have long been among the safest drivers in the state. Between 1998 and 2002 in Michigan, researchers discovered the number of crashes involving older drivers decreased by 6%, fatal and serious injury crashes decreased by 23%, and crashes in which an older driver had been drinking decreased by 27%.  And here’s another startling statistic: children are twice as safe when their grandparents are driving instead of their parents nationwide, according to a recent scientific study written about in Time Magazine.

Even so, even the safest drivers have accidents. Dealing with the aftermath of an accident can be a nightmare, especially if you’re injured by a reckless driver. Medical bills pile up fast. You might not be able to work. Your entire quality of life can instantly be disrupted. Take back control! Contact an experienced Michigan personal injury attorney focused on results. Contact the Law Offices of Goodman Acker. Our experienced Detroit personal injury lawyers are renowned throughout Michigan for their first-class service and precise attention to detail. We carefully examine the facts for every accident and go the extra mile to get to the truth. We then use this information to build a case with one goal in mind: to get you the compensation your rightfully deserve. Put your trust in a Detroit personal injury lawyer who puts people first. Contact the Law Offices of Goodman Acker.

Statistics involving older drivers are complicated. They wear seatbelts more than younger drivers. They’re involved in fewer drunk driving accidents. Even so, more than 500 people nationwide over 65 years old sustain injuries in auto accidents every day. And the odds of being involved in a fatal car crash increase every year for drivers over 75 years old across the country.

Knowing what to do after an auto accident can be confusing. Insurance companies often put pressure on injury victims to accept a settlement fast. Don’t be fooled. Insurance companies are not on your side. They work tirelessly to pay you as little as possible. Don’t let insurance companies push you around. Level the playing field. Put the power of a tough Michigan law firm in your corner. Choose the Law Offices of Goodman Acker. We mean business!

Attention Michigan drivers. Do you know when the deadliest time of the year on the road is for teenage drivers? The answer: right now. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, more deadly auto accidents involving teenage drivers happen than any other time of year, according to a recent auto accident study by AAA.

Are you dealing with a serious or fatal motor vehicle accident caused by a teenager? You need an experienced Michigan car accident attorney to help guide you through this complicated ordeal. You need the Law Offices of Goodman Acker. Our experienced Detroit auto accident lawyers are renowned throughout Michigan for their first-class service and precise attention to detail. We pour over the evidence and often consult with experts in order to build a rock-solid case for our clients. Put your trust in a Detroit auto accident lawyer who puts people first. Contact the Law Offices of Goodman Acker.

Teenage drivers kill thousands of people every year. In 2009, a teenager (15 to 19 years old) was killed in a car crash nationwide every 3 hours, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. That’s more than 3,000 teenagers in one year. Here’s another startling fact: nearly 15 teenagers between 13 and 19 years old were killed every day nationwide between Memorial Day and Labor Day in auto accidents between 2005 and 2009, reports AAA. That’s more than 7,300 teenagers during that time period.

Knowing what to do after a serious auto accident can be overwhelming. You have so many questions, so many things to deal with. We can help. We’ve assisted many people injured or worse in an accident caused by a teenage driver. We know what to expect. And we can put our experience to work for you.

Dedicated, determined, driven to succeed – the Law Offices of Goodman Acker. We mean business!

Motorcycle riders in Michigan may be interested in a report detailing a troubling trend. While motorcycle deaths dropped nationwide, the number of deaths in Michigan increased.

The new report, released by the Governors Highway Safety Administration (GHSA), indicates there were 111 motorcycle fatalities during the first nine months of 2010, compared to 92 during the same time period in 2009.

Nationwide, the number of motorcycle deaths decreased by 2 percent during the first nine months of 2010.

Motorcycle accidents in Michigan can be catastrophic. They often result in serious injuries or, as the data in this report show, fatalities. Hiring a motorcycle accident lawyer in Michigan is important if you or a loved one was injured or killed in an accident. An experienced personal injury attorney can help stand up for you and protect your legal rights. Choose the Law Offices of Goodman Acker. Contact a motorcycle accident lawyer in Detroit to learn about your rights.

When examining the nationwide trends, the GHSA report on the surface appears to be good news. The authors of the report, however, are concerned with several findings. While motorcycle fatalities decreased by 2 percent over nine months, fatalities started to inch up during the last three of those nine months.

According to the GHSA: “With the improving economy and surging gas prices, motorcycle travel is expected to increase, thus increasing exposure to risk. Finally, motorcycle helmet use dropped alarmingly from 67 percent in 2009 to 54 percent in 2010.”

With motorcycle season upon us, drivers should be reminded that motorcycles also share the road. Motorcycle crashes in Michigan and elsewhere are the result of a motorist who “didn’t see the motorcycle.”

At Goodman Acker, our Detroit motorcycle accident lawyers are experienced at investigating accidents thoroughly. We leave no stone unturned in pursuit of compensation for our clients’ losses. We understand how traumatic a motorcycle accident in Michigan can be for riders and their families. Take back control. Get in touch with Goodman Acker. Let us help you obtain the justice you deserve!

Detroit drivers know how to handle rough road conditions. But what if another driver hits your car? And what if the other driver has no auto insurance? That’s a real danger, especially since Michigan’s unemployment rate remains one of the highest in America. What does unemployment have to do with auto accidents with uninsured drivers? Each time the unemployment rate goes up 1 percent, the number of uninsured drivers increases by 1 percent, a recent study reports.

Serious accidents demand serious attention. You need a determined car accident lawyer in Detroit on your side. You need the Law Offices of Goodman Acker. Serving clients throughout Michigan, our experienced auto accident attorneys in Detroit can give you the attention you rightfully deserve. Don’t leave your future to chance. Count on an auto accident lawyer in Detroit with years of experience fighting for clients. Contact the Law Offices of Goodman Acker.

Nationwide, the unemployment rate remains roughly 9.2 percent. In contrast, Michigan’s unemployment rate remains stuck at 11 percent. Then again, that figure is far less than Michigan’s unemployment rate in July 2009, when 14.6 percent of people were out of work, a 20 year high.

The number of uninsured motorists on the road is frightening. An estimated 1 in 7 drivers do not have auto insurance, according to several studies. Why do so many drivers not have insurance? The reasons include:

• Drivers who lost their license due to drunk driving or another offense.
• Irresponsible drivers who fail to get insurance.
• Drivers who cannot afford insurance

Car accidents involving uninsured motorists can be complicated.  Getting the money you deserve can sometimes be a nightmare. Insurance companies can be unresponsive. The uninsured motorist may even try to blame the accident on you.

Don’t be a victim. Take back control. Contact the Law Offices of Goodman Acker. We mean business!

Think all your children’s toys are safe? Think again! A consumer watchdog group recently released its list of dangerous toys for 2010. The dangerous toys identified by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group include:

• Toy handcuffs made with unsafe levels of antimony, a carcinogen.
• Handy Manny’s Let’s Get Building Construction Set, which has many small parts that pose a choking hazard.
• Lokmock/Baby’s First Train, which has small parts children may choke on.

Every three minutes, a child must be treated in an emergency room for an injury caused by a dangerous toy. In 2009, an estimated 186,000 children under 15 years old were treated in emergency rooms for toy-related injuries, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. In contrast, 152,000 children sustained toy-related injuries in 2005. Dangerous toys were linked to 12 deaths in 2009, down from 24 toy-related fatalities in 2007 and 2008, the CPSC reports.

The CPSC recalled 44 toys in fiscal year 2010, which ended Sept. 30. Click here to find a complete list of recalled toys. And even toys that have not been recalled can be dangerous, notes Joan Swartz, co-founder of World Against Toys Causing Harm, or WATCH. Sharp-edged toys or ones with projectiles can be dangerous. That’s why WATCH cautioned against buying Spy Gear Viper Blaster. Eye injuries are a real risk. Watch this video to see WATCH’s 10 Most Dangerous Toys of 2010.

Has your child been injured by a dangerous toy? Unsure what to do? Don’t take on large toy manufacturers by yourself. You need someone familiar with handling such complicated cases. You need someone who understands federal safety regulations. You need someone experienced, determined, dedicated to getting results. You need the Law Offices of Goodman Acker.

Our lawyers have years of experience fighting for victims of dangerous toys in Michigan. When you choose us, we work tirelessly for you. Companies have a responsibility to make safe products. When they fail to do so, fight back. Contact Goodman Acker today. We mean business!